Abstract
Auxin response factors (ARFs) are a transcription factor family that regulates the expression of auxin phase-responsive genes. Here, we performed a genome-wide investigation of the tetraploid blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum cv. ‘Draper’) genome sequence. Physical and chemical properties, phylogenetic evolution, gene structure, conservative motifs, chromosome location, and cis-acting elements of blueberry ARF genes were comprehensively evaluated. A total of 70 blueberry ARF genes (VcARF) were found in its genome, which could be divided into six subfamilies. VcARF genes were unevenly distributed on 40 chromosomes and were observed to encode protein sequences ranging in length from 162 to 1117 amino acids. Their exon numbers range from 2 to 22. VcARF promoter regions contain multiple functional domains associated with light signaling, aerobic metabolism, plant hormones, stress, and cell cycle regulation. More family members of VcARF genes were discovered in blueberry than in previously studied plants, likely because of the occurrence of whole-genome duplication and/or tandem duplication. VcARF expression patterns were analyzed at different stages of fruit development, and VcARF3, VcARF4, VcARF14, VcARF37, and VcARF52 were observed to play important roles. VcARF3 and VcARF4 appeared to function as repressors, while VcARF14 acted as an essential factor in fruit firmness differences between firm and soft flesh cultivars.
Highlights
The ubiquitous involvement of auxin in almost all aspects of plant development and in plant responses to the environment, abiotic stress, and growth tropisms underlines its importance [1]
Our findings provide a reference for the genome-wide identification of transcription factor genes and a study on the regulation of VcARF genes in blueberry fruit firmness
We identified 70 VcARF genes in a tetraploid blueberry genome, suggesting that the blueberry auxin response factors (ARFs) gene family is expanded compared with other genomes
Summary
The ubiquitous involvement of auxin in almost all aspects of plant development and in plant responses to the environment, abiotic stress, and growth tropisms underlines its importance [1]. The initiation and regulation of these processes are mostly accomplished by the expression and regulation of auxin-related genes [2], which have received considerable research attention. These genes include the Skp1–Cullin–F-Box protein complex, containing the transport inhibitor response 1 protein (SCFTIR1 ) auxin receptor and its related auxin signaling F-box protein receptor family members, and two families of partially redundant proteins: the auxin response factors (ARFs) and their cognate auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) repressors [3,4,5].
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