番茄是重要的园艺作物和果实发育研究的典型模式植物，生产上普遍存在坐果率低、果实大小和形状不整齐等严重影响产量和质量的问题。番茄果实发育经历开花受精、坐果、膨大、成熟等过程。其中，以成熟研究最为深入，而果实生长发育研究相对不足。本项目以番茄为对象，针对果实发育过程中的坐果、果实大小、形状、硬度和着色等与产量和商品性密切相关的性状开展研究，发掘重要调控基因并阐明其分子机制。一方面结合利用关联分析和连锁分析发掘控制果重与果形的新基因，并鉴定其功能；另一方面深入研究本组已克隆的重要基因：与坐果相关Wo和SlIAA、硬度相关nsLTP以及调控着色基因TDR4等，鉴定其功能，并通过RNA-seq、蛋白/蛋白和蛋白/DNA互作等手段研究这些基因所参与的调控网络及调控机制。本研究的完成将有助于揭示果实生长发育分子机制，拓展果实产量及品质形成的理论，也为园艺作物果实产量和品质的遗传改良提供理论依据。

Tomato is an important horticultural crop, and as well a model plant for fruit development study. Problems such as poor fruit-set, non-uniform fruit size and shape, which greatly affect the yield and quality, are constantly faced in growing of fruit-bearing horticultural crops. Tomato fruit formation experiences several developmental stages to become edible, including fruit setting, enlargement, maturation and coloring. Recent research is rather focused on tomato fruit ripening, while the fruit formation and growth are of significance as fruit ripening. This project aims at the study of such most important fruit traits, as fruit set, fruit size and shape, fruit firmness and fruit color, which are major components of fruit yield and market attributes. We aim to reveal those key novel genes underlying fruit formation and development, thus to elucidate their biological functions and mechanisms. Strategically, genome-wide association study together with classical linkage analysis will be integrated in this study to explore these genes regulating fruit size and shape, and their functions. At the same time, four previously isolated genes, Wo and SlIAA9 (regulating fruit set), nsLTP (controlling fruit firmness) and TDR4 (regulating fruit color) will be further elucidated to unravel the molecular mechanisms by using approaches of RNAseq, protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. The findings in this project will deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of fruit growth and development, enrich the theory involving the formation of fruit quality and yield, and lay a solid foundation for the genetic improvement of fruit development and yield.