Genome-wide identification of the GRF family in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and functional analysis of the CsGRF04 in response to multiple abiotic stresses

Abstract

Abstract Background Citrus is one of the most valuable fruits worldwide and an economic pillar industry in southern China. Nevertheless, it frequently suffers from undesirable environmental stresses during the growth cycle, which severely restricts the growth, development and yield of citrus. In plants, the growth-regulating factor (GRF) family of transcription factors (TF) is extensively distributed and plays an vital part in plant growth and development, hormone response, as well as stress adaptation. However, the systematic identification and functional analysis of GRF TFs in citrus have not been reported. Results Here, a genome-wide identification of GRF TFs was performed in Citrus sinensis, 9 members of CsGRFs were systematically identified and discovered to be scattered throughout 5 chromosomes. Subsequently, physical and chemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, structural characteristics, gene duplication events, collinearity and cis-elements of promoter were elaborately analyzed. In particular, the expression patterns of the CsGRF genes in response to multiple phytohormone and abiotic stress treatments were investigated. Predicated on this result, CsGRF04, which exhibited the most differential expression pattern under multiple phytohormone and abiotic stress treatments was screened out. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology was utilized to obtain gene silenced plants for CsGRF04 successfully. After the three stress treatments of high salinity, low temperature and drought, the CsGRF04-VIGS lines showed significantly reduced resistance to high salinity and low temperature stresses, but extremely increased resistance to drought stress. Conclusions Taken together, our findings systematically analyzed the genomic characterization of GRF family in Citrus sinensis, and excavated a CsGRF04 with potential functions under multiple abiotic stresses. Our study lay a foundation for further study on the function of CsGRFs in abiotic stress and hormone signaling response.