Author:
Chen Wenhua,Cui Yupeng,He Yunxin,Zhao Lanjie,Cui Ruifeng,Liu Xiaoyu,Huang Hui,Zhang Yuexin,Fan Yapeng,Feng Xixian,Ni Kesong,Jiang Tiantian,Han Mingge,Lei Yuqian,Liu Mengyue,Meng Yuan,Chen Xiugui,Lu Xuke,Wang Delong,Wang Junjuan,Wang Shuai,Guo Lixue,Chen Quanjia,Ye Wuwei
Abstract
A-galactosidases (AGALs), the oligosaccharide (RFO) catabolic genes of the raffinose family, play crucial roles in plant growth and development and in adversity stress. They can break down the non-reducing terminal galactose residues of glycolipids and sugar chains. In this study, the whole genome of AGALs was analyzed. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to analyze members of the AGAL family in Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium barbadense, and Gossypium raimondii. Meanwhile, RT-qPCR was carried out to analyze the expression patterns of AGAL family members in different tissues of terrestrial cotton. It was found that a series of environmental factors stimulated the expression of the GhAGAL3 gene. The function of GhAGAL3 was verified through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). As a result, GhAGAL3 gene silencing resulted in milder wilting of seedlings than the controls, and a significant increase in the raffinose content in cotton, indicating that GhAGAL3 responded to NaCl stress. The increase in raffinose content improved the tolerance of cotton. Findings in this study lay an important foundation for further research on the role of the GhAGAL3 gene family in the molecular mechanism of abiotic stress resistance in cotton.