Three-dimensional fruit growth analysis clarifies developmental mechanisms underlying complex shape diversity in persimmon fruit.

This article focuses on the use of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) scanning and transcriptome analysis to investigate fruit shape development in 51 cultivars of persimmon (Diospyros kaki), particularly examining complex features such as vertical and horizontal grooves. The study generated 2380 precise 3D fruit models enabling automated measurement of shape attributes throughout development, revealing that vertical groove depth is largely determined early in fruit growth and is associated with variations in cell number at carpel fusion zones. Transcriptomic comparisons between grooved and non-grooved tissues identified differentially expressed genes related to cell wall development and cell fate, notably implicating YABBY homologs as key molecular contributors to vertical groove depth variation. The findings demonstrate that differential tissue growth patterns and genetic regulation underlie the complex fruit shape traits in persimmon, highlighting the advantages of 3D phenotyping over traditional two-dimensional methods for capturing morphological diversity.