Genome-Wide Identification of Rubber Tree Genes and Functional Characterization of .

Natural rubber produced by the rubber tree is a vital industrial raw material globally. Seven gene family members were identified in the rubber tree, and the phylogenetic tree classified into three subfamilies. Significant differences were observed among in terms of gene length, number of exons, and composition of conserved motifs. The expansion of in the rubber tree genome is associated with segmental duplications. The high expression of in petioles and in stem tips, along with their distinct responses to drought, salt, and wound stresses, indicates their crucial roles in substance transport and stress adaptation. Transgenic poplar experiments demonstrated that overexpression of significantly promotes plant height growth, with localization in the tobacco plasma membrane, suggesting its involvement in regulating plant growth through membrane transport processes. These findings enhance the understanding of in rubber trees and provide new insights into how plants finely tune gene family members to adapt to environmental changes.