# Genome‐Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of TaDES1 Gene Family Responded to Biotic and Abiotic Stress in Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)

## TL;DR

This study identifies and analyzes 18 TaDES1 genes in wheat, showing their roles in stress response and plant growth, with potential for crop improvement.

## Contribution

The first comprehensive characterization of the TaDES1 gene family in wheat, including evolutionary and functional insights.

## Key findings

- TaDES1 family expansion was driven by segmental duplication and purifying selection.
- TaDES1 genes are involved in stress response, phytohormone regulation, and plant growth.
- Key TaDES1 genes show potential for use in wheat breeding due to SSRs and variation analysis.

## Abstract

L‐Cysteine desulfhydrase (DES1), a key enzyme in eukaryotes, catalyzes the synthesis of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is a gaseous signaling molecule. However, the genes encoding DES1 enzymes in wheat, one of the world's most important crop species, have yet to be fully characterized. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the wheat TaDES1 gene family and delves into its potential functions. We identified a total of 18 TaDES1 genes, located across 13 chromosomes, categorized them into four subfamilies, and comprehensively analyzed their physicochemical properties. Furthermore, three DES1 gene families (HvDES1, OsDES1, and ZmDES1) were identified in three Poaceae species to explore the evolutionary relationships of TaDES1 and its homologs. The results indicated that segmental duplication drove the expansion of the TaDES1 family, which experienced strong purifying selection. Promoter cis‐elements and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed the significant roles of this gene in the stress response, phytohormone regulation, and plant growth. miRNA target prediction analysis further explored the regulatory relationships. Transcriptomic data revealed that TaDES1 members are responsive to abiotic stresses, biotic stresses, and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. The qPCR (RT–qPCR) results also demonstrated that the TaDES1 gene is responsive to multiple stresses. Co‐expression network analysis emphasized the importance of key TaDES1 genes in stress responses. Finally, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) within the TaDES1 family were predicted, and variation analysis of three key TaDES1 genes and their homologs across ten wheat cultivars was performed to explore their potential in wheat breeding.

The TaDES1 gene family in wheat consists of 18 genes across 13 chromosomes, categorized into four subfamilies. Evolutionary analysis shows segmental duplication as a key driver of family expansion, with strong purifying selection. TaDES1 members play critical roles in stress response, phytohormone regulation, and plant growth and development, supported by promoter cis‐elements, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, transcriptomic data, RT‐qPCR, and co‐expression network studies. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and variation analysis further highlight their potential utility for wheat breeding.