AUTHOR=Zhang Peng , Yan Hanwen , Liu Yu , Chai Yi 

TITLE=Genome-wide identification and functional characterization of wheat Brassinazole-resistant transcription factors in response to abiotic stresses and stripe rust infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1144379

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1144379

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Brassinazole-resistant (BZR) transcription factors (TFs) are key players in brassinolides (BRs) signaling pathway, which is widely involved in regulating plant growth and development, as well as in plant responding to a variety stresses. Despite their critical roles, little is known about BZR TFs in wheat. In this study, we performed genome-wide analysis of BZR gene family from wheat genome, and 20 <italic>TaBZRs</italic> were identified. Based on the phylogenetic relationships of <italic>TaBZR</italic> and <italic>BZRs</italic> from rice and <italic>Arabidopsis</italic>, all <italic>BZR</italic> genes were clustered into four groups. The intron-exon structural patterns and conserved protein motifs of <italic>TaBZRs</italic> showed high group specificity. <italic>TaBZR5</italic>, 7, and 9 were significantly induced after salt, drought treatment, and stripe rust infection. However, <italic>TaBZR16</italic>, which was significantly upregulated under NaCl application, was not expressed during wheat-stripe rust fungus interaction. These results indicated that BZR genes in wheat play different roles in response to various stresses. The results of this study will lay a foundation for further in-depth functional studies of <italic>TaBZRs</italic> and will provide information for the breeding and genetic improvement of wheat against drought and salt stresses.</p>