Artificial Control of the <i>Prunus</i> Self-incompatibility System Using Antisense Oligonucleotides Against Pollen Genes

Prunus (Rosaceae) includes many commercially important fruit crop species that exhibit self-incompatibility (SI), including sweet cherry (P. avium L.), Japanese apricot mume Sieb. et Zucc.), plum salicina Lindl.), armeniaca and almond dulcis [Mill.] D. A. Webb.). These S-ribonuclease-based gametophytic SI, which prevents self-pollen tube growth in the pistil. The successful production of self-fertilized progeny accomplished by artificially overcoming SI barrier has not been reported Prunus, but self-compatible (SC) mutants with mutated pollen S determinant haplotype–specific F-box (SFB) or modifier M-locus encoded glutathione S-transferase-like (MGST) genes have identified used as SC cultivars breeding stocks. In this study, we suppressed translation SFB MGST mRNA using antisense oligonucleotides to overcome P. avium, mume, salicina. Over three years obtained ‘Sordum’ only when was knocked down. We also found average length self-pollinated pistil increased following treatment an oligonucleotide against SFB. This is first report regarding selfed disrupting SI. Our findings provide evidence loss function leads SC.