The asymmetric expression of plasma membrane H+‐ATPase family genes in response to pulvinus‐driven leaf phototropism movement in Vitis vinifera

Abstract Phototropism movement is crucial for plants to adapt to various environmental changes. Plant P‐type H + ‐ATPase (HA) plays diverse roles in signal transduction during cell expansion, regulation of cellular osmotic potential and stomatal opening, and circadian movement. Despite numerous studies on the genome‐wide analysis of Vitis vinifera , no research has been done on the P‐type H + ‐ATPase family genes, especially concerning pulvinus‐driven leaf movement. In this study, 55 VvHAs were identified and classified into nine distinct subgroups (1 to 9). Gene members within the same subgroups exhibit similar features in motif, intron/exon, and protein tertiary structures. Furthermore, four pairs of genes were derived by segmental duplication in grapes. Cis‐acting element analysis identified numerous light/circadian‐related elements in the promoters of VvHAs . qRT‐PCR analysis showed that several genes of subgroup 7 were highly expressed in leaves and pulvinus during leaf movement, especially VvHA14 , VvHA15 , VvHA16 , VvHA19, VvHA51 , VvHA52 , and VvHA54 . Additionally, we also found that the VvHAs genes were asymmetrically expressed on both sides of the extensor and flexor cell of the motor organ, the pulvinus. The expression of VvHAs family genes in extensor cells was significantly higher than that in flexor cells. Overall, this study serves as a foundation for further investigations into the functions of VvHAs and contributes to the complex mechanisms underlying grapevine pulvinus growth and development.