GhFPF1 positively regulates shade avoidance responses by interacting with the NF-Y transcription factor GhNF-YA3 in cotton

Dense planting can create a shade environment which will stimulate plants to produce a series of shade avoidance responses (SAS). Thus far, slow progress has been made in research into the molecular mechanism of SAS in crops. In this study, we identified GhFPF1 as a positive regulator of SAS in cotton. After mutating GhFPF1 using CRISPR technology, the elongation response of the mutant was weakened under dense planting conditions. The constitutive expression of GhFPF1 resulted in SAS in cotton. GhFPF1 interacted with GhNF-YA3, which is a nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) member downregulated in shade conditions in cotton. Silencing GhNF-YA3 led to SAS in cotton.