Identification of grapevine BASIC PENTACYSTEINE transcription factors and functional characterization of VvBPC1 in ovule development
Zhang SL , Zhong HX , Zheng JL , Zhang C, Yadav V, Zhou XM, van Nocker S, Wu XY, Wang XP.PLANT SCIENCE
DOI：10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112491
Abstract
Seedless grapes are gaining increasingly attention in the market because of their desirable traits. Therefore, understanding the molecular genetic regulation of seed development and abortion is crucial for the advancement of seedless cultivars. Recent studies have shown that AGAMOUS-LIKE11 (VvAGL11), an ortholog of Arabidopsis SEEDSTICK (STK), plays a key role in grape ovule development, and amino acid substitution mutations result in seed abortion. However, the regulatory pathways involved in this process are poorly understood in grapevines. In this study, we identified four BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BPC) genes in the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) genome and analyzed their evolutionary relationships, subcellular localization, and expression patterns. VvBPC1 was identified as an upstream regulatory factor of VvAGL11 in a yeast one-hybrid assay. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that VvAGL11 is negatively regulated by VvBPC1, and the production of small seeds by heterologous overexpression of VvBPC1 in tomatoes results from the suppression of VvAGL11 expression. Furthermore, assays in yeast cells demonstrated that VvBPC1 interacts with VvBELL1. Taken together, this study not only establishes the foundation for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms of the VvBPC1-VvBELL1-VvAGL11 module in regulating grape seed development but also provides new insights into the genetic improvement of seedless grapes.