Genome-Wide Analysis of WRKY Gene Family and the Dynamic Responses of Key WRKY Genes Involved in Ostrinia furnacalis Attack in Zea mays.

ABSTRACT: WRKY transcription factors comprise one of the largest gene families and serve as key regulators of plant defenses against herbivore attack. However, studies related to the roles of WRKY genes in response to herbivory are limited in maize. In this study, a total of 128 putative maize WRKY genes (ZmWRKYs) were identified from the new maize genome (v4). These genes were divided into seven subgroups (groups I, IIa-e, and III) based on phylogenomic analysis, with distinct motif compositions in each subgroup. Syntenic analysis revealed that 72 (56.3%) of the genes were derived from either segmental or tandem duplication events (69 and 3, respectively), suggesting a pivotal role of segmental duplication in the expansion of the ZmWRKY family. Importantly, transcriptional regulation predict

SUBMITTER: Tang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8657575 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature