Genome-wide identification and evolutionary analysis of WOX gene family in cucurbit crops
2024
Li, C. | He, Z. | Liang, G.Y. | Yang, N. | Cai, P. | Liang, Y. | Li, Y.J. | Fang, C. | Liu, D.C. | Xia, F. | Liu, X.J.
The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) gene family is essential for plant growth and development. However, the identification and evolutionary analysis of WOX genes in the Cucurbitaceae have not been well investigated. In the present work, we performed a genome-wide analysis to identify WOX genes in eleven cucurbit crops. In total, 127 WOX genes were identified in eleven cucurbit crops, and classified into three different clades: the ancient clade, the intermediate clade and the WUS clade. The same clade has comparable gene organization and conserved motif patterns. The cis-acting element analysis revealed that WOX genes were involved in light, hormone and stress in cucurbit crops. Gene duplication analysis indicated that dispersed duplication and whole genome duplication were the two primary causes of WOX genes expansion. There were 24 and 129 gene pairs found within cucurbit crops, and between Cucumis sativus and other cucurbit crops, respectively. After gene duplication, all WOX genes were subjected to substantial purifying selection pressure according to the selective pressure analysis. Functional divergence analysis revealed that ancient and intermediate clades may have descended from some essential amino acid sites rather than different evolution rate. Our research provides a comprehensive analysis of WOX genes which will be helpful for further research into their function study in Cucurbitaceae plants.
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