Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Assessment for the Phosphate Transporter 2 Gene Family Within Sweet Potato Under Phosphorus Deficiency Stress

Hainan's unique climate significantly contributes to soil acidification, causing phosphorus fixation into insoluble compounds, leading to phosphorus deficiency and reduced yield in sweet potatoes. The <i>Phosphate Transporter 2 (PHT2)</i> family, a group of trans-membrane phosphate transporters, is crucial for phosphate transport, distribution, and homeostasis regulation. Two <i>PHT2</i> genes, <i>IbPHT2-1</i> and <i>IbPHT2-2</i>, were first identified in sweet potato, and a phylogenetic analysis of 46 species showed high conservation of the <i>IbPHT2</i> gene family throughout plant evolution. Tissue-specific expression patterns of <i>IbPHT2</i> genes were determined in four sweet potato varieties using transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR. The results demonstrated that <i>IbPHT2</i> was predominantly expressed in shoots, mature leaves, stems, and fibrous roots. Under phosphorus deficiency stress, <i>IbPHT2-2</i> expression was upregulated in shoots, mature leaves, and fibrous roots, with higher expression in mature leaves compared to <i>IbPHT2-1</i>. This observation suggests that, in the context of phosphorus deficiency stress, <i>IbPHT2-2</i> assumes a more pivotal function in the response mechanism. The expression levels of <i>IbPHT2-2</i> presented a negative relationship with fresh leaf weight (FLW) as well as fibrous root number per plant (FRNPP) and fibrous root weight per plant (FRWPP) based on correlation analysis. The restrictive function of <i>IbPHT2-2</i> became impaired by phosphorus deficiency, which resulted in inhibited leaf and root development of sweet potato. The findings of this study provide preliminary evidence that <i>IbPHT2-2</i> is a key gene involved in the response to phosphorus deficiency stress, influencing phosphorus absorption and distribution in sweet potato. This research contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying phosphorus utilization in sweet potato and may inform future strategies for improving phosphorus use efficiency in this important crop.