The mining and evolutionary investigation of AP2/ERF genes in pear (Pyrus)
Abstract Background In plants, ERF genes participate in a variety of regulatory pathways, such as plant growth and biotic and/or abiotic stress responses. Although the genome of Chinese white pear (‘Dangshansuli’) has been released, knowledge regarding the ERF family in pear, such as gene functions,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-018-1265-x |
| _version_ | 1818021296151199744 |
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| author | Xiaolong Li Shutian Tao Shuwei Wei Meiling Ming Xiaosan Huang Shaoling Zhang Jun Wu |
| author_facet | Xiaolong Li Shutian Tao Shuwei Wei Meiling Ming Xiaosan Huang Shaoling Zhang Jun Wu |
| author_sort | Xiaolong Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In plants, ERF genes participate in a variety of regulatory pathways, such as plant growth and biotic and/or abiotic stress responses. Although the genome of Chinese white pear (‘Dangshansuli’) has been released, knowledge regarding the ERF family in pear, such as gene functions, evolutionary history and expression patterns, remains limited. Results In our study, a total of 155 members of ERF families were identified in pear (Pyrus bretschneideri). The Ka and Ks values suggested that whole-genome duplication (WGD) and dispersed duplication have effectively contributed to the expansion of the pear ERF family. Gene structure and phylogeny analysis divided the PbrERF family into 12 groups, and their gene functions were predicted by comparative analysis. qRT-PCR was carried out to verify the relative expression levels of 7 genes in group III using wild and cultivated pear fruits at three key developmental stages. Wild samples had higher expression of these genes than cultivated samples, especially at the enlarged fruit stage. The transcriptome data of pear seedlings subjected to dehydration treatment further revealed that 4 of the 7 genes responded to drought conditions. Conclusion The AP2/ERF gene family is greatly expanded in pear. Comparative analysis revealed the probability of ERF genes performing functional roles in multiple pathways. Expression analysis at different stages of pear fruit development in wild and cultivated samples indicated that genes in group III might be involved in abiotic and/or biotic stresses. Further transcriptome data on seedlings subjected to drought treatment verified the potential role of ERF genes in stress response. These results will provide a valuable reference for understanding the function and evolution of the ERF family in higher plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T08:16:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cdcbe3af29e9427480c2f8d6470d760e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T08:16:54Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-cdcbe3af29e9427480c2f8d6470d760e2022-12-22T02:04:23ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292018-03-0118111410.1186/s12870-018-1265-xThe mining and evolutionary investigation of AP2/ERF genes in pear (Pyrus)Xiaolong Li0Shutian Tao1Shuwei Wei2Meiling Ming3Xiaosan Huang4Shaoling Zhang5Jun Wu6Centre of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCentre of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCentre of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCentre of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCentre of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCentre of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityCentre of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background In plants, ERF genes participate in a variety of regulatory pathways, such as plant growth and biotic and/or abiotic stress responses. Although the genome of Chinese white pear (‘Dangshansuli’) has been released, knowledge regarding the ERF family in pear, such as gene functions, evolutionary history and expression patterns, remains limited. Results In our study, a total of 155 members of ERF families were identified in pear (Pyrus bretschneideri). The Ka and Ks values suggested that whole-genome duplication (WGD) and dispersed duplication have effectively contributed to the expansion of the pear ERF family. Gene structure and phylogeny analysis divided the PbrERF family into 12 groups, and their gene functions were predicted by comparative analysis. qRT-PCR was carried out to verify the relative expression levels of 7 genes in group III using wild and cultivated pear fruits at three key developmental stages. Wild samples had higher expression of these genes than cultivated samples, especially at the enlarged fruit stage. The transcriptome data of pear seedlings subjected to dehydration treatment further revealed that 4 of the 7 genes responded to drought conditions. Conclusion The AP2/ERF gene family is greatly expanded in pear. Comparative analysis revealed the probability of ERF genes performing functional roles in multiple pathways. Expression analysis at different stages of pear fruit development in wild and cultivated samples indicated that genes in group III might be involved in abiotic and/or biotic stresses. Further transcriptome data on seedlings subjected to drought treatment verified the potential role of ERF genes in stress response. These results will provide a valuable reference for understanding the function and evolution of the ERF family in higher plants.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-018-1265-xERF familyEvolutionExpression patternAbiotic stress |
| spellingShingle | Xiaolong Li Shutian Tao Shuwei Wei Meiling Ming Xiaosan Huang Shaoling Zhang Jun Wu The mining and evolutionary investigation of AP2/ERF genes in pear (Pyrus) BMC Plant Biology ERF family Evolution Expression pattern Abiotic stress |
| title | The mining and evolutionary investigation of AP2/ERF genes in pear (Pyrus) |
| title_full | The mining and evolutionary investigation of AP2/ERF genes in pear (Pyrus) |
| title_fullStr | The mining and evolutionary investigation of AP2/ERF genes in pear (Pyrus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mining and evolutionary investigation of AP2/ERF genes in pear (Pyrus) |
| title_short | The mining and evolutionary investigation of AP2/ERF genes in pear (Pyrus) |
| title_sort | mining and evolutionary investigation of ap2 erf genes in pear pyrus |
| topic | ERF family Evolution Expression pattern Abiotic stress |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-018-1265-x |
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