A sorbitol transporter gene plays specific role in the occurrence of watercore by modulating the level of intercellular sorbitol in pear

•PpSOT3 had different expression pattern in watercore-susceptible (Akibae and Hosui) and watercore-resistant (Aikansui) pear cultivars of young fruit and mature fruit.•The accumulation of intercellular sorbitol in watercore fruit was significantly higher than that in healthy fruit, and the expression of PpSOT3 was significantly inhibited.•PpSOT3 was located in plasma membrane. Both transient overexpression and RNAi assays suggested PpSOT3 had the function of sorbitol uptake.•PpSOT3 was a PCMBS-sensitive sorbitol transporter. Watercore is a physiological disorder which often occurs on the fruits of pear and closely related to the influence of environment factors, such as high temperature. The excessive accumulation of sorbitol in fruit intercellular space is considered to be an important cause of watercore. Sorbitol transporter (SOT) is the key translocation protein of sorbitol and our previous study found the PpSOT3 expression was significantly decreased in high temperature induced-watercore pear fruit by transcriptome method. How PpSOT3 regulates the occurrence of watercore in pear remains unclear. The present study found that PpSOT3 had different expression pattern in watercore-susceptible (Akibae and Hosui) and watercore-resistant (Aikansui) pear cultivars of young fruit and mature fruit. Moreover, the accumulation of intercellular sorbitol in watercore fruit was significantly higher than that in healthy fruit, and the expression of PpSOT3 was significantly inhibited. After the treatment of sugar transport inhibitor (para-chloromercuribenzenesulphonic acid, PCMBS), the fruit pulp occurred water-soaking and the expression of PpSOT3 and the intercellular sorbitol content was significantly decreased and increased, respectively. Subcellular localization showed that PpSOT3 was located in plasma membrane. Both transient overexpression and RNAi assays suggested PpSOT3 had the function of sorbitol uptake. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PpSOT3 was a PCMBS-sensitive sorbitol transporter and played an important role in the occurrence of watercore by modulating the level of intercellular sorbitol content.