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Li X, Dong Y, Yu H, Zhao J, Yang F, Song W, Wang C, Liu J, Liang Q, Wang Y, Yang KQ, Fang H. A dual RNA-seq analyses revealed dynamic arms race during the invasion of walnut by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:653. [PMID: 38987678 PMCID: PMC11234561 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05368-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Walnut anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides seriously endangers the yield and quality of walnut, and has now become a catastrophic disease in the walnut industry. Therefore, understanding both pathogen invasion mechanisms and host response processes is crucial to defense against C. gloeosporioides infection. RESULTS Here, we investigated the mechanisms of interaction between walnut fruits (anthracnose-resistant F26 fruit bracts and anthracnose-susceptible F423 fruit bracts) and C. gloeosporioides at three infection time points (24hpi, 48hpi, and 72hpi) using a high-resolution time series dual transcriptomic analysis, characterizing the arms race between walnut and C. gloeosporioides. A total of 20,780 and 6670 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in walnut and C. gloeosporioides against 24hpi, respectively. Generous DEGs in walnut exhibited opposite expression patterns between F26 and F423, which indicated that different resistant materials exhibited different transcriptional responses to C. gloeosporioides during the infection process. KEGG functional enrichment analysis indicated that F26 displayed a broader response to C. gloeosporioides than F423. Meanwhile, the functional analysis of the C. gloeosporioides transcriptome was conducted and found that PHI, SignalP, CAZy, TCDB genes, the Fungal Zn (2)-Cys (6) binuclear cluster domain (PF00172.19) and the Cytochrome P450 (PF00067.23) were largely prominent in F26 fruit. These results suggested that C. gloeosporioides secreted some type of effector proteins in walnut fruit and appeared a different behavior based on the developmental stage of the walnut. CONCLUSIONS Our present results shed light on the arms race process by which C. gloeosporioides attacked host and walnut against pathogen infection, laying the foundation for the green prevention of walnut anthracnose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xichen Li
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yuhui Dong
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream, Areas of the Yellow River, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Haiyi Yu
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Fei Yang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Weichen Song
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Changxi Wang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jianning Liu
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qiang Liang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream, Areas of the Yellow River, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Yicheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Ke Qiang Yang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China.
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream, Areas of the Yellow River, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
| | - Hongcheng Fang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China.
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream, Areas of the Yellow River, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
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Mu Y, Dong Y, Li X, Gong A, Yu H, Wang C, Liu J, Liang Q, Yang K, Fang H. JrPHL8-JrWRKY4-JrSTH2L module regulates resistance to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in walnut. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhae148. [PMID: 38988616 PMCID: PMC11233879 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Walnut anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) reduces walnut yield and quality and seriously threatens the healthy development of the walnut industry. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are crucial regulatory factors involved in plant-pathogen interactions. Our previous transcriptome analysis results indicate that JrWRKY4 responds to infection by C. gloeosporioides, but its specific regulatory network and disease resistance mechanism are still unclear. Herein, the characteristics of JrWRKY4 as a transcription activator located in the nucleus were first identified. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function analyses showed that JrWRKY4 could enhance walnut resistance against C. gloeosporioides. A series of molecular experiments showed that JrWRKY4 directly interacted with the promoter region of JrSTH2L and positively regulated its expression. In addition, JrWRKY4 interacted with JrVQ4 to form the protein complex, which inhibited JrWRKY4 for the activation of JrSTH2L. Notably, a MYB TF JrPHL8 interacting with the JrWRKY4 promoter has also been identified, which directly bound to the MBS element in the promoter of JrWRKY4 and induced its activity. Our study elucidated a novel mechanism of the JrPHL8-JrWRKY4-JrSTH2L in regulating walnut resistance to anthracnose. This mechanism improves our understanding of the molecular mechanism of WRKY TF mediated resistance to anthracnose in walnut, which provides new insights for molecular breeding of disease-resistant walnuts in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutian Mu
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Yuhui Dong
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Xichen Li
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Andi Gong
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Haiyi Yu
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Changxi Wang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Jianning Liu
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Qiang Liang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Keqiang Yang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Hongcheng Fang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
- Mountain Tai Forest Ecosystem Research Station of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, Taian 271018, Shandong, China
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Zhou H, Ma J, Liu H, Zhao P. Genome-Wide Identification of the CBF Gene Family and ICE Transcription Factors in Walnuts and Expression Profiles under Cold Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:25. [PMID: 38203199 PMCID: PMC10778614 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cold stress impacts woody tree growth and perennial production, especially when the temperature rapidly changes in late spring. To address this issue, we conducted the genome-wide identification of two important transcription factors (TFs), CBF (C-repeat binding factors) and ICE (inducers of CBF expression), in three walnut (Juglans) genomes. Although the CBF and ICE gene families have been identified in many crops, very little systematic analysis of these genes has been carried out in J. regia and J. sigillata. In this study, we identified a total of 16 CBF and 12 ICE genes in three Juglans genomes using bioinformatics analysis. Both CBF and ICE had conserved domains, motifs, and gene structures, which suggests that these two TFs were evolutionarily conserved. Most ICE genes are located at both ends of the chromosomes. The promoter cis-regulatory elements of CBF and ICE genes are largely involved in light and phytohormone responses. Based on 36 RNA sequencing of leaves from four walnut cultivars ('Zijing', 'Lvling', 'Hongren', and 'Liao1') under three temperature conditions (8 °C, 22 °C, and 5 °C) conditions in late spring, we found that the ICE genes were expressed more highly than CBFs. Both CBF and ICE proteins interacted with cold-related proteins, and many putative miRNAs had interactions with these two TFs. These results determined that CBF1 and ICE1 play important roles in the tolerance of walnut leaves to rapid temperature changes. Our results provide a useful resource on the function of the CBF and ICE genes related to cold tolerance in walnuts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Zhou
- Xi’an Botanical Garden of Shaanxi Province, Institute of Botany of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710061, China;
| | - Jiayu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China; (J.M.); (H.L.)
| | - Hengzhao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China; (J.M.); (H.L.)
| | - Peng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China; (J.M.); (H.L.)
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Yuan G, Zhang N, Zou Y, Hao Y, Pan J, Liu Y, Zhang W, Li B. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of WRKY gene family members in red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1289507. [PMID: 38130488 PMCID: PMC10733489 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1289507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Trifolium pratense is an important legume forage grass and a key component of sustainable livestock development. Serving as an essential component, the WRKY gene family, a crucial group of regulatory transcription factors in plants, holds significant importance in their response to abiotic stresses. However, there has been no systematic analysis conducted on the WRKY gene family in Trifolium pratense. This study conducted a comprehensive genomic characterization of the WRKY gene family in Trifolium pratense, utilizing the latest genomic data, resulting in the identification of 59 TpWRKY genes. Based on their structural features, phylogenetic characteristics, and conserved motif composition, the WRKY proteins were classified into three groups, with group II further subdivided into five subgroups (II-a, II-b, II-c, II-d, and II-e). The majority of the TpWRKYs in a group share a similar structure and motif composition. Intra-group syntenic analysis revealed eight pairs of duplicate segments. The expression patterns of 59 TpWRKY genes in roots, stems, leaves, and flowers were examined by analyzing RNA-seq data. The expression of 12 TpWRKY genes under drought, low-temperature (4°C), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA) stresses was analyzed by RT-qPCR. The findings indicated that TpWRKY46 was highly induced by drought stress, and TpWRKY26 and TpWRKY41 were significantly induced by low temperature stress. In addition, TpWRKY29 and TpWRKY36 were greatly induced by MeJA stress treatment, and TpWRKY17 was significantly upregulated by ABA stress treatment. In this research, we identified and comprehensively analyzed the structural features of the WRKY gene family in T.pratense, along with determined the possible roles of WRKY candidate genes in abiotic stress. These discoveries deepen our understandings of how WRKY transcription factors contribute to species evolution and functional divergence, laying a solid molecular foundation for future exploration and study of stress resistance mechanisms in T.pratense.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Weiguo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
| | - Beibei Li
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
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Javed T, Gao SJ. WRKY transcription factors in plant defense. Trends Genet 2023; 39:787-801. [PMID: 37633768 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Environmental stressors caused by climate change are fundamental barriers to agricultural sustainability. Enhancing the stress resilience of crops is a key strategy in achieving global food security. Plants perceive adverse environmental conditions and initiate signaling pathways to activate precise responses that contribute to their survival. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are essential players in several signaling cascades and regulatory networks that have crucial implications for defense responses in plants. This review summarizes advances in research concerning how WRKY TFs mediate various signaling cascades and metabolic adjustments as well as how epigenetic modifications involved in environmental stress responses in plants can modulate WRKYs and/or their downstream genes. Emerging research shows that clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas)-mediated genome editing of WRKYs could be used to improve crop resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talha Javed
- National Engineering Research Center for Sugarcane, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - San-Ji Gao
- National Engineering Research Center for Sugarcane, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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6
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Wang C, Ye D, Li Y, Hu P, Xu R, Wang X. Genome-wide identification and bioinformatics analysis of the WRKY transcription factors and screening of candidate genes for anthocyanin biosynthesis in azalea ( Rhododendron simsii). Front Genet 2023; 14:1172321. [PMID: 37234867 PMCID: PMC10206045 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1172321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
WRKY transcription factors have been demonstrated to influence the anthocyanin biosynthesis in many plant species. However, there is limited knowledge about the structure and function of WRKY genes in the major ornamental plant azalea (Rhododendron simsii). In this study, we identified 57 RsWRKY genes in the R. simsii genome and classified them into three main groups and several subgroups based on their structural and phylogenetic characteristics. Comparative genomic analysis suggested WRKY gene family has significantly expanded during plant evolution from lower to higher species. Gene duplication analysis indicated that the expansion of the RsWRKY gene family was primarily due to whole-genome duplication (WGD). Additionally, selective pressure analysis (Ka/Ks) suggested that all RsWRKY duplication gene pairs underwent purifying selection. Synteny analysis indicated that 63 and 24 pairs of RsWRKY genes were orthologous to Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, respectively. Furthermore, RNA-seq data was used to investigate the expression patterns of RsWRKYs, revealing that 17 and 9 candidate genes may be associated with anthocyanin synthesis at the bud and full bloom stages, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in Rhododendron species and lay the foundation for future functional studies of WRKY genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wang
- Key Laboratory for Quality Control of Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables of Hubei Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
| | - Dan Ye
- Key Laboratory for Quality Control of Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables of Hubei Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Biology and Chemical Engineering, Weihai Vocational College, Weihai, China
| | - Peiling Hu
- Key Laboratory for Quality Control of Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables of Hubei Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
| | - Run Xu
- Key Laboratory for Quality Control of Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables of Hubei Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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Qian C, Li L, Guo H, Zhu G, Yang N, Tan X, Zhao H. Genome-Wide Analysis of DREB Family Genes and Characterization of Cold Stress Responses in the Woody Plant Prunus nana. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040811. [PMID: 37107569 PMCID: PMC10137973 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Dehydration response element binding factor (DREB) is a family of plant-specific transcription factors, whose members participate in the regulation of plant responses to various abiotic stresses. Prunus nana, also known as the wild almond, is a member of the Rosaceae family that is rare and found to grow in the wild in China. These wild almond trees are found in hilly regions in northern Xinjiang, and exhibit greater drought and cold stress resistance than cultivated almond varieties. However, the response of P. nana DREBs (PnaDREBs) under low temperature stress is still unclear. In this study, 46 DREB genes were identified in the wild almond genome, with this number being slightly lower than that in the sweet almond (Prunus dulcis cultivar ‘Nonpareil’). These DREB genes in wild almond were separated into two classes. All PnaDREB genes were located on six chromosomes. PnaDREB proteins that were classified in the same groups contained specific shared motifs, and promoter analyses revealed that PnaDREB genes harbored a range of stress-responsive elements associated with drought, low-temperature stress, light responsivity, and hormone-responsive cis-regulatory elements within their promoter regions. MicroRNA target site prediction analyses also suggested that 79 miRNAs may regulate the expression of 40 of these PnaDREB genes, with PnaDREB2. To examine if these identified PnaDREB genes responded to low temperature stress, 15 of these genes were selected including seven homologous to Arabidopsis C-repeat binding factor (CBFs), and their expression was assessed following incubation for 2 h at 25 °C, 5 °C, 0 °C, −5 °C, or −10 °C. In summary, this analysis provides an overview of the P. nana PnaDREB gene family and provides a foundation for further studies of the ability of different PnaDREB genes to regulate cold stress responses in almond plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Qian
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Lulu Li
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Huanhuan Guo
- Zhengzhou Botanical Garden, Zhengzhou 450042, China
| | - Gaopu Zhu
- Research Institute of Non-Timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou 450014, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Qingdao Landscape and Forestry Integrated Service Center, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xiaoyan Tan
- Qingdao Landscape and Forestry Integrated Service Center, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Han Zhao
- Research Institute of Non-Timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou 450014, China
- Correspondence:
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Li J, Xiong C, Ruan D, Du W, Li H, Ruan C. Identification of Camellia oleifera WRKY transcription factor genes and functional characterization of CoWRKY78. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1110366. [PMID: 36968410 PMCID: PMC10036053 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1110366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Camellia oleifera Abel is a highly valued woody edible oil tree, which is endemic to China. It has great economic value because C. oleifera seed oil contains a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids. C. oleifera anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum fructicola, poses a serious threat to C. oleifera growth and yield and causes the benefit of the C. oleifera industry to suffer directly. The WRKY transcription factor family members have been widely characterized as vital regulators in plant response to pathogen infection. Until now, the number, type and biological function of C. oleifera WRKY genes are remains unknown. Here, we identified 90 C. oleifera WRKY members, which were distributed across 15 chromosomes. C. oleifera WRKY gene expansion was mainly attributed to segmental duplication. We performed transcriptomic analyses to verify the expression patterns of CoWRKYs between anthracnose-resistant and -susceptible cultivars of C. oleifera. These results demonstrated that multiple candidate CoWRKYs can be induced by anthracnose and provide useful clues for their functional studies. CoWRKY78, an anthracnose-induced WRKY gene, was isolated from C. oleifera. It was significantly down-regulated in anthracnose-resistant cultivars. Overexpression of CoWRKY78 in tobacco markedly reduced resistance to anthracnose than WT plants, as evidenced by more cell death, higher malonaldehyde content and reactive oxygen species (ROS), but lower activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), as well as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). Furthermore, the expression of multiple stress-related genes, which are associated with ROS-homeostasis (NtSOD and NtPOD), pathogen challenge (NtPAL), and pathogen defense (NtPR1, NtNPR1, and NtPDF1.2) were altered in the CoWRKY78-overexpressing plants. These findings increase our understanding of the CoWRKY genes and lay the foundation for the exploration of anthracnose resistance mechanisms and expedite the breeding of anthracnose-resistant C. oleifera cultivars.
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Luo X, Zhou H, Cao D, Yan F, Chen P, Wang J, Woeste K, Chen X, Fei Z, An H, Malvolti M, Ma K, Liu C, Ebrahimi A, Qiao C, Ye H, Li M, Lu Z, Xu J, Cao S, Zhao P. Domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnuts (Juglans regia). PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010513. [PMID: 36477175 PMCID: PMC9728896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Walnut (Juglans) species are economically important hardwood trees cultivated worldwide for both edible nuts and high-quality wood. Broad-scale assessments of species diversity, evolutionary history, and domestication are needed to improve walnut breeding. In this study, we sequenced 309 walnut accessions from around the world, including 55 Juglans relatives, 98 wild Persian walnuts (J. regia), 70 J. regia landraces, and 86 J. regia cultivars. The phylogenetic tree indicated that J. regia samples (section Dioscaryon) were monophyletic within Juglans. The core areas of genetic diversity of J. regia germplasm were southwestern China and southern Asia near the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Himalayas, and the uplift of the Himalayas was speculated to be the main factor leading to the current population dynamics of Persian walnut. The pattern of genomic variation in terms of nucleotide diversity, linkage disequilibrium, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and insertions/deletions revealed the domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnut. Selective sweep analysis, GWAS, and expression analysis further identified two transcription factors, JrbHLH and JrMYB6, that influence the thickness of the nut diaphragm as loci under selection during domestication. Our results elucidate the domestication and selection footprints in Persian walnuts and provide a valuable resource for the genomics-assisted breeding of this important crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Luo
- College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huijuan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Xi’an Botanical Garden of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an, China
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Da Cao
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
- Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Feng Yan
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Pengpeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiangtao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Keith Woeste
- USDA Forest Service Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC), Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Xin Chen
- Shandong Institute of Pomology, National Germplasm Repository of Walnut and Chestnut, Tai’an, China
| | - Zhangjun Fei
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Hong An
- Bioinformatics and Analytics Core, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Maria Malvolti
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Porano, Terni, Italy
| | - Kai Ma
- Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Chaobin Liu
- Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aziz Ebrahimi
- USDA Forest Service Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC), Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Chengkui Qiao
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Mengdi Li
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhenhua Lu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiabao Xu
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail: (JX); (SC); (PZ)
| | - Shangying Cao
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
- * E-mail: (JX); (SC); (PZ)
| | - Peng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- * E-mail: (JX); (SC); (PZ)
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10
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Zhou R, Dong Y, Liu X, Feng S, Wang C, Ma X, Liu J, Liang Q, Bao Y, Xu S, Lang X, Gai S, Yang KQ, Fang H. JrWRKY21 interacts with JrPTI5L to activate the expression of JrPR5L for resistance to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in walnut. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 111:1152-1166. [PMID: 35765867 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Walnut (Juglans regia L.) anthracnose, induced by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is a catastrophic disease impacting the walnut industry in China. Although WRKY transcription factors play a key role in plant immunity, the function of the WRKY gene family in walnut resistance to C. gloeosporioides is not clear. Here, through transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), we identified a differentially expressed gene, JrWRKY21, that was significantly upregulated upon C. gloeosporioides infection in walnut. JrWRKY21 positively regulated walnut resistance to C. gloeosporioides, as demonstrated by virus-induced gene silencing and transient gene overexpression. Additionally, JrWRKY21 directly interacted with the transcriptional activator of the pathogenesis-related (PR) gene JrPTI5L in vitro and in vivo, and could bind to the W-box in the JrPTI5L promoter for transcriptional activation. Moreover, JrPTI5L could induce the expression of the PR gene JrPR5L through binding to the GCCGAC motif in the promoter. Our data support that JrWRKY21 can indirectly activate the expression of the JrPR5L gene via the WRKY21-PTI5L protein complex to promote resistance against C. gloeosporioides in walnut. The results will enhance our understanding of the mechanism behind walnut disease resistance and facilitate the genetic improvement of walnut by molecular breeding for anthracnose-resistant varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhou
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yuhui Dong
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in the Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Taishan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shan Feng
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Changxi Wang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xinmei Ma
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jianning Liu
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qiang Liang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in the Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Taishan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yan Bao
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shengyi Xu
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xinya Lang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shasha Gai
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Ke Qiang Yang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in the Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Taishan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hongcheng Fang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in the Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Taishan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
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11
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Wei YL, Jin JP, Liang D, Gao J, Li J, Xie Q, Lu CQ, Yang FX, Zhu GF. Genome-wide identification of Cymbidium sinense WRKY gene family and the importance of its Group III members in response to abiotic stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:969010. [PMID: 35968117 PMCID: PMC9365948 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.969010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) of the WRKY family play pivotal roles in defense responses and secondary metabolism of plants. Although WRKY TFs are well documented in numerous plant species, no study has performed a genome-wide investigation of the WRKY gene family in Cymbidium sinense. In the present work, we found 64 C. sinense WRKY (CsWRKY) TFs, and they were further divided into eight subgroups. Chromosomal distribution of CsWRKYs revealed that the majority of these genes were localized on 16 chromosomes, especially on Chromosome 2. Syntenic analysis implied that 13 (20.31%) genes were derived from segmental duplication events, and 17 orthologous gene pairs were identified between Arabidopsis thaliana WRKY (AtWRKY) and CsWRKY genes. Moreover, 55 of the 64 CsWRKYs were detectable in different plant tissues in response to exposure to plant hormones. Among them, Group III members were strongly induced in response to various hormone treatments, indicating their potential essential roles in hormone signaling. We subsequently analyzed the function of CsWRKY18 in Group III. The CsWRKY18 was localized in the nucleus. The constitutive expression of CsWRKY18 in Arabidopsis led to enhanced sensitivity to ABA-mediated seed germination and root growth and elevated plant tolerance to abiotic stress within the ABA-dependent pathway. Overall, our study represented the first genome-wide characterization and functional analysis of WRKY TFs in C. sinense, which could provide useful clues about the evolution and functional description of CsWRKY genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Feng-Xi Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, Environmental Horticulture Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gen-Fa Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, Environmental Horticulture Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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12
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Wang XJ, Peng XQ, Shu XC, Li YH, Wang Z, Zhuang WB. Genome-wide identification and characterization of PdbHLH transcription factors related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in colored-leaf poplar (Populus deltoids). BMC Genomics 2022; 23:244. [PMID: 35350981 PMCID: PMC8962177 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08460-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are transcription factors (TFs) that have been shown to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in many plant species. However, the bHLH gene family in Populus deltoids has not yet been reported. In this study, 185 PdbHLH genes were identified in the Populus deltoids genome and were classified into 15 groups based on their sequence similarity and phylogenetic relationships. Analysis of the gene structure, chromosome location and conserved motif of the PdbHLH genes were performed by bioinformatic methods. Gene duplication analyses revealed that 114 PdbHLH were expanded and retained after WGD/segmental and proximal duplication. Investigation of cis-regulatory elements of PdbHLH genes indicated that many PdbHLH genes are involved in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. The expression patterns of PdbHLHs were obtained from previous data in two colored-leaf poplar (QHP and JHP) and green leaf poplar (L2025). Further analysis revealed that 12 candidate genes, including 3 genes (PdbHLH57, PdbHLH143, and PdbHLH173) from the subgroup III(f) and 9 gene from other groups, were positively associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. In addition, 4 genes (PdbHLH4, PdbHLH1, PdbHLH18, and PdbHLH164) may be involved in negatively regulating the anthocyanin biosynthesis. These results provide a basis for the functional characterization of bHLH genes and investigations on the molecular mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis in colored-leaf poplar.
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13
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Wang Y, Zhu R, Shi M, Huang Q, Zhang S, Kai G, Guo S. Genome-Wide Identification and Comparative Analysis of WRKY Transcription Factors Related to Momilactone Biosynthesis in Calohypnum plumiforme. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.809729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Momilactones are diterpenoid phytoalexins with allelopathic functions, which have been found in the widely distributed bryophyte Calohypnum plumiforme. Clustered genes containing CpDTC1/HpDTC1, CpCYP970A14, CpCYP964A1, and CpMAS are involved in momilactone biosynthesis. Besides, momilactone concentration in C. plumiforme is affected by heavy metal treatment such as CuCl2. However, transcription factors which might regulate momilactone biosynthesis are unclear. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) regulate phytoalexin biosynthesis in many plant species. In this study, a systematic analysis of the WRKY TFs was performed according to the C. plumiforme genome. A total of 19 CpWRKY genes were identified and categorized into five subgroups based on their phylogenetic relationship. Conserved domain and motif analysis suggested that the WRKY domain was highly conserved, but there were some variations. Cis-acting elements and binding sites analysis implied that CpWRKY genes might be induced by stress and further regulate the biosynthesis of momilactones. Our study lays a foundation for further functional characterization of the candidate CpWRKY genes involved in the regulation of momilactone biosynthesis, and provides new strategies for increasing momilactone production.
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14
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Wu W, Zhu S, Xu L, Zhu L, Wang D, Liu Y, Liu S, Hao Z, Lu Y, Yang L, Shi J, Chen J. Genome-wide identification of the Liriodendron chinense WRKY gene family and its diverse roles in response to multiple abiotic stress. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:25. [PMID: 35012508 PMCID: PMC8744262 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03371-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liriodendron chinense (Lchi) is a tree species within the Magnoliaceae family and is considered a basal angiosperm. The too low or high temperature or soil drought will restrict its growth as the adverse environmental conditions, thus improving L. chinense abiotic tolerance was the key issues to study. WRKYs are a major family of plant transcription factors known to often be involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses. So far, it is still largely unknown if and how the LchiWRKY gene family is tied to regulating L. chinense stress responses. Therefore, studying the involvement of the WRKY gene family in abiotic stress regulation in L. chinense could be very informative in showing how this tree deals with such stressful conditions. RESULTS In this research, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the Liriodendron chinense (Lchi) WRKY gene family, studying their classification relationships, gene structure, chromosomal locations, gene duplication, cis-element, and response to abiotic stress. The 44 members of the LchiWRKY gene family contain a significant amount of sequence diversity, with their lengths ranging from 525 bp to 40,981 bp. Using classification analysis, we divided the 44 LchiWRKY genes into three phylogenetic groups (I, II, II), with group II then being further divided into five subgroups (IIa, IIb, IIc, IId, IIe). Comparative phylogenetic analysis including the WRKY families from 17 plant species suggested that LchiWRKYs are closely related to the Magnolia Cinnamomum kanehirae WRKY family, and has fewer family members than higher plants. We found the LchiWRKYs to be evenly distributed across 15 chromosomes, with their duplication events suggesting that tandem duplication may have played a major role in LchiWRKY gene expansion model. A Ka/Ks analysis indicated that they mainly underwent purifying selection and distributed in the group IId. Motif analysis showed that LchiWRKYs contained 20 motifs, and different phylogenetic groups contained conserved motif. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that LchiWRKYs were mainly enriched in two categories, i.e., biological process and molecular function. Two group IIc members (LchiWRKY10 and LchiWRKY37) contain unique WRKY element sequence variants (WRKYGKK and WRKYGKS). Gene structure analysis showed that most LchiWRKYs possess 3 exons and two different types of introns: the R- and V-type which are both contained within the WRKY domain (WD). Additional promoter cis-element analysis indicated that 12 cis-elements that play different functions in environmental adaptability occur across all LchiWRKY groups. Heat, cold, and drought stress mainly induced the expression of group II and I LchiWRKYs, some of which had undergone gene duplication during evolution, and more than half of which had three exons. LchiWRKY33 mainly responded to cold stress and LchiWRKY25 mainly responded to heat stress, and LchiWRKY18 mainly responded to drought stress, which was almost 4-fold highly expressed, while 5 LchiWRKYs (LchiWRKY5, LchiWRKY23, LchiWRKY14, LchiWRKY27, and LchiWRKY36) responded equally three stresses with more than 6-fold expression. Subcellular localization analysis showed that all LchiWRKYs were localized in the nucleus, and subcellular localization experiments of LchiWRKY18 and 36 also showed that these two transcription factors were expressed in the nucleus. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that in Liriodendron chinense, several WRKY genes like LchiWRKY33, LchiWRKY25, and LchiWRKY18, respond to cold or heat or drought stress, suggesting that they may indeed play a role in regulating the tree's response to such conditions. This information will prove a pivotal role in directing further studies on the function of the LchiWRKY gene family in abiotic stress response and provides a theoretical basis for popularizing afforestation in different regions of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihuang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sheng Zhu
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liming Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Siqin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaodong Hao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ye Lu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liming Yang
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jisen Shi
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinhui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education of China, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
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15
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Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the WRKY Gene Family and Cold Stress Response in Acer truncatum. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121867. [PMID: 34946815 PMCID: PMC8701280 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
WRKY transcription factors constitute one of the largest gene families in plants and are involved in many biological processes, including growth and development, physiological metabolism, and the stress response. In earlier studies, the WRKY gene family of proteins has been extensively studied and analyzed in many plant species. However, information on WRKY transcription factors in Acer truncatum has not been reported. In this study, we conducted genome-wide identification and analysis of the WRKY gene family in A. truncatum, 54 WRKY genes were unevenly located on all 13 chromosomes of A. truncatum, the highest number was found in chromosomes 5. Phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, and conserved motif identification were constructed, and the results affirmed 54 AtruWRKY genes were divided into nine subgroup groups. Tissue species analysis of AtruWRKY genes revealed which were differently exhibited upregulation in flower, leaf, root, seed and stem, and the upregulation number were 23, 14, 34, 18, and 8, respectively. In addition, the WRKY genes expression in leaf under cold stress showed that more genes were significantly expressed under 0, 6 and 12 h cold stress. The results of this study provide a new insight the regulatory function of WRKY genes under abiotic and biotic stresses.
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