College of Horticulture and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China; Horticultural Plant Biology and Metabolomics Center, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
Horticultural Plant Biology and Metabolomics Center, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, Fujian, China.
Plant Physiol Biochem. 2024 Oct;215:108988. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108988. Epub 2024 Jul 31.
Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) are pivotal transcriptional regulators controlling photomorphogenesis, environmental responses, and development in plants. However, their specific roles in coordinating adaptation towards abiotic stress and metabolism remain underexplored in tea plants. Here, we identified seven PIF members from four distinct clades (PIF1, PIF3, PIF7, and PIF8). Promoter analysis implicated CsPIFs in integrating light, stress, hormone, and circadian signals. Most CsPIFs exhibited rapid increase in expression under shading, especially CsPIF7b/8a, which displayed significant changes in long-term shading condition. Under drought/salt stress, CsPIF3b emerged as a potential positive regulator. CsPIF3a was induced by low temperature and co-expressed with CsCBF1/3 and CsDREB2A cold response factors. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that act as negative regulator of the CBF pathway. Expression profiling across 11 tea cultivars associated specific CsPIFs with chlorophyll biosynthesis and accumulation of anthocyanins, flavonols, and other metabolites. In summary, this study highlights the significance of CsPIFs as central coordinators in managing intricate transcriptional reactions to simultaneous abiotic stresses and metabolic adjustments in tea plants. This insight informs future strategies for enhancing this economically crucial crop through crop improvement initiatives.
光敏色素相互作用因子（PIFs）是植物中控制光形态建成、环境响应和发育的关键转录调节剂。然而，它们在协调适应非生物胁迫和代谢方面的具体作用在茶树中仍未得到充分探索。在这里，我们从四个不同的分支（PIF1、PIF3、PIF7 和 PIF8）中鉴定出了七个 PIF 成员。启动子分析表明 CsPIFs 参与整合光、胁迫、激素和昼夜节律信号。大多数 CsPIFs 在遮荫下表达迅速增加，特别是 CsPIF7b/8a，在长期遮荫条件下表达变化显著。在干旱/盐胁迫下，CsPIF3b 表现出作为潜在的正调控因子。CsPIF3a 受到低温诱导，并与 CsCBF1/3 和 CsDREB2A 冷响应因子共表达。双荧光素酶报告基因分析证实 CsPIF3a 是 CBF 途径的负调控因子。在 11 个茶树品种中的表达谱分析表明，特定的 CsPIFs 与叶绿素生物合成以及花色苷、类黄酮和其他代谢物的积累有关。总之，这项研究强调了 CsPIFs 作为中央协调因子的重要性，它们可以协调植物对同时发生的非生物胁迫和代谢调整的复杂转录反应。这一发现为通过作物改良计划提高这种经济上至关重要的作物提供了信息。
