Identification and Expression Analysis of WRKY Gene Family in Response to Abiotic Stress in Dendrobium catenatum

• Published in: Frontiers in genetics Vol. 13; p. 800019
• Main Authors: Zhang, Tingting, Xu, Ying, Ding, Yadan, Yu, Wengang, Wang, Jian, Lai, Hanggui, Zhou, Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 03.02.2022
• Subjects: abiotic stress; Dendrobium catenatum; gene expression; gene family; Genetics; WRKY transcription factors; Dendrobium catenatum; gene family; WRKY transcription factors; gene expression; abiotic stress
• ISSN: 1664-8021; 1664-8021
• DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.800019

has become a rare and endangered medicinal plant due to habitat loss in China. As one of the most important and largest transcription factors, WRKY plays a critical role in response to abiotic stresses in plants. However, little is known regarding the functions of the WRKY family in . In this study, a total of 62 genes were identified from the genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that DcWRKY proteins could be divided into three groups, a division supported by the conserved motif compositions and intron/exon structures. gene expression and specific responses under drought, heat, cold and salt stresses were analyzed through RNA-seq data and RT-qPCR assay. The results showed that these genes had tissue-specificity and displayed different expression patterns in response to abiotic stresses. The expression levels of , and were up-regulated by drought stress. Meanwhile, was highly induced by heat in roots, and was significantly induced by cold stress in leaves. Furthermore, in roots and in leaves were extremely induced under salt treatment. Finally, we found that all the five genes may function in ABA- and SA-dependent manners. This study identified candidate genes with possible roles in abiotic stress and these findings not only contribute to our understanding of WRKY family genes, but also provide valuable information for stress resistance development in .