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Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is a lipid kinase that phosphorylates diacylglycerol (DAG) to generate phosphatidic acid (PA). Based on converting one important signaling molecule (DAG) to another (PA), DGK plays an important role in plant responses to abiotic stress, including waterlogging stress. However, no studies have been reported on the characterization of the <i>DGK</i> gene family in the waterlogging-tolerant kiwifruit germplasm <i>Actinidia valvata</i> Dunn. In this study, we identified 18 <i>AvDGK</i> genes in the <i>A. valvata</i> genome. The phylogenetic analysis showed that <i>AvDGKs</i> can be classified into three clusters, and members within the same cluster have similar domain distributions, exon-intron structures, and conserved motif compositions. The chromosome localization analysis revealed that all <i>AvDGK</i> genes are located across 18 different chromosomes. There were 29 duplicated gene pairs in <i>A. valvata</i> and all had undergone purifying selection during evolution. The promoter <i>cis</i>-element analysis revealed that the <i>cis</i>-elements within <i>AvDGK</i> genes are associated with multiple functions, including phytohormone signal transduction, stress responses, and plant growth and development. The expression pattern analyses indicated that <i>AvDGKs</i> play important roles in fruit development and plant responses to waterlogging stress. The <i>AvDGK</i> gene family in the tetraploid <i>A. valvata</i> genome might promote PA synthesis and subsequent signal transduction both under short- and long-term waterlogging stresses. These results provide information regarding the structural characteristics and potential function of <i>AvDGK</i> genes within <i>A. valvata</i> and lay a fundamental basis for further research into breeding to enhance the kiwifruit’s tolerance to waterlogging stress.