The bHLH transcription factor CsPIF4 positively regulates high temperature-induced hypocotyl elongation in cucumber

High temperature-induced hypocotyl elongation is a typical thermomorphogenesis trait that may significantly affect early seedling growth and subsequent crop yield.The ambient temperature and endogenous auxin are two critical factors that regulate hypocotyl growth.However,the mechanism of temperature and auxin integration in horticultural plants remains poorly understood.In this study,the roles of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor CsPIF4 in regulating auxin biosynthesis genes and the auxin content in the hypocotyl of cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)seedlings under high temperature were investigated.qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization analysis revealed that expression of CsPIF4 was enhanced in the epidermis and vascular bundles in the hypocotyl of cucumber seedlings in response to high temperature.qRT-PCR and HPLC analysis showed that CsPIF4 positively regulated transcription of the auxin biosynthesis gene CsYUC8 and the auxin content in the hypocotyl under high temperature(35C).The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of CsPIF4 resulted in a shorter hypocotyl compared with that of the wild type,together with decreased expression of CsYUC8 and lower auxin content in response to high temperature.Furthermore,biochemical assays showed that CsPIF4 could bind directly to the G-box motif of the CsYUC8 promoter and thereby activate CsYUC8 expression.These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanism of high temperature-mediated hypocotyl elongation in cucumber.

Cucumber malate decarboxylase,CsNADP-ME2,functions in the balance of carbon and amino acid metabolism in fruit

Central metabolism produces carbohydrates and amino acids that are tightly correlated to plant growth and thereby crop productivity.Malate is reported to link mitochondrial respiratory metabolism with cytosolic biosynthetic pathways.Although the function of malate metabolism-related enzymes in providing carbon has been characterized in some plants,evidence for this role in the fleshy fruit of cucumber is lacking.Here,radiolabeled bicarbonate fed into the xylem stream from the cucumber roots was incorporated into amino acids,soluble sugars,and organic acids in the exocarp and vasculature of fruits.The activities of decarboxylases,especially decarboxylation from NADP-dependent malic enzyme(NADP-ME),were higher in cucumber fruit than in the leaf lamina.Histochemical localization revealed that CsNADP-ME2 was mainly located in the exocarp and vascular bundle system of fruit.Radiotracer and gas-exchange analysis indicated that overexpression of CsNADP-ME2 could promote carbon flux into soluble sugars and starch in fruits.Further studies combined with metabolic profiling revealed that the downregulation of CsNADP-ME2 in RNA interference(RNAi)lines caused the accumulation of its substrate,malate,in the exocarp.In addition to inhibition of glycolysis-related gene expression and reduction of the activities of the corresponding enzymes,increased amino acid synthesis and decreased sugar abundance were also observed in these lines.The opposite effect was found in CsNADP-ME2-overexpressing lines,suggesting that there may be a continuous bottom-up feedback regulation of glycolysis in cucumber fruits.Overall,our studies indicate that CsNADP-ME2 may play potential roles in both central carbon reactions and amino acid metabolism in cucumber fruits.