Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of ZF-HD family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought and salt stresses
Abstract Background Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is widely cultured in globally tropical and subtropical regions, with better resistance to various abiotic stresses as a model crop. Despite the fact that zinc finger-homeodomain (ZF-HD) genes play an important role in responding to plant growth,...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06139-z |
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| author | Kangping Zhang Ruqian Yan Xiaoqing Feng Jingjing Zhang Yuanyuan Jiang Lin Li Jianzhong Guo Xianping Zhang |
| author_facet | Kangping Zhang Ruqian Yan Xiaoqing Feng Jingjing Zhang Yuanyuan Jiang Lin Li Jianzhong Guo Xianping Zhang |
| author_sort | Kangping Zhang |
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| description | Abstract Background Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is widely cultured in globally tropical and subtropical regions, with better resistance to various abiotic stresses as a model crop. Despite the fact that zinc finger-homeodomain (ZF-HD) genes play an important role in responding to plant growth, development and stress resistance across the multiple species, the evolutionary history and abiotic function of the ZF-HD gene family in sunflower remain largely unexplored. Results In this study, we identified 15 HaZF-HD genes (designated as HaZF1–HaZF15) in the sunflower genome, and they were divided into MIF and ZHD subfamilies. The proteins from the same group were similar in conserved motifs and domains, such as motif 1 and motif 3, constituting the ZF domain, were almost existed in 15 HaZF-HD proteins. Motif 2 (HD domain) was specifically presented in the ZHD subfamily. Collinearity analysis revealed that 5 pairs of genes with fragment duplication contributed to the expansion of HaZF-HD gene family. The analysis of cis-acting element demonstrated that the response elements related the hormone response and abiotic/biotic stress were the most prevalent, followed by plant growth and development elements. In the tissue expression profile, HaZF-HD gene family had the highest expression in leaves and floral organs. Additionally, RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis revealed HaZF3 responded positively in the initial stage of drought stress, whereas a prompt and significant decrease of relative expression value in response to salt stress was showed in HaZF6 and HaZF9. Conclusions Overall, this study enhances our comprehension of the function of ZF-HD genes in positive regulation of responsiveness to abiotic stress and provide key candidate genes for sunflower stress resistance breeding. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79f800b887c6447aa37a9c76e28113f2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-79f800b887c6447aa37a9c76e28113f22025-02-09T12:27:54ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-02-0125111510.1186/s12870-025-06139-zGenome-wide identification and expression analysis of ZF-HD family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought and salt stressesKangping Zhang0Ruqian Yan1Xiaoqing Feng2Jingjing Zhang3Yuanyuan Jiang4Lin Li5Jianzhong Guo6Xianping Zhang7Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Taiyuan UniversityDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Taiyuan UniversityDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Taiyuan UniversityDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Taiyuan UniversityDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Taiyuan UniversityDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Taiyuan UniversityDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Taiyuan UniversityDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Taiyuan UniversityAbstract Background Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is widely cultured in globally tropical and subtropical regions, with better resistance to various abiotic stresses as a model crop. Despite the fact that zinc finger-homeodomain (ZF-HD) genes play an important role in responding to plant growth, development and stress resistance across the multiple species, the evolutionary history and abiotic function of the ZF-HD gene family in sunflower remain largely unexplored. Results In this study, we identified 15 HaZF-HD genes (designated as HaZF1–HaZF15) in the sunflower genome, and they were divided into MIF and ZHD subfamilies. The proteins from the same group were similar in conserved motifs and domains, such as motif 1 and motif 3, constituting the ZF domain, were almost existed in 15 HaZF-HD proteins. Motif 2 (HD domain) was specifically presented in the ZHD subfamily. Collinearity analysis revealed that 5 pairs of genes with fragment duplication contributed to the expansion of HaZF-HD gene family. The analysis of cis-acting element demonstrated that the response elements related the hormone response and abiotic/biotic stress were the most prevalent, followed by plant growth and development elements. In the tissue expression profile, HaZF-HD gene family had the highest expression in leaves and floral organs. Additionally, RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis revealed HaZF3 responded positively in the initial stage of drought stress, whereas a prompt and significant decrease of relative expression value in response to salt stress was showed in HaZF6 and HaZF9. Conclusions Overall, this study enhances our comprehension of the function of ZF-HD genes in positive regulation of responsiveness to abiotic stress and provide key candidate genes for sunflower stress resistance breeding.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06139-zHelianthus annuusZF-HD gene familyGenome-wide analysisAbiotic stressExpression patterns |
| spellingShingle | Kangping Zhang Ruqian Yan Xiaoqing Feng Jingjing Zhang Yuanyuan Jiang Lin Li Jianzhong Guo Xianping Zhang Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of ZF-HD family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought and salt stresses BMC Plant Biology Helianthus annuus ZF-HD gene family Genome-wide analysis Abiotic stress Expression patterns |
| title | Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of ZF-HD family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought and salt stresses |
| title_full | Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of ZF-HD family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought and salt stresses |
| title_fullStr | Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of ZF-HD family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought and salt stresses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of ZF-HD family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought and salt stresses |
| title_short | Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of ZF-HD family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drought and salt stresses |
| title_sort | genome wide identification and expression analysis of zf hd family in sunflower helianthus annuus l under drought and salt stresses |
| topic | Helianthus annuus ZF-HD gene family Genome-wide analysis Abiotic stress Expression patterns |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06139-z |
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