Genome-wide characterization and function analysis of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) ZoGRFs in responding to adverse stresses.

Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) play crucial roles in plant growth, development, hormone signaling, and stress response. Despite their significance, the roles of GRFs in ginger remain largely unknown. Herein, 31 ginger ZoGRFs were identified and designated as ZoGRF1-ZoGRF31 according to their phylogenetic relationships. All ZoGRFs were characterized as unstable, hydrophilic proteins, with 29 predicted to be located in the nucleus. Functional cis-elements related to growth and development were enriched in ZoGRF's promoter regions. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that ZoGRF12, ZoGRF24, and ZoGRF28 were highly induced in various growth and development stages, displaying differential regulation under waterlogging, chilling, drought, and salt stresses, indicating diverse expression patterns of ZoGRFs. Transient expression analysis in Nicotiana benthamiana indicated that overexpressing ZoGRF28 regulated the transcription levels of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and pattern-triggered immunity-related genes, increased chlorophyll content and contributed to reduced disease lesions and an increased net photosynthetic rate. This research lays the foundation for further understanding the biological roles of ZoGRFs.

Identification and Functional Analysis of Two Alcohol Dehydrogenase Genes Involved in Catalyzing the Reduction of (Z)-3-Hexenal into (Z)-3-Hexenol in Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis).

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is a vital enzyme in the biosynthesis pathway of six-carbon volatiles in plants. However, little is known about its functions in tea plants. Here, we identified two ADH genes (CsADH1 and CsADH2). An in vitro protein expression assay showed that both CsADH1 and CsADH2 proteins can catalyze the reduction of (Z)-3-hexenal into (Z)-3-hexenol. Subcellular localization revealed that both CsADH1 and CsADH2 proteins were predominantly localized in the nucleus and cytosol. CsADH1 had high transcripts in young stems in autumn, while CsADH2 showed extremely high expression levels in stems and roots. The expression of CsADH2 was mainly downregulated under ABA treatment, while CsADH1 and CsADH2 transcripts were significantly lower under MeJA treatment at 12 and 24 h. Under cold treatment, CsADH1 transcripts first decreased and then increased, while CsADH2 demonstrated an almost opposite expression pattern. Notably, CsADH2 was significantly upregulated under simulated Ectropis obliqua invasion. Gene suppression by antisense oligonucleotides (AsODNs) demonstrated that AsODN_ADH2 treatment significantly reduced CsADH2 transcripts and the abundance of (Z)-3-hexenol products. The results indicate that the two CsADH genes may play an important role in response to (a)biotic stresses and in the process of (Z)-3-hexenol biosynthesis.