Table 4_Genome-wide identification and functional characterization of LBD transcription factors uncover their stress adaptation mechanisms in tobacco and eggplant.xlsx

We identified 106 NtLBD genes in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and 50 SmLBD genes in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), and classified them into Classes I and II. Duplication analysis identified 26 segmental and 3 tandem duplicated gene pairs, while interspecies synteny analysis revealed 17 tobacco–Arabidopsis thaliana and 31 eggplant–Arabidopsis thaliana syntenic pairs.

Expression profiling showed broad tissue expression, with relatively high transcript abundance in roots and stems, and selected LBD proteins were localized to the nucleus. VIGS constructs targeting NtLBD4/NtLBD31 in tobacco and SmLBD19/SmLBD48 in eggplant were used for preliminary functional assessment. In tobacco, these treatments were associated with reduced expression of ABA-responsive genes, less visible injury under low-temperature stress, and increased susceptibility to bacterial wilt.