Functional insights into the FW2.2-like gene family in Chinese jujube: Identification, characterization, and impact of ZjFWL10 variants on fruit size and plant height

doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.017

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Functional insights into the FW2.2-like gene family in Chinese jujube: Identification, characterization, and impact of ZjFWL10 variants on fruit size and plant height

Meiyu Li^1,4*, Liyun Mao^1*, Shuang Song², Decang Kong³, Ming Cao³, Lijun Jiao⁵, Wenhao Bo^1#, Xiaoming Pang^1#

¹ State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

² Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences / Hebei Saline and Alkali Land Greening Engineering Technology Center, Tangshan 063299, China

³National Foundation for Improved Cultivars of Chinese Jujube, Cangzhou 061000, Hebei, China

⁴ Pingdingshan University, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Eco-economic Woody Plant, Pingdingshan 467000 Henan, China

⁵Shuangjing Forest Farm, Aohan Banner, Chifeng 028000, Neimenggu, China

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摘要

FW2.2-like (FWL)基因家族已经在多种物种中进行了广泛研究，揭示了某些成员在器官发育中，特别是调控果实大小方面的保守功能。因此，对于研究基础比较薄弱的物种，包括中国枣在内，分析这一基因家族是筛选果实大小候选基因的有效途径。在本研究中，我们鉴定了20个ZjFWL基因，全面分析了它们的染色体分布、系统发育关系、基因结构、进化动态、表达模式及其启动子中的顺式作用元件。ZjFWL10序列的自然变异分析表明，其保守结构域中的7个碱基缺失与枣果实大小存在显著相关性。为了验证7个碱基缺失基因型的功能，我们在番茄中进行了异源过表达试验，获得了三个过表达株系。与野生型相比，过表达株系的果实大小显著减小，而株高显著增加。这表明该基因可能在枣的营养分配中发挥关键作用，最终影响果实大小。这些发现为揭示果实大小调控机制提供了重要的见解，并为针对枣果实大小的遗传改良提供了有价值的参考。

Abstract

The FW2.2-like (FWL) gene family has been extensively investigated across various species, revealing conserved functions among certain members in organ development, especially in regulating fruit size. Therefore, for species with limited research foundations, such as Chinese jujube, analyzing this gene family serves as an effective strategy for identifying candidate genes for fruit size. In this study, twenty ZjFWL genes were identified. Their chromosomal distribution, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, evolutionary dynamics, expression patterns, and cis-acting elements in their promoters were comprehensively analyzed. Natural variation analysis of the ZjFWL10 sequence revealed a significant correlation between a seven-base pair deletion in the conserved domain and the size of jujube fruits. To validate the functional implications of the seven-base pair deletion genotype, we conducted heterologous overexpression experiments in tomatoes, generating three overexpression lines. Comparative analysis with the wild-type revealed a significant reduction in fruit size, coupled with a notable increase in plant height, in the overexpressed lines. It is speculated that this gene may play a crucial role in the nutritional allocation of jujube, ultimately influencing fruit size. These findings provide crucial insights into the mechanisms governing fruit size regulation and serve as valuable references for genetic improvement efforts targeting jujube fruit size.

Keywords: FWL gene family fruit size Chinese jujube

Online: 17 February 2025

Fund:

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant (NO.31800559), National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD2200404), National XA Science and Technology innovation project (2022XACX1100), the grants of Science and Technology Major Project of Guangxi (‘Guike’AB16380060). The central government guides local science and technology development project "Germplasm Innovation of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruit Tree". Partly supported by the open funds of the National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops.

About author: #Correspondence: Wenhao Bo and Xiaoming Pang; bowenhao@bjfu.edu.cn; xmpang@163.com *These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Meiyu Li, Liyun Mao, Shuang Song, Decang Kong, Ming Cao, Lijun Jiao, Wenhao Bo, Xiaoming Pang. 2025. Functional insights into the FW2.2-like gene family in Chinese jujube: Identification, characterization, and impact of ZjFWL10 variants on fruit size and plant height. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.017

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