LsNAC46 regulates heat-resistance and growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Lettuce prefers a cold and cool climate, and high temperatures can lead to many problems such as tip burn that decrease yield and quality. NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) proteins are important regulatory factors in abiotic stress responses. In our previous transcriptomic analysis, we identified that L...

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Main Authors: Tao Yang, Shu-ping He, Guo-tao Huo, Ming-lu Tian, Li Du, Xiao Yang, Heng Xu, Guo-jun Ge, Hong-yang Zhao, Li-jun Luo, Shi-wei Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1560470/full
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author Tao Yang
Shu-ping He
Guo-tao Huo
Ming-lu Tian
Li Du
Xiao Yang
Heng Xu
Guo-jun Ge
Hong-yang Zhao
Li-jun Luo
Shi-wei Wei
author_facet Tao Yang
Shu-ping He
Guo-tao Huo
Ming-lu Tian
Li Du
Xiao Yang
Heng Xu
Guo-jun Ge
Hong-yang Zhao
Li-jun Luo
Shi-wei Wei
author_sort Tao Yang
collection DOAJ
description Lettuce prefers a cold and cool climate, and high temperatures can lead to many problems such as tip burn that decrease yield and quality. NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) proteins are important regulatory factors in abiotic stress responses. In our previous transcriptomic analysis, we identified that LsNAC46 is involved in the response to heat stress in lettuce. This study reports that LsNAC46 (LOC111911762), a member of the NAC transcription factor family, has transcriptional activation activity, and regulates heat tolerance, growth, and development in lettuce. Tissue expression analysis showed the highest expression levels of LsNAC46 in lettuce achene. Compared with wild-type (WT) plants, LsNAC46-overexpressing lines had a higher heat damage index and lower survival rate when exposed to high temperature, accompanied by reduced accumulation of total protein (TP), proline (PRO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), as well as a lower Fv/Fm, indicating that LsNAC46 negatively regulates heat tolerance in lettuce. In addition, the plant width, leaf length, and fresh weight were significantly lower, but the achene weight was significantly higher in LsNAC46-overexpressing plants. This study indicates that LsNAC46 may regulate heat stress responses by regulating intracellular enzyme activity, osmotic pressure, photosynthetic capacity, and synthesis of secondary metabolites. This knowledge may enable the characterization of LsNAC46 in the response to heat stress and regulation of plant stress responses or achene weight.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-1505e6637c944ea5940b22e6996fc0a72025-08-20T03:07:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-08-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15604701560470LsNAC46 regulates heat-resistance and growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)Tao Yang0Shu-ping He1Guo-tao Huo2Ming-lu Tian3Li Du4Xiao Yang5Heng Xu6Guo-jun Ge7Hong-yang Zhao8Li-jun Luo9Shi-wei Wei10Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Science and Technology Information, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, ChinaLettuce prefers a cold and cool climate, and high temperatures can lead to many problems such as tip burn that decrease yield and quality. NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) proteins are important regulatory factors in abiotic stress responses. In our previous transcriptomic analysis, we identified that LsNAC46 is involved in the response to heat stress in lettuce. This study reports that LsNAC46 (LOC111911762), a member of the NAC transcription factor family, has transcriptional activation activity, and regulates heat tolerance, growth, and development in lettuce. Tissue expression analysis showed the highest expression levels of LsNAC46 in lettuce achene. Compared with wild-type (WT) plants, LsNAC46-overexpressing lines had a higher heat damage index and lower survival rate when exposed to high temperature, accompanied by reduced accumulation of total protein (TP), proline (PRO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), as well as a lower Fv/Fm, indicating that LsNAC46 negatively regulates heat tolerance in lettuce. In addition, the plant width, leaf length, and fresh weight were significantly lower, but the achene weight was significantly higher in LsNAC46-overexpressing plants. This study indicates that LsNAC46 may regulate heat stress responses by regulating intracellular enzyme activity, osmotic pressure, photosynthetic capacity, and synthesis of secondary metabolites. This knowledge may enable the characterization of LsNAC46 in the response to heat stress and regulation of plant stress responses or achene weight.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1560470/fulllettuceheat resistantNACoverexpressionachene weight
spellingShingle Tao Yang
Shu-ping He
Guo-tao Huo
Ming-lu Tian
Li Du
Xiao Yang
Heng Xu
Guo-jun Ge
Hong-yang Zhao
Li-jun Luo
Shi-wei Wei
LsNAC46 regulates heat-resistance and growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
Frontiers in Plant Science
lettuce
heat resistant
NAC
overexpression
achene weight
title LsNAC46 regulates heat-resistance and growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
title_full LsNAC46 regulates heat-resistance and growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
title_fullStr LsNAC46 regulates heat-resistance and growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
title_full_unstemmed LsNAC46 regulates heat-resistance and growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
title_short LsNAC46 regulates heat-resistance and growth in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
title_sort lsnac46 regulates heat resistance and growth in lettuce lactuca sativa l
topic lettuce
heat resistant
NAC
overexpression
achene weight
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1560470/full
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