Tomato HAIRY MERISTEM4, expressed in the phloem, is required for proper shoot and fruit development.

ABSTRACT: The HAIRY MERISTEM (HAM) gene family encodes Type I and II GRAS domain transcriptional regulators in plants. Type II HAMs, predominantly expressed in meristems and regulated by microRNA171, are essential for maintaining undifferentiated meristems, a role conserved across various species. Conversely, the functions of Type I HAMs have been less characterized. In this study, we investigated the role of SlHAM4, a Type I HAM in tomato. CRISPR-induced SlHAM4 loss-of-function mutations (slham4 ^CR ) resulted in shoot and fruit abnormalities, which were fully reversed by reintroducing SlHAM4, driven by its native promoter, into the mutant background. Mutant abnormalities included simpler leaves and increased anthocyanin pigmentation in the leaf and sep

SUBMITTER: Khedia J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11879553 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature