Genome-wide analysis and characterization of GRAS family in switchgrass

ABSTRACT

Panicum virgatum, a model plant of cellulosic ethanol conversion, not only has high large biomass and strong adaptability to soil, but also grows well in marginal soil and has the advantage of improving saline-alkali soil. GRAS transcription factor gene family play important roles in individual environment adaption, and these vital functions has been proved in several plants, however, the research of GRAS in the development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) were limited. A comprehensive study was investigated to explore the relationship between GRAS gene family and resistance. According to the phylogenetic analysis, a total of 144 GRAS genes were identified and renamed which were classified into eight subfamilies. Chromosome distribution, tandem and segmental repeats analysis indicated that gene duplication events contributed a lot to the expansion of GRAS genes in the switchgrass genome. Sixty-six GRAS genes in switchgrass were identified as having orthologous genes with rice through gene duplication analysis. Most of these GRAS genes contained zero or one intron, and closely related genes in evolution shared similar motif composition. Interaction networks were analyzed including DELLA and ten interaction proteins that were primarily involved in gibberellin acid mediated signaling. Notably, online analysis indicated that the promoter regions of the identified PvGRAS genes contained many cis-elements including light responsive elements, suggesting that PvGRAS might involve in light signal cross-talking. This work provides key insights into resistance and bioavailability in switchgrass and would be helpful to further study the function of GRAS and GRAS-mediated signal transduction pathways.

KEYWORDS:

• GRAS
• Panicum virgatum
• genome-wide analysis
• gene family
• gibberellin

Highlight

144 GRAS genes were identified from switchgrass and could be divided into eight subfamilies. GRAS genes played vital role in the adaption to salt and drought stress. GRAS gene family has a complex evolutionary history in switchgrass genome.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of Changzhi Medical college.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author contributions

Xiaoqin Wang, Pengcheng Feng conceived the idea. Guixia Li, Yajing Sun, Zhongyu qin carried out various experiments. Pengcheng Feng analyzed the data. Pengcheng Feng, Guixia Li wrote the manuscript.

Supplementary material

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