AUTHOR=Zhu Xiaoqing , Ma Xiaowei , Hu Wanying , Xing Yulin , Huang Shengcai , Chen Zequan , Fang Lei 

TITLE=Genome-wide identification of TBL gene family and functional analysis of GhTBL84 under cold stress in cotton

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1431835

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1431835

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Cotton fiber, the mainstay of the world’s textile industry, is formed by the differentiation of epidermal cells on the outer peridium of the ovule. The <italic>TBL</italic> gene family is involved in the regulation of epidermal hair development as well as response to abiotic stress. However, the function of <italic>TBL</italic> genes in cotton has not been systematically studied yet. Here, we identified 131 and 130 <italic>TBL</italic> genes in TM-1 (<italic>Gossypium hirsutum</italic>) and Hai7124 (<italic>Gossypium barbadense</italic>), respectively. Phylogenetic, gene structure, expression pattern and <italic>cis</italic>-element of promoter analysis were performed and compared. Single gene association analysis indicated that more <italic>TBL</italic> genes related to fiber quality traits were found in <italic>G. barbadense</italic>, whereas more genes associated with yield traits were found in <italic>G. hirsutum</italic>. One gene, <italic>GhTBL84</italic> (GH_D04G0930), was induced by treatment at 4°C for 12 and 24 h in <italic>G. hirsutum</italic> and silencing of the <italic>GhTBL84</italic> gene by VIGS technology in TM-1 can significantly improve the resistance of cotton seedlings to low temperature stress. In sum, our study conducted a genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of <italic>TBL</italic> family genes in <italic>G. hirsutum</italic> and <italic>G. barbadense</italic> and demonstrated a group of <italic>TBL</italic> genes significantly associated with fiber quality and excavated cold stress responsive gene, such as <italic>GhTBL84</italic>, providing a theoretical basis for further improving cotton agronomic traits.</p>