Find in Library

Abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity are major environmental factors limiting plant productivity. Autophagy-related genes are extensively involved in plant growth, development, and adverse stress responses, which have not yet been characterized in Tartary buckwheat (<i>Fagopyrum tataricum</i>, TB). In this study, we verified that drought stress could induce autophagy in TB roots. Next, 49 <i>FtATGs</i> in the whole genome of TB were identified. All <i>FtATGs</i> were randomly distributed in 8 known chromosomes, while 11 <i>FtATGs</i> were predictably segmental repeats. As the core component of autophagy, there were 8 <i>FtATG8s</i> with similar gene structures in TB, while <i>FtATG8s</i> showed high expression at the transcription level under drought and salt stresses. The <i>cis</i>-acting element analysis identified that all <i>FtATG8</i> promoters contain light-responsive and MYB-binding elements. <i>FtATG8s</i> showed a cell-wide protein interaction network and strongly correlated with distinct stress-associated transcription factors. Furthermore, overexpression of <i>FtATG8a</i> and <i>FtATG8f</i> enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities of TB under adverse stresses. Remarkably, <i>FtATG8a</i> and <i>FtATG8f</i> may be vital candidates functioning in stress resistance in TB. This study prominently aids in understanding the biological role of <i>FtATG</i> genes in TB.