VcoF3H2 mediates flavonol biosynthesis to promote pollen tube growth in blueberry.

Authors

Xueying Liu, Baofeng Zhang, Hong Su, Yanhong Zhang, Xiaochen Lu, Donglai Wang, Shan Lin, Xuan Luo, Fengjun Zhao, Guohui Huang, Hao Zhang, Wenjie Zhou

Published in

Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB. Volume 238. Pages 111625. Aug 05, 2026. Epub Aug 05, 2026.

Abstract

Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), a prominent third-generation small berry fruit, exhibits substantial nutritional, functional, and economic value, and is rich in flavonoids. Among these, flavonols are indispensable for pollen germination, growth, and fertility, and have a significant impact on fruit set and yield. As a core component of the flavonol biosynthetic pathway, flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) plays an essential role in regulating plant development, mediating stress responses, and modulating secondary metabolism. Therefore, investigating the regulatory mechanisms of F3H during pollen development in blueberry is of considerable scientific significance and practical value for ensuring successful pollination and fertilization, thereby enhancing fruit yield. In this study, we identified 12 F3H genes from five Vaccinium species (V. corymbosum, V. darrowii, V. duclouxii, V. macrocarpon, and V. myrtillus) and classified them into two subfamilies according to phylogenetic and structural characteristics. Different gene duplication patterns led to the expansion of the F3H family, while purifying selection served as a major force driving the evolution of F3H genes. In addition, analysis of expression patterns and subcellular localization demonstrated that VcoF3H2 is strongly expressed in pollen and primarily localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus. Furthermore, using antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (as-ODN) technology, chemical complementation assays, and in vivo fluorescence staining of pollen tubes, we confirmed that VcoF3H2 positively promotes blueberry pollen tube growth by modulating flavonol biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Taken together, our findings offer important insights and an experimental framework for exploring F3H gene function, expression, and evolution within Vaccinium species.

PMID:
42571745
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Aug 2026.

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