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The LcTINY‐LcbZIP53 transcriptional module orchestrates seed size regulation in litchi.

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Title: The LcTINY‐LcbZIP53 transcriptional module orchestrates seed size regulation in litchi.
Authors: Qin, Zheng1 (AUTHOR), Mai, Ying‐xiao1 (AUTHOR), Zhang, Xin‐yue1 (AUTHOR), Zeng, Jia‐pei1 (AUTHOR), Yao, Yi‐wen1 (AUTHOR), Wu, Feng‐qi1 (AUTHOR), Huang, Cai‐hong1 (AUTHOR), Liu, Hong‐sen1 (AUTHOR), Huang, Zhe‐xiong1 (AUTHOR), Hu, Hui‐min1 (AUTHOR), Xu, Jing1 (AUTHOR), Yan, Qian2 (AUTHOR), Xia, Rui1 (AUTHOR) rxia@scau.edu.cn, Zeng, Zao‐Hai1 (AUTHOR) zengzh@scau.edu.cn, Hao, Yan‐Wei1 (AUTHOR) yanweihao@scau.edu.cn
Source: Plant Journal. Apr2026, Vol. 126 Issue 2, p1-14. 14p.
Subjects: Transcription factors, Seed development, Litchi, Hormone regulation, Fruit quality, Cell proliferation
Abstract: SUMMARY: Seed size is a key agronomic trait that critically influences the commercial quality of fruit. In litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), small‐seeded cultivars are highly desirable due to their higher pulp‐to‐seed ratio. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling small‐seed development remain poorly understood. Here, we identify LcTINY, an ERF/DREB transcription factor, that plays an essential role in seed development in litchi. LcTINY expression is both cultivar‐specific and developmentally regulated, showing a strong correlation with seed morphological traits. Functional analyses show that silencing LcTINY reduces seed weight and size, whereas its overexpression promotes seed expansion, confirming its positive role in seed growth. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that LcTINY directly binds to the promoter of LcbZIP53, a bZIP transcription factor, and activates its expression, thereby coordinating seed growth though modulating hormone signaling and cell proliferation. We further show that the LcTINY‐LcbZIP53 regulatory module is evolutionarily conserved across the Sapindaceae family. Our results reveal a novel transcriptional mechanism underlying litchi seed development and establish a theoretical foundation for breeding small‐seeded litchi cultivars with enhanced fruit quality. Significance Statement: We report that LcTINY acts as a positive regulator of litchi seed growth by directly activating LcbZIP53, and that altered LcTINY activity correspondingly decreases or promotes seed size and weight. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this conserved LcTINY‐LcbZIP53 module coordinates hormone signaling and cell proliferation, providing a mechanistic framework for developing small‐seeded litchi cultivars with improved fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Plant Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 193365193
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: The LcTINY‐LcbZIP53 transcriptional module orchestrates seed size regulation in litchi.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qin%2C+Zheng%22">Qin, Zheng</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mai%2C+Ying‐xiao%22">Mai, Ying‐xiao</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Xin‐yue%22">Zhang, Xin‐yue</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zeng%2C+Jia‐pei%22">Zeng, Jia‐pei</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yao%2C+Yi‐wen%22">Yao, Yi‐wen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Feng‐qi%22">Wu, Feng‐qi</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huang%2C+Cai‐hong%22">Huang, Cai‐hong</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liu%2C+Hong‐sen%22">Liu, Hong‐sen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huang%2C+Zhe‐xiong%22">Huang, Zhe‐xiong</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hu%2C+Hui‐min%22">Hu, Hui‐min</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xu%2C+Jing%22">Xu, Jing</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yan%2C+Qian%22">Yan, Qian</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xia%2C+Rui%22">Xia, Rui</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> rxia@scau.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zeng%2C+Zao‐Hai%22">Zeng, Zao‐Hai</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> zengzh@scau.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hao%2C+Yan‐Wei%22">Hao, Yan‐Wei</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yanweihao@scau.edu.cn</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Plant+Journal%22">Plant Journal</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 126 Issue 2, p1-14. 14p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transcription+factors%22">Transcription factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seed+development%22">Seed development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Litchi%22">Litchi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hormone+regulation%22">Hormone regulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fruit+quality%22">Fruit quality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cell+proliferation%22">Cell proliferation</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: SUMMARY: Seed size is a key agronomic trait that critically influences the commercial quality of fruit. In litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), small‐seeded cultivars are highly desirable due to their higher pulp‐to‐seed ratio. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling small‐seed development remain poorly understood. Here, we identify LcTINY, an ERF/DREB transcription factor, that plays an essential role in seed development in litchi. LcTINY expression is both cultivar‐specific and developmentally regulated, showing a strong correlation with seed morphological traits. Functional analyses show that silencing LcTINY reduces seed weight and size, whereas its overexpression promotes seed expansion, confirming its positive role in seed growth. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that LcTINY directly binds to the promoter of LcbZIP53, a bZIP transcription factor, and activates its expression, thereby coordinating seed growth though modulating hormone signaling and cell proliferation. We further show that the LcTINY‐LcbZIP53 regulatory module is evolutionarily conserved across the Sapindaceae family. Our results reveal a novel transcriptional mechanism underlying litchi seed development and establish a theoretical foundation for breeding small‐seeded litchi cultivars with enhanced fruit quality. Significance Statement: We report that LcTINY acts as a positive regulator of litchi seed growth by directly activating LcbZIP53, and that altered LcTINY activity correspondingly decreases or promotes seed size and weight. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this conserved LcTINY‐LcbZIP53 module coordinates hormone signaling and cell proliferation, providing a mechanistic framework for developing small‐seeded litchi cultivars with improved fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Plant Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/tpj.70868
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 14
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      – SubjectFull: Transcription factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Seed development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Litchi
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hormone regulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fruit quality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cell proliferation
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The LcTINY‐LcbZIP53 transcriptional module orchestrates seed size regulation in litchi.
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              Text: Apr2026
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