Genome-wide identification and functional analysis of JAZ gene family in Rosa hybrida reveals the positive role of RhJAZ16 in salt stress tolerance
Jiao Zhu, Rongchong Li, Shi Kai Fan, Fei Dong, Yiyang Liu, Chengpeng Wang
Abstract
JASMONATE ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins serve as central nodes in jasmonic acid pathway to regulate plant growth and environmental responses. Although the JAZ gene family in several crops has been studied, its characterization in Rosa hybrida remains limited. In this study, 32 RhJAZ gene members were identified in the Rosa hybrida , and their characterization revealed distinct genomic locations, evolutionary relationships, and structural domains. Further cis-elements analysis of promoter showed significant enrichment of jasmonic acid (JA)- and abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive regulatory elements, suggesting potential involvement in hormone crosstalk. Expression profiling across ten tissues and under salt stress conditions revealed diverse expression patterns, with several genes showing tissue specificity and salt-inducible expression. Functional analysis revealed that RhJAZ16 localizes to the nucleus, is highly expressed in roots, and is significantly induced by salt stress. RhJAZ16 overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced salt tolerance by improving seed germination, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll retention, and reducing oxidative damage. This study offers a comprehensive survey of JAZ family members in Rosa hybrida and identifies RhJAZ16 contributing to enhanced salt stress resilience. These findings provide new insights into JA-mediated stress signaling in rose by revealing the enrichment of ABA-responsive cis-elements and the salt-inducible role of RhJAZ16 , thereby offering a basis for future molecular breeding of stress-resilient ornamental plants.