ERECTA Modulates Seed Germination and Fruit Development via Auxin Signaling in Tomato

Tomato ( ) breeding for improved fruit quality emphasizes selecting for desirable taste and characteristics, as well as enhancing disease resistance and yield. Seed germination is the initial step in the plant life cycle and directly affects crop productivity and yield. ERECTA (ER) is a receptor-like kinase (RLK) family protein known for its involvement in diverse developmental processes. We characterized a Micro-Tom EMS mutant designated as a knock-out mutant of . Our research reveals that plays a central role in controlling critical traits such as inflorescence development, seed number, and seed germination. The elevation in auxin levels and alterations in the expression of ( ) and in seeds compared to the WT indicate that modulates seed germination via auxin and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. Additionally, we detected an increase in auxin content in the ovary and changes in the expression of auxin synthesis genes ( ), , , and as well as auxin response genes ( ) and , suggesting that regulates fruit development via auxin signaling.