The FBA Motif-Containing Protein <i>NpFBA1</i> Causes Leaf Curling and Reduces Resistance to Black Shank Disease in Tobacco
Zhongyi Xie,
Guo Wen,
Yao Yang,
Haiyan Wang,
Jinying Wang,
Chenggong Lei,
Qigao Guo,
Jiangbo Dang,
Guolu Liang
Affiliations
Zhongyi Xie
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Guo Wen
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Yao Yang
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Haiyan Wang
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Jinying Wang
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Chenggong Lei
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Qigao Guo
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Jiangbo Dang
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Guolu Liang
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Plant leaf morphology has a great impact on plant drought resistance, ornamental research and leaf yield. In this study, we identified a new gene in Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, NpFBA1, that causes leaf curl. The results show that the NpFBA1 protein contains only one unique F-box associated (FBA) domain and does not have an F-box conserved domain. Phylogenetic analysis placed this gene and other Nicotiana FBA genes on a separate branch, and the NpFBA1 protein localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm. The expression of NpFBA1 was induced by black shank pathogen (Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae) infection and treatment with salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). NpFBA1-overexpressing transgenic lines showed leaf curling and aging during the rosette phase. During the bolting period, the leaves were curly and rounded, and the plants were dwarfed. In addition, NpFBA1-overexpressing lines were more susceptible to disease than wild-type (WT) plants. Further studies revealed that overexpression of NpFBA1 significantly downregulated the expression of auxin response factors such as NtARF3 and the lignin synthesis genes NtPAL, NtC4H, NtCAD2, and NtCCR1 in the leaves. In conclusion, NpFBA1 may play a key role in regulating leaf development and the response to pathogen infection.
