Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling Analysis of SWEET Family Genes Involved in Fruit Development in Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl)

Abstract

SWEETs (sugars will eventually be exported transporters) play a vital role in longer-distance sugar transportation, and thus control carbon flow and energy metabolism in plants. SWEET genes have been identified in various plant species, but their functions in fruit development remain uncharacterized. Here, we isolated 15 putative PsSWEETs from the Prunus salicina genome. For further analysis, comprehensive bioinformatics methods were applied to determine the gene structure, chromosome distribution, phylogeny, cis-acting regulatory elements, and expression profiles of PsSWEETs. qRT-PCR analysis suggested that these SWEETs might have diverse functions in the development of plum fruit. The relative expression levels of PsSWEET1 and PsSWEET9 were obviously higher in ripened fruit than the ones in other developmental stages, suggesting their possible roles in the transport and accumulation of sugars in plum fruit. Positive correlations were found between the expression level of PsSWEET3/10/13 and the content of sucrose, and the expression level of PsSWEET2 and the content of fructose, respectively, during the development of ‘Furongli’ fruit, suggesting their possible roles in the accumulation of sucrose and fructose. The current study investigated the initial genomic characterization and expression patterns of the SWEET gene family in plum, which could provide a foundation for the further understanding of the functional analysis of the SWEET gene family.

Physiological adaptations of the Japanese plum tree for agricultural productivity: A promising crop for high altitude tropics

“…SWEET proteins (sugars will eventually be exported to transporters) are essential for the transport of sugars. The relative expression of 15 SWEET genes has been identified during the development and ripening of P. salicina fruits (PsSWEET1-15) and correlated with fructose and sucrose content, suggesting their possible functions in the transport and accumulation of these two sugars in the fruits of Japanese plums (Jiang et al, 2023).…”

Polyphenol Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition Mechanism of Furong Plum Fruits at Different Maturity Stages

“…cv. "furong") are a fruit of the family Rosaceae and is a red-fleshed fruit characteristic of Fujian, China; they have a water content exceeding 85% and are more than 90 percent edible [1]. It is worth noting that Furong plums have a high content of polyphenol compounds, suggesting that they may have a strong antioxidant potential [2,3].…”