Cloning and expression analysis of the FaWRKY70 gene in strawberry

Abstract

Abstract [Objective] WRKY is one of the plant specific transcription factor families, involved in various plant life activities. However, currently there are few reports related to the WRKY70 gene in strawberry. Analyzing the role of WRKY70 homologous genes in strawberry in response to stress will help accelerate the application of molecular breeding technology and cultivate new strawberry germplasm resources. [Methods] The FaWRKY70 gene was cloned from ‘Benihoppe’ strawberry fruits using homologous cloning method. Its conserved domain, physicochemical properties, protein structure, and evolutionary relationship were analyzed using bioinformatics. Expression pattern analysis was performed using qRT-PCR. [Results] The FaWRKY70 gene had a length of 1 020 bp and encodes 339 amino acids. Homologous gene alignment revealed that FaWRKY70 had a high degree of amino acid sequence similarity with species in the same family such as apple and peony. The homologous genes were mostly related to plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress, suggesting that FaWRKY70 may be involved in resistance to stress. FaWRKY70 was expressed in different organs of strawberry, with significant differences. The expression level was highest in flowers and lowest in fruits. Under salicylic acid treatment, the FaWRKY70 gene was quickly responded, reaching its highest expression level after 3 hours, and gradually decreased thereafter. Under the treatment with methyl jasmonate, the FaWRKY70 gene showed a slight degree of induction and an overall downward trend. [Conclusion] FaWRKY70 is involved in growth and hormone signal transduction through different response modes in strawberry.

Keywords

• strawberry
• fawrky70
• gene cloning
• differential expression