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Touch-Responsive CsaGASAs Regulate Tendril Length During the Climbing Stage in Cucumber
Chenhao Zhou1, Jiaqi Pan1, Ze Li1
1Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Quality Breeding, College of Horticulture, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Plant, Cell & Environment
|April 15, 2026
Summary
Touch alters cucumber tendril growth by regulating Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) genes. Touch inhibits growth-activating CsaGASA5 while promoting growth-repressing CsaGASA3, influencing tendril length.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Plant Physiology
- Plant Development
Background:
- Touch is an environmental signal influencing plant growth.
- Tendrils are specialized organs sensitive to touch, altering their growth patterns.
- Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) genes play roles in plant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of GASA genes in cucumber tendril response to touch stimuli.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which touch signaling affects tendril elongation via GASA genes and GA signaling.
Main Methods:
- Identification and expression analysis of touch-responsive GASA genes in cucumber tendrils.
- Subcellular localization studies of CsaGASA3 and CsaGASA5.
- Yeast two-hybrid, luciferase complementation, and Co-IP assays to determine protein interactions.
- Functional analysis of CsaGASA3 and CsaGASA5 in regulating tendril elongation.
Main Results:
- Three CsaGASA genes (CsaGASA3, CsaGASA5, CsaGASA9) were identified as touch-responsive in cucumber tendrils.
- CsaGASA3 (repressor) expression increased with touch, while CsaGASA5 (activator) expression decreased.
- CsaGASA3 interacts with CsaXTH2 and CsaXTH29, which positively regulate tendril elongation.
Conclusions:
- Touch stimuli modulate cucumber tendril elongation through GA signaling by altering the balance of repressor (CsaGASA3) and activator (CsaGASA5) GASA peptides.
- These GASA peptides interact with xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases to fine-tune tendril length in response to touch.
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