Next Article in Journal
Biopolymer Development from Agro-Food and Aquaculture By-Products with Antioxidant Hydrolysates of Cyprinus carpio, Produced via Enzymatic Preparations of Pineapple and Papaya
Next Article in Special Issue
Enhancement of Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants in Eutrema salsugineum Under Salt Stress Depends on Salicylate Depletion
Previous Article in Journal
Cellulose-Encapsulated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Spiking of Tumor Cells Positive for the Membrane-Bound Hsp70
Previous Article in Special Issue
Metabolic Profiling of Wheat Seedlings Under Oxygen Deficiency and Subsequent Reaeration Conditions
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJMS
Volume 27
Issue 1
10.3390/ijms27010157
ijms-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the ClHMGB Gene Family in Watermelon Under Abiotic Stress and Fusarium oxysporum Infection

by
Changqing Xuan
1,
Mengli Yang
1,
Yufan Ma
1,
Xue Dai
2,
Shen Liang
1,
Gaozheng Chang
1,* and
Xian Zhang
2,*
1
Institute of Horticultural Research, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China
2
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010157
Submission received: 9 November 2025 / Revised: 16 December 2025 / Accepted: 20 December 2025 / Published: 23 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses)
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

High-Mobility Group B (HMGB) proteins are conserved non-histone nuclear proteins involved in DNA replication, transcription, recombination, repair; plant growth and development; and stress responses. In this study, we identified nine ClHMGB genes in watermelon using genome-wide search. Phylogenetic and homology analyses classified them into four distinct classes. Synteny analysis revealed that ClHMGB genes share closer evolutionary relationships with dicots than with monocots. Tissue-specific expression profiling showed that eight ClHMGB members exhibit higher transcript levels in female and/or male flowers, suggesting that they play essential roles in floral organ development. Under drought, low-temperature, and salt stresses, ClHMGB members displayed distinct expression patterns. For instance, ClHMGB4 and ClHMGB8 were downregulated under drought and low-temperature stress but upregulated under salt stress, indicating potential functional specialization in response to different abiotic stresses. The highly virulent Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2 (Fon R2) induced the upregulation of more ClHMGB genes than the less virulent race 1 (Fon R1). Four members (ClHMGB1, 4, 6, and 7) were consistently upregulated by both races, suggesting that they may play fundamental roles in disease resistance. This study provides a foundation for further investigation into the roles of ClHMGB genes in growth, development, and stress responses of watermelon.
Keywords: HMGB; watermelon; genome-wide identification; expression pattern; abiotic stresses; Fusarium oxysporum HMGB; watermelon; genome-wide identification; expression pattern; abiotic stresses; Fusarium oxysporum

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Xuan, C.; Yang, M.; Ma, Y.; Dai, X.; Liang, S.; Chang, G.; Zhang, X. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the ClHMGB Gene Family in Watermelon Under Abiotic Stress and Fusarium oxysporum Infection. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010157

AMA Style

Xuan C, Yang M, Ma Y, Dai X, Liang S, Chang G, Zhang X. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the ClHMGB Gene Family in Watermelon Under Abiotic Stress and Fusarium oxysporum Infection. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(1):157. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010157

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xuan, Changqing, Mengli Yang, Yufan Ma, Xue Dai, Shen Liang, Gaozheng Chang, and Xian Zhang. 2026. "Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the ClHMGB Gene Family in Watermelon Under Abiotic Stress and Fusarium oxysporum Infection" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 1: 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010157

APA Style

Xuan, C., Yang, M., Ma, Y., Dai, X., Liang, S., Chang, G., & Zhang, X. (2026). Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the ClHMGB Gene Family in Watermelon Under Abiotic Stress and Fusarium oxysporum Infection. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(1), 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010157

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop