Improving fruit quality while maintaining normal plant growth has always been a major challenge in agriculture. A new study suggests that achieving this balance may be easier than previously thought. Scientists have discovered that enhancing the activity of a conserved “cleaner gene” can simultaneously improve both the nutritional value and organoleptic properties of fruit. By enhancing the expression of a gene associated with tRNA, the research team increased levels of anthocyanins and terpenoids—compounds that influence the color, aroma, and antioxidant properties of fruit. These improvements had no measurable effect on plant development, fruit size, or sugar content. The results reveal an unexpected role for genes typically associated with basic cellular function, demonstrating that they can also influence key metabolic characteristics of fruit.
Anthocyanins and terpenoids play a vital role in the color, flavor, aroma, and overall nutritional value of fruits. However, attempts to increase the content of these compounds often lead to undesirable side effects. This is because their production is closely linked to plant hormones. For example, cytokinins regulate both plant growth and secondary metabolism, so altering their levels can alter the structure and growth characteristics of plants.
A little-known class of cytokinin-related genes—tRNA-type isopentenyl transferases—has received relatively little attention. These genes are thought to perform routine cellular functions rather than actively regulate plant traits. Whether they can improve fruit quality without affecting plant growth remains unclear, making them worthy of further study.
Researchers from Nanjing Agricultural University and the University of Connecticut published a paper in the journal *Horticultural Research*, exploring this possibility using wild strawberries as an example. They focused on a housekeeping gene called FveIPT2. By genetically modifying the plants to increase the expression level of this gene, they observed a significant improvement in fruit quality.
Transgenic plants showed significantly higher levels of anthocyanins and terpenoids in mature fruits compared to wild-type plants, but showed no differences in growth, fruit size, or sugar content. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that housekeeping genes play only a passive role and highlights their enormous potential for crop improvement.
The FveIPT2 gene is involved in tRNA modification and is associated with the synthesis of cis-zeatin (a cytokinin). Unlike other cytokinin-related genes, which have a significant impact on plant growth, increased FveIPT2 activity causes only minor changes in overall cytokinin levels. Plant development proceeds normally, without any obvious abnormalities. Flowering and fruiting occur as expected, with no changes in fruit weight, shape, or sweetness.
Despite stable plant growth, the chemical composition of the fruits underwent significant changes. Levels of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds increased, resulting in a more intense red color. Detailed analysis revealed significant increases in the levels of nine specific anthocyanins, including compounds derived from cyanidin and pelargonidin, known for their antioxidant properties.
At the same time, the content of almost half of the terpenoid compounds detected increased. These terpenoid compounds include monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and triterpenes, which play an important role in aroma and flavor.
These changes aren’t limited to color and nutritional components. The levels of aromatic compounds associated with pleasant floral scents, such as linalool, increased. Conversely, the levels of compounds associated with pungent, resinous odors decreased. Gene expression studies confirmed that key pathways responsible for the production and transport of these compounds became more active.
Taken together, these results demonstrate that FveIPT2 can selectively improve fruit chemistry without inducing typical hormonal changes that affect growth.
The researchers noted, “This study demonstrates that what we commonly refer to as ‘housekeeping genes’ can have surprisingly specific and significant effects. By targeting tRNA-type genes rather than traditional hormone regulators, we were able to improve fruit color, flavor, and nutritional composition without affecting growth, whereas metabolic engineering typically has negative effects on growth. These results suggest that fundamental cellular pathways can subtly influence fruit quality, providing breeders with new tools that are both effective and gentle.”
The results demonstrate that FveIPT2 is a promising and effective method for improving the fruit quality of strawberries and other agricultural crops. Because this method increases the content of beneficial pigments and aromatic compounds without reducing yield or plant viability, it is particularly important for growing high-quality agricultural products.
More broadly, this study challenges the notion that housekeeping genes are only involved in routine cellular processes. By identifying their influence on secondary metabolism, the study suggests new strategies for increasing crop yields while maintaining quality.
This article is provided by the Academy of Sciences of Nanjing Agricultural University. Note: Content may require editing due to formatting and length requirements.
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Post time: May-08-2026
