Evolution and Functional Dynamics of TCP Transcription Factor Gene Family in Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)
Munsif Ali Shad,
Songguo Wu,
Muhammad Junaid Rao,
Xiaoying Luo,
Xiaojin Huang,
Yuxin Wu,
Yuhong Zhou,
Lingqiang Wang,
Chongjian Ma,
Lihua Hu
Affiliations
Munsif Ali Shad
Henry Fok School of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
Songguo Wu
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Muhammad Junaid Rao
State Key Loboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Xiaoying Luo
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Xiaojin Huang
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Yuxin Wu
College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Yuhong Zhou
Henry Fok School of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
Lingqiang Wang
Henry Fok School of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
Chongjian Ma
Henry Fok School of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
Lihua Hu
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Passion fruit is a valued tropical fruit crop that faces environment-related growth strains. TCP genes are important for both growth modulation and stress prevention in plants. Herein, we systematically analyzed the TCP gene family in passion fruit, recognizing 30 members. Genes exhibiting closer phylogenetic relationships exhibited similar protein and gene structures. Gene members of the TCP family showed developmental-stage- or tissue-specific expression profiles during the passion fruit life cycle. Transcriptome data also demonstrated that many PeTCPs showed induced expression in response to hormonal treatments and cold, heat, and salt stress. Based on transcriptomics data, eight candidate genes were chosen for preferential gene expression confirmation under cold stress conditions. The qRT-PCR assays suggested PeTCP15/16/17/19/23 upregulation, while PeTCP1/11/25 downregulation after cold stress. Additionally, TCP19/20/29/30 exhibited in silico binding with cold-stress-related miRNA319s. GFP subcellular localization assays exhibited PeTCP19/1 were localized at the nucleus. This study will aid in the establishment of novel germplasm, as well as the further investigation of the roles of PeTCPs and their cold stress resistance characteristics.
