CsBPC2 is essential for cucumber survival under cold stress

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Genetics
• Stress Physiology

Background:

• Cold stress significantly impacts cucumber growth and development.
• The role of the BPC2 transcription factor in plant cold tolerance remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the function of the CsBPC2 transcription factor in cucumber cold tolerance.
• To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying CsBPC2-mediated cold response.

Main Methods:

• Phenotypic analysis of wild-type and Csbpc2 mutant cucumber seedlings under cold stress.
• Physiological and biochemical assays to assess cold injury and antioxidant activity.
• Transcriptome-wide analysis using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

Main Results:

• CsBPC2 knockout mutants exhibited decreased cold tolerance, evidenced by increased chilling injury, electrolyte leakage, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, alongside reduced antioxidant enzyme activity.
• RNA-seq identified 1032 differentially expressed genes in Csbpc2 mutants, with enrichment analysis revealing downregulation of genes involved in amino acid and vitamin synthesis/transport.
• Knockout of CsBPC2 led to decreased expression of key cold-responsive genes, including CsICE1, CsCOR413IM2, CsBZR1, and CsBZR2.

Conclusions:

• CsBPC2 is a critical factor for maintaining cold tolerance in cucumber.
• CsBPC2 influences the expression of cold-responsive genes and the levels of essential metabolites under cold stress.
• This research provides foundational knowledge on BPC2 function in plant cold adaptation and offers a reference for studying BPC2 in other plant species.