Systematic Characterization of Gene Family in Four Cotton Species Revealed That Regulates Branching in .

TEOSINTE-BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF ) transcription factors play an essential role in regulating various physiological and biochemical functions during plant growth. However, the function of transcription factors in has not yet been studied. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and correlation analysis of the transcription factor family in . We identified 72 non-redundant genes and divided them into seven subfamilies, based on phylogenetic analysis. Most genes in the same subfamily displayed similar exon and intron structures and featured highly conserved motif structures in their subfamily. Additionally, the pattern of chromosomal distribution demonstrated that genes were unevenly distributed on 24 out of 26 chromosomes, and that fragment replication was the main replication event of genes. In sub-family genes, was highly expressed in the axillary buds, suggesting that significantly affected cotton branching. Additionally, subcellular localization results indicated that is located in the nucleus and possesses typical transcription factor characteristics. The overexpression of in resulted in fewer rosette-leaf branches and cauline-leaf branches. Furthermore, the increased expression of and genes in plants overexpressing suggests that may regulate branching by positively regulating and .