An AP2/ERF transcription factor GhERF109 negatively regulates plant growth and development in cotton

Abstract

Cotton is an important source of natural fibers. The AP2/ethylene response factor (ERF) family is one of the largest plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) groups, playing key roles in plant growth and development. However, the role of ERF TFs in cotton’s growth and development remains unclear. In this study, we identified GhERF109, a nuclear-localized ERF, which showed significant expression differences between ZM24 and pag1 cotton. Heterologous overexpression of GhERF109 in Arabidopsis resulted in reduced plant height, shortened root length, and reduced silique lengths compared to wild-type (WT) plants. In contrast, silencing GhERF109 in cotton led to a significant increase in plant height due to the elongation of stem cells. Overexpression of GhERF109 in cotton also produced a compact plant type with a notable reduction in height. RNA-seq analysis of GhERF109-silenced plants revealed 4123 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with many upregulated genes involved in auxin response, polar transport, cell expansion, cell cycle regulation, brassinolide (BL) biosynthesis, and very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) pathways. These findings suggest that GhERF109 integrates auxin and other signaling pathways to suppress plant growth, providing valuable genetic material for breeding programs to improve mechanized cotton harvesting.