The WD40 gene family in recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity tolerance
IntroductionDeveloping salt-tolerant crops is critical for utilizing saline soils in agriculture. Limonium bicolor, a recretohalophyte with epidermal salt glands, represents a valuable genetic resource for salt tolerance engineering. Although WD40 proteins are known regulators of plant stress respon...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1629604/full |
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| author | Lu Sun Huiying Mu Yuqing Tan Baoshan Wang Xi Wang Xi Wang Fang Yuan Fang Yuan |
| author_facet | Lu Sun Huiying Mu Yuqing Tan Baoshan Wang Xi Wang Xi Wang Fang Yuan Fang Yuan |
| author_sort | Lu Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDeveloping salt-tolerant crops is critical for utilizing saline soils in agriculture. Limonium bicolor, a recretohalophyte with epidermal salt glands, represents a valuable genetic resource for salt tolerance engineering. Although WD40 proteins are known regulators of plant stress responses, their roles in L. bicolor remain unexplored.MethodsWe performed a genome-wide analysis of WD40 genes in L. bicolor, including phylogenetic classification, subcellular localization prediction, cis-element analysis, and expression profiling during salt stress. Functional validation was conducted using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS).ResultsAmong 367 identified WD40 genes (distributed across all chromosomes), Subfamily 6 was the largest. Two key members (Lb1G05968 and Lb3G17197, localized in cytoplasm) showed significant involvement in salt gland development and stress tolerance, as demonstrated by VIGS-induced phenotypic defects.DiscussionOur findings reveal the WD40 family's expansion in L. bicolor and its functional specialization in salt adaptation. The identified genes (e.g., Lb1G05968, Lb3G17197) provide targets for engineering salt-tolerant crops. This study establishes a foundation for further research on halophyte developmental genetics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2593ff51f9684824aa274c439652e346 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-2593ff51f9684824aa274c439652e3462025-08-20T03:09:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-07-011610.3389/fpls.2025.16296041629604The WD40 gene family in recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity toleranceLu Sun0Huiying Mu1Yuqing Tan2Baoshan Wang3Xi Wang4Xi Wang5Fang Yuan6Fang Yuan7Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology of Vegetable Diseases and Insect Pests, College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, ChinaNational Center of Technology Innovation for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Dongying, Shandong, ChinaIntroductionDeveloping salt-tolerant crops is critical for utilizing saline soils in agriculture. Limonium bicolor, a recretohalophyte with epidermal salt glands, represents a valuable genetic resource for salt tolerance engineering. Although WD40 proteins are known regulators of plant stress responses, their roles in L. bicolor remain unexplored.MethodsWe performed a genome-wide analysis of WD40 genes in L. bicolor, including phylogenetic classification, subcellular localization prediction, cis-element analysis, and expression profiling during salt stress. Functional validation was conducted using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS).ResultsAmong 367 identified WD40 genes (distributed across all chromosomes), Subfamily 6 was the largest. Two key members (Lb1G05968 and Lb3G17197, localized in cytoplasm) showed significant involvement in salt gland development and stress tolerance, as demonstrated by VIGS-induced phenotypic defects.DiscussionOur findings reveal the WD40 family's expansion in L. bicolor and its functional specialization in salt adaptation. The identified genes (e.g., Lb1G05968, Lb3G17197) provide targets for engineering salt-tolerant crops. This study establishes a foundation for further research on halophyte developmental genetics.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1629604/fullfeature descriptionLimonium bicolorsubcellular localizationsalt gland developmentsalt toleranceWD40 gene family |
| spellingShingle | Lu Sun Huiying Mu Yuqing Tan Baoshan Wang Xi Wang Xi Wang Fang Yuan Fang Yuan The WD40 gene family in recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity tolerance Frontiers in Plant Science feature description Limonium bicolor subcellular localization salt gland development salt tolerance WD40 gene family |
| title | The WD40 gene family in recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity tolerance |
| title_full | The WD40 gene family in recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity tolerance |
| title_fullStr | The WD40 gene family in recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity tolerance |
| title_full_unstemmed | The WD40 gene family in recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity tolerance |
| title_short | The WD40 gene family in recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity tolerance |
| title_sort | wd40 gene family in recretohalophyte limonium bicolor genomic identification and functional analysis in salt gland development and salinity tolerance |
| topic | feature description Limonium bicolor subcellular localization salt gland development salt tolerance WD40 gene family |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1629604/full |
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