Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Analysis of the TIFY Family Genes in Response to Abiotic Stresses and Hormone Treatments in Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum)

Abstract

<i>TIFY</i> is a plant-specific gene family with four subfamilies: <i>ZML</i>, <i>TIFY</i>, <i>PPD</i>, and <i>JAZ</i>. Recently, this family was found to have regulatory functions in hormone stimulation, environmental response, and development. However, little is known about the roles of the <i>TIFY</i> family in Tartary buckwheat (<i>Fagopyrum tataricum</i>), a significant crop for both food and medicine. In this study, 18 <i>TIFY</i> family genes (<i>FtTIFYs</i>) in Tartary buckwheat were identified. The characteristics, motif compositions, and evolutionary relationships of the TIFY proteins, as well as the gene structures, <i>cis</i>-acting elements, and synteny of the <i>TIFY</i> genes, are discussed in detail. Moreover, we found that most <i>FtTIFYs</i> responded to various abiotic stresses (cold, heat, salt, or drought) and hormone treatments (ABA, MeJA, or SA). Through yeast two-hybrid assays, we revealed that two FtTIFYs, FtTIFY1 and FtJAZ7, interacted with FtABI5, a homolog protein of AtABI5 involved in ABA-mediated germination and stress responses, implying crosstalk between ABA and JA signaling in Tartary buckwheat. Furthermore, the overexpression of <i>FtJAZ10</i> and <i>FtJAZ12</i> enhanced the heat stress tolerance of tobacco. Consequently, our study suggests that the <i>FtTIFY</i> family plays important roles in responses to abiotic stress and provides two candidate genes (<i>FtJAZ10</i> and <i>FtJAZ12</i>) for the cultivation of stress-resistant crops.