Histological and Transcriptomic Insights into Rugose Surface Formation in Pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.) Fruit
Yiqi Xie | Haizhou Zhang | Chengshuang Li | Qing Cheng | Liang Sun | Huolin Shen
The rugose surface trait in pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.), marked by ridges and depressions on the fruit epidermis, is linked to improved fruit texture. To investigate its regulatory basis, histological, textural, and transcriptomic differences, contrasting genotypes were analyzed. Histological analysis revealed that disorganized epidermal cell layers contribute to rugosity, with morphological differences emerging around 10 days post-anthesis (DPA). A computer-aided design (CAD)-based rugosity index (RI) was developed and showed strong correlation with sensory rugosity scores (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.659, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Texture analysis demonstrated that increasing surface rugosity was associated with reduced rupture force and hardness, as well as elevated pectinase activity. Comparative transcriptome profiling identified 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to microtubule dynamics (e.g., <i>CA03g18310</i> and <i>CA09g13510</i>) and phytohormone signaling (e.g., <i>CA03g35180</i> and <i>CA08g12070</i>), which exhibited distinct spatial and temporal expression patterns. These findings suggest that coordinated cytoskeletal remodeling and hormonal regulation drive epidermal disorganization, leading to surface rugosity and altered fruit texture. The study provides novel insights into the molecular basis of fruit surface morphology and identifies promising targets for breeding high-quality pepper cultivars.
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