A Genome-Wide Characterization of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolase Family Genes and Their Functions in the Shell Formation of Pecan

Wen, Mengyun; Zhou, Zekun; Sun, Jing; Meng, Fanqing; Xi, Xueliang; Liu, Aizhong; Yu, Anmin

doi:10.3390/horticulturae11060609

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A Genome-Wide Characterization of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolase Family Genes and Their Functions in the Shell Formation of Pecan

by

Mengyun Wen

^1,†,

Zekun Zhou

^1,†,

Jing Sun

¹,

Fanqing Meng

¹,

Xueliang Xi

²,

Aizhong Liu

^1,*

and

Anmin Yu

^1,3,4,*

¹

Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China

²

Yunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Kunming 650201, China

³

Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-Forest Resource, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China

⁴

Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060609

Submission received: 9 April 2025 / Revised: 21 May 2025 / Accepted: 28 May 2025 / Published: 29 May 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2))

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Abstract

Xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases (XTHs) are key enzymes involved in cell wall remodeling by modifying xyloglucan–cellulose networks, thereby influencing plant growth, development, and secondary cell wall formation. While the roles of XTHs have been extensively studied in primary and secondary growth, their functions in the formation and thickening of lignified nut shells remain largely unknown. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis), an economically important nut crop, develops a hard, lignified shell that protects the seed during fruit maturation. In this study, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide characterization of the XTH gene family in pecan and identified 38 XTH genes, which were categorized into four distinct phylogenetic groups. Structural analyses of the deduced proteins revealed conserved catalytic residues alongside divergent loop regions, suggesting functional diversification. Expression profiling across various tissues and among pecan cultivars with contrasting shell phenotypes indicated that specific XTH genes may play critical roles in shell structure formation. Moreover, gene regulatory networks in thin- and thick-shelled pecans provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying shell development and thickness regulation. These findings lay a foundation for future genetic improvement strategies targeting nut shell traits in woody perennials.

Keywords: pecan; shell formation; xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH); cell wall remodeling; expression

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MDPI and ACS Style

Wen, M.; Zhou, Z.; Sun, J.; Meng, F.; Xi, X.; Liu, A.; Yu, A. A Genome-Wide Characterization of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolase Family Genes and Their Functions in the Shell Formation of Pecan. Horticulturae 2025, 11, 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060609

AMA Style

Wen M, Zhou Z, Sun J, Meng F, Xi X, Liu A, Yu A. A Genome-Wide Characterization of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolase Family Genes and Their Functions in the Shell Formation of Pecan. Horticulturae. 2025; 11(6):609. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060609

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wen, Mengyun, Zekun Zhou, Jing Sun, Fanqing Meng, Xueliang Xi, Aizhong Liu, and Anmin Yu. 2025. "A Genome-Wide Characterization of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolase Family Genes and Their Functions in the Shell Formation of Pecan" Horticulturae 11, no. 6: 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060609

APA Style

Wen, M., Zhou, Z., Sun, J., Meng, F., Xi, X., Liu, A., & Yu, A. (2025). A Genome-Wide Characterization of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolase Family Genes and Their Functions in the Shell Formation of Pecan. Horticulturae, 11(6), 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060609

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A Genome-Wide Characterization of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolase Family Genes and Their Functions in the Shell Formation of Pecan

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