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The AP2/ERF transcription factor SlERF.J2 functions in hypocotyl elongation and plant height in tomato

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Abstract

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Our findings indicated that the SlERF.J2-IAA23 module integrates hormonal signals to regulate hypocotyl elongation and plant height in tomato.

Abstract

Light and phytohormones can synergistically regulate photomorphogenesis-related hypocotyl elongation and plant height in tomato. AP2/ERF family genes have been extensively demonstrated to play a role in light signaling and various hormones. In this study, we identified a novel AP2/ERF family gene in tomato, SlERF.J2. Overexpression of SlERF.J2 inhibits hypocotyl elongation and plant height. However, the plant height in the slerf.j2ko knockout mutant was not significantly changed compared with the WT. we found that hypocotyl cell elongation and plant height were regulated by a network involving light, auxin and gibberellin signaling, which is mediated by regulatory relationship between SlERF.J2 and IAA23. SlERF.J2 protein could bind to IAA23 promoter and inhibit its expression. In addition, light–dark alternation can activate the transcription of SlERF.J2 and promote the function of SlERF.J2 in photomorphogenesis. Our findings indicated that the SlERF.J2-IAA23 module integrates hormonal signals to regulate hypocotyl elongation and plant height in tomato.

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All data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and within its supplementary materials published online.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31872121), and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing of China (csts2019jcyj-msxmX0094), and the Innovation project of people returned from studying abroad of Chongqing (cx2019158).

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  1. Yanan Chen, Guoping Chen and Zongli Hu have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Tomato, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China

    Yanan Chen, Hong Yang, Boyan Tang, Fenfen Li, Qiaoli Xie, Guoping Chen & Zongli Hu

  2. Room 523, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Campus B, 174 Shapingba Main Street, Chongqing, 400030, People’s Republic of China

    Guoping Chen

  3. Room 521, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Campus B, 174 Shapingba Main Street, Chongqing, 400030, People’s Republic of China

    Zongli Hu

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  1. Yanan Chen
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ZH and QX designed and managed the research work and improved the manuscript. YC, HY designed the experiments and analyzed the data. YC, BT, FL, GC performed the experiments. YC wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Guoping Chen or Zongli Hu.

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Chen, Y., Yang, H., Tang, B. et al. The AP2/ERF transcription factor SlERF.J2 functions in hypocotyl elongation and plant height in tomato. Plant Cell Rep 42, 371–383 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-022-02963-x

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