Abstract:

【Objective】Epidermal patterning factor（EPF）is a unique secreted protein found in plants that plays a crucial role in plant growth and development, particularly in stomatal morphogenesis. The aims of this study was to gain insights into the characteristics and functions of the EPF gene in melon.【Method】We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the entire CmEPF family, including gene structure, phylogeny, and tissue expression, using bioinformatics tools. 【Result】Our findings revealed that the melon genome contained 11 members of the CmEPF family, which can be classified into three subfamilies. The gene structure of CmEPF was found to be relatively conserved, typically consisting of 1-3 introns, with most genes located in the melon chloroplast. Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed the division of CmEPF into three subfamilies. By performing RT-qPCR analysis on various organs, we observed widespread expression of the CmEPF gene in melon, albeit with different expression patterns among family members in different organs. Notably, the CmEPF gene had high expression in the second leaf, which was correlated with the highest stomatal density, photosynthetic rate, and transpiration rate. These results suggest that the expression level of CmEPF is closely associated with photosynthetic parameters and photosynthesis. 【Conclusion】Our findings provide evidence that the CmEPF gene can affect stomatal density in melon, thereby affecting photosynthesis and regulating stomatal response to the external environment in melon leaves.

Key words: melon, epidermal patterning factor, Arabidopsis, stomata, chloroplast, gene expression analysis