Epistatic interaction between CsCEN and CsSHBY in regulating indeterminate/determinate growth of lateral branch in cucumber

Key message Two genetic loci, det-ma ( CsCEN ) and det-lb , showed epistatic interaction on indeterminate/determinate growth of LB in cucumber. CsSHBY was identified as the candidate gene for det-lb locus. Abstract Plant architecture depends on the spatial regulation of meristems from both main axis (MA) and lateral branches (LBs). Fate (indeterminate or determinate) of these meristems is a crucial source of architectural diversity determining crop productivity and management. CENTRORADIALIS / TERMINAL FLOWER 1 / SELF-PRUNING ( CETS ) gene family have been well known as pivotal regulators for indeterminate/determinate growth of MA. Nevertheless, genes that regulate LB indeterminacy/determinacy remained unclear. Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) has typical monopodial growth and multiple lateral branches. Both MA and LBs had indeterminate or determinate growth, and indeterminate/determinate growth of LB was controlled by two distinct loci, det-ma ( CsCEN ) and det-lb . In our study, based on bulked segregant analysis (BSA) method, the det-lb locus was mapped on a 60.6 kb region on chromosome 1 harboring only one gene CsaV3_1G044330 , which encoded a putative vacuolar-sorting protein (designated as CsSHBY ). Multipoint mutations in CsSHBY were identified in D082 and D226, compared with CCMC, including nonsynonymous SNP mutations and a 6-bp deletion in exons. Further, qPCR showed that CsSHBY was highly expressed in lateral bud of CCMC, suggesting that CsSHBY might play an active role in regulating indeterminate/determinate growth of LB. Genetic analyses showed that det-ma ( CsCEN ) had an epistatic effect on det-lb ( CsSHBY ), and CsCEN could activate CsSHBY promoter by Dual luciferase and GUS activity assays. Meanwhile, Cscen or Csshby was found to influence auxin contents and CsYUCs and CsPINs expression levels. These findings provided new insights into precisely optimizing plant architecture for yield improvements.