MYB Transcription Factor Family in Pearl Millet: Genome-Wide Identification, Evolutionary Progression and Expression Analysis under Abiotic Stress and Phytohormone Treatments

oleh: Jeky Chanwala, Badrinath Khadanga, Deepak Kumar Jha, Inavolu Sriram Sandeep, Nrisingha Dey

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-01-01

Deskripsi

Transcription factors (TFs) are the regulatory proteins that act as molecular switches in controlling stress-responsive gene expression. Among them, the MYB transcription factor family is one of the largest TF family in plants, playing a significant role in plant growth, development, phytohormone signaling and stress-responsive processes. Pearl millet (<i>Pennisetum glaucum</i> L.) is one of the most important C4 crop plants of the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and Southeast Asia for sustaining food and fodder production. To explore the evolutionary mechanism and functional diversity of the MYB family in pearl millet, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide survey and identified 279 MYB TFs (PgMYB) in pearl millet, distributed unevenly across seven chromosomes of pearl millet. A phylogenetic analysis of the identified PgMYBs classified them into 18 subgroups, and members of the same group showed a similar gene structure and conserved motif/s pattern. Further, duplication events were identified in pearl millet that indicated towards evolutionary progression and expansion of the MYB family. Transcriptome data and relative expression analysis by qRT-PCR identified differentially expressed candidate <i>PgMYBs</i> (<i>PgMYB2</i>, <i>PgMYB9</i>, <i>PgMYB88</i> and <i>PgMYB151</i>) under dehydration, salinity, heat stress and phytohormone (ABA, SA and MeJA) treatment. Taken together, this study provides valuable information for a prospective functional characterization of the MYB family members of pearl millet and their application in the genetic improvement of crop plants.