BACKGROUND: The YUCCA (YUC) genes play a pivotal regulatory role in plant growth and development; however, those in cotton have not been systematically characterized. RESULTS: In this study, 104 YUC members were identified across four cotton species using bioinformatics analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the YUC genes clustered into four distinct clades, and both gene structures and motif compositions were highly conserved within each subgroup. Additionally, cis-acting elements associated with growth and development, hormone response, and abiotic stress were found in the promoter regions of GhYUCs. GhYUC19 is a homologous gene of AtYUC1/4 in Arabidopsis thaliana. The quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis demonstrated that GhYUC19 was highly expressed in the main shoot apex, young leaves, and flower buds of cotton plants. Overexpression of GhYUC19 in Arabidopsis resulted in increased plant height, downward-curling leaves, reduced silique size, and lower fertility. Conversely, downregulation of GhYUC19 via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in cotton resulted in abnormal floral organ development, including missing petals and fewer stamens. CONCLUSIONS: This study conducted a systematic analysis of the YUC gene family members and validated the regulatory role of GhYUC19 in plant height, branching, and flower and fruit development. These findings provide a foundation for further investigation into the biological functions of GhYUCs in cotton.
Zhong et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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