identification and characterization of gene family in peanut ( L.) reveals their putative roles in development and stress tolerance.

Cultivated peanut () is a leading protein and oil-providing crop and food source in many countries. At the same time, it is affected by a number of biotic and abiotic stresses. O-methyltransferases () play important roles in secondary metabolism, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. However, the genes have not been comprehensively analyzed in peanut. In this study, we performed a genome-wide investigation of genes (). Gene structure, motifs distribution, phylogenetic history, genome collinearity and duplication of were studied in detail. Promoter -elements, protein-protein interactions, and micro-RNAs targeting were also predicted. We also comprehensively studied their expression in different tissues and under different stresses. We identified 116 genes in the genome of cultivated peanut. Phylogenetically, were divided into three groups. Tandem and segmental duplication events played a role in the evolution of , and purifying selection pressure drove the duplication process. promoters were enriched in several key -elements involved in growth and development, hormones, light, and defense-related activities. Micro-RNAs from 12 different families targeted 35 . GO enrichment analysis indicated that are highly enriched in transferase and catalytic activities, cellular metabolic and biosynthesis processes. Transcriptome datasets revealed that possessed varying expression levels in different tissues and under hormones, water, and temperature stress. Expression profiling based on qRT-PCR results also supported the transcriptome results. This study provides the theoretical basis for further work on the biological roles of genes for developmental and stress responses.