The novel function of the bZIP transcription factor VSF-1 in mediating fruit firmness in tomato

Abstract Fruit firmness is a critical quality trait primarily governed by the structure and composition of the cell wall. While extensive research has focused on firmness dynamics during fruit ripening, the regulatory mechanisms governing its establishment during early fruit development remain poorly understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that VASCULAR SPECIFICITY FACTOR 1 (VSF-1), a member of the bZIP family, is activated in vitro by the key fruit softening regulator LOB1, suggesting its potential role in the regulation of fruit firmness. In this study, we generated both CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout and overexpression lines in tomato; functional analysis revealed that the loss of VSF-1 function reduced fruit firmness, whereas its overexpression enhanced it, thereby establishing VSF-1 as a positive regulator of firmness. By integrating transcriptomic and DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) profiling, we delineated the VSF-1-controlled gene regulatory network associated with cell wall remodeling and identified the β-galactosidase gene, TBG6, as a direct target. Our findings uncover a novel role for VSF-1 in the transcriptional regulation of tomato fruit texture, underscore the functional diversification within the Solanaceae bZIP subfamily I and provide new insights for the genetic improvement of fruit quality.