Genetius

The study investigates the molecular basis of heat‑tolerant pollen tube growth in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) by comparing thermotolerant and sensitive cultivars. Using live imaging, transcriptomics, proteomics, and genetics, the authors identified the Rapid Alkalinization Factor (RALF) signaling pathway as a key regulator of pollen tube integrity under high temperature, with loss of a specific RALF peptide enhancing tube integrity in a thermotolerant cultivar.

Overexpression of the autophagy gene SlATG8f in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) up‑regulates autophagy‑related and heat‑shock protein genes, accelerating fruit ripening and improving fruit quality under high‑temperature stress. The study used qRT‑PCR to compare physiological and transcriptional responses in wild‑type and transgenic fruits across developmental stages, highlighting SlATG8f’s regulatory role in heat tolerance.