Molecular Dissection of the SlBAG9 Promoter from Tomato and Its Thermo-Regulatory Activity

Genomic characterization, expression and functional analysis of the plant homeodomain (PHD) family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under abiotic stresses

Together, these findings provide a foundation for functional characterization and useful information for future research on the role of SlPHD family members in plant abiotic stress tolerance.

Genome-Wide Dissection of the TCP Gene Family in Peach and Expression Analysis Under Drought Stress

The results of STRING-based computer simulations predicting protein–protein interactions indicate that PpTCP3 and PpTCP5 interact with key hormone pathways and stress-related transcription factors (TFs), including auxin signaling and strigolactone signaling.

Cold-induced SlPAL3 confers cold tolerance in tomato through interacting with putative transcription factor SlMYB58.

Cold stress severely restricts tomato growth, yield, and geographical distribution. However, the molecular mechanisms governing phenylpropanoid-mediated cold tolerance remain incompletely understood, especially the upstream regulators of specific phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) isoforms. In this study, we functionally characterized SlPAL3 and identified its putative upstream transcriptional activator SlMYB58 in tomato. Using phylogenetic analysis, subcellular localization, and the generation of CRISPR-Cas9 knockout (CR) and overexpression (OE) transgenic lines, we demonstrated that cytoplasm-localized SlPAL3 positively regulates cold tolerance. Under 4 °C treatment, OE-SlPAL3 plants exhibited enhanced phenotypes, including significantly higher peroxidase activity (2.2~3.1-fold), proline accumulation (2.1~2.6-fold), and lignin content (1.6~2.0-fold) compared to wild-type plants. In contrast, CR lines showed severe wilting and compromised physiological responses. Notably, SlPAL3 overexpression substantially reduced the accumulation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, as visualized by NBT and DAB staining, and upregulated cold-responsive markers, including SlSGR, SlABI1, and SlSOD. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays revealed that putative SlMYB58, a conserved R2R3-MYB transcription factor, directly binds to and activates the SlPAL3 promoter. Collectively, these findings establish the SlMYB58-SlPAL3 module as a novel regulatory axis that integrates transcriptional activation with phenylpropanoid metabolism under cold stress. This study provides a mechanistic framework for understanding cold-induced metabolic reprogramming in tomato and identifies a strategic genetic target for breeding cold-tolerant tomato cultivars.

The SlDREBA4-SlASIL2 module mediates tomato thermotolerance by regulating the expression of SlHSP20/90

Genome-wide analysis of the pectin acetylesterase (PAE) gene family in tomato and SlPAE16 functional characterization associated with pedicel abscission.

Pectin acetylesterase (PAE) regulates pectin acetylation, which affects plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. While their functions are well-defined in models like Arabidopsis, we still know surprisingly little about how they operate in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). We identified 17 SlPAE genes using tomato genome-wide analysis. These genes were classified phylogenetically into three conserved subfamilies, with branch members sharing domain architectures, motifs, and genomic structure. Promoter cis-element analysis identified multiple motifs related to hormone signaling, light response, and stress response. Spatiotemporal expression patterns obtained via qRT-PCR revealed the functional roles of SlPAE genes. Notably, silencing SlPAE16 effectively retarded pedicel abscission, a process mediated by the inhibition of TAPG1/2/4 expression. These findings clarify the functional diversity within the PAE gene family, providing a much-needed framework for future research into their specific biological roles in tomatoes.

Identification of salt and drought resistance function of maize transcription factor ZmEREB54

AP2/ERF (APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor) represents one of the largest transcription factor superfamilies in plants, playing crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development as well as responding to abiotic stresses. Investigating the functions of maize (Zea mays L.) AP2/ERF family genes will provide novel genetic resources for maize genetic improvement. In this study, the AP2/ERF transcription factor superfamily member ZmEREB54 (GRMZM2G020054, Gene ID: 100,278,463) was cloned from maize and was systematically analyzed functionally. The full-length CDS of ZmEREB54 gene was 561 bp, encoding 186 amino acids with a typical AP2/ERF conserved domain. Its promoter region contained cis-acting elements associated with responses to various abiotic stresses and hormones. Maize expression pattern analysis revealed that ZmEREB54 was highly expressed in V12 roots, with significant expression changes under osmotic stress, drought, high salinity, and treatments with abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Phenotypic analysis showed that transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana over-expressing ZmEREB54 exhibited significantly longer roots compared to wild-type plants under high salinity, drought, osmotic stress, and hormone treatments (JA, ABA). Stress-responsive marker genes RD29A and RD22 were upregulated in the transgenic A. thaliana lines. The significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and markedly increased peroxidase (POD) activity in transgenic A. thaliana further demonstrate the improvement of its stress tolerance. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays revealed an interaction between ZmEREB54 and ZmMADS24.6, suggesting potential cooperative regulation of ZmEREB54 and ZmMADS24.6 in maize root development and stress responses. This study establishes a solid foundation for further clarifying the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of ZmEREB54 in regulating maize root growth and development, as well as responding to drought and salt stresses.