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Promoter variation in a homeobox gene, CpDll, is associated with deeply lobed leaf in Cucurbita pepo L.

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Abstract

Key message

CpDll, encoding an HD-Zip I transcription factor, positively regulates formation of deeply lobed leaf shape in zucchini, Cucurbita pepo, which is associated with sequence variation in its promoter region.

Abstract

Leaf shape is an important horticultural trait in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.). Deeply lobed leaves have potential advantages for high-density planting and hybrid production. However, little is known about the molecular basis of deeply lobed leaf formation in this important vegetable crop. Here, we conducted QTL analysis and fine mapping of the deeply lobed leaf (CpDll) locus using recombinant inbred lines and large F2 populations developed from crosses between the deeply lobed leaf HM-S2, and entire leaf Jin-GL parental lines. We show that CpDll exhibited incomplete dominance for the deeply lobed leaf shape in HM-S2. Map-based cloning provided evidence that CpCll encodes a type I homeodomain (HD)- and Leu zipper (Zip) element-containing transcription factor. Sequence analysis between HM-S2 and Jin-GL revealed no sequence variations in the coding sequences, whereas a number of variations were identified in the promoter region between them. DUAL-LUC assays revealed significantly stronger promoter activity in HM-S2 than that in Jin-GL. There was also significantly higher expression of CpDll in the leaf base of deeply lobed leaves of HM-S2 compared with entire leaf Jin-GL. Comparative analysis of CpDll gene homologs in nine cucurbit crop species (family Cucurbitaceae) revealed conservation in both structure and function of this gene in regulation of deeply lobed leaf formation. Our work provides new insights into the molecular basis of leaf lobe formation in pumpkin/squash and other cucurbit crops. This work also facilitates marker-assisted selection for leaf shape in zucchini breeding.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Beijing Innovation Consortium of Agriculture Research System (BAIC01), Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS-ASTIP-IVFCAAS), Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (IVF-BRF2021007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Kailiang Bo, Ying Duan, Xiyan Qiu, Meng Zhang, Qin Shu, Yapei Sun, Yadi He, Yuzi Shi & Changlin Wang

  2. USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit, Horticulture Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Yiqun Weng

  3. China Vegetable Biotechnology (Shouguang) Co., Ltd, Shouguang, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Changlin Wang

Authors
  1. Kailiang Bo
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  2. Ying Duan
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  3. Xiyan Qiu
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  4. Meng Zhang
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  5. Qin Shu
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  6. Yapei Sun
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  7. Yadi He
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  8. Yuzi Shi
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  9. Yiqun Weng
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  10. Changlin Wang
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Contributions

KB performed the experiments, analyzed the data. KB, YD, XQ, MZ, QS, Y.Sun, YH and Y.Shi collected the phenotypic data. CW and YW provided valuable research design. KB, YW and CW wrote the paper. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yiqun Weng or Changlin Wang.

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The authors declare that this study complies with the current laws of the countries in which the experiments were performed.

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Communicated by Sandra Elaine Branham.

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Bo, K., Duan, Y., Qiu, X. et al. Promoter variation in a homeobox gene, CpDll, is associated with deeply lobed leaf in Cucurbita pepo L.. Theor Appl Genet 135, 1223–1234 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-021-04026-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-021-04026-3

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