Host-induced gene silencing of the Verticillium dahliae thiamine transporter protein gene(VdThit)confers resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton

Verticillium wilt(VW),induced by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae(Vd),poses a substantial threat to a diverse array of plant species.Employing molecular breeding technology for the development of cotton varieties with heightened resistance to VW stands out as one of the most efficacious protective measures.In this study,we successfully generated two stable transgenic lines of cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.),VdThitRNAi-1 and VdThit-RNAi-2,using host-induced gene silencing(HIGS)technology to introduce double-stranded RNA(dsRNA)targeting the thiamine transporter protein gene(VdThit).Southern blot analysis confirmed the presence of a single-copy insertion in each line.Microscopic examination showed marked reductions in the colonization and spread of Vd-mCherry in the roots of VdThit-RNAi cotton compared to wild type(WT).The corresponding disease index and fungal biomass of VdThit-RNAi-1/2 also exhibited significant reductions.Real-time quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)analysis demonstrated a substantial inhibition of VdThit expression following prolonged inoculation of VdThit-RNAi cotton.Small RNA sequencing(sRNA-Seq)analysis revealed the generation of a substantial number of VdThit-specific siRNAs in the VdThit-RNAi transgenic lines.Additionally,the silencing of VdThit by the siVdThit produced by VdThit-RNAi-1/2 resulted in the elevated expression of multiple genes involved in the thiamine biosynthesis pathway in Vd.Under field conditions,VdThit-RNAi transgenic cotton exhibited significantly enhanced disease resistance and yield compared with WT.In summary,our findings underscore the efficacy of HIGS targeting VdThit in restraining the infection and spread of Vd in cotton,thereby potentially enabling the development of cotton breeding as a promising strategy for managing VW.

Host-Induced Gene Silencing of Effector AGLIP1 Enhanced Resistance of Rice to Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA

Rice sheath blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA, is a major disease in rice-growing areas worldwide. Effectors of phytopathogenic fungi play important roles during the infection process of fungal pathogens onto their host plants. However, the molecular mechanisms by which R. solani effectors regulate rice immunity are not well understood. Through prediction, 78 candidate effector molecules were identified. Using the tobacco rattle virus-host induced gene silencing(TRV-HIGS) system, 45 RNAi constructs of effector genes were infiltrated into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The results revealed that eight of these constructs resulted in a significant reduction in necrosis caused by infection with the AG1-IA strain GD-118. Additionally, stable rice transformants carrying the double-stranded RNA construct for one of the effector genes, AGLIP1, were generated to further verify the function of this gene. The suppression of the AGLIP1 gene increased the resistance of both N. benthamiana and rice against GD-118, and also affected the growth rate of GD-118, indicating that AGLIP1 is a key pathogenic factor. Small RNA sequencing showed that the HIGS vectors were processed into si RNAs within the plants and then translocated to the fungi, leading to the silencing of the target genes. As a result, AGLIP1 might be an excellent candidate for HIGS, thereby enhancing crop resistance against the pathogen and contributing to the control of R. solani infection.

Knockdown of the atypical protein kinase genes GhABC1K2-A05 and GhABC1K12-A07 make cotton more sensitive to salt and PEG stress

Activity of bc1 complex kinase(ABC1K)is an atypical protein kinase(aPK)that plays a crucial role in plant mitochondrial and plastid stress responses,but little is known about the responses of ABC1Ks to stress in cotton(Gossypium spp.).Here,we identified 40 ABC1Ks in upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)and found that the Gh ABC1Ks were unevenly distributed across 17 chromosomes.The GhABC1K family members included 35 paralogous gene pairs and were expanded by segmental duplication.The GhABC1K promoter sequences contained diverse cis-acting regulatory elements relevant to hormone or stress responses.The qRT-PCR results revealed that most Gh ABC1Ks were upregulated by exposure to different stresses.Gh ABC1K2-A05 and Gh ABC1K12-A07 expression levels were upregulated by at least three stress treatments.These genes were further functionally characterized by virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS).Compared with the controls,the Gh ABC1K2-A05-and Gh ABC1K12-A07-silenced cotton lines exhibited higher malondialdehyde(MDA)contents,lower catalase(CAT),peroxidase(POD)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activities and reduced chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents under NaCl and PEG stress.In addition,the expression levels of six stress marker genes(Gh DREB2A,Gh SOS1,Gh CIPK6,Gh SOS2,Gh WRKY33,and Gh RD29A)were significantly downregulated after stress in the Gh ABC1K2-A05-and Gh ABC1K12-A07-silenced lines.The results indicate that knockdown of Gh ABC1K2-A05 and Gh ABC1K12-A07 make cotton more sensitive to salt and PEG stress.These findings can provide valuable information for intensive studies of Gh ABC1Ks in the responses and resistance of cotton to abiotic stresses.

Features,Mechanisms and Applies of Post-transcriptional Gene Silencing in Transgenic Plants

Since transgene silencing was found in transgenic plants,many scholars have studied it extensively and considered that it has three functional mechanisms:post dependent gene silencing,transcriptional gene silencing,post transcriptional gene silencing.At the moment,people have mainly focused on the study of post transcriptional gene silencing and found its features:extensivity,conduction and peculiarity,also put forward some hypothesis for its mechanisms,for example,RNA threshold model,aberrant RNA model,inter or intra molecular base pairing model and so on.Furthermore,post transcriptional gene silencing is being applied in gene engineering of plants.Recently the people have found that post transcriptional gene silencing has bearing on capacity plants resisting virus.Many researchers have studied post transcriptional gene silencing,but there are some questions which need be solved in the future.This article summarizes progresses in features,mechanisms,applies of post transcriptional gene silencing about transgenic plants.

Using Gene Silencing Technology to Create Blast Resistant Rice Resources

Rice blast disease is one of the most devastating diseases in rice production,which severely affects the high and stable yield of rice.The formation of appressorium plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Magnaporthe grisea in rice.It has been confirmed that a P-type ATPase （P-ATPase） is involved in the formation of appressorium.A number of small molecular substances are able to enter the pathogen from the host during the interactions between pathogens and hosts,thus resisting the infection of pathogens.In this study,a 232 bp DNA sequence with good specificity from the first exon of P-ATPase gene MgAPT2 was used as an interference fragment and was inserted into interference vector forward and reversely.The interfering vector was then transformed into rice blast-susceptible rice variety Nipponbare via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.Identification of rice plants inoculated with M.grisea at the seedling stage and detection of the expression level of P-ATPase gene MgAPT2 showed that the expression level of MgAPT2 gene in transgenic plants was reduced and the rice blast resistance was improved.This study provided a new way for the innovation of rice germplasm resources resistant to rice blast disease.

Transcriptional changes in epigenetic modifiers associated with gene silencing in the intestine of the sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus(Selenka),during aestivation

The sea cucumber, Apostichopusjaponicus, undergoes aestivation to improve survival during periods of high-temperature. During aestivation, the metabolic rate is depressed to reduce the consumption of reserved energy. We evaluated the role of epigenetic modification on global gene silencing during metabolic rate depression in the sea cucumber. We compared the expression of epigenetic modifiers in active and aestivating sea cucumbers. The expression of three genes involved in DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling （DNA （cytosine-5）-methyltransferase l, Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2）, and Chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 5） was significantly higher during aestivation （Days 20 and 40）. Similarly, we observed an increase in the expression of genes involved in histone acetylation （Histone deacetylase 3） and Histone-binding protein RBBP4） during the early （Days 5 and 10） and late phases （Days 20 and 40） of aestivation. There was no change in the expression of KAT2B, a histone acetyltransferase. However, the expression of histone methylation associated modifiers （Histone-arginine methyltransferase CARMER and Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase MLL5） was significantly higher after 5 d in the aestivating group. The results suggest that the expression of epigenetic modifiers involved in DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone acetylation, and histone methylation is upregulated during aestivation. We hypothesize that these changes regulate global gene silencing during aestivation in A. japonicus.

Establishment and Verification of An Efficient Virus-induced Gene Silencing System in Forsythia

To understand the functional identification of large-scale genomic sequences in Forsythia,tobacco rattle virus(TRV)-mediated virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS),suitable for the plant,was explored in this study.The results showed that the TRV-mediated VIGS system could be successfully used in Forsythia for silencing the reporter gene FsPDS(Forsythia phytoene desaturase)using stem infiltration and leaf infiltrationmethods.All the treated plants were pruned below the injection site after 7–15 d infection;the FsPDS was silenced and typical photobleaching symptoms were observed in newly sprouted leaves at the whole-plant level.Meanwhile,this system has been successfully tested and verified through virus detection and qRT-PCR analysis.After the optimization,Forsythia magnesium chelatase subunit H(FsChlH)was silenced successfully in Forsythia using this system,resulting in yellow leaveswith decreased chlorophyll content.The system was stable,highly efficient and had greater rapidity and convenience,which made it suitable to study the function of genes related to physiological pathways such as growth and development,and metabolic regulation in Forsythia.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing for repair of spinal cord injury

We hypothesized that RNA interference to silence Nogo-66 receptor gene expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells before transplantation might further improve neurological function in rats with spinal cord transection injury. After 2 weeks, the number of neurons and BrdU-positive cells in the Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing group was higher than in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell group, and significantly greater compared with the model group. After 4 weeks, behavioral performance was signiifcantly enhanced in the model group. Af-ter 8 weeks, the number of horseradish peroxidase-labeled nerve ifbers was higher in the Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing group than in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell group, and signiifcantly higher than in the model group. The newly formed nerve ifbers and myelinated ner ve ifbers were detectable in the central transverse plane section in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell group and in the Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing group.

Gene silencing:Double-stranded RNA mediated mRNA degradation and gene inactivation

The recent development of gene transfer approaches in plants and animals has revealed that transgene can undergo silencing after integration in the genome. Host genes can also be silenced as a consequence of the presence of a homologous transgene. More and more investigations have demonstrated that double- stranded RNA can silence genes by triggering degradation of homologous RNA in the cytoplasm and by directing methylation of homologous nuclear DNA sequences. Analyses of Arabidopsis mutants and plant viral suppressors of silencing are unraveling RNA-silencing mechanisms and are assessing the role of methy- lation in transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene silencing. This review will focus on double-stranded RNA mediated mRNA degradation and gene inactivation in plants.

Silencing hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA: The potential of an epigenetic therapy approach

Global prophylactic vaccination programmes have helped to curb new hepatitis B virus(HBV)infections.However,it is estimated that nearly 300 million people are chronically infected and have a high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.As such,HBV remains a serious health priority and the development of novel curative therapeutics is urgently needed.Chronic HBV infection has been attributed to the persistence of the covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA)which establishes itself as a minichromosome in the nucleus of hepatocytes.As the viral transcription intermediate,the cccDNA is responsible for producing new virions and perpetuating infection.HBV is dependent on various host factors for cccDNA formation and the minichromosome is amenable to epigenetic modifications.Two HBV proteins,X(HBx)and core(HBc)promote viral replication by modulating the cccDNA epigenome and regulating host cell responses.This includes viral and host gene expression,chromatin remodeling,DNA methylation,the antiviral immune response,apoptosis,and ubiquitination.Elimination of the cccDNA minichromosome would result in a sterilizing cure;however,this may be difficult to achieve.Epigenetic therapies could permanently silence the cccDNA minichromosome and promote a functional cure.This review explores the cccDNA epigenome,how host and viral factors influence transcription,and the recent epigenetic therapies and epigenome engineering approaches that have been described.

Targeted Silencing of Heparanase Gene by Small Interfering RNA Inhibits Invasiveness and Metastasis of Osteosarcoma Cells

The effects of targeted silencing of heparanase gene by small interfering RNA（siRNA） on invasiveness and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells（MG63 cells） were investigated in the present study.Two complementary oligonucleotide strands were synthesized and inserted into pGenesil-1 vector based on the mRNA sequence of heparanase gene.The expression vector containing short hairpin RNA（pGenesil-shRNA） was constructed successfully.MG63 cells were randomly allocated into 3 groups：blank group,empty vector（pGenesil） transfected group and expression vector（pGenesil-shRNA） transfected group.Under the induction of Lipofectamine 2000,the recombinants were transfected into MG63 cells.Heparanase gene expression level was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.Cell prolifera-tion was measured by MTT assay.Cell invasiveness and metastasis were examined by cell adhesion and Transwell-ECM assays.HUVECs migration assay was applied for the detection of angiogenesis.As compared with negative controls,the mRNA and protein expression levels of heparanase were down-regulated by 76.1%（P0.01） and 75.3%（P0.01） respectively in the pGenesil-shRNA transfected group.Meanwhile,the proliferation,adhesiveness,invasiveness and angiogenesis properties of MG63 cells were all significantly inhibited.It was suggested that targeted silencing of heparanase gene by siRNA could dramatically inhibit the invasiveness and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells.

Aquaporin-4 gene silencing protects injured neurons after early cerebral infarction

Aquaporin-4 regulates water molecule channels and is important in tissue regulation and water transportation in the brain. Upregulation of aquaporin-4 expression is closely related to cellular edema after early cerebral infarction. Cellular edema and aquaporin-4 expression can be determined by measuring cerebral infarct area and apparent diffusion coefficient using diffusion-weighted imaging（DWI）. We examined the effects of silencing aquaporin-4 on cerebral infarction. Rat models of cerebral infarction were established by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery and si RNA-aquaporin-4 was immediately injected via the right basal ganglia. In control animals, the area of high signal intensity and relative apparent diffusion coefficient value on T2-weighted imaging（T2WI） and DWI gradually increased within 0.5–6 hours after cerebral infarction. After aquaporin-4 gene silencing, the area of high signal intensity on T2 WI and DWI reduced, relative apparent diffusion coefficient value was increased, and cellular edema was obviously alleviated. At 6 hours after cerebral infarction, the apparent diffusion coefficient value was similar between treatment and model groups, but angioedema was still obvious in the treatment group. These results indicate that aquaporin-4 gene silencing can effectively relieve cellular edema after early cerebral infarction; and when conducted accurately and on time, the diffusion coefficient value and the area of high signal intensity on T2 WI and DWI can reflect therapeutic effects of aquaporin-4 gene silencing on cellular edema.

Piwi like RNA-mediated gene silencing 1 gene as a possible major player in gastric cancer

AIM To establish a permanent piwi like RNA-mediated genesilencing 1(PIWIL1) gene knockout in AGP01 gastric cancer cell line using CRISPR-Cas9 system and analyze phenotypic modifications as well as gene expression alterations.METHODS CRISPR-Cas9 system used was purchased from Dharmacon GE Life Sciences(Lafayette, CO, United States) and permanent knockout was performed according to manufacturer's recommendations. Woundhealing assay was performed to investigate the effect of PIWIL1 knockout on migration capability of cells and Boyden chamber invasion assay was performed to investigate the effect on invasion capability. For the gene expression analysis, a one-color microarray-based gene expression analysis kit(Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, United States) was used according to the protocol provided by the manufacturer. RESULTS PIWIL1 gene knockout caused a significant decrease in AGP01 migration capacity as well as a significant decrease in cell invasiveness. Moreover, functional analysis based on grouping of all differentially expressed m RNAs identified a total of 35 genes(5 up-regulated and 30 down-regulated) encoding proteins involved in cellular invasion and migration. According to current literature, 9 of these 35 genes(DOCK2, ZNF503, PDE4 D, ABL1, ABL2, LPAR1, SMAD2, WASF3 and DACH1) are possibly related to the mechanisms used by PIWIL1 to promote carcinogenic effects related to migration and invasion, since their functions are consistent with the changes observed(being up-or down-regulated after knockout). CONCLUSION Taken together, these data reinforce the idea that PIWIL1 plays a crucial role in the signaling pathway of gastric cancer, regulating several genes involved in migration and invasion processes; therefore, its use as a therapeutic target may generate promising results in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Nanotechnology-based gene therapy as a credible tool in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Toxic aggregated amyloid-βaccumulation is a key pathogenic event in Alzheimer’s disease.Treatment approaches have focused on the suppression,deferral,or dispersion of amyloid-βfibers and plaques.Gene therapy has evolved as a potential therapeutic option for treating Alzheimer’s disease,owing to its rapid advancement over the recent decade.Small interfering ribonucleic acid has recently garnered considerable attention in gene therapy owing to its ability to down-regulate genes with high sequence specificity and an almost limitless number of therapeutic targets,including those that were once considered undruggable.However,lackluster cellular uptake and the destabilization of small interfering ribonucleic acid in its biological environment restrict its therapeutic application,necessitating the development of a vector that can safeguard the genetic material from early destruction within the bloodstream while effectively delivering therapeutic genes across the bloodbrain barrier.Nanotechnology has emerged as a possible solution,and several delivery systems utilizing nanoparticles have been shown to bypass key challenges regarding small interfering ribonucleic acid delivery.By reducing the enzymatic breakdown of genetic components,nanomaterials as gene carriers have considerably enhanced the efficiency of gene therapy.Liposomes,polymeric nanoparticles,magnetic nanoparticles,dendrimers,and micelles are examples of nanocarriers that have been designed,and each has its own set of features.Furthermore,recent advances in the specific delivery of neurotrophic compounds via gene therapy have provided promising results in relation to augmenting cognitive abilities.In this paper,we highlight the use of different nanocarriers in targeted gene delivery and small interfering ribonucleic acid-mediated gene silencing as a potential platform for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

Insect resistance management in Bacillus thuringiensis cotton by MGPS(multiple genes pyramiding and silencing)

The introduction of Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton has reduced the burden of pests without harming the environment and human health.However,the efficacy of Bt cotton has decreased due to field-evolved resistance in insect pests over time.In this review,we have discussed various factors that facilitate the evolution of resistance in cotton pests.Currently,different strategies like pyramided cotton expressing two or more distinct Bt toxin genes,refuge strategy,releasing of sterile insects,and gene silencing by RNAi are being used to control insect pests.Pyramided cotton has shown resistance against different cotton pests.The multiple genes pyramiding and silencing(MGPS)approach has been proposed for the management of cotton pests.The genome information of cotton pests is necessary for the development of MGPS-based cotton.The expression cassettes against various essential genes involved in defense,detoxification,digestion,and development of cotton pests will successfully obtain favorable agronomic characters for crop protection and production.The MGPS involves the construction of transformable artificial chromosomes,that can express multiple distinct Bt toxins and RNAi to knockdown various essential target genes to control pests.The evolution of resistance in cotton pests will be delayed or blocked by the synergistic action of high dose of Bt toxins and RNAi as well as compliance of refuge requirement.

Cloning and Function Identification of a Phytoene Desaturase Gene from Eucommia ulmoides

The phytoene desaturase(PDS)encodes a crucial enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway.Silencing or inhibiting PDS expression leads to the appearance of mottled,chlorosis,or albino leaves.In this study,the CDS sequence of EuPDS(Eucommia ulmoides Phytoene Desaturase)was first cloned and then PDS was silenced in Nicotiana benthamiana.Result showed the expression level of EuPDS in leaves was higher than that in the roots and stems.In N.benthamiana leaves,which were treated by Agrobacterium for 24 h,photo-bleaching was shown on the fresh leaves one week after injection and the transcript level of PDS was down-regulated during the period of emersion.This suggested that EuPDS could silence PDS of N.benthamiana,so as to cause the phenotype of leaf whitening.PDS is the main reporter gene involved in virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS).This study offered molecular evidence for identifying PDS gene involved in Carotenoid’s biosynthesis pathway and the regulation networks in E.ulmides.It also laid a useful foundation for study on leaf discoloration mechanism of other woody plants.

Impact of Copy Number on Transgene Expression In Tobacco

对农杆菌介导法获得的转 β_葡糖醛酸酶 (β_glucuronidase ,GUS)基因 (uidA)烟草 (NicotianatabacumL .)进行GUS表达分析 ,发现部分转基因植株无GUS活性。进一步Southern杂交结果发现 ,GUS基因失活植株的基因组中整合了多个uidA拷贝 ,而GUS活性高的转基因植株多为uidA单拷贝整合 ,表明uidA基因失活与基因多拷贝整合有关。Northern杂交结果显示 ,失活植株无特异uidARNA杂交带 ,而GUS活性高的植株可检测到明显的杂交信号 ,说明多拷贝引起的基因失活发生在RNA水平。

Cotton ethylene response factor Gh ERF91 is involved in the defense against Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium dahliae causes significant losses in cotton production.To reveal the mechanism of the defense response to V.dahliae in cotton,transcriptomic analyses were performed using cotton cultivars M138(V.dahliae-resistant)and P2(V.dahliae-susceptible).The results revealed 11,076 and 6,640 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in response to V.dahliae,respectively.The weighted gene co-expression network analysis of 4,633 transcription factors(TFs)indicated a“MEblue”module containing 654 TFs that strongly correlate with resistance to V.dahliae.Among these TFs,the ethylene response factor Ghi_A05G10166(GhERF91)was identified as a putative hub gene with a defense response against V.dahliae.A virus-induced gene silencing assay and exogenous application of ethephon showed that GhERF91 is activated by ethylene and positively regulates the response to V.dahliae exposure in cotton.This study provides fundamental transcriptome data and a putative causal gene(GhERF91)associated with resistance to V.dahliae,as well as genetic resources for breeding V.dahliae-resistant cotton.

Fatty Acid Composition and Seed Quality Traits of the Transgenic Rapeseed W-4(Brassica napus L.) with Down-regulated Expression of fad2 Gene

To clarify the effect of down-regulated expression of fad2 gene on the seed nutritional quality of rapeseed, the fatty acid composition, amino acid composi- tion, oil content, protein content, crude fiber content and glucosinolate content in the seeds of both transgenic line W-4 and its control Westar were compared. The re- sults showed that the oleic acid content in W-4 was 86.03%±0.20%, which was 29.36% higher than that in the control （P〈0.01）; the linoleic acid content was 2.86%± 0.01%, which was reduced by 84.03% compared with that in the control （P〈0.01）; the linolenic acid content in W-4 was 3.04%±0.04%, reduced by 57.60% （P〈0.01）; the palmitic acid content in W-4 was 3.23%±0.07%, reduced by 18.63% （P〈0.01）; the eicosenoic acid content in W-4 was increased by 18.46% compared with that in the control （P〈0.01）; the erucic acid content in W-4 was increased by 13.15% （P〈 0.05）; there was no significant difference in stearic acid content between the treat- ment and control groups （P〉0.05）. The amino acid composition analysis showed that total 18 amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids, were detected in both W-4 and Westar; there were no significant differences in contents of the 18 amino acids between the treatment and control groups except that of tyrosine （P〉0.05）; the contents of oil, proteins, glucosinolates and crude fiber in W-4 were 45.40%± 0.17% （P〉0.05）, 18.18%±0.91% （P〉0.05）, 18.20%±1.21% （P〉0.05） and 12.29%± 0.04% （P〉0.05）, respectively. All the results above showed that the down-regulated expression of fad2 had great effects on fatty acid composition and accumulation in rapeseed seeds, but had no significant effects on other seed quality traits, such as oil content, protein content, crude fiber content and glucosinolate content.

GmDFB1,an ARM-repeat superfamily protein,regulates floral organ identity through repressing siRNA-and miRNA-mediated gene silencing in soybean

The development of flowers in soybean(Glycine max)is essential for determining the yield potential of the plant.Gene silencing pathways are involved in modulating flower development,but their full elucidation is still incomplete.Here,we conducted a forward genetic screen and identified an abnormal flower mutant,deformed floral bud1-1(Gmdfb1-1),in soybean.We mapped and identified the causal gene,which encodes a member of the armadillo(ARM)-repeat superfamily.Using small RNA sequencing(sRNA-seq),we found an abnormal accumulation of small interfering RNAs(si RNAs)and microRNA(miRNAs)in the Gmdfb1 mutants.We further demonstrated that GmDFB1 interacts with the RNA exosome cofactor SUPER KILLER7(Gm SKI7).Additionally,GmDFB1 interacts with the PIWI domain of ARGONAUTE 1(GmAGO1)to inhibit the cleavage efficiency on the target genes of s RNAs.The enhanced gene silencing mediated by siRNA and miRNA in the Gmdfb1 mutants leads to the downregulation of their target genes associated with flower development.This study revealed the crucial role of GmDFB1 in regulating floral organ identity in soybean probably by participating in two distinct gene silencing pathways.