Functional Identification Reveals That TaTGA16-2D Promotes Drought and Heat Tolerance
The TGACG motif-binding factor (TGA) family is an important group of basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors in plants, playing crucial roles in plant development and stress responses. This study conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the TGA transcription factor (TF) fam...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2125 |
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| Summary: | The TGACG motif-binding factor (TGA) family is an important group of basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors in plants, playing crucial roles in plant development and stress responses. This study conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the TGA transcription factor (TF) family in common wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.). A total of 48 wheat <i>TGAs</i> were identified and classified into four subgroups. Collinearity analysis of the <i>TGAs</i> between wheat and other species identified multiple duplicated gene pairs and highlighted the presence of highly conserved <i>TGAs</i> in wheat. Whole-genome and segmental duplications were identified as the primary drivers of <i>TaTGA</i> expansion. Expression pattern analysis indicated that <i>TaTGAs</i> are involved in plant development and responses to abiotic stresses, including drought, heat, and cold treatment. Among these, <i>TaTGA16-2D</i> was significantly upregulated under both drought and heat stresses, showing more than a five-fold increase in expression. Subcellular localization confirmed its nucleus localization. Functional validation through ectopic expression in <i>Arabidopsis</i> demonstrated that transgenic lines overexpressing <i>TaTGA16-2D</i> exhibited significantly improved stress tolerance. Under heat stress, the survival rates of transgenic lines exceeded 34%, compared to less than 18% in wild-type plants. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the evolution and functional roles of <i>TaTGAs</i> and identifies <i>TaTGA16-2D</i> as a promising candidate to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in wheat via molecular breeding. |
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| ISSN: | 2223-7747 |