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ClGAI-LIKE-ClPrx53 module regulates waterlogging-induced shoot elongation in watermelon
Xiaoxiao Guan1, Ye Wang1, Tingting Xu1,2
1Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
The New Phytologist
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Waterlogging stress impacts plant growth. Researchers identified a gene, ClPrx53, that helps watermelon plants elongate shoots to escape waterlogging, offering a target for breeding climate-resilient crops.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Abiotic Stress Physiology
- Molecular Genetics
Background:
- Waterlogging poses a significant threat to crop productivity, particularly in upland species.
- Understanding molecular mechanisms of waterlogging tolerance in xerophytes is crucial for crop resilience.
- Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) serves as a model for studying waterlogging response in upland crops due to its susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genetic factors regulating waterlogging-induced shoot elongation in watermelon.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying waterlogging tolerance in a xerophytic species.
- To discover targets for enhancing crop resilience to waterlogging stress.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 122 watermelon accessions under waterlogging conditions.
- Identification and characterization of ClPrx53, a class III peroxidase gene.
- Analysis of a promoter single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and its effect on gene expression and protein binding.
Main Results:
- A novel gene, ClPrx53, was identified as a positive regulator of waterlogging-induced shoot elongation.
- A specific G-to-T SNP in the ClPrx53 promoter enhances transcriptional activity and confers natural variation in waterlogging tolerance.
- The SNP regulates ClPrx53 expression and DELLA protein (ClGAI-LIKE) binding, linking gibberellin (GA) signaling to reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis.
Conclusions:
- A DELLA-ClPrx53 regulatory module controls the waterlogging escape response in watermelon.
- This pathway provides a molecular basis for understanding waterlogging adaptation in upland crops.
- The identified SNP offers a precise target for breeding climate-resilient, waterlogging-tolerant watermelon varieties.
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