Function verification of a chlorophyll a/b binding protein gene in Kandelia obovata through a newly established tobacco rattle virus-induced gene silencing system. Kalanchoe pinnata

As an important mangrove species, Kandelia obovata plays an irreplaceable role in the coastal ecosystem. However, due to a lack of genetic technology, there is limited research on its functional genes. As such, establishing an efficient and rapid functional verification system is particularly important. In this study, tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene were used as the vector and silenced gene, respectively, in a virus-induced gene silencing system (VIGS). The system was also used to silence the Chlorophyll a/b binding protein (Cab) gene in K. obovata and to verify the important role of the Cab gene in leaf carbon sequestration in combination with comparative transcriptome analysis. These results demonstrate the first successful establishment of a VIGS system for mangrove. This system provides technical resources to support functional gene research on mangrove plants.