Comprehensive Identification and Expression Profiling of Epidermal Pattern Factor () Gene Family in Oilseed Rape ( L.) under Salt Stress.

Rapeseed is a crucial oil crop globally, and in recent years, abiotic stress has increasingly affected its growth, development, yield, and quality. Salt stress is a significant abiotic factor that restricts crop production. The gene family is vital in managing salt stress by controlling stomatal development and opening, which reduces water loss and increases plant salt tolerance. To explore the features of the gene family in and their expression under salt stress, this study utilized EPF protein sequences as seed sequences, including their PF17181 and PF16851 domains. A total of 27 members of the gene family were detected within the rapeseed genome. The study examined the physicochemical properties, gene structure, phylogenetic relationships, and collinearity of . Through transcriptomes, we employed the qPCR method to determine the relative expression levels of genes potentially associated with rapeseed stress resistance under both non-salt and salt stress conditions. Subsequently, we assessed their influence on rapeseed plants subjected to salt stress. During salt stress conditions, all genes displayed a downregulation trend, indicating their potential impact on stomatal development and signal transduction pathways, consequently improving rapeseed's resistance to salt stress. The study findings establish a basis for exploring the roles of and offer candidate genes for breeding stress-resistant varieties and enhancing the yield in rapeseed.