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CaCRF6, A Cytokinin Response Factor, Confers Cold Tolerance in Capsicum
Tao Zhang1, Tian Cao1, Hongyu Yang1
1College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China.
Physiologia Plantarum
|May 31, 2026
Summary
Cytokinin response factors (CRFs) are crucial for plant cold tolerance. This study identifies CaCRF6 as a key gene enhancing cold hardiness in Capsicum, offering insights into crop resilience.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cytokinin response factors (CRFs) are AP2/ERF transcription factors involved in plant abiotic stress responses.
- The specific role of CRFs in Capsicum cold tolerance is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CRFs in cold tolerance in Capsicum.
- To identify specific CRFs involved in cold stress response in Capsicum.
Main Methods:
- Screening cold tolerance of 14 Capsicum accessions.
- Transcriptome profiling to identify differentially expressed genes under cold stress.
- Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to study CaCRF6 function.
Main Results:
- Capsicum accession C3 showed high cold tolerance, while C88 showed low tolerance.
- Cold treatment induced differential expression of 2223 genes, with plant-pathogen interaction as a significant pathway.
- CaCRF6 expression was significantly higher in cold-tolerant C3 than in C88.
- Silencing CaCRF6 in C3 reduced cold tolerance, increasing oxidative stress markers and decreasing photosynthetic efficiency.
Conclusions:
- CaCRF6 plays a critical role in mediating cold tolerance in Capsicum.
- Understanding CaCRF6 function provides insights into improving cold hardiness in Capsicum.
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