Comprehensive identification of the PEBP gene family in Vicia faba highlighting VfTFL1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growth

Abstract The phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family regulates key plant processes including growth, development, flowering, seed germination, formation, and dormancy. Despite their importance for these processes that determine agronomical important characters, PEBP genes in faba bean...

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Main Authors: Hannah Ohm, Umer Mahmood, Jenny Östberg, Josefin Alverup, Åsa Grimberg, Per Hofvander
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12864-0
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author Hannah Ohm
Umer Mahmood
Jenny Östberg
Josefin Alverup
Åsa Grimberg
Per Hofvander
author_facet Hannah Ohm
Umer Mahmood
Jenny Östberg
Josefin Alverup
Åsa Grimberg
Per Hofvander
author_sort Hannah Ohm
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family regulates key plant processes including growth, development, flowering, seed germination, formation, and dormancy. Despite their importance for these processes that determine agronomical important characters, PEBP genes in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and closely related legumes remain underexplored. This study identified 11 VfPEBP genes for the first time in Vicia faba, classifying them into MFT-like, TFL-like, and FT-like subfamilies, and examining their relationships to PEBP-genes of the legumes Pisum sativum and Vicia sativa. TFL1 homologs, crucial for growth determinacy, are an important focus for breeding to achieve a more confined flowering and maturation time. Cis-element analysis suggested VfTFL1-genes are regulated by light, hormones, and abiotic stress. Amplicon sequencing of VfTFL1a, a gene linked to shoot apical meristem fate, identified novel allelic variation but none of these could discriminate determinate from indeterminate varieties, invalidating a previously reported marker. Field trials revealed that determinate varieties of faba bean flowered later but had more uniform agronomic traits compared to indeterminate ones. These findings provide new insights into the PEBP gene family, highlighting its critical role in regulating flowering time and plant architecture in Vicia faba and underscoring its potential as a target for crop improvement.
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spelling doaj-art-38c02160682e4d78881d7690c4b66ea12025-08-20T03:42:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-12864-0Comprehensive identification of the PEBP gene family in Vicia faba highlighting VfTFL1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growthHannah Ohm0Umer Mahmood1Jenny Östberg2Josefin Alverup3Åsa Grimberg4Per Hofvander5Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Abstract The phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family regulates key plant processes including growth, development, flowering, seed germination, formation, and dormancy. Despite their importance for these processes that determine agronomical important characters, PEBP genes in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and closely related legumes remain underexplored. This study identified 11 VfPEBP genes for the first time in Vicia faba, classifying them into MFT-like, TFL-like, and FT-like subfamilies, and examining their relationships to PEBP-genes of the legumes Pisum sativum and Vicia sativa. TFL1 homologs, crucial for growth determinacy, are an important focus for breeding to achieve a more confined flowering and maturation time. Cis-element analysis suggested VfTFL1-genes are regulated by light, hormones, and abiotic stress. Amplicon sequencing of VfTFL1a, a gene linked to shoot apical meristem fate, identified novel allelic variation but none of these could discriminate determinate from indeterminate varieties, invalidating a previously reported marker. Field trials revealed that determinate varieties of faba bean flowered later but had more uniform agronomic traits compared to indeterminate ones. These findings provide new insights into the PEBP gene family, highlighting its critical role in regulating flowering time and plant architecture in Vicia faba and underscoring its potential as a target for crop improvement.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12864-0PEBPDeterminate growthTerminal inflorescenceTFL1Vicia faba
spellingShingle Hannah Ohm
Umer Mahmood
Jenny Östberg
Josefin Alverup
Åsa Grimberg
Per Hofvander
Comprehensive identification of the PEBP gene family in Vicia faba highlighting VfTFL1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growth
Scientific Reports
PEBP
Determinate growth
Terminal inflorescence
TFL1
Vicia faba
title Comprehensive identification of the PEBP gene family in Vicia faba highlighting VfTFL1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growth
title_full Comprehensive identification of the PEBP gene family in Vicia faba highlighting VfTFL1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growth
title_fullStr Comprehensive identification of the PEBP gene family in Vicia faba highlighting VfTFL1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growth
title_full_unstemmed Comprehensive identification of the PEBP gene family in Vicia faba highlighting VfTFL1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growth
title_short Comprehensive identification of the PEBP gene family in Vicia faba highlighting VfTFL1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growth
title_sort comprehensive identification of the pebp gene family in vicia faba highlighting vftfl1a variation and phenotypic insights into determinate growth
topic PEBP
Determinate growth
Terminal inflorescence
TFL1
Vicia faba
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12864-0
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