Overexpression of Sly-miR164a in tomato decreases expression of NAC and delays pre- and postharvest ripening of fruit

• Published in: Postharvest biology and technology 2023-01, Vol.195, p.112132, Article 112132
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhiqiang, Wang, Qing, Duan, Wenhui, Meng, Lanhuan, Li, Jiangkuo, Song, Hongmiao, Xu, Xiangbin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: miR164; NAC; Postharvest; Ripening; Tomato
• ISSN: 0925-5214; 1873-2356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2022.112132

Fruit ripening of tomato is regulated by NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) domain proteins such as NOR-like1, SlNAC1, and SlNAC4. Acts as an up-stream regulator of NAC genes, the high abundance of miR164 might eliminate the impact of NAC on the ripening of fleshy fruit. In the present study, the STTM-miR164a (silencing miR164a by short tandem target mimic) and OE-miR164a (overexpression of miR164a) tomato lines were generated. Compared with those of silenced miR164a, overexpression of miR164a decreased ethylene production and lycopene accumulation, and delayed pre-and postharvest ripening of fruit. The expression analysis of target genes of miR164a revealed that the NAM3 (Solyc06g069710), GOB (Solyc07g062840) and NAC1 (Solyc07g066330) were involved in regulating fruit ripening. •Overexpression of miR164a decreased ethylene production and lycopene accumulation.•Silence of miR164a promoted chlorophyll loss and increased lycopene accumulation.•NAC was involved in miR164a regulating fruit preharvest and postharvest ripening.•Silence of miR164a accelerated fruit preharvest and postharvest ripening.•Overexpression of miR164a delayed fruit preharvest and postharvest ripening.