The complexity of the Fragaria x ananassa (octoploid) transcriptome by single-molecule long-read sequencing

Abstract

Crop genetics: Gene expression during strawberry ripening Researchers in China have identified the genes involved in strawberry ripening. Mizhen Zhao led a team at the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences which used long-read sequencing to investigate gene expression during six stages of strawberry fruit development, from small green fruit through whitening to large red fruit. They identified thousands of genes which are activated or repressed during fruit development, including 527 transcription factors – genes which regulate the activity of other genes. The analysis also revealed that genes related to the plant hormone auxin were downregulated in developing fruits, while those related to abscisic acid were upregulated, clarifying the role of the two hormones during strawberry ripening. This work not only provides a high-quality reference transcriptome for future strawberry work but also highlights genes related to ripening for further study.