Transcriptional and Post-transcriptional Regulation of Tuberization in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The transition from juvenile to adult stage is an important switch in the plant's life cycle. Potato is a temperate staple food crop consumed globally. Potato tuberization is influenced by various environmental factors, such as light and temperature. The complex signaling network comprising hormones, sugars, phloem mobile signals, and transcriptional/post-transcriptional regulators determine potato tuber yield. For instance, StBEL5 and StSP6A translocate from leaves to stolon to activate tuberization. Here, polypyrimidine tract-binding proteins and sugar transporters such as SUT and SWEET11 facilitate the translocation. Additionally, post-transcriptional regulation mediated by miRNAs and small RNAs control the expression of StSP6A under elevated temperatures. This review provides mechanistic insights into the signaling networks comprising transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators that coordinate potato tuberization under photoperiod regimes and high-temperature conditions. Such signaling networks are under dynamic genetic and epigenetic regulation controlling potato tuberization. Also, the molecular dialogue between the source and sink tissues is highlighted. Such mechanistic information is crucial to develop climate-resilient cultivars to sustain potato productivity under changing climate. Together, genetic manipulation of these critical regulators by implementing modern biotechnological tools can be a promising approach to enhance tuber production in potato.