Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the TCP Gene Family Related to Developmental and Abiotic Stress in Ginger

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a widely consumed edible and medicinal plant, possesses significant nutritional and economic value. Abiotic stresses such as drought and low temperatures can impact the growth and development of ginger. The plant-specific transcription factor Teosinte branched1/cycloidea/proliferating cell factor (TCP) has progressively been identified in various plants for its role in regulating plant growth and development as well as conferring resistance to abiotic stresses. However, limited information on the TCP family is available in ginger. In this study, we identified 20 TCP members in the ginger genome, which were randomly distributed across 9 chromosomes. Based on phylogenetic analysis, these ginger TCP were classified into two subfamilies: Class I (PCF) and Class II (CIN, CYC/TB). The classification of the identified ginger TCPs was supported by a multi-species phylogenetic tree and motif structure analysis, suggesting that the amplification of the ginger TCP gene family occurred prior to the differentiation of angiosperms. The promoter region of ginger TCP genes was found to contain numerous cis-acting elements associated with plant growth, development, and abiotic stress response. Among these elements, the stress response element, anaerobic induction, and MYB binding site play a dominant role in drought responsiveness. Additionally, expression pattern analysis revealed variations in the expression of ginger TCP gene among different tissues and in response to diverse abiotic stresses (drought, low temperature, heat, and salt). Our research offers a thorough examination of TCP members within the ginger plant. This analysis greatly contributes to the understanding of how TCP genes regulate tissue development and response to stress, opening up new avenues for further exploration in this field.