Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of / Transcription Factor Family Genes in Oil Palm under Abiotic Stress Conditions.

The transcription factor family members play crucial roles in controlling plant growth and development, as well as responses to various abiotic stresses. Genome-wide identification and characterization of genes has not yet been carried out in the oil palm genome. In the present work, we reported the occurrence of 172 (AP2, ERF, & members) through genome-wide identification. Phylogenetic analysis was used to divide them into four groups, including: 34 AP2, 131 ERF, 5 , and 2 gene family members. All 172 members were unevenly distributed across 16 chromosomes of oil palm. Gene duplication analysis elucidated the tandem duplication of s on chromosome blocks of the oil palm genome during evolution. Gene structure as well as conserved motif analysis demonstrated the conserved nature of intron/exon organization and motifs among the genes. Several cis-regulatory elements-related to hormone, stress, and defense responses-were identified in the promoter regions of s. Tissue-specific expression of 172 s in five different tissues of oil palm was also revealed by heatmap analysis using the available transcriptome data. Finally, abiotic stress (salinity, cold & drought)-responsive s in the oil palm genome were validated through qPCR analysis. Our study provided valuable information on oil palm superfamily members and dissected their role in abiotic stress conditions.