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10.3390/life15020227
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Article

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Divergence of CBF Family in Actinidia arguta and Functional Analysis of AaCBF4 Under Cold Stress

by
Sumei Li
1,†,
Qina Zhang
1,†,
Zhenzhen Zhang
2,
Peng Zhang
2,
Congcong Li
2,
Leiming Sun
2,
Jinbao Fang
2,
Ran Wang
2,
Feng Wei
1,3,
Yukuo Li
2,4,
Miaomiao Lin
2,4,* and
Xiujuan Qi
2,4,*
1
School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
2
National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China
3
National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China
4
Zhongyuan Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453500, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Life 2025, 15(2), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15020227
Submission received: 10 December 2024 / Revised: 18 January 2025 / Accepted: 31 January 2025 / Published: 4 February 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotic and Abiotic Stresses 2024)
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Abstract

The C-repeat binding factors (CBFs) gene is essential for plants’ cold response, which could not only be induced by the inducer of CBF expression (ICE) genes but also activated the expression of the cold-regulated (COR) gene, thereby participating in the ICE-CBF-COR cold response pathway. However, this gene family and its functions in Actinidia arguta remain unclear. In this study, whole-genome identification and functional analysis of CBF family members in A. arguta were performed. Eighteen CBF genes, which were located on four chromosomes and had five tandem repeats, were identified. The proteins encoded by the genes were predicted to be located in the nucleus and cytoplasm. The results of the promoter cis-acting element analysis revealed light response elements, low-temperature response elements, and hormone (methyl jasmonate, gibberellin, salicylic acid, etc.) response elements. We analyzed collinearity with other kiwifruit genomes, and, interestingly, the number of CBF family members differed across geographic locations of A. arguta. RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of the CBF gene family differed under low-temperature treatment; specifically, we observed differences in the expression of all the genes. Based on phylogenetic relationships and RT-qPCR analysis, the expression of AaCBF4.1 (AaCBF4) was found to be highly upregulated, and the function of this gene in cold resistance was further verified via overexpression in transgenic Arabidopsis. AaCBF4-overexpressing plants showed higher tolerance to cold stress, showing a higher germination rate, higher chlorophyll content and lower relative electrolyte leakage. In addition, compared with the wild-type Arabidopsis, the overexpressing plants exhibited significantly reduced oxidative damage due to the reduction in reactive oxygen species production under cold stress. Therefore, AaCBF4 plays an important role in improving the cold resistance of Actinidia arguta and can be further used to develop kiwifruit germplasm resources with strong cold resistance.
Keywords: kiwifruit; CBF gene family; low-temperature stress kiwifruit; CBF gene family; low-temperature stress

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Li, S.; Zhang, Q.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, P.; Li, C.; Sun, L.; Fang, J.; Wang, R.; Wei, F.; Li, Y.; et al. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Divergence of CBF Family in Actinidia arguta and Functional Analysis of AaCBF4 Under Cold Stress. Life 2025, 15, 227. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15020227

AMA Style

Li S, Zhang Q, Zhang Z, Zhang P, Li C, Sun L, Fang J, Wang R, Wei F, Li Y, et al. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Divergence of CBF Family in Actinidia arguta and Functional Analysis of AaCBF4 Under Cold Stress. Life. 2025; 15(2):227. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15020227

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Sumei, Qina Zhang, Zhenzhen Zhang, Peng Zhang, Congcong Li, Leiming Sun, Jinbao Fang, Ran Wang, Feng Wei, Yukuo Li, and et al. 2025. "Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Divergence of CBF Family in Actinidia arguta and Functional Analysis of AaCBF4 Under Cold Stress" Life 15, no. 2: 227. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15020227

APA Style

Li, S., Zhang, Q., Zhang, Z., Zhang, P., Li, C., Sun, L., Fang, J., Wang, R., Wei, F., Li, Y., Lin, M., & Qi, X. (2025). Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Divergence of CBF Family in Actinidia arguta and Functional Analysis of AaCBF4 Under Cold Stress. Life, 15(2), 227. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15020227

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