AUTHOR=Jia Meiru , Ding Ning , Zhang Qing , Xing Sinian , Wei Lingzhi , Zhao Yaoyao , Du Ping , Mao Wenwen , Li Jizheng , Li Bingbing , Jia Wensuo 

TITLE=A FERONIA-Like Receptor Kinase Regulates Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) Fruit Ripening and Quality Formation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.01099

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2017.01099

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Ripening of fleshy fruits is controlled by a series of intricate signaling processes. Here, we report a FERONIA/FER-like receptor kinase, <italic>Fa</italic>MRLK47, that regulates both strawberry (<italic>Fragaria</italic> × <italic>ananassa</italic>) fruit ripening and quality formation. Overexpression and RNAi-mediated downregulation of <italic>FaMRLK47</italic> delayed and accelerated fruit ripening, respectively. We showed that FaMRLK47 physically interacts with FaABI1, a negative regulator of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, and demonstrated that FaMRLK47 regulates fruit ripening by modulating ABA signaling, a major pathway governing strawberry fruit ripening. In accordance with these findings, overexpression and RNAi-mediated downregulation of <italic>FaMRLK47</italic> caused a decrease and increase, respectively, in the ABA-induced expression of a series of ripening-related genes. Additionally, overexpression and RNAi-mediated downregulation of <italic>FaMRLK47</italic> resulted in an increase and decrease in sucrose content, respectively, as compared with control fruits, and respectively promoted and inhibited the expression of genes in the sucrose biosynthesis pathway (<italic>FaSS</italic> and <italic>FaSPS)</italic>. Collectively, this study demonstrates that FaMRLK47 is an important regulator of strawberry fruit ripening and quality formation, and sheds light on the signaling mechanisms underlying strawberry fruit development and ripening.</p>