Paralogous transcription factors, TT8a and TT8b, control soybean seed coat and hilum coloration.

GmMADS17, a MADS-box transcription factor, promotes flowering in soybean.

BACKGROUND Soybean is an important crop used for oil, grain and feed. Due to its strong photoperiod sensitivity, flowering is a critical developmental process regulated by multiple genes that determines reproductive success and yield of soybean. Therefore, identifying regulatory genes controlling flowering is of great importance for developing widely adapted and high-yielding soybean varieties. RESULTS In this study, we identified a soybean MADS-box transcription factor gene GmMADS17 through transcriptome analysis of two extreme flowering phenotype families derived from a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of Qihuang 34 and Jidou 17. Functional validation using both overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis demonstrated that GmMADS17 promotes flowering in soybean. Yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays and Co-immunoprecipitation assay further revealed that GmMADS17 could interact with 3 GmAP1 proteins (GmAP1a, c and d). In addition, genetic diversity analysis indicated strong selection at the GmMADS17 locus during soybean domestication, characterized by the near fixation of GmMADS17-Hap2, which might be associated with early-flowering in cultivated soybeans. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study may provide strategic genetic insights for molecular breeding programs aimed at enhancing soybean adaptation.

Screening and functional characterization of R2R3-MYB transcription factors regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in lotus (Nelumbo nucifera).

Anthocyanin biosynthesis is a key process determining flower color in lotus. In this study, 145 MYB transcription factors were identified from the lotus genome, of which 124 belong to the R2R3-MYB subfamily. Based on phylogenetic analysis and short-term light-induced transcriptome data, NnMYB38 and NnMYB114 were selected for further characterization. Expression of NnMYB38 and NnMYB114 was significantly higher in red-flowered lotus, with NnMYB38 showing a positive correlation with anthocyanin content. Transient overexpression in Nicotiana benthamiana revealed that NnMYB38 induced significant anthocyanin accumulation by upregulating multiple structural genes. In transgenic Arabidopsis, both MYB TFs promoted anthocyanin accumulation in mature seeds, and the seedlings of NnMYB114-OE line exhibited red pigmentation. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that both transcription factors significantly activated the promoters of NnDFR and NnANS, indicating their crucial regulatory roles in anthocyanin biosynthesis. In this study, we screened and identified the regulatory functions of two MYB TFs in lotus anthocyanin biosynthesis, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying lotus flower coloration.

A minimal two-amino-acid deletion in SmMYB1 converts an activator into a dominant repressor, reshaping global eggplant anthocyanin pigmentation during domestication.

This study uncovers a rare case in which a deletion of just two amino acids is sufficient to generate a potent dominant-negative regulator, designated SmMYB1alf-D, which enables reliable prediction of fruit color and provides a breeding strategy to precisely manipulate anthocyanin metabolism.

Integrative genomic and functional analyses identify LjbZIP36 as a candidate regulator of β-carotene accumulation during floral color transition in Lonicera japonica

Floral color transition is a characteristic developmental process in Lonicera japonica , during which flowers gradually change from white to golden yellow during flower maturation owing to carotenoid accumulation. Although carotenoid biosynthetic genes have been identified in L. japonica , the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying carotenoid accumulation during floral color transition remain poorly understood. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are important regulators of plant growth, development, and secondary metabolism; however, their potential involvement in carotenoid biosynthesis in L. japonica has not been systematically investigated. Using a recently released chromosome-level reference genome, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the bZIP transcription factor family in L. japonica and identified 68 LjbZIP genes, which were classified into 13 conserved subfamilies. Integrating phylogenetic analysis, expression profiling across floral developmental stages, and transcriptome–metabolome association analyses, we identified LjbZIP36 as a candidate regulator associated with carotenoid accumulation during floral color transition. The expression of LjbZIP36 increased markedly during late floral development and exhibited a positive correlation with β-carotene accumulation. Subcellular localization analysis demonstrated that LjbZIP36 is a nucleus-localized protein. Transient overexpression of LjbZIP36 in Nicotiana benthamiana promoted carotenoid accumulation, particularly β-carotene, and enhanced the expression of several carotenoid biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays indicated that LjbZIP36 can interact with and activate the promoters of LjPSY , LjPDS , LjZDS , and LjLCYB , key genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis. This study provides the genome-wide characterization of the bZIP transcription factor family in L. japonica and identifies LjbZIP36 as a candidate positive regulator associated with carotenoid accumulation during floral color transition. These findings expand our understanding of the transcriptional regulation of carotenoid metabolism in honeysuckle and provide valuable genetic resources for future functional studies and molecular breeding of ornamental and medicinal cultivars.

Loss-of-function of StFKF1 delays flowering and tuberization under long-day conditions in potato

Evidence is provided suggesting that StFKF1 influences the timing of flowering and tuber initiation, as well as the expression patterns of key regulatory genes, under long-day conditions, thereby contributing to a theoretical foundation for understanding developmental transitions in this specific environmental context.

Seed-specific overexpression of DREB2G alters seed morphology, oil accumulation, and germination in Arabidopsis