Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the SWEET Gene Family in Capsicum annuum L

Sugars will eventually be exported transporters (SWEETs) are a novel class of sugar transport proteins that play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and response to stress. However, there is a lack of systematic research on SWEETs in Capsicum annuum L. In this study, 33 CaSWEET genes were identified through bioinformatics analysis. The Ka/Ks analysis indicated that SWEET genes are highly conserved not only among peppers but also among Solanaceae species and have experienced strong purifying selection during evolution. The Cis-elements analysis showed that the light-responsive element, abscisic-acid-responsive element, jasmonic-acid-responsive element, and anaerobic-induction-responsive element are widely distributed in the promoter regions of CaSWEETs. The expression pattern analysis revealed that CaSWEETs exhibit tissue specificity and are widely involved in pepper growth, development, and stress responses. The post-transcription regulation analysis revealed that 20 pepper miRNAs target and regulate 16 CaSWEETs through cleavage and translation inhibition mechanisms. The pathogen inoculation assay showed that CaSWEET16 and CaSWEET22 function as susceptibility genes, as the overexpression of these genes promotes the colonization of pathogens, whereas CaSWEET31 functions as a resistance gene. In conclusion, through systematic identification and characteristic analysis, a comprehensive understanding of CaSWEET was obtained, which lays the foundation for further studies on the biological functions of SWEET genes.