Zhu Ling, Liu Fuhua, Lin Xin, Fu Tianyu, Zou Lin, Pan Yuanhai, Zou Rong, Zhao Yang, Zhang Hanyao
College of Forestry, Guizhou Research Center for Forest Resources and Environment, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, China.
Funct Integr Genomics. 2025 Jul 27;25(1):161. doi: 10.1007/s10142-025-01667-1.
AP2/ERF transcription factors (TFs) are involved in various regulatory pathways related to plant growth, development, and stress responses. The growth of Eriobotrya japonica, a popular fruit and medicinal plant, is affected by salt stress. Currently, the functions of E. japonica AP2/ERF in response to salt stress and its role in alleviating salt stress caused by exogenous melatonin (MT) remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, a bioinformatics approach was used to analyze the AP2/ERF TF family of E. japonica and its expression patterns under exogenous MT-regulated salt stress. A total of 187 AP2/ERF TFs on 18 chromosomes were identified in E. japonica, and phylogenetic analyses classified them into four subfamilies: AP2, ERF, DREB, and RAV. Each subfamily contains a relatively large number of biotic or abiotic stresses and hormone related cis-acting elements. There are 61 DEGs of EjAP2/ERF involved in the regulation of NaCl stress by exogenous melatonin. Among these genes,, seven DEGs were involved in the response to ethylene and defense signals under salt stress. These genes are involved in the regulation of NaCl-stressed E. japonica by exogenous MT by activating or repressing the transcription of downstream target genes. Notably, EjERF11, EjERF73, and EjERF86 may have functions similar to those of their homologous genes and may serve as vital genes for salt tolerance. This study is the first to investigate the functions of EjAP2/ERF genes in exogenous MT-regulated salt stress, and provides a theoretical foundation for exploring more features of AP2/ERF genes and a basis for breeding E. japonica with salt stress resistance.
AP2/ERF转录因子（TFs）参与了与植物生长、发育和应激反应相关的各种调控途径。枇杷是一种广受欢迎的水果和药用植物，其生长受到盐胁迫的影响。目前，枇杷AP2/ERF在响应盐胁迫中的功能及其在外源褪黑素（MT）缓解盐胁迫中的作用尚不清楚。因此，在本研究中，采用生物信息学方法分析了枇杷的AP2/ERF TF家族及其在外源MT调控的盐胁迫下的表达模式。在枇杷中，共鉴定出18条染色体上的187个AP2/ERF TFs，系统发育分析将它们分为四个亚家族：AP2、ERF、DREB和RAV。每个亚家族都包含相对大量的与生物或非生物胁迫以及激素相关的顺式作用元件。有61个EjAP2/ERF差异表达基因参与外源褪黑素对NaCl胁迫的调控。在这些基因中，有7个差异表达基因参与盐胁迫下对乙烯和防御信号的响应。这些基因通过激活或抑制下游靶基因的转录，参与外源MT对NaCl胁迫下枇杷的调控。值得注意的是，EjERF11、EjERF73和EjERF86可能具有与其同源基因相似的功能，可能是耐盐的关键基因。本研究首次探讨了EjAP2/ERF基因在外源MT调控的盐胁迫中的功能，为探索AP2/ERF基因的更多特性提供了理论基础，也为培育耐盐枇杷品种提供了依据。
