How blueberry genes control healthy fruit development and ripening

Greg Howard
17th November, 2025

How blueberry genes control healthy fruit development and ripening

Northern Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Photo adapted from: Shirley Zundell / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • Researchers identified 361 UGT genes in blueberry plants, categorizing them into 11 groups, revealing a complex system for hormone regulation
  • Gene duplication, both whole-genome and segmental, expanded the UGT family in blueberries, suggesting an evolutionary adaptation for diverse functions
  • A specific UGT gene, VcUGT160, is likely involved in modifying dihydrozeatin, a hormone promoting fruit growth, and is found in the cell nucleus and membrane
Blueberries are widely recognised for their health benefits, and their development relies on plant hormones that regulate growth. A crucial process in controlling hormone levels within the plant is glycosylation – the addition of a sugar molecule to another molecule. This is carried out by enzymes called UDP-glycosyltransferases, or UGTs. Despite the importance of blueberries, the specific UGT genes present in blueberry plants hadn’t been fully investigated until recently. Researchers at Jilin Agricultural University[1] have now completed a comprehensive study identifying and characterizing these genes. The study identified 361 UGT genes in blueberry ( Vaccinium species), categorizing them into 11 distinct groups. UGTs are known to evolve through gene duplication – where a gene is copied, leading to multiple versions. The researchers found that both whole-genome duplication (where the entire genome is copied) and segmental duplication (where sections of the genome are copied) contributed to the expansion of the UGT family in blueberries. Interestingly, while genes within the same group showed strong similarities, different groups were quite distinct from each other, suggesting specialized functions. This finding builds on earlier work that identified two main structural types of glycosyltransferases, GT-A and GT-B[2], and how they utilize different mechanisms for attaching sugar molecules. The blueberry study doesn’t directly address the structural folds of the identified UGTs, but it provides a foundation for future research to explore these details. The researchers focused on one particular group, Group G, and found evidence linking its members to the glycosylation of cytokinin, a plant hormone that promotes fruit enlargement. Specifically, they investigated dihydrozeatin, a type of cytokinin. To understand when and where these UGT genes are active, they used a technique called RT-qPCR, which measures gene expression levels in different tissues. The results indicated that VcUGTs (blueberry UGTs) are involved in fruit development. Further investigation focused on a single UGT gene, VcUGT160. They determined that this protein is located both within the cell nucleus and the cell membrane. This localization, combined with their other findings, suggests that VcUGT160 likely plays a role in the glycosylation of dihydrozeatin. This process is important because glycosylation can alter a hormone’s activity, transport, and overall stability within the plant[3]. Previous research has highlighted the importance of UGTs in a variety of plant processes, including responses to stress and defense mechanisms[3]. The blueberry study expands on this knowledge by demonstrating the role of UGTs in fruit development, specifically through hormone regulation. Similar genome-wide analyses have been conducted in other plants, such as maize and apple, identifying hundreds of UGT genes and grouping them into families[4][5]. The 11 groups identified in blueberry align with the broader understanding of UGT organization across the plant kingdom. The apple UGT study[5] also demonstrated how specific UGTs can enhance stress tolerance, and the blueberry research suggests a similar potential for improving blueberry resilience through manipulation of UGT genes. The identification of MdUGT83L3 in apple, regulated by MYB88, provides a model for understanding how transcription factors control UGT expression, a relationship that could also exist in blueberry. This research provides a valuable resource for future studies aimed at improving blueberry cultivation and understanding the complex hormonal regulation of fruit development.

FruitsGeneticsPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Genome-wide characterization of the UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGT) family and functional analysis of VcUGT160 involved in dihydrozeatin glycosylation during blueberry fruits development

Published 14th November, 2025

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-025-12267-5

Related Studies

2) Glycosyltransferases: structures, functions, and mechanisms.

https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.biochem.76.061005.092322

3) Phylogenetic analysis of the UDP-glycosyltransferase multigene family of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Journal: The Journal of biological chemistry, Issue: Vol 276, Issue 6, Feb 2001

4) Genome-wide identification and phylogenetic analysis of Family-1 UDP glycosyltransferases in maize (Zea mays).

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-014-2050-1

5) Genome-wide analysis of the apple family 1 glycosyltransferases identified a flavonoid-modifying UGT, MdUGT83L3, which is targeted by MdMYB88 and contributes to stress adaptation.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111314


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