Functional Characterization of KNOX and BELL Genes in Temperature-Responsive Floral Morphogenesis of Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)

Passion fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>), a tropical crop of significant economic value, exhibits temperature-sensitive floral development. Here, we identified 23 <i>TALE</i> transcription factors (<i>PeTALEs</i>) and characterized their roles in floral organogene...

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Main Authors: Xinni Jiang, Jie Miao, Weifan Zu, Ruohan Zhou, Lexin Zheng, Ying Wei, Chunmei Lai, Rongjuan Qin, Ping Zheng, Xiuqing Wei, Jiahui Xu, Yuan Qin, Xiaoping Niu
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/10/1440
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author Xinni Jiang
Jie Miao
Weifan Zu
Ruohan Zhou
Lexin Zheng
Ying Wei
Chunmei Lai
Rongjuan Qin
Ping Zheng
Xiuqing Wei
Jiahui Xu
Yuan Qin
Xiaoping Niu
author_facet Xinni Jiang
Jie Miao
Weifan Zu
Ruohan Zhou
Lexin Zheng
Ying Wei
Chunmei Lai
Rongjuan Qin
Ping Zheng
Xiuqing Wei
Jiahui Xu
Yuan Qin
Xiaoping Niu
author_sort Xinni Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Passion fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>), a tropical crop of significant economic value, exhibits temperature-sensitive floral development. Here, we identified 23 <i>TALE</i> transcription factors (<i>PeTALEs</i>) and characterized their roles in floral organogenesis and thermal adaptation. Phylogenetic analysis classified <i>PeTALEs</i> into <i>KNOX</i> and <i>BELL</i> subfamilies, with conserved domain architectures and cis-regulatory elements linked to stress and hormone signaling. Spatiotemporal expression profiling revealed <i>PeTALE21</i> as a key regulator of corona initiation, while <i>PeTALE17</i> dominated in later floral stages. Temperature stress assays demonstrated cold-induced upregulation of <i>PeTALE15</i>/<i>16</i>/<i>19</i>/<i>22</i> and heat-mediated suppression of <i>PeTALE10</i>/<i>18</i>/<i>21</i>. Yeast two-hybrid assays uncovered functional interactions between <i>PeTALE3</i>/<i>16</i>/<i>18</i>/<i>22</i>/<i>23</i>, highlighting a network governing floral thermoresilience. This study provides the first genome-wide analysis of <i>PeTALEs</i>, offering insights for breeding climate-resilient passion fruit varieties.
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spelling doaj-art-8282fbec1f314e4aae0c22c0a18bc1a02025-08-20T03:12:05ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-05-011410144010.3390/plants14101440Functional Characterization of KNOX and BELL Genes in Temperature-Responsive Floral Morphogenesis of Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)Xinni Jiang0Jie Miao1Weifan Zu2Ruohan Zhou3Lexin Zheng4Ying Wei5Chunmei Lai6Rongjuan Qin7Ping Zheng8Xiuqing Wei9Jiahui Xu10Yuan Qin11Xiaoping Niu12Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFishery Multiplication Management Station of Lijiang River Water Supply Hub Project, Guilin 541001, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, ChinaFruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaPassion fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>), a tropical crop of significant economic value, exhibits temperature-sensitive floral development. Here, we identified 23 <i>TALE</i> transcription factors (<i>PeTALEs</i>) and characterized their roles in floral organogenesis and thermal adaptation. Phylogenetic analysis classified <i>PeTALEs</i> into <i>KNOX</i> and <i>BELL</i> subfamilies, with conserved domain architectures and cis-regulatory elements linked to stress and hormone signaling. Spatiotemporal expression profiling revealed <i>PeTALE21</i> as a key regulator of corona initiation, while <i>PeTALE17</i> dominated in later floral stages. Temperature stress assays demonstrated cold-induced upregulation of <i>PeTALE15</i>/<i>16</i>/<i>19</i>/<i>22</i> and heat-mediated suppression of <i>PeTALE10</i>/<i>18</i>/<i>21</i>. Yeast two-hybrid assays uncovered functional interactions between <i>PeTALE3</i>/<i>16</i>/<i>18</i>/<i>22</i>/<i>23</i>, highlighting a network governing floral thermoresilience. This study provides the first genome-wide analysis of <i>PeTALEs</i>, offering insights for breeding climate-resilient passion fruit varieties.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/10/1440<i>TALE</i> geneevolutionary analysisfloral organogenesisheat/cold stress
spellingShingle Xinni Jiang
Jie Miao
Weifan Zu
Ruohan Zhou
Lexin Zheng
Ying Wei
Chunmei Lai
Rongjuan Qin
Ping Zheng
Xiuqing Wei
Jiahui Xu
Yuan Qin
Xiaoping Niu
Functional Characterization of KNOX and BELL Genes in Temperature-Responsive Floral Morphogenesis of Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)
Plants
<i>TALE</i> gene
evolutionary analysis
floral organogenesis
heat/cold stress
title Functional Characterization of KNOX and BELL Genes in Temperature-Responsive Floral Morphogenesis of Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)
title_full Functional Characterization of KNOX and BELL Genes in Temperature-Responsive Floral Morphogenesis of Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)
title_fullStr Functional Characterization of KNOX and BELL Genes in Temperature-Responsive Floral Morphogenesis of Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Functional Characterization of KNOX and BELL Genes in Temperature-Responsive Floral Morphogenesis of Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)
title_short Functional Characterization of KNOX and BELL Genes in Temperature-Responsive Floral Morphogenesis of Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)
title_sort functional characterization of knox and bell genes in temperature responsive floral morphogenesis of passion fruit i passiflora edulis i
topic <i>TALE</i> gene
evolutionary analysis
floral organogenesis
heat/cold stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/10/1440
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