Genome-wide Identification of theAP2/ERF Gene Family and Its Expression Patterns Under Salt Stress in the Desert PlantReaumuria soongorica

doi:10.11983/CBB25066

Abstract

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Reaumuria soongorica, a perennial small shrub, is widely distributed in arid desert regions of northwestern China. It exhibits exceptional drought and salt tolerance, making it an ideal model for studying molecular mechanisms of plant stress resistance. RATIONALE: We used the R. soongorica genome as a reference to identify members of the AP2/ ERF gene family in this species, and analyzed their phylogeny, gene structure, conserved motifs, cis-acting elements, gene duplication events, as well as the expression patterns of these family members under salt stress. RESULTS: Seventy AP2/ ERF genes were identified from the R. soongorica genome. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into four subfamilies: AP2, ERF, DREB, and RAV. Cis-acting element analysis revealed multiple regulatory elements associated with light responsiveness, stress adaptation, growth regulation, and hormone signaling in the promoter regions of R. soongorica AP2/ ERF genes. These genes exhibited an uneven distribution across all 11 chromosomes of the R. soongorica genome, with 63 genes (90% of the total) originating from gene duplication events. Evolutionary analysis suggested that whole-genome duplication (WGD) and dispersed duplication were the primary drivers of family expansion. Under salt stress, AP2/ ERF genes showed divergent expression patterns in R. soongorica seedlings, with six genes displaying significant differential expression (|log ₂FC|≥1, P<0.05), implicating their potential roles in salt stress response. CONCLUSION: This study identified and characterized the AP2/ ERF gene family in R. soongorica at the genomic level, thereby establishing a foundation for elucidating its functional roles in this species’ adaptation to arid and saline environments.

Key words: AP2/ ERF gene family, gene structure analysis, salt stress, gene expression, Reaumuria soongorica

Mengxuan Zhu, Yuan Liu, Haoyu Zhao, Wei Gong, Zhenyun Sun, Zhenhua Dang. Genome-wide Identification of theAP2/ERF Gene Family and Its Expression Patterns Under Salt Stress in the Desert PlantReaumuria soongorica[J]. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, 2026, 61(3): 449-461.

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URL: https://www.chinbullbotany.com/EN/10.11983/CBB25066

https://www.chinbullbotany.com/EN/Y2026/V61/I3/449

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