HSF-HSP-GST coordinated network underlies ginger's adaptation to combined high-temperature and strong-light stress: Insights from multi-omics integration

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High-temperature and strong-light (HTSL) stress constituting a major environmental constraint that limits crop growth and development. Ginger productivity is significantly compromised by HTSL exposure during critical growth phases, adversely impacting yield and quality. However, the physiological and molecular response mechanisms of ginger under HTSL stress remain poorly characterized. Our integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses demonstrate that HTSL substantially alters phytohormone accumulation profiles, with ABA, IAA, and BL levels showing significant increases while JA content decreased significantly. Correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between ABA and BL, suggesting coordinated regulation of stomatal activity. Transcriptomic and weighted gene co-expression network analyses further identified pronounced induction of PP2C genes consistent with ABA signaling pathway activation, along with three gene families (ZoHSFs, ZoHSP70s, and ZoHSP90s) exhibiting HTSL-responsive expression. Most members of these families showed synchronized expression patterns with GST during early stress exposure, indicating rapid mobilization of antioxidative defenses. Within the WGCNA co-expression network, BES1 showed co-expression with PIF4 while ZoHSF6 exhibited co-expression with BES1 , suggesting a transcriptional regulatory cascade. Concurrently, ZoHSF2 co-expressed with GH3_d and PR1_b indicates integration of auxin and salicylic acid pathways in stress adaptation. Additional transcription factors including MYB73, GLK1, and NAC74 were involved in regulating hub genes associated with hormone signaling pathways. Collectively, these findings establish a multi-layered defense framework where immediate reactive oxygen species scavenging through HSF-HSP-GST coordination precedes long-term hormonal acclimation, providing both mechanistic insights into ginger's stress adaptation and molecular targets for breeding climate-resilient cultivars. • High temperature and strong light stress negatively affect ginger yield and quality. • The first transcriptomic and metabolomic study on ginger's response to high temperature and strong light. • Identified the basic pathways underlying ginger's response to high temperature and strong light stress. • Identified candidate genes and transcription factors that enhance ginger's stress resistance. • Unveil a multi-layered defense framework in ginger for the first time.