Genome-wide identification and bioinformatics analysis of the WRKY transcription factors and screening of candidate genes for anthocyanin biosynthesis in azalea (Rhododendron simsii)

Frontiers in Genetics

Genetics

Yan Li¹  Cheng Wang²  Dan Ye²  Run Xu²  Peiling Hu²  Xiaojing Wang³ 

[1] Department of Biology and Chemical Engineering, Weihai Vocational College, Weihai, China;Key Laboratory for Quality Control of Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables of Hubei Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China;Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, China;

关键词: azalea;    WRKY;    phylogenetic analysis;    anthocyanin biosynthesis;    expression pattern;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fgene.2023.1172321

 received in 2023-02-23, accepted in 2023-05-02,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

WRKY transcription factors have been demonstrated to influence the anthocyanin biosynthesis in many plant species. However, there is limited knowledge about the structure and function of WRKY genes in the major ornamental plant azalea (Rhododendron simsii). In this study, we identified 57 RsWRKY genes in the R. simsii genome and classified them into three main groups and several subgroups based on their structural and phylogenetic characteristics. Comparative genomic analysis suggested WRKY gene family has significantly expanded during plant evolution from lower to higher species. Gene duplication analysis indicated that the expansion of the RsWRKY gene family was primarily due to whole-genome duplication (WGD). Additionally, selective pressure analysis (Ka/Ks) suggested that all RsWRKY duplication gene pairs underwent purifying selection. Synteny analysis indicated that 63 and 24 pairs of RsWRKY genes were orthologous to Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, respectively. Furthermore, RNA-seq data was used to investigate the expression patterns of RsWRKYs, revealing that 17 and 9 candidate genes may be associated with anthocyanin synthesis at the bud and full bloom stages, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in Rhododendron species and lay the foundation for future functional studies of WRKY genes.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Wang, Ye, Li, Hu, Xu and Wang.