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. 2025 May 20;262(1):1.
doi: 10.1007/s00425-025-04723-z.

Genome-wide analysis of AP2/ERF gene family and functional characterization of StoERF109 in Solanum torvum response to Verticillium dahliae infection

Chang Feng #  1 , Ya-Lun Dong #  1 , Lei Shen  2
Affiliations

Genome-wide analysis of AP2/ERF gene family and functional characterization of StoERF109 in Solanum torvum response to Verticillium dahliae infection

Chang Feng et al. Planta. .

Abstract

This study identified 176 AP2/ERF genes in Solanum torvum, and investigated their sequence information. The functional analysis showed that StoERF109 positively functions in S. torvum against Verticillium wilt. Apetala2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factors play a crucial role in plant various biological processes including growth, development, phytohormone signaling, and stress responses. However, the sequence information, functions, and underlaying molecular mechanisms of AP2/ERF family members in Solanum torvum, a wild eggplant, largely remain unknown. Herein, a total of 176 AP2/ERF family genes in S. torvum were identified and classified into five sub-families: 23 AP2 s, 3 RAVs, 46 DREBs, 103 ERFs, and 1 soloist. The phylogenetic relationship, chromosomal assignment, collinearity, genes' structure, conserved domain, motif, and cis-element of AP2/ERF genes were investigated. An ERF sub-family gene StoERF109 was identified, which expression was significantly up-regulated by Verticillium dahliae inoculation. Furthermore, a relative high expression of StoERF109 was observed in stems of S. torvum. StoERF109 protein locates in the nucleus and exhibits transcriptional activation activity. Functional analysis indicated that silencing of StoERF109 markedly enhanced susceptibility of S. torvum to Verticillium wilt, and significantly down-regulated the expression of defense-related genes including StoABR1, StoAOS, and StoNDR1. On the contrary, StoERF109 transient expression up-regulated the expression of defense-related genes including StoNPR1, StoEDS1, StoPAD4, StoNDR1, StoAOS, and StoABR1. Our data provided insightful knowledge of the AP2/ERF family and revealed that StoERF109 positively functions in S. torvum response to V. dahliae infection.

Keywords: AP2/ERF transcription factor; Biotic stress; Pathogen; Plant disease; Verticillium wilt; Wild eggplant.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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