A PebZIP44-PeHSF12-PeHSP17.8 transcriptional module controls heat shock protein expression and thermotolerance in passion fruit(Passiflora edulis).

A PebZIP44-PeHSF12-PeHSP17.8 transcriptional module regulates heat shock protein expression and enhances thermotolerance in passion fruit.

• Why it matters: Heat stress limits passion fruit production, and understanding the transcriptional mechanisms of thermotolerance is crucial for developing heat-resistant cultivars.
• What they did: The study identified 15 PeHSF genes, characterized their expression patterns, and demonstrated that PebZIP44 represses PeHSF12, which directly activates PeHSP17.8; functional validation was performed via heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis and VIGS in passion fruit seedlings.
• The result: The module improves thermotolerance by increasing antioxidant capacity and reducing oxidative damage, offering mechanistic insights and candidate genes for breeding heat-resistant passion fruit varieties.