Cloning and functional mechanism of the dwarf gene gba affecting stem elongation and cellulose biosynthesis in jute (Corchorus olitorius)

Abstract

SUMMARYPlant height (PH) is an important factor affecting bast fiber yield in jute. Here, we report the mechanism of dwarfism in the ‘Guangbaai’ (gba) of jute. The mutant gba had shorter internode length and cell length compared to the standard cultivar ‘TaiZi 4’ (TZ4). Exogenous GA3 treatment indicated that gba is a GA‐insensitive dwarf mutant. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of three PH‐related traits via a high‐density genetic linkage map according to re‐seq showed that a total of 25 QTLs were identified, including 13 QTLs for PH, with phenotypic variation explained ranging from 2.42 to 74.16%. Notably, the functional mechanism of the candidate gene CoGID1a, the gibberellic acid receptor, of the major locus qPHIL5 was evaluated by transgenic analysis and virus‐induced gene silencing. A dwarf phenotype‐related single nucleotide mutation in CoGID1a was identified in gba, which was also unique to the dwarf phenotype of gba among 57 cultivars. Cogid1a was unable to interact with the growth‐repressor DELLA even in the presence of highly accumulated gibberellins in gba. Differentially expressed genes between transcriptomes of gba and TZ4 after GA3 treatment indicated up‐regulation of genes involved in gibberellin and cellulose synthesis in gba. Interestingly, it was found that up‐regulation of CoMYB46, a key transcription factor in the secondary cell wall, by the highly accumulated gibberellins in gba promoted the expression of cellulose synthase genes CoCesA4 and CoCesA7. These findings provide valuable insights into fiber development affected by endogenous gibberellin accumulation in plants.