Species-specific PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR utilization in the plant morphogenetic response to environmental
Srinivas Kunta1, Yardena Dahan1, Shai Torgeman2
1The Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel.
The Plant Cell
|March 14, 2025
Summary
Phytochromes interacting with factors (PIFs) control plant growth. Tomato PIFs are crucial for shade avoidance but not heat-induced stem elongation, unlike in Arabidopsis.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- Plant physiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Phytochromes interacting factors (PIFs) are key regulators of plant growth and responses to environmental cues.
- While PIFs are well-studied in Arabidopsis, their functions in crop plants are less understood.
- PIFs are involved in thermomorphogenesis and shade avoidance responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conserved functions of PIFs in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) by comparing them to Arabidopsis.
- To analyze the roles of tomato PIFs (SlPIFs) in thermomorphogenesis and shade avoidance responses.
- To understand PIF-mediated signaling in a major crop species.
Main Methods:
- Utilized single and higher-order mutants of tomato PIF genes (SlPIFs).
- Compared PIF functions in tomato with known PIF functions in Arabidopsis.
- Investigated tissue-specific low red/far-red (R/FR) responses in tomato seedlings.
Main Results:
- Tomato PIFs are not required for thermomorphogenesis-induced stem elongation, differing from Arabidopsis.
- Tomato SlPIF8a plays a significant role in the low red/far-red (R/FR) response, unlike Arabidopsis PIF8.
- SlPIF4 and SlPIF7s have minor roles in the low R/FR response in tomato.
- Aboveground organs in tomato seedlings show a conserved low R/FR response regulated by SlPIFs.
Conclusions:
- PIF functions are not entirely conserved between Arabidopsis and tomato, particularly in thermomorphogenesis.
- SlPIF8a is a critical regulator of the shade avoidance response in tomato.
- Understanding SlPIF functions can inform breeding strategies for improving crop yield in dense plantings.
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