MYB Transcription Factor Family in Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.): Genome-wide Investigation, Evolution, Structure, Characterization and Expression Patterns

Back ground MYB Transcription factors (TFs) are most imperative and largest gene family in plants, which participate in development, metabolism, defense, differentiation and stress response. The MYB TFs has been studied in various plant species. However, comprehensive studies of MYB gene family in the sweet cherry ( Prunus avium L. ) are still unknown. Results: In the current study, a total of 69 MYB genes were investigated from sweet cherry genome and classified into 28 subfamilies (C1-C28 based on phylogenetic and structural analysis). Microcollinearity analysis revealed that dispersed duplication (DSD) and whole-genome duplication (WGD) events might play an important role in the expansion of the MYB genes family. Chromosomal localization, the synonymous (Ks) and nonsynonymous (Ka) analysis, molecular characteristics (pI, weight and length of amino acids) and subcellular localization were accomplished using several bioinformatics tools. Moreover, different subfamilies contained different cis -acting elements, conserved motifs analysis and introns-exons structures, representing functional divergence in the MYB family. Subsequently, the transcriptomic data exposed that MYB genes might play vital role in bud dormancy. Subsequently, the quantitative real-time qRT-PCR was carried out and the expression pattern indicated that MYB genes significantly expressed in floral bud as compared to flower and fruit. Conclusion: Our comprehensive findings provide supportive insights into the evolutions, expansion complexity and functionality of PavMYB genes. These PavMYB genes should be further investigated as they seem to be brilliant candidates for dormancy manipulation in sweet cherry.