Articles
Genome-wide characterization and expression analyses of the auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) gene family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
Article number
1411_5
Pages
43 – 54
Language
English
Abstract
Auxin has a crucial role in various plant developmental processes, from embryogenesis to fruit ripening.
The auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) gene family has early auxin response genes, which were active in the presence of auxin to participate in cellular processes, such as cell differentiation and division.
The Aux/IAA gene family has been reported in many fruit crops in regulating fruit development and ripening.
However, the Aux/IAA gene family in watermelon has not been identified yet.
In this study, a Genome-wide study of the Aux/IAA gene family identified 28 ClAux/IAA in watermelon. ClAux/IAAs were distributed on 11 chromosomes on the watermelon genome except chromosomes 3, 4 and 10. The comprehensive characterization of ClAux/IAAs revealed the highly conserved domains and motifs.
Promotor analysis detected auxin and ABA-responsive cis-regulatory elements, and phylogenetic analysis with other fruit crops showed that the ClAux/IAA proteins were aligned with the apple, peach and tomato and clustered into ten groups.
Furthermore, the comparative transcriptome analysis in fruits with varying flesh firmness revealed the expression of ClAux/IAA12 was higher in hard-fleshed fruits than in soft-fleshed.
In addition to the genetic analysis, we investigated the role of cell wall components, phytohormones and cell growth parameters in regulating fruit development and flesh firmness.
From the correlation analysis, flesh firmness was negatively correlated with the ABA and fruit flesh cell size.
At the same time, ABA content was positively correlated with the fruit flesh cell size and negatively correlated with the fruit flesh cell density.
Our findings suggested an association between ClAux/IAA12, ABA and cell growth.
This study provided evidence of ClAux/IAA involvement in hormonal regulation, leading to fruit development and ripening in watermelon.
Importantly, it provided a foundation for further exploring the biological function of watermelon Aux/IAA genes.
The auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) gene family has early auxin response genes, which were active in the presence of auxin to participate in cellular processes, such as cell differentiation and division.
The Aux/IAA gene family has been reported in many fruit crops in regulating fruit development and ripening.
However, the Aux/IAA gene family in watermelon has not been identified yet.
In this study, a Genome-wide study of the Aux/IAA gene family identified 28 ClAux/IAA in watermelon. ClAux/IAAs were distributed on 11 chromosomes on the watermelon genome except chromosomes 3, 4 and 10. The comprehensive characterization of ClAux/IAAs revealed the highly conserved domains and motifs.
Promotor analysis detected auxin and ABA-responsive cis-regulatory elements, and phylogenetic analysis with other fruit crops showed that the ClAux/IAA proteins were aligned with the apple, peach and tomato and clustered into ten groups.
Furthermore, the comparative transcriptome analysis in fruits with varying flesh firmness revealed the expression of ClAux/IAA12 was higher in hard-fleshed fruits than in soft-fleshed.
In addition to the genetic analysis, we investigated the role of cell wall components, phytohormones and cell growth parameters in regulating fruit development and flesh firmness.
From the correlation analysis, flesh firmness was negatively correlated with the ABA and fruit flesh cell size.
At the same time, ABA content was positively correlated with the fruit flesh cell size and negatively correlated with the fruit flesh cell density.
Our findings suggested an association between ClAux/IAA12, ABA and cell growth.
This study provided evidence of ClAux/IAA involvement in hormonal regulation, leading to fruit development and ripening in watermelon.
Importantly, it provided a foundation for further exploring the biological function of watermelon Aux/IAA genes.
Publication
Authors
MUHAMMAD Anees, HONGJU Zhu, XUQIANG Lu, NAN He, WENGE Liu
Keywords
watermelon, genome-wide characterization, Aux/IAA gene family, expression profile, fruit development
Groups involved
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