AUTHOR=Liu Jianlong , Zhang Chenxiao , Han Jingyue , Fang Xiaoyun , Xu Hongpeng , Liang Chenglin , Li Dingli , Yang Yingjie , Cui Zhenhua , Wang Ran , Song Jiankun 

TITLE=Genome-Wide Analysis of KNOX Transcription Factors and Expression Pattern of Dwarf-Related KNOX Genes in Pear

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.806765

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.806765

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) transcription factors (TFs) belonging to the homeobox TF family play important roles in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic and biotic stress. However, little information is available on KNOX TF in pear (<italic>Pyrus</italic>). In this study, 19 PbKNOXs TFs were re-identified in pear (<italic>Pyrus bretschneideri</italic> Rehd.). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the TFs were clustered into three groups with 10 conserved motifs, some of which were group- or subgroup-specific, implying that they are important for the functions of the KNOX in these clades. <italic>PbKNM1</italic> and <italic>PbKNM2</italic> are <italic>KNM</italic> (encodes a MEINOX domain but not a homeodomain) genes identified in pear for the first time. <italic>KNOX</italic> genes in <italic>Pyrus</italic> and <italic>Malus</italic> were closely related, and a collinear relationship among <italic>PbKNOX</italic> genes in <italic>Pyrus</italic> and <italic>Malus</italic> was observed. Analysis of the expression patterns of <italic>PbKNOX</italic> genes in different tissues, at various growth stages, and in response to abiotic and biotic stress revealed that <italic>PbKNOXs</italic> are involved in plant growth and development. Our comparative transcriptional analysis of dwarf mutant varieties revealed that genes belonging to class I are highly expressed compared with genes in other classes. Analysis of the expression of <italic>PbKNOX</italic> genes in the hybrid offspring of vigorous and dwarf varieties revealed that <italic>PbKNOX</italic> genes were highly expressed in the vigorous offspring and weakly expressed in the dwarf offspring. These findings provide new insight into the function of KNOX TFs in pear and will aid future studies of dwarf fruit trees.</p>