A FUL-SHP-AP2 module regulates fruit development in petunia

In Petunia x hybrida, AP2-like ROB genes cause the most severe pericarp patterning defects, including failure of dehiscence in rob1/2/3 mutants.

• Why it matters: Early fruit patterning is a key angiosperm innovation, but it is unclear whether a conserved gene regulatory network operates during early fruit development.
• What they did: Using reverse genetics, the study tested petunia homologs of FRUITFULL (FUL), SHATTERPROOF (SHP), and APETALA 2 (AP2) to define roles in pericarp development and hormonal signalling.
• The result: Petunia FUL-like genes redundantly regulate endocarp formation, while FBP6 (SHP-like) shows an opposite effect on endocarp cell morphology; ROB factors repress FUL-like activity and, with FBP6, oppositely regulate auxin/brassinosteroid signalling genes.

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