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The FaDOF1.7-FaDOF1.5 module orchestrates soluble sugar accumulation in strawberry fruit
Tao Tao1, Yang Liu1, Yue Wang1
1Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Quality Biology, School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.
The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|May 21, 2026
Summary
Two transcription factors, FaDOF1.5 and FaDOF1.7, regulate sugar metabolism in strawberries. They activate genes for fructose and glucose accumulation, enhancing fruit sweetness and offering targets for crop improvement.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Strawberry fruit quality, particularly sugar content, is crucial for consumer acceptance.
- The precise transcriptional regulation of sugar metabolism in strawberries is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize key transcription factors involved in regulating soluble sugar metabolism in strawberry fruit.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these factors influence sugar accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Comparative transcriptome analysis between high- and low-sugar strawberry cultivars.
- Transient gene overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assays.
- Dual-luciferase and β-glucuronidase reporter assays, biochemical binding assays, and stable overexpression in strawberry and tomato.
Main Results:
- FaDOF1.7 was identified as a transcription factor highly expressed during early fruit development and stolons, correlating with sugar content.
- FaDOF1.7 activates the expression of FaSUS1, FaSUS2, and FaCWINV1, increasing fructose, glucose, and total soluble sugars.
- FaDOF1.7 interacts with FaDOF1.5, and together they synergistically bind to target gene promoters, enhancing transcription. Overexpression of either gene increased monosaccharides without altering fruit phenotype.
Conclusions:
- FaDOF1.5 and FaDOF1.7 are central regulators of strawberry sugar metabolism, coordinating sucrose breakdown and monosaccharide accumulation.
- These findings provide mechanistic insights into sugar accumulation and potential targets for metabolic engineering in fruit crops.
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