| Summary: | <i>Sucrose non-fermentation-related protein kinase 1</i> (<i>SnRK1</i>) a Ser/Thr protein kinase, is known to play a crucial role in plants during biotic and abiotic stress responses by activating protein phosphorylation pathways. <i>SnRK1</i> and some members of the plant-specific <i>SnRK2</i> and <i>SnRK3</i> sub-families have been studied in different plant species. However, a comprehensive study of the <i>SnRK</i> gene family in <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> is not available. Symbiotic associations of <i>P. vulgaris</i> with <i>Rhizobium</i> and/or mycorrhizae are crucial for the growth and productivity of the crop. In the present study, we identified <i>PvSnRK</i> genes and analysed their expression in response to the presence of the symbiont. A total of 42 <i>PvSnRK</i> genes were identified in <i>P. vulgaris</i> and annotated by comparing their sequence homology to <i>Arabidopsis SnRK</i> genes. Phylogenetic analysis classified the three sub-families into individual clades, and <i>PvSnRK3</i> was subdivided into two groups. Chromosome localization analysis showed an uneven distribution of <i>PvSnRK</i> genes on 10 of the 11 chromosomes. Gene structural analysis revealed great variation in intron number in the <i>PvSnRK3</i> sub-family, and motif composition is specific and highly conserved in each sub-family of <i>PvSnRK</i>s. Analysis of <i>cis</i>-acting elements suggested that <i>PvSnRK</i> genes respond to hormones, symbiosis and other abiotic stresses. Furthermore, expression data from databases and transcriptomic analyses revealed differential expression patterns for <i>PvSnRK</i> genes under symbiotic conditions. Finally, an in situ gene interaction network of the <i>PvSnRK</i> gene family with symbiosis-related genes showed direct and indirect interactions. Taken together, the present study contributes fundamental information for a better understanding of the role of the <i>PvSnRK</i> gene family not only in symbiosis but also in other biotic and abiotic interactions in <i>P. vulgaris</i>.
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