Some species within the Physalis genus, which belongs to the Solanaceae family, share similarities in their fruits and edible parts. However, their reproductive structures—such as flowers, berries, and seeds—show natural variation in size, which can be categorized into three distinct groups: large, medium, and small. Despite this observable diversity, the molecular mechanisms that regulate these differences in organ size remain largely unknown.
A recent study conducted by the Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led by He Chaoying, uncovered a key player in this variation: the Physalis Organ Size 1 (POS1) gene. This gene encodes an AP2-type transcription factor, and its first intron contains a 37-bp regulatory sequence. The number of tandem repeats of this sequence varies among the different size groups—1 repeat in large organs, 2 in medium, and 3 in small ones.
The research found that the copy number of this regulatory element is inversely correlated with the expression level of the POS1 gene. In other words, more repeats lead to lower gene activity, and lower activity is associated with smaller organ sizes. Conversely, higher expression levels correspond to larger reproductive structures. This discovery highlights how subtle changes in regulatory DNA can significantly impact gene function and, ultimately, the morphology of plant organs.
This study not only reveals a new genetic mechanism behind organ size variation but also offers insights into the evolutionary processes that shape organ diversity in plants. Importantly, it differs from the well-known genetic pathways involved in tomato domestication, suggesting unique regulatory strategies in Physalis. These findings have important implications for both basic plant biology and applied agriculture. The POS1 gene and its regulatory mechanism could serve as valuable tools for developing high-yield Physalis varieties, opening up new possibilities for crop improvement and breeding programs.
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