Genome-Wide Analysis of the <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought Stress

The AP2/ERF gene family is one of the most conserved and important transcription factor families mainly occurring in plants with various functions in regulating plant biological and physiological processes. However, little comprehensive research has been conducted on the AP2/ERF gene family in <i...

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Main Authors: Zhenhao Guo, Lisi He, Xiaobo Sun, Chang Li, Jiale Su, Huimin Zhou, Xiaoqing Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/5/994
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author Zhenhao Guo
Lisi He
Xiaobo Sun
Chang Li
Jiale Su
Huimin Zhou
Xiaoqing Liu
author_facet Zhenhao Guo
Lisi He
Xiaobo Sun
Chang Li
Jiale Su
Huimin Zhou
Xiaoqing Liu
author_sort Zhenhao Guo
collection DOAJ
description The AP2/ERF gene family is one of the most conserved and important transcription factor families mainly occurring in plants with various functions in regulating plant biological and physiological processes. However, little comprehensive research has been conducted on the AP2/ERF gene family in <i>Rhododendron</i> (specifically, <i>Rhododendron simsii</i>), an important ornamental plant. The existing whole-genome sequence of <i>Rhododendron</i> provided data to investigate the AP2/ERF genes in <i>Rhododendron</i> on a genome-wide scale. A total of 120 <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF genes were identified. The phylogenetic analysis showed that RsAP2 genes were classified into five main subfamilies, AP2, ERF, DREB, RAV and soloist. Cis-acting elements involving plant growth regulators, response to abiotic stress and MYB binding sites were detected in the upstream sequences of RsAP2 genes. A heatmap of RsAP2 gene expression levels showed that these genes had different expression patterns in the five developmental stages of <i>Rhododendron</i> flowers. Twenty RsAP2 genes were selected for quantitative RT-PCR experiments to clarify the expression level changes under cold, salt and drought stress treatments, and the results showed that most of the RsAP2 genes responded to these abiotic stresses. This study generated comprehensive information on the RsAP2 gene family and provides a theoretical basis for future genetic improvement.
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spelling doaj.art-38659cd71a5847aeb9fe8de0794a20fb2023-11-17T08:22:40ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-02-0112599410.3390/plants12050994Genome-Wide Analysis of the <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought StressZhenhao Guo0Lisi He1Xiaobo Sun2Chang Li3Jiale Su4Huimin Zhou5Xiaoqing Liu6Institute of Leisure Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Leisure Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Leisure Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Leisure Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Leisure Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Leisure Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Leisure Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, ChinaThe AP2/ERF gene family is one of the most conserved and important transcription factor families mainly occurring in plants with various functions in regulating plant biological and physiological processes. However, little comprehensive research has been conducted on the AP2/ERF gene family in <i>Rhododendron</i> (specifically, <i>Rhododendron simsii</i>), an important ornamental plant. The existing whole-genome sequence of <i>Rhododendron</i> provided data to investigate the AP2/ERF genes in <i>Rhododendron</i> on a genome-wide scale. A total of 120 <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF genes were identified. The phylogenetic analysis showed that RsAP2 genes were classified into five main subfamilies, AP2, ERF, DREB, RAV and soloist. Cis-acting elements involving plant growth regulators, response to abiotic stress and MYB binding sites were detected in the upstream sequences of RsAP2 genes. A heatmap of RsAP2 gene expression levels showed that these genes had different expression patterns in the five developmental stages of <i>Rhododendron</i> flowers. Twenty RsAP2 genes were selected for quantitative RT-PCR experiments to clarify the expression level changes under cold, salt and drought stress treatments, and the results showed that most of the RsAP2 genes responded to these abiotic stresses. This study generated comprehensive information on the RsAP2 gene family and provides a theoretical basis for future genetic improvement.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/5/994<i>Rhododendron</i>transcription factorgenome-wideabiotic stressgene duplicationgene expression
spellingShingle Zhenhao Guo
Lisi He
Xiaobo Sun
Chang Li
Jiale Su
Huimin Zhou
Xiaoqing Liu
Genome-Wide Analysis of the <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought Stress
Plants
<i>Rhododendron</i>
transcription factor
genome-wide
abiotic stress
gene duplication
gene expression
title Genome-Wide Analysis of the <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought Stress
title_full Genome-Wide Analysis of the <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought Stress
title_fullStr Genome-Wide Analysis of the <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought Stress
title_full_unstemmed Genome-Wide Analysis of the <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought Stress
title_short Genome-Wide Analysis of the <i>Rhododendron</i> AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought Stress
title_sort genome wide analysis of the i rhododendron i ap2 erf gene family identification and expression profiles in response to cold salt and drought stress
topic <i>Rhododendron</i>
transcription factor
genome-wide
abiotic stress
gene duplication
gene expression
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/5/994
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