Qijia Chen

Mr. Qijia Chen


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 November 2025 in Agronomy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GHGao Han
Gao Han
SCShen Chen
Shen Chen
YCYu Cheng
Yu Cheng
WWWeiwen Wu
Weiwen Wu
QCQijia Chen
Qijia Chen
HGHong-Sheng Gao
Hong-Sheng Gao
Gibberellins (GAs) are pivotal phytohormones regulating fruit development, yet the molecular mechanisms by which they modulate strawberry fruit size and quality remain elusive. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous GA3 on the fruit development of the cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Benihoppe’). Treatment with 20 mg/L GA3 significantly promoted fruit enlargement, advanced ripening by 7 days, and increased fruit weight and dimensions. Integrated transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic analyses revealed that GA3 application induced a substantial reprogramming of the endogenous hormone landscape, notably triggering a significant increase in auxin (IAA) levels. Transcriptome profiling identified numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with KEGG enrichment analysis highlighting the “plant hormone signal transduction” pathway as the most significantly enriched. Further analysis pinpointed key DEGs involved in auxin signaling (AUX/IAA, ARF, GH3, and SAUR) and gibberellin perception (GID1), suggesting a central role for auxin-mediated processes in GA3-induced fruit expansion. We propose that exogenous GA3 promotes strawberry fruit development through a synergistic mechanism: (1) enhancing the biosynthesis of endogenous bioactive GAs; (2) activating auxin signal transduction pathways to drive cell expansion; and (3) attenuating the repression of DELLA proteins. Our study unveils the critical role of the GA3-IAA signaling axis in strawberry fruit development, providing a theoretical foundation for harnessing hormone regulation to improve fruit yield and quality in strawberry production.