Wu Tairu, Zhao Zhentong, Pang Xinyue, Zhang Buyue, Sun Jinqian, Cheng Zihan, Yan Ziyi, Li Dalong, Zhang He, Xu Xiangyang, Zhao Tingting
Laboratory of Genetic Breeding in Tomato, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
Laboratory of Genetic Breeding in Tomato, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
Plant Sci. 2025 Oct;359:112585. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112585. Epub 2025 May 31.
GATA transcription factors (TFs) play a variety of roles involved in the regulation of physiological processes in the plant kingdom. The functions of the majority of GATA TFs in tomato remain largely unexplored. SlGATA22 was found to be upregulated under cold stress conditions in tomato plants. In this study, we generated SlGATA22 mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and SlGATA22-overexpressing tomato plants to elucidate its function. Results indicated that the internode length of SlGATA22 mutant seedlings became shorter, axillary meristem differentiation advanced and the cold resistance increased, while the internode of SlGATA22-overexpressing (OE) seedlings became longer and cold resistance decreased. Transcriptome analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SlGATA22 CRISPR mutant plants were significantly enriched in pathways related to environmental stress response, whereas DEGs in SlGATA22 overexpressing plants were primarily involved in basal metabolic processes. SlCBF1 and SlCBF2 expression patterns were influenced by SlGATA22 expression. These results demonstrate that SlGATA22 is a negative regulator that responds to cold stress and involved with the CBF pathway. Consequently, SlGATA22 may be a potential locus for genetic modification for enhancing crop abiotic resistance.
GATA转录因子（TFs）在植物界生理过程的调控中发挥着多种作用。番茄中大多数GATA转录因子的功能在很大程度上仍未被探索。研究发现，番茄植株在冷胁迫条件下SlGATA22基因表达上调。在本研究中，我们通过CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术构建了SlGATA22突变体和SlGATA22过表达番茄植株，以阐明其功能。结果表明，SlGATA22突变体幼苗的节间长度变短，腋芽分生组织分化提前，抗寒性增强；而SlGATA22过表达（OE）幼苗的节间变长，抗寒性降低。转录组分析显示，SlGATA22 CRISPR突变体植株中的差异表达基因（DEGs）在与环境胁迫反应相关的途径中显著富集，而SlGATA22过表达植株中的DEGs主要参与基础代谢过程。SlCBF1和SlCBF2的表达模式受SlGATA22表达的影响。这些结果表明，SlGATA22是一种响应冷胁迫的负调控因子，参与CBF途径。因此，SlGATA22可能是增强作物非生物抗性的潜在基因修饰位点。
