A systems genetics approach reveals PbrNSC as a regulator of lignin and cellulose biosynthesis in stone cells of pear fruit. Pyrus pyrifolia

Stone cells in fruits of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) negatively influence fruit quality because their lignified cell walls impart a coarse and granular texture to the fruit flesh. We generated RNA-seq data from developing fruits of pear cultivars with a wide range of stone cell contents and used a systems genetics approach to characterize the regulatory mechanisms controlling lignocellulose formation in the stone cells of pear fruits.