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Key message <p><Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">SlERF-RD1</Emphasis> <b>acts as a molecular brake, resulting in a decoupled ripening phenotype with delayed softening, while simultaneously optimizing plant architecture and flowering time, suggesting its potential for improving tomato shelf-life and productivity.</b></p> Abstract <p>Fruit ripening in tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) is a complex developmental process coordinated by a hierarchical network of transcription factors and the phytohormone ethylene. In this study, we identified and characterized <i>SlERF-RD1</i> (<i>Solyc02g077790</i>), a member of the AP2/ERF superfamily, as a strategic negative regulator of ripening and a coordinator of plant architecture. Transcriptomic meta-analysis revealed that <i>SlERF-RD1</i> is highly sensitive to ethylene and displays spatiotemporal enrichment in locular tissues, suggesting an early role in the ripening cascade. Stable overexpression of <i>SlERF-RD1</i> in tomato resulted in a significantly delayed onset of ripening, characterized by a 40–47% reduction in climacteric ethylene production and altered, tissue-specific carotenoid accumulation. Molecular analysis showed that these phenotypes are driven by the transcriptional down-regulation of the master regulator <i>SlRIN</i> and the rate-limiting carotenoid gene <i>SlPSY1</i>. Notably, <i>SlERF</i>-<i>RD1</i>-OE fruits maintained superior firmness during late ripening stages, which was correlated with the significant suppression of the cell wall-modifying genes <i>SlPG2A</i> and <i>SlEXP1</i>. Furthermore, we identified <i>Solyc01g108880</i> as a novel co-expressed target that is up-regulated explicitly at the red-ripe stage, suggesting a late-stage cell wall reinforcement mechanism. Beyond fruit attributes, <i>SlERF-RD1</i> overexpression reconfigured plant architecture into a more compact canopy and accelerated the floral transition by up-regulating <i>SlSFT</i>. Our findings demonstrate that <i>SlERF-RD1</i> promotes an asynchronous, firm-ripe fruit phenotype, while supporting optimized vegetative growth. This study highlights <i>SlERF</i>-<i>RD1</i> as a high-potential target for genetic strategies aimed at enhancing both crop architecture and post-harvest shelf-life.</p>

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SlERF-RD1 acts as a developmental coordinator integrating plant canopy architecture and the ethylene-mediated ripening cascade in tomato

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月17日

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  • Sılanur Aydoğdu,
  • Bayram Ali Yerlikaya,
  • Seher Yerlikaya,
  • Abdullah Aydın,
  • Musa Kavas

摘要

Key message

SlERF-RD1 acts as a molecular brake, resulting in a decoupled ripening phenotype with delayed softening, while simultaneously optimizing plant architecture and flowering time, suggesting its potential for improving tomato shelf-life and productivity.

Abstract

Fruit ripening in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a complex developmental process coordinated by a hierarchical network of transcription factors and the phytohormone ethylene. In this study, we identified and characterized SlERF-RD1 (Solyc02g077790), a member of the AP2/ERF superfamily, as a strategic negative regulator of ripening and a coordinator of plant architecture. Transcriptomic meta-analysis revealed that SlERF-RD1 is highly sensitive to ethylene and displays spatiotemporal enrichment in locular tissues, suggesting an early role in the ripening cascade. Stable overexpression of SlERF-RD1 in tomato resulted in a significantly delayed onset of ripening, characterized by a 40–47% reduction in climacteric ethylene production and altered, tissue-specific carotenoid accumulation. Molecular analysis showed that these phenotypes are driven by the transcriptional down-regulation of the master regulator SlRIN and the rate-limiting carotenoid gene SlPSY1. Notably, SlERF-RD1-OE fruits maintained superior firmness during late ripening stages, which was correlated with the significant suppression of the cell wall-modifying genes SlPG2A and SlEXP1. Furthermore, we identified Solyc01g108880 as a novel co-expressed target that is up-regulated explicitly at the red-ripe stage, suggesting a late-stage cell wall reinforcement mechanism. Beyond fruit attributes, SlERF-RD1 overexpression reconfigured plant architecture into a more compact canopy and accelerated the floral transition by up-regulating SlSFT. Our findings demonstrate that SlERF-RD1 promotes an asynchronous, firm-ripe fruit phenotype, while supporting optimized vegetative growth. This study highlights SlERF-RD1 as a high-potential target for genetic strategies aimed at enhancing both crop architecture and post-harvest shelf-life.