The BBX family and their response to abiotic stress in ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Abstract Background Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a medicinal and edible plant in Chinese culture, is often impacted by adverse environmental conditions. BBX genes are fundamental regulators of multiple pathways in plants, although a systematic cataloging of BBX genes in ginger has not yet been completed. Result .The study examined 31 members of the BBX gene family in ginger (ZoBBXs). Moreover, a comprehensive analysis is conducted on the sequence features, conserved protein motifs, chromosome location, phylogenetic relationships, and gene duplication events in ZoBBXs. In terms of gene structures, conserved domains, and motifs, ZoBBXs can be categorized into five categories. Moreover, the study investigated the expression patterns of ZoBBXs across different developmental stages and under various abiotic stresses, such as ABA, cold, drought, heat, and salt, utilizing RNA-seq data and qRT-PCR analysis. The results indicated that ZoBBX#04, ZoBBX#11, ZoBBX#24, and ZoBBX#27 may be key regulators of flowering in ginger, while ZoBBX#05, ZoBBX#11, ZoBBX#17, and ZoBBX#24 were identified as significant contributors to stress response mechanisms. Conclusion A detailed analysis of ginger's BBX family is presented in this study, laying the groundwork for further exploration of the potential roles of ZoBBX genes in ginger's growth, development, and tolerance to abiotic stresses.