Transcriptome reveals endogenous hormone signal transduction and cell wall remodeling mediating compatibility in apple-pear intergeneric distant hybridization.

Endogenous hormone signaling and cell wall remodeling are key to apple-pear hybridization compatibility, with jasmonic acid regulation playing a central role.

• Why it matters: Understanding the molecular basis of distant hybridization barriers is essential for advancing fruit tree breeding and germplasm innovation, especially in woody species like apple and pear.
• What they did: The study conducted transcriptome sequencing on apple styles after intraspecific and intergeneric pollination, analyzing gene expression changes related to hormone pathways and cell wall genes.
• The result: Findings reveal that hormone signaling pathways and cell wall remodeling are similarly activated in both pollination types, providing insights into overcoming reproductive barriers in fruit tree hybridization.