CmABF3-CmTPP2/5 modulates trehalose-mediated hydrogen peroxide signaling and CBF-dependent pathway to enhance cold tolerance in melon seedlings
Abstract
Cold stress inhibits the growth and development of melon. Exogenous trehalose (Tre) has been reported to alleviate cold damage in melon seedlings; however, it remains unclear whether plants respond to cold stress by activating endogenous Tre synthesis and the associated upstream and downstream pathways. Here, the results show that cold stress markedly increases endogenous Tre levels in melon leaves. Transcriptome analysis identified two trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (key enzymes in Tre synthesis, TPP) genes, CmTPP2 and CmTPP5, which were strongly induced by cold stress. Silencing CmTPP2/5 significantly reduced Tre content, lowered the activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase, and exacerbated cold-induced lipid peroxidation damage; meanwhile, it inhibited apoplastic H2O2 accumulation, restricted H2O2 transport into the cytoplasm, and downregulated the expression of C-repeat binding factor 1/2 (CmCBF1/2) under cold stress. Protein–DNA interaction assays demonstrated that the transcription factor CmABF3 binds to the ABRE motif in the CmTPP2/5 promoter to activate their transcription. Silencing CmABF3 gene significantly reduced CmCBF1/2 and CmTPP2/5 expression and reduced Tre accumulation. Inhibition of trehalase activity by validamycin A elevated Tre content, enhanced antioxidant capacity under cold stress, promoted apoplastic H2O2 production and transport, and upregulated CmCBF1/2 expression. Silencing CmCBF1/2 also inhibited the production and transport of apoplastic H₂O₂ and reduced melon cold tolerance. These findings reveal that cold stress triggers CmABF3-mediated activation of CmTPP2/5, leading to Tre accumulation, which then enhanced antioxidant defenses via regulation of apoplastic H2O2 production and transport, and coordination with the CBF-dependent pathway to improve cold tolerance in melon seedlings.
Related
- Nano-Fe₃O₄ enhances salt-alkali tolerance of melon seedlings via inhibition of CmBHLH93 and activation of ABA/JA signaling, antioxidant defense, and maintenance of Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis.
- Physiological Responses and Transcriptomic Characteristics of Exogenous Trehalose Alleviating Cadmium Toxicity in Maize Seedlings
- OsDUF1223 negatively regulates seedling drought tolerance and modulates nitrate-dependent root growth in rice
- SAMDC Activity Is Involved in the Melatonin-Mediated Tolerance of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Seedlings to Osmotic Stress
- Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic, and Proteomic Analyses Reveal Alkali Stress Response and Tolerance Mechanisms of Rhododendron obtusum ‘Fenzhuanglou’ Seedlings
BibTeX
@article{liu2026cmabf3cmtpp25,
title = {{CmABF3-CmTPP2/5 modulates trehalose-mediated hydrogen peroxide signaling and CBF-dependent pathway to enhance cold tolerance in melon seedlings}},
author = {Tao Liu and Hongyi Zhang and Kexin Lu and Jiahui Tian and Yuqing Han and Haiming Li and Yujie Zhang and Lin Dong and Xueling Ye and Hongyan Qi},
journal = {Horticulture research},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1093/hr/uhag233},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13723084},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - CmABF3-CmTPP2/5 modulates trehalose-mediated hydrogen peroxide signaling and CBF-dependent pathway to enhance cold tolerance in melon seedlings
AU - Tao Liu
AU - Hongyi Zhang
AU - Kexin Lu
AU - Jiahui Tian
AU - Yuqing Han
AU - Haiming Li
AU - Yujie Zhang
AU - Lin Dong
AU - Xueling Ye
AU - Hongyan Qi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/08
JO - Horticulture research
DO - 10.1093/hr/uhag233
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13723084
AB - Cold stress inhibits the growth and development of melon. Exogenous trehalose (Tre) has been reported to alleviate cold damage in melon seedlings; however, it remains unclear whether plants respond to cold stress by activating endogenous Tre synthesis and the associated upstream and downstream pathways. Here, the results show that cold stress markedly increases endogenous Tre levels in melon leaves. Transcriptome analysis identified two trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (key enzymes in Tre synthesis, TPP) genes, CmTPP2 and CmTPP5, which were strongly induced by cold stress. Silencing CmTPP2/5 significantly reduced Tre content, lowered the activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase, and exacerbated cold-induced lipid peroxidation damage; meanwhile, it inhibited apoplastic H2O2 accumulation, restricted H2O2 transport into the cytoplasm, and downregulated the expression of C-repeat binding factor 1/2 (CmCBF1/2) under cold stress. Protein–DNA interaction assays demonstrated that the transcription factor CmABF3 binds to the ABRE motif in the CmTPP2/5 promoter to activate their transcription. Silencing CmABF3 gene significantly reduced CmCBF1/2 and CmTPP2/5 expression and reduced Tre accumulation. Inhibition of trehalase activity by validamycin A elevated Tre content, enhanced antioxidant capacity under cold stress, promoted apoplastic H2O2 production and transport, and upregulated CmCBF1/2 expression. Silencing CmCBF1/2 also inhibited the production and transport of apoplastic H₂O₂ and reduced melon cold tolerance. These findings reveal that cold stress triggers CmABF3-mediated activation of CmTPP2/5, leading to Tre accumulation, which then enhanced antioxidant defenses via regulation of apoplastic H2O2 production and transport, and coordination with the CBF-dependent pathway to improve cold tolerance in melon seedlings.
SN - 2662-6810
SN - 2052-7276
ER -