AUTHOR=Zhao Yu , Su Xueqiang , Wang Xinya , Wang Mengna , Chi Xujing , Aamir Manzoor Muhammad , Li Guohui , Cai Yongping 

TITLE=Comparative Genomic Analysis of TCP Genes in Six Rosaceae Species and Expression Pattern Analysis in Pyrus bretschneideri

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.669959

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2021.669959

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>TCP</italic> is a plant-specific transcription factor that plays an important role in flowering, leaf development and other physiological processes. In this study, we identified a total of 155 <italic>TCP</italic> genes: 34 in <italic>Pyrus bretschneideri</italic>, 19 in <italic>Fragaria vesca</italic>, 52 in <italic>Malus domestica</italic>, 19 in <italic>Prunus mume</italic>, 17 in <italic>Rubus occidentalis</italic> and 14 in <italic>Prunus avium</italic>. The evolutionary relationship of the <italic>TCP</italic> gene family was examined by constructing a phylogenetic tree, tracking gene duplication events, performing a sliding window analysis. The expression profile analysis and qRT-PCR results of different tissues showed that <italic>PbTCP10</italic> were highly expressed in the flowers. These results indicated that <italic>PbTCP10</italic> might participated in flowering induction in pear. Expression pattern analysis of different developmental stages showed that <italic>PbTCP14</italic> and <italic>PbTCP15</italic> were similar to the accumulation pattern of fruit lignin and the stone cell content. These two genes might participate in the thickening of the secondary wall during the formation of stone cells in pear. Subcellular localization showed that <italic>PbTCPs</italic> worked in the nucleus. This study explored the evolution of <italic>TCP</italic> genes in six Rosaceae species, and the expression pattern of <italic>TCP</italic> genes in different tissues of “Dangshan Su” pear. Candidate genes related to flower induction and stone cell formation were identified. In summary, our research provided an important theoretical basis for improving pear fruit quality and increasing fruit yield by molecular breeding.</p>