# The Transcription Factor AcMYC2 Alleviates Chilling Injury by Improving Cold Resistance of Kiwifruit ‘Taishan 1’

## TL;DR

Researchers found that the AcMYC2 gene helps kiwifruit resist cold damage during storage, which could improve preservation techniques.

## Contribution

The study identifies and validates AcMYC2 as a key gene enhancing cold tolerance in kiwifruit.

## Key findings

- AcMYC2 improves kiwifruit cold resistance through antioxidant activity and lipid metabolism.
- Gene overexpression in tomatoes confirmed AcMYC2's role in cold tolerance.
- The gene mitigates cell wall degradation during low-temperature storage.

## Abstract

Kiwifruit, classified as a respiratory climacteric fruit, faces challenges due to its limited resistance to storage and transportation. Although low-temperature storage is a cost-effective and widely used method, the cold injury it induces poses significant hurdles to industrial development. In this study, we selected ‘Taishan 1’, the dominant kiwifruit cultivar in Shandong Province, as the experimental material. Through transcriptome sequencing, we identified the key gene AcMYC2, which plays a crucial role in the kiwifruit’s response to low-temperature stress. Subsequently, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was performed on ‘Taishan 1’ kiwifruit, and gene overexpression was validated in tomatoes. The results demonstrated that AcMYC2 enhances cold tolerance in kiwifruit accompanied by multiple physiological processes, including antioxidant activity, lipid metabolism, and cell wall degradation. These findings offer significant insights into mitigating cold injury during low-temperature storage of kiwifruit and provide a theoretical foundation for advancing postharvest preservation techniques.