Identification of Ascorbate Oxidase Genes and Their Response to Cold Stress in Citrus sinensis

Xiaoyong Xu (), Xingchen Miao, Naiyi Deng, Mengge Liang, Lun Wang, Lijuan Jiang and Shaohua Zeng
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Xiaoyong Xu: College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Xingchen Miao: College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Naiyi Deng: College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Mengge Liang: College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Lun Wang: College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Lijuan Jiang: College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Shaohua Zeng: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-13

Abstract: Ascorbate oxidase (AAO) plays an important role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis, thereby influencing plant growth, development, and responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. However, there has been no systematic characterization of AAO genes in Citrus , especially their roles in response to cold stress. In the present study, nine AAO genes were identified in C. sinensis through bioinformatics analyses, exhibiting uneven distribution across four chromosomes. All CsAAOs possessed three conserved domains and were predicted to localize in the apoplast. The CsAAO gene family displayed varied intron–exon patterns. Phylogenetic analysis categorized the CsAAO family into three main clades (Clade A–C), suggesting distinct biological functions. Collinearity and Ka/Ks analysis revealed three duplicate gene pairs within the CsAAO gene family, with all duplicated CsAAOs primarily evolving under purifying selection. Analysis of cis -acting elements showed the presence of multiple hormone response elements and stress response elements within the CsAAO promoters. The computational analysis of microRNA target transcripts suggested that CsAAO9 may be a target of csi-miR156. RNA-Seq data demonstrated high expression levels of CsAAOs in roots and young fruits, while qRT-PCR analysis showed significant upregulation of six CsAAOs in response to cold treatment. Furthermore, the activities of CsAAOs exhibited a pattern of initial decrease followed by an increase after exposure to low temperatures. These findings offer important insights into the role of CsAAOs in response to cold stress. Furthermore, AAOs could be target genes for breeding crops with better cold resistance.

Keywords: Citrus sinensis; ascorbate oxidase genes; gene family; cold stress; gene expression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
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