PgMYB96 enhances Physalis grisea high temperature tolerance by activating trithorax-like factor WD REPEAT...

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Environmental Stress Response

Background:

• Global warming causes high temperature stress (HTS), negatively affecting crop growth and yield.
• Physalis grisea exhibits reduced fertility and yield under high temperatures (42°C).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of the trithorax-like factor PgWDR5b in Physalis grisea's response to high temperature stress.
• To elucidate the regulatory mechanism involving PgWDR5b, PgMYB96, and abscisic acid (ABA) in heat tolerance.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of PgWDR5b gene expression under HTS and ABA treatment.
• Investigating the interaction between transcription factor PgMYB96 and the PgWDR5b promoter.
• Gene silencing and overexpression assays to assess the impact on high temperature tolerance and ABA pathway gene expression.

Main Results:

• PgWDR5b expression increased with HTS and ABA treatment, promoting ABA synthesis genes and enhancing heat tolerance.
• PgMYB96 directly binds to the PgWDR5b promoter, regulating its expression.
• Silencing PgWDR5b or PgMYB96 decreased heat tolerance and altered ABA synthesis and catabolism gene expression.

Conclusions:

• PgWDR5b plays a crucial role in Physalis grisea's high temperature stress response via the ABA metabolic pathway.
• A positive feedback loop exists between ABA and PgWDR5b, with PgMYB96 acting as a key regulator.
• Understanding this pathway offers potential strategies for improving crop heat tolerance.