Genome wide identification of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (PbSNAT) gene family and their role in pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) fruit development

This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the PbSNAT gene family in <i>P. bretschneideri</i>. The conservation of sequence, structure, and expression patterns of <i>PbSNATs</i> suggests their conserved and divergent functional roles. The tissue-specific and fruit development-associated expression of <i>PbSNAT</i> genes, along with their correlation with MT abundance, indicates that they play crucial roles in pear growth and fruit development. Particularly, <i>PbSNAT1</i> and <i>PbSNAT46</i> may be key regulators of fruit setting, ripening, and MT biosynthesis in pear. These findings establish a valuable foundation for future functional studies and molecular breeding of pear.