GhLBD41, a lateral organ boundaries transcription factor, positively regulates plants resistance to Verticillium dahliae via the jasmonic acid signaling pathway

The Lateral Organ Boundaries (LOB) domain (LBD)-containing protein family represents a group of plant-specific transcription factors that play crucial roles in various biological processes, including organ development, photomorphogenesis, and plant regeneration. However, there is limited research elucidating the biological functions of LBD genes in relation to cotton's response to fungal pathogens. In this study, we identified GhLBD41, a nucleus-localized LBD transcription factor from Gossypium hirsutum, as a positive regulator of plant resistance against the fungal pathogen V. dahliae. This regulation occurs through direct modulation of jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and the JA-mediated signaling pathway. Knockdown of GhLBD41 significantly increased the susceptibility of cotton plants to V. dahliae infection; conversely, ectopic expression of GhLBD41 enhanced disease resistance in Arabidopsis by promoting JA accumulation and activating JA-mediated defense responses. Further analysis revealed that GhLBD41 interacts with “CGGCG” or “CACGTG” cis-elements located within the promoters of AOS, AOC, and MYC2 which are essential enzymes and transcription factor involved in JA biosynthesis and signaling pathways, and subsequently promotes the expression of these target genes.