AUTHOR=Jin Xiaoshan , Cheng Chenxia , Qi Qi , Zhou Suping , Wang Caihong , Zhang Yong , Sun Chao , Wang Yuling , Dang Ruihong , Yang Shaolan 

TITLE=PpERF1b-like enhances lignin synthesis in pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) ‘hard-end’ fruit

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1087388

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.1087388

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The hard-end is a disorder of pear fruit, however, the mechanisms underlying its development remain unknown. In this study, we found that the hard-end fruit contained a higher transcript abundance level of <italic>ethylene-response factor 1b-like</italic> (<italic>PpERF1b-like</italic>) and released more ethylene compared to normal pear. In the ethephon treated normal fruit, flesh tissues accumulated more lignin together with elevated expression of <italic>PpERF1b-like</italic>. Overexpressing <italic>PpERF1b-like</italic> transiently in fruit and stably in callus increased lignin accumulation and the expression of lignin biosynthesis genes; the opposite results were observed in fruit showing repressed expression of <italic>PpERF1b-like</italic>. These results confirmed the role of <italic>PpERF1b-like</italic> in promoting hard-end formation through promoting lignin synthesis. This study provided valuable information for further clarifying the regulation of hard-end formation in pear.</p>