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The Solanum lycopersicum auxin response factor 7 ( Sl ARF7) regulates auxin signaling during tomato fruit set and development
Author(s) -
De Jong Maaike,
WoltersArts Mieke,
Feron Richard,
Mariani Celestina,
Vriezen Wim H.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2008.03671.x
Subject(s) - parthenocarpy , auxin , solanum , biology , genetically modified tomato , pollination , arabidopsis , botany , transgene , transcription factor , stamen , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genetically modified crops , genetics , pollen , mutant
Summary Auxin response factors (ARFs) are encoded by a gene family of transcription factors that specifically control auxin‐dependent developmental processes. A tomato ARF gene, homologous to Arabidopsis NPH4/ARF7 and therefore designated as Solanum lycopersicum ARF7 ( SlARF7 ), was found to be expressed at a high level in unpollinated mature ovaries. More detailed analysis of tomato ovaries showed that the level of SlARF7 transcript increases during flower development, remains at a constant high level in mature flowers, and is down‐regulated within 48 h after pollination. Transgenic plants with decreased SlARF7 mRNA levels formed seedless (parthenocarpic) fruits. These fruits were heart‐shaped and had a rather thick pericarp due to increased cell expansion, compared with the pericarp of wild‐type fruits. The expression analysis, together with the parthenocarpic fruit phenotype of the transgenic lines, suggests that, in tomato, S l ARF7 acts as a negative regulator of fruit set until pollination and fertilization have taken place, and moderates the auxin response during fruit growth.