JULGI‐mediated increment in phloem transport capacity relates to fruit yield in tomato. Issue 8 (17th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nam, Hoyoung; Gupta, Aarti; Nam, Heejae; Lee, Seungchul; Cho, Hyun Seob; Park, Chanyoung; Park, Soyoung; Park, Soon Ju; Hwang, Ildoo
• Is Part Of: Plant biotechnology journal. Volume 20:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1533
• Page End: 1545
• Publication Date: 2022-05-17
• Subjects: CRISPR‐Cas9 -- phloem development -- plant productivity -- SMXL5 -- source‐sink partitioning -- virus‐induced gene silencing; Plant biotechnology -- Periodicals; Plant genetic engineering -- Periodicals; 630.272
• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13831
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-7644

Abstract

Summary: The continuous growth of the global population and the increase in the amount of arid land has severely constrained agricultural crop production. To solve this problem, many researchers have attempted to increase productivity through the efficient distribution of energy; however, the direct relationship between the plant vasculature, specifically phloem development, and crop yield is not well established. Here, we demonstrate that an optimum increase in phloem‐transportation capacity by reducing SIJUL expression leads to improved sink strength in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.). SIJUL, a negative regulator of phloem development, suppresses the translation of a positive regulator of phloem development, SlSMXL5 . The suppression of SlJUL increases the number of phloem cells and sucrose transport, but only an optimal reduction of SlJUL function greatly enhances sink strength in tomato, improving fruit setting, and yield contents by 37% and 60%, respectively. We show that the increment in phloem cell number confers spare transport capacity. Our results suggest that the control of phloem‐transport capacity within the threshold could enhance the commitment of photosynthates to instigate yield improvement. Abstract : The suppression of SlJUL function increases the number of phloem cells and sucrose transport but only an optimal reduction in SlJUL activity associated with a moderate increment in phloem tissue greatly enhances tomato yield.