AUTHOR=Xu Lei , Wang Dezhou , Liu Shan , Fang Zhaofeng , Su Shichao , Guo Chunman , Zhao Changping , Tang Yimiao 

TITLE=Comprehensive Atlas of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR Expression During Male Reproductive Development and Abiotic Stress

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.586144

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2020.586144

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) proteins regulate a wide range of signaling pathways, from general plant growth to abiotic stress responses. Here, we performed a genome-wide survey in wheat (<italic>Triticum aestivum</italic>) and identified 69 <italic>TaARF</italic> members that formed 24 homoeologous groups. Phylogenetic analysis clustered <italic>TaARF</italic> genes into three clades, similar to <italic>ARF</italic> genes in <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> (<italic>Arabidopsis thaliana</italic>) and rice (<italic>Oryza sativa</italic>). Structural characterization suggested that <italic>ARF</italic> gene structure and domain composition are well conserved between plant species. Expression profiling revealed diverse patterns of <italic>TaARF</italic> transcript levels across a range of developmental stages, tissues, and abiotic stresses. A number of <italic>TaARF</italic> genes shared similar expression patterns and were preferentially expressed in anthers. Moreover, our systematic analysis identified three anther-specific <italic>TaARF</italic> genes (<italic>TaARF8</italic>, <italic>TaARF9</italic>, and <italic>TaARF21</italic>) whose expression was significantly altered by low temperature in thermosensitive genic male-sterile (TGMS) wheat; these <italic>TaARF</italic> genes are candidates to participate in the cold-induced male sterility pathway, and offer potential applications in TGMS wheat breeding and hybrid seed production. Moreover, we identified putative functions for a set of <italic>TaARFs</italic> involved in responses to abscisic acid and abiotic stress. Overall, this study characterized the wheat <italic>ARF</italic> gene family and generated several hypotheses for future investigation of ARF function during anther development and abiotic stress.</p>