Genome-Wide Survey and Expression Analysis of the KT/HAK/KUP Family in and Its Potential Roles in the Response to K Deficiency.

The KT/HAK/KUP (HAK) family is the largest potassium (K) transporter family in plants, which plays key roles in K uptake and homeostasis, stress resistance, and root and embryo development. However, the HAK family has not yet been characterized in . In this study, 40 putative HAK genes () are identified and divided into four groups (Groups I-III and V) on the basis of phylogenetic analysis. Gene structure analysis revealed 10 conserved intron insertion sites across different groups. Collinearity analysis demonstrated that both allopolyploidization and small-scale duplication events contributed to the large expansion of . Transcription factor (TF)-binding network construction, -element analysis, and microRNA prediction revealed that the expression of is regulated by multiple factors. Analysis of RNA-sequencing data further revealed extensive expression profiles of the in groups II, III, and V, with limited expression in group I. Compared with group I, most of the in groups II, III, and V were more upregulated by hormone induction based on RNA-sequencing data. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase reaction analysis revealed that the expression of eight of groups I and V was markedly upregulated under K-deficiency treatment. Collectively, our results provide valuable information and key candidate genes for further functional studies of .