Genome-Wide Analysis of the Hsf Gene Family in Rosa chinensis and RcHsf17 Function in Thermotolerance

Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) play an important role in response to high temperatures by binding to the promoter of the heat shock protein gene to promote its expression. As an important ornamental plant, the rose often encounters heat stress during the flowering process. However, there are few studies on the <i>Hsf</i> family in roses (<i>Rosa. chinensis</i>). In the current study, 19 <i>Hsf</i> genes were identified from <i>R. chinensis</i> and grouped into three main subfamilies (A, B, and C) according to their structural characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. The expression patterns of <i>RcHsf</i> genes were detected in different tissues by quantitative real-time PCR. The <i>RcHsf</i> genes exhibited distinct expression patterns at high temperatures, with <i>RcHsf17</i> having the highest expression level. <i>RcHsf17</i> was localized in the nucleus and had transcriptional activity. The overexpression of <i>RcHsf17</i> increased thermotolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>, suggesting the potential role of <i>RcHsf17</i> in the regulation of the high-temperature response. In addition, <i>RcHsf17</i> overexpressed in <i>Arabidopsis</i> could enhance the response of transgenic <i>Arabidopsis</i> to methyl jasmonate. Collectively, this study identified and screened <i>RcHsfs</i> in response to high temperatures in roses, providing new insights into the functional divergence of <i>RcHsfs</i> and a basis for screening new varieties of rose.