A 4.43-Kb deletion of chromosomal segment containing an ovate family protein confers long capsule in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Key message: A 4.43-Kb structural variation in the sesame genome results in the deletion of the Siofp1 gene and induces the long capsule length trait. Capsule length (CL) has a positive effect on seed weight and yield in various agronomically important species; however, the molecular mechanism underlying long capsule trait regulation in sesame remains unknown. The inheritance analysis showed that long capsule traits (CL > 4.0 cm) were dominant over normal length (average CL = 3.0 cm) and were controlled by a single gene pair. Association mapping with a RIL population and 259 natural sesame germplasm accessions indicated that the target interval was 52,830–730,961 bp of SiChr.10 in sesame. Meanwhile, the structural variation (SV) of the association mapping revealed that only SV_414325 on chromosome 10 was significantly associated with the CL trait, with a P value of 1.1135E−19. SV_414325 represents a 4430-bp deletion from 414,325 to 418,756 bp on SiChr.10, covering Sindi_2155000 (named SiOFP1). In the normal length type, Siofp1 encodes 411 amino acids of the ovate family proteins and is highly expressed in the leaf, stem, bud, and capsule tissues of sesame. In accordance with the transcriptional repressor character, Siofp1 overexpression in transgenic Arabidopsis (T0 and T1 generations) induced a 25–39% greater shortening of silique length than the wild type (P < 0.05), as well as round cauline leaves and short carpels. These results confirm that SiOFP1 plays a key role in regulating CL trait in sesame and other flowering plants. These findings provide a theoretical and material basis for sesame capsule development and high-yield breeding research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]