The APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) family of transcription factors (TFs) is one of the largest and most important TF families in plants. This family plays a crucial role in regulating growth, development, and responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the structure, classification, and distribution of AP2/ERF TFs in various plant species, with particular emphasis on their roles in responses to biotic stress. These findings provide valuable insights for future research on AP2/ERF TFs and their potential applications in crop improvement through molecular breeding.

Sugarcane is a globally significant crop for sugar and energy production, yet its breeding potential is limited by its complex genetic background and restricted genetic diversity. Molecular breeding presents a promising approach to boost sugarcane productivity. Gibberellins (GA) plays a critical role in plant growth and development, with GA20-oxidase being the most crucial enzyme in GA biosynthesis. In this study, we isolated the sugarcane gene encoding GA20-oxidase (ScGA20ox, OR283803) enzyme, a 43.88 kDa hydrophilic protein, and introduced it into sugarcane variety GT42 via biolistics transformation. Transgenic sugarcane expressing Ubi-driven ScGA20ox exhibited elevated GA levels and accelerated growth. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes associated with plant hormone metabolism and growth-related pathways, including photosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and starch and sucrose metabolism were involved in the GA20ox-mediated growth in sugarcane. This work underscores the potential of GA20ox for enhancing sugarcane yields through transgenic approaches, while advancing our understanding of GA's regulatory role in the growth of this crucial sugar crop.

High sugar content is the primary objective in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) breeding. Plant microRNA 164 (miR164) plays pivotal roles in plant development and stress responses through the post-transcriptional regulation of its target genes. NAC transcription factors play a crucial role in various plant physiological processes. However, their role in sugar metabolism remains uncharacterized. Our previous work revealed the potential role of the shy-miR164 and a sugarcane NAC transcription factor (ScNAC) in sugar metabolism based on multiomics analysis. In this study, shy-miR164 and ScNAC exhibited an inverse regulatory relationship in sugarcane. Subsequent RLM-RACE and dual-luciferase assays confirmed that shy-miR164 regulates ScNAC expression through direct cleavage of its mRNA. Knockdown of miR164 using short tandem target mimic technology significantly enhanced sugar content in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits, whereas the opposite effect was observed in miR164-overexpressing plants, indicating its involvement in sugar metabolism. Furthermore, heterologous expression of ScNAC in tomato also enhanced fruit sugar content. Taken together, these findings reveal a previously unexplored role of shy-miR164 in sugar metabolism through the direct cleavage of its target gene ScNAC. This work advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying sugar metabolism and provides candidate targets for improved sugar production in sugarcane through biotechnology.