Genome-Wide Analysis of NAC Transcription Factor Gene Family in .

The NAC (NAM/ATAF1/2/CUC2) transcription factors are pivotal regulators in plant development and stress responses. Despite the extensive studies on the NAC gene family across various plant species, the characterization of this gene family in mulberry () remains unexplored. Here, we conducted a genome-wide identification and characterization of the NAC gene family in . A total of 79 genes were identified and classified into 20 subgroups, displaying an uneven distribution across the 14 chromosomes. The structural analysis found that most genes possess at least three exons and contain the conserved NAC domain and characteristic motifs at the N-terminus. Eleven collinear gene pairs were identified in genome. Interspecies collinearity analysis demonstrated a closer evolutionary relationship between and , supported by the identification of 116 collinear gene pairs. Expression profiling revealed dynamic changes in the transcript levels of most genes during mulberry fruit maturation. Notably, the eight MaNAC members from the OsNAC7 subfamily exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns. A significant proportion of genes displayed varying degrees of responsiveness to drought stress and sclerotium disease. , , and emerged as the most highly responsive candidates. Overexpression of enhanced drought tolerance in . These findings provide a robust foundation for future functional studies and mechanistic investigations into the roles of the NAC gene family in , offering insights into their contributions to development and stress adaptation.