New Genetic Insight Offers Strategy for Longer-Lasting Tomatoes
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - 20:06
in Biology & Nature
Fruit ripening determines shelf life and consumer appeal, yet the molecular switches that control this process remain partially understood. This study identifies a key regulator--histone deacetylase SlHDA7--that acts as a brake on tomato ripening. When SlHDA7 is removed, tomatoes ripen faster and produce more ethylene and carotenoids; when overexpressed, ripening slows and shelf life extends. The research uncovers how SlHDA7 reduces the expression of ripening-related genes by deacetylating H4ac, thus modifying chromatin structure and suppressing transcription. These findings not only provide deeper insight into fruit epigenetics but also offer new genetic targets for improving fruit shelf life in agricultural breeding.