Transcriptome-wide identification and expression profiling of the ERF gene family suggest roles as transcriptional activators and repressors of fruit ripening in durian

The involvement of the phytohormone ethylene as main trigger climacteric fruit ripening is well documented. However, our knowledge regarding role response factor (ERF) transcription in transcriptional regulation biosynthesis during remains limited. Here, comprehensive transcriptome analysis and expression profiling revealed 63 ERF s durian pulps, termed DzERF1 – DzERF63 , which 34 exhibited ripening-associated patterns at three stages (unripe, midripe, ripe) ripening. Hierarchical clustering classified DzERF into distinct clades, among which, clade I consisted downregulated III included those upregulated Phylogenetic predicted functions some DzERFs based on orthologs previously characterized ERFs. Among s, DzERF6 functional prediction its a negative regulator via biosynthetic gene repression, whereas genes, DzERF9 was to positively regulate biosynthesis. Correlation network with potential target genes strong correlation between positive showed differential association different treatments (natural, ethylene-induced, 1-methylcyclopropene-delayed ripening). downregulated, upregulated, after treatment. auxin-repressed auxin-induced respectively, confirmed dose-dependent responsiveness exogenous auxin. We suggest ethylene- auxin-mediated roles ripening, possibly through genes.