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Horticulturae
Volume 12
Issue 5
10.3390/horticulturae12050642
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Characterization of the Potato KHD Gene Family: Evolutionary Conservation, Hormone-Responsive Expression, and Core Members Mediating Abiotic Stress Tolerance

by
Liqin Liang
,
Liyan Wang
,
Yuehua Zhao
,
Jingyi Zhang
,
Qing Zhang
,
Jinyan Liang
,
Weizhong Liu
* and
Gang Gao
*
College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Horticulturae 2026, 12(5), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050642
Submission received: 3 May 2026 / Accepted: 16 May 2026 / Published: 21 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2))
Versions Notes

Abstract

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), specifically those containing K Homology (KH) domains, are critical for post-transcriptional regulation and abiotic stress responsiveness in plants. However, systematic characterization of the KHD gene family in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) remains unreported. Here, we identified 83 StKHD genes unevenly distributed across 12 potato chromosomes, which clustered into five subgroups with conserved gene structures and motif compositions. Most StKHD proteins were predicted to localize to the nucleus, confirmed experimentally for StKHD-41 via transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Collinearity analysis revealed 23, 22, 19, and 4 orthologous pairs with Arabidopsis, tomato, pepper, and tobacco, respectively. Promoter analysis showed distribution of hormone- and stress-responsive cis-elements, while interaction network analysis predicted 39 StKHDs interacting with 137 proteins. Tissue-specific profiling revealed broad expression of several StKHDs, and specific members displayed consistent expression changes under abiotic stresses, correlating with TC-rich repeat enrichment. RT-qPCR validated that StKHD-41 responded rapidly to JA, moderately to SA/GA, and slowly to ABA, with significant upregulation under drought and salt stress by day 2. This study provides a foundation for understanding StKHD functions and identifies targets for enhancing potato stress resistance.
Keywords: Solanum tuberosum L.; StKHD gene family; expression profiles; stress Solanum tuberosum L.; StKHD gene family; expression profiles; stress

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Liang, L.; Wang, L.; Zhao, Y.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, Q.; Liang, J.; Liu, W.; Gao, G. Characterization of the Potato KHD Gene Family: Evolutionary Conservation, Hormone-Responsive Expression, and Core Members Mediating Abiotic Stress Tolerance. Horticulturae 2026, 12, 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050642

AMA Style

Liang L, Wang L, Zhao Y, Zhang J, Zhang Q, Liang J, Liu W, Gao G. Characterization of the Potato KHD Gene Family: Evolutionary Conservation, Hormone-Responsive Expression, and Core Members Mediating Abiotic Stress Tolerance. Horticulturae. 2026; 12(5):642. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050642

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liang, Liqin, Liyan Wang, Yuehua Zhao, Jingyi Zhang, Qing Zhang, Jinyan Liang, Weizhong Liu, and Gang Gao. 2026. "Characterization of the Potato KHD Gene Family: Evolutionary Conservation, Hormone-Responsive Expression, and Core Members Mediating Abiotic Stress Tolerance" Horticulturae 12, no. 5: 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050642

APA Style

Liang, L., Wang, L., Zhao, Y., Zhang, J., Zhang, Q., Liang, J., Liu, W., & Gao, G. (2026). Characterization of the Potato KHD Gene Family: Evolutionary Conservation, Hormone-Responsive Expression, and Core Members Mediating Abiotic Stress Tolerance. Horticulturae, 12(5), 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050642

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