Genome‐wide identification and expression analysis reveal the potential function of ethylene responsive factor gene family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection and ovule development in grapes (Vitis vinifera L.)

Abstract

The prevention of Botrytis cinerea infection and the study of grape seedlessness are very important for grape industries. Finding correlated regulatory genes is an important approach towards understanding their molecular mechanisms.• Ethylene responsive factor (ERF) gene family play critical roles in defence networks and the growth of plants. To date, no large-scale study of the ERF proteins associated with pathogen defence and ovule development has been performed in grape (Vitis vinifera L.). In the present study, we identified 113 ERF genes (VvERF) and named them based on their chromosome locations. The ERF genes could be divided into 11 groups based on a multiple sequence alignment and a phylogenetic comparison with homologues from Arabidopsis thaliana. Synteny analysis and Ka/Ks ratio calculation suggested that segmental and tandem duplications contributed to the expansion of the ERF gene family. The evolutionary relationships between the VvERF genes were investigated by exon-intron structure characterisation, and an analysis of the cis-acting regulatory elements in their promoters suggested potential regulation after stress or hormone treatments.• Expression profiling after infection with the fungus, B. cinerea, indicated that ERF genes function in responses to pathogen attack. In addition, the expression levels of most ERF genes were much higher during ovule development in seedless grapes, suggesting a role in ovule abortion related to seedlessness.• Taken together, these results indicate that VvERF proteins are involved in responses to Botrytis cinerea infection and in grape ovule development. This information may help guide strategies to improve grape production.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of leaves from two grapevine species reveals an early gene expression profile associated with Elsinoe ampelina resistance

“…Our results also indicated the involvement of ERFs (ETH pathway), which were more abundantly expressed during the initial E. ampelina infection stage in the HS grape than in the HR grape. This agrees with the results of previous studies indicating that ERFs are involved in grape responses to Botrytis cinerea infection [56]. Taken together, our results highlighted the involvement of ABA, auxin and GA in grape defenses against E. ampelina and the complexity of the phytohormone signaling pathways.…”

Genome-Wide Survey and Identification of AP2/ERF Genes Involved in Shoot and Leaf Development in Liriodendron Chinense

“…The AP2/ERF TFs is ubiquitous in all plant species and plays an important role in various biological processes. It has been widely studied in many species, including A. thaliana [19], rice [19], grapes [33], Populus trichocarpa [34], tartary buckwheat [12], Chinese jujube [35], pear (Pyrus) [36], Medicago truncatula [37], and Dimocarpus longan Lour [38]. As a plant-speci c TFs family, global surveys and investigations of the AP2/ERF family help us understand the molecular mechanisms of these genes in plants and, in particular, increase awareness of the roles and functions of these genes in the process of plant morphogenesis.…”

The Effect of Ethylene on the Color Change and Resistance to Botrytis cinerea Infection in ‘Kyoho’ Grape Fruits

“…Ethylene response factor (ERF) is an important member of the AP2/ERF family and played an important role in resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses [56]. Among them, it played a significant role in resisting exogenous pathogenic bacteria.…”