The transcription factor WRKY32 affects tomato fruit colour by regulating <i>YELLOW FRUITED-TOMATO 1</i>, a core component of ethylene signal transduction

Abstract Fruit quality in most fleshy fruit crops is fundamentally linked to ripening-associated traits, including changes colour. In many climacteric fruits, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), the phytohormone ethylene plays a key role regulating ripening. Previous map-based cloning of YELLOW FRUITED-TOMATO 1 (YFT1) revealed that it encodes EIN2 protein, core component signal transduction. A YFT1 allele with genetic lesion was found be down-regulated yft1 mutant has yellow phenotype and perturbed signalling. Based on bioinformatic analysis, yeast one hybrid assays electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we report transcription factor WRKY32 regulates colour formation. binds W-box W-box-like motifs regulatory region promoter induces its expression. fruits WRKY32-RNAi generated lines, signalling reduced, leading suppression emission, delay chromoplast development, decreased carotenoid accumulation, phenotype. These results provide new insights into networks govern formation via