Identification of R2R3-MYB Gene Family and Functional Analysis of Responses of S22 Subfamily to Abiotic Stresses in Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.)

TL;DR

This study identifies and analyzes R2R3-MYB genes in dandelions, focusing on how a specific subfamily responds to salt and alkaline stress.

Contribution

The study provides the first genome-wide identification and functional analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in dandelions, particularly under abiotic stress.

Findings

130 R2R3-MYB genes were identified and mapped to eight dandelion chromosomes.

TmMYB44 from the S22 subfamily showed the highest root expression.

TmR2R3-MYBs in the S22 subfamily are involved in responses to salinity and alkalinity stress.

Abstract

Dandelions possess a wide range of medicinal properties and demonstrate remarkable adaptability and tolerance to salinity and alkalinity. MYB genes in plants are implicated in growth, differentiation, metabolism, and responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. The function of MYB genes in dandelions, particularly the R2R3-MYB gene family, requires further investigation. In this study, we identified a total of 130 members of the dandelion R2R3-MYB gene family at the genome-wide level, all of which were mapped to eight dandelion chromosomes. MEME analysis revealed that TmR2R3-MYB proteins contain three conserved motifs. Phylogenetic analysis categorized all TmR2R3-MYBs into 29 subfamilies. Transcriptomic studies in different tissues indicated that TmR2R3-MYBs exhibit distinct expression patterns in different tissues, indicating their diverse functions in dandelions. Notably, TmMYB44 from the S22 subfamily displayed the highest expression level in roots. Additionally, six representative TmR2R3-MYBs were selected from the S22 subfamily for expression profiling under salinity and alkalinity treatments. The results demonstrated that the TmR2R3-MYBs from the S22 subfamily are involved in the response to salinity and alkalinity stress. These findings provide a basis for further exploration of the functions of TmR2R3-MYBs in abiotic stress tolerance.

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