Analysis of 14–3-3 Gene Family and Functional Characterization of DlGRF8/11 modulating flowering time in Ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro)

14–3–3 proteins, also known as general regulatory factors (GRFs), are common regulatory proteins that play a critical role in growth, development, and environmental responses in plants. However, there is limited understanding of the members and functions of 14–3–3 gene family in ma bamboo. In this study, 25 Dl14–3–3 genes were identified and designated as DlGRF1-DlGRF25, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis of DlGRF genes provided insights into the conservation and diversity during evolution in ma bamboo. It's verified that the expression patterns of DlGRFs were discrepant in different flowering tissues. To further explore the floral transition, Y2H, BiFC, and LCI assays revealed that DlGRF8 interacted with DlFT1/DlTFL1 in the cytoplasm and with DlFT2/DlFD1 in the nucleus. Interestingly, DlGRF11 exclusively interacted with DlFD1 in the nucleus. Overexpressing experiments in rice indicated that DlGRF8 promoted flowering, while DlGRF11 delayed flowering. Moreover, they exhibited diverse expression patterns in response to drought and ABA treatments. These results provide preliminary insights into the role of DlGRF genes in floral transition, growth, and development.