Abstract:
To investigate the role of GATA transcription factors in salt stress response, we characterized the
PdaGATAs gene family in
Populus davidiana × P. alba var.
pyramidalis using transcriptome database analysis and bioinformatics tools. Bioinformatics analysis was used to examine the physicochemical properties, phylogeny, conserved motifs of
PdaGATAs, and the expression patterns was explored by RT−qPCR in was different tissues under salt stress. The results show that 24
GATA transcription factor genes were identified in
Populus davidiana × P. alba var.
pyramidalis. Phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment revealed that
PdaGATAs were classified into 4 subfamilies, all containing a conserved zinc finger domain with high structural homology within subfamilies.
PdaGATAs have close relationships with
GATA members from
Populus trichocarpa and
Populus euphratica, with promoters harboring hormone and stress-responsive elements. RT-qPCR results demonstrated tissue-specific expression patterns:
PdaGATA18 showed highest expression in stems,
PdaGATA1,
2, and
20 were significantly expressed in roots, and most PdaGATAs exhibited high expression levels in leaves. Under salt stress, expression profiles of
PdaGATAs changed significantly, with notable upregulation of
PdaGATA4,
7,
13,
14, and
15, suggesting their critical regulatory roles in salt stress adaptation in
Populus davidiana × P. alba var.
pyramidalis.