Genome-Wide Identification of the () Gene Family in Barley Reveals the Potential Role of in Salt Tolerance.

The () belongs to a plant-specific transcription factor gene family that plays crucial roles in plant growth and development. Barley ranks as the fourth global cereal crop and is recognized as a model crop for the study of cereal genetics. However, genome-wide characterization, functional validation, and stress-related studies of the gene family in barley remain limited, hindering efforts to leverage their potential for improving salt tolerance and regeneration efficiency in breeding programs. In this study, we identified 12 genes assigned from chromosome 1 to chromosome 5. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these genes can be classified into three clades (WUS, ancient, and intermediate). Gene structure analysis revealed that the exon numbers of genes varied in the WUS and intermediate clades but were highly conserved in the ancient clade. Tissue-specific analysis revealed that the most common genes were highly expressed in reproductive tissues such as anthers or ovaries. -element analysis suggested that there were multiple stress- and hormone-responsive elements in the gene promoters. In addition, overexpression of in significantly enhanced root elongation under salt stress (50-100 mM NaCl), suggesting its direct role in salt tolerance. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed that modulates hormone signaling and electron transfer pathways during ATP synthesis under stress conditions. In conclusion, our results provided a comprehensive understanding of the gene characteristics, expression patterns, and potential roles of barley genes.