# Genomic Identification and Characterization of the Cotton YABBY Gene Family

## TL;DR

This paper identifies and analyzes the YABBY gene family in cotton, revealing their roles in development and evolution.

## Contribution

The study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the YABBY gene family in cotton species.

## Key findings

- YABBY genes in cotton are classified into six groups and show diverse expansion patterns.
- Segmental duplication and transposon activity drive YABBY gene expansion in cotton.
- YABBY genes are involved in cotton fiber development and show purifying selection.

## Abstract

Background: YABBY transcription factors play important roles in plant growth and development. Although this gene family has been characterized in many plant species, a comprehensive analysis in cotton remains unavailable. Methods: In this study, we investigated the YABBY gene family in cotton by integrating multiple bioinformatics methods. Results: YABBY genes were identified in the genomes of four cotton species (Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium arboretum and Gossypium raimondii) and these identified genes were further classified into six groups. Following this classification, the expansion of the cotton YABBY gene family was examined, and we found that the family exhibits diverse expansion patterns during evolution, with segmental duplication acting as the primary driving force. In contrast, the notably larger repertoire of YABBY genes in G. raimondii is likely attributable to transposon activity. Regarding their evolutionary trajectory, Ka/Ks analysis showed that the YABBY gene family has undergone purifying selection. Beyond evolution, expression and cis-element analyses further demonstrated that YABBY genes possess diverse functions. In addition, we identified YABBY genes involved in different developmental stages of cotton fibers. Conclusions: We clarify the function and evolution of the cotton YABBY gene family in this work, and these results will provide a critical resource for further research on YABBY genes.