Abstract
Key message
CRISPR/Cas9-edited TOMATO AGAMOUS-LIKE1 (TAGL1) provided new insights into fruit ripening.
Abstract
TOMATO AGAMOUS LIKE 1 (TAGL1) has been identified as playing a key role in the process of tomato fruit development and ripening. We have re-evaluated the functions of TAGL1 using CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis. Three KO mutants contained frameshift mutations resulting in premature termination codons due to a 1 bp insertion. TAGL1-KO mutants exhibited dark immature fruits and orange ripening fruits. The fruit shape was characterized by a prominent pointed tip at the end and the pericarp thickness was significantly thinner. TAGL1-KO mutants showed reduced ethylene biosynthesis, increased firmness, and delayed onset of ripening. The chlorophyll content of TAGL1-KO mutants was higher in the mature green stage and the lycopene content of TAGL1-KO mutants in the ripening stage was lower compared to the WT. ACS2, ACS4, ACO1, ACO3, PG2a, PL, PME, EXP1, and PSY1 in the mutants were significantly down-regulated during ripening. Ripening fruits in the double mutant of rin and tagl1 showed a more extreme phenotype than the rin mutant suggesting that the double mutation acts synergistically during ripening. TAGL1-targeted mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9 strengthens its regulatory functions controlling ripening parameters and provides new insights into fruit ripening.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (2021R1A2C2093789). Authors would like to thank Dr. Sang-Tae Kim and Hyerim Do for their technical support.
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National Research Foundation of Korea, 2021R1A2C2093789, Je Min Lee
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MYC and JML designed the research. CJ and MYC performed the experiments. CJ and JML analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript.
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Communicated by Neal Stewart.
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Jeon, C., Chung, MY. & Lee, J.M. Reassessing the contribution of TOMATO AGAMOUS-LIKE1 to fruit ripening by CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis. Plant Cell Rep 43, 41 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-023-03105-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-023-03105-7