Natural variants of CsSHN1 orchestrate a temporal regulatory cascade driving fruit skin netting in cucumber

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ID: 322126
2026
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Abstract
Abstract Fruit skin netting (russeting, Rs) forms when epidermal microcracks are sealed by a suberized periderm, reducing marketability. We previously identified the Rs locus (CsSHN1), encoding an AP2/ERF transcription factor, as a major determinant of cucumber skin netting, but how fruit growth is temporally coupled to periderm formation remains unclear. Here, we integrated population genomics, time-series multi-omics, DAP-seq and transgenic assays to decode the CsSHN1-mediated regulatory network. Six functionally relevant CsSHN1 variants were identified across 325 cucumber accessions. Allele distribution and selective sweep analyses revealed breeding-driven selection for smooth fruit skin. Overexpression of a netted-allele in a smooth background induced epidermal fissures, altered cell geometry, and increased fruit size, demonstrating a dosage-sensitive effect. Time-series transcriptomics and metabolomics of NILs defined three developmental phases of netting: early suppression of lignin and trehalose genes preceding cracks, growth-driven fissuring accompanied by cell-wall remodeling and defense activation, and maturation-stage cell-wall degradation with strong induction of ligno-suberin biosynthesis. DAP-seq identified approximately 8,000 in vitro CsSHN1 binding sites across the cucumber genome. These binding sites were significantly enriched for the GCC-box motif and included genes involved in cutin and suberin biosynthesis. Together, these results show that CsSHN1 orchestrates fruit skin netting through a growth-coupled temporal regulatory cascade, providing a mechanistic framework for manipulating fruit epidermal properties.
Reference Key
openalex_W7170038764 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Yuhui Wang, H. Y. Liu, Feifan Chen, Ronald Dymerski, Huijun Zhang
Journal Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/plphys/kiag536
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