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

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.