Genome‐wide identification of XTH gene family in Musa acuminata and response analyses of MaXTHs and xyloglucan to low temperature

Abstract Banana ( Musa spp.) production is seriously threatened by low temperature (LT) in tropical and subtropical regions. Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) are considered chief enzymes in cell wall remodelling and play a central role in stress responses. However, whether MaXTHs are involved in the low temperature stress tolerance in banana is not clear. Here, the identification and characterization of MaXTHs were carried out, followed by prediction of their cis‐acting elements and protein–protein interactions. In addition, candidate MaXTHs involved in banana tolerance to LT were screened through a comparison of their responses to LT between tolerant and sensitive cultivars using RNA‐Seq analysis. Moreover, immunofluorescence (IF) labelling was employed to compare changes in the temporal and spatial distribution of different types of xyloglucan components between these two cultivars upon stress. In total, 53 MaXTHs have been identified, and all were predicted to be located in the cell wall, 14 of them also in the cytoplasm. Only 11 MaXTHs have been found to interact with other proteins. Among 16 MaXTHs with LT responsiveness elements, MaXTH26/29/32/35/50 (Group I/II members) and MaXTH7/8 (Group IIIB members) might be involved in banana tolerance to LT stress. IF results suggested that the content of xyloglucan components recognized by CCRC‐M87/103/104/106 antibodies might be negatively related to banana chilling tolerance. In conclusion, we have identified the MaXTH gene family and assessed cell wall re‐modelling under LT stress. These results will be beneficial for banana breeding against stresses and enrich the cell wall‐mediated resistance mechanism in plants to stresses.