Genome-wide identification of GRAS gene family in Camellia oleifera and expression analysis under abiotic stress

Camellia oleifera, a member of the family Theaceae and the genus Camellia, is an evergreen shrub or small tree that holds considerable economic value. It is primarily found in the hilly regions of southern China. The GRAS transcription factor family plays a crucial role in various biological processes in plants, including tissue development, fruit maturation, and responses to environmental stresses. However, the GRAS family in C. oleifera has not been systematically characterized.

In this study, we identified and named 75 GRAS genes in C. oleifera based on their chromosomal positions. We further analyzed the gene structures, conserved motifs, cis-acting elements, gene duplication events, and expression patterns. Additionally, cis-acting element analysis indicated that this gene family is involved in signal transduction related to plant hormones, growth and development, and stress responses. The qRT-PCR data revealed that CoGRAS genes significantly responded to abiotic stresses. Notably, the expression of CoGRAS70 was significantly upregulated during the treatment period.

This study addresses the gap in the systematic characterization of the GRAS gene family in this species and lays the foundation for the functional analysis of CoGRAS genes in stress responses.