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Comprehensive analysis of the TIFY gene family and its potential roles in regulating leaf morphogenesis in Arachis hypogaea

Peng Zhen-Ying1,**,*,Liu Meng-Ying2,**,Li Lei-Lei1,3,Meng Jing-Jing1,Zhang Jia-Lei1,Li Guo-Wei1,Sui Na2,Li Xin-Guo1,*,Wan Shu-Bo1,*   

  1. 1 Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Field Crop Physiology, Ecology, and Efficient Production (Under Construction) / Shandong International Joint Laboratory of Agricultural Germplasm Resources Innovation / Institute of Crop Germplasm Resources, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, Shandong, China; 2 College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250100, Shandong, China; 3 College of Life Sciences, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
  • Received:2026-03-13 Revised:2026-08-21 Accepted:2026-08-21 Published:2026-08-28
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2024YFD2301001), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2023MC109), the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (Peanut, CARS-13), the Taishan Scholars Project, and the Agricultural Science & Technology Innovation Project of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CXGC2026H23).

Abstract: The TIFY gene family plays crucial roles in plant development and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Genome-wide identification of TIFY members in peanut was combined with functional analysis and validation using a peanut leaf-curling mutant. A total of 30 AhTIFY genes were identified and assigned to the TIFY, PPD, ZML, and JAZ subfamilies. Among these, JAZ genes showed higher expression levels across various tissues, suggesting a more significant role in peanut tissue and organ development. Promoter analysis revealed a number of cis-elements associated with responses to light, drought, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid. Protein interaction analysis indicated that AhJAZ proteins engage in extensive homomeric and heteromeric interactions and interact with transcription factors such as MYB and MYC. Transcriptomic comparison between normal plants and the leaf-curling mutant revealed significant differences in the expression patterns of genes related to hormone biosynthesis. Overexpression of AhJAZ8 and AhJAZ20 in Nicotiana benthamiana induced leaf curling, demonstrating the role of AhTIFY genes in leaf morphogenesis.

Key words: Arachis hypogaea, TIFY gene family, genome-wide identification, leaf curling, leaf morphogenesis

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