Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis ofGRGene Family in Cotton

Objective] Glutathione reductase (GR) gene family is involved in biological processes such as plant growth and abiotic stress response, but its characteristics and functions in cotton have not been known yet. This study aims to explore the role of GR genes in cotton genome evolution and abiotic stress response through the whole genome identification and characterization of GR genes, thus providing a theoretical basis for future studies on the roles of the GR genes in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in cotton. Method] The GR genes in Gossypium hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. raimondii and G. arboreum were all identified using bioinformatics software. The physicochemical properties, sequence characteristics, chromosomal location, phylogeny and expression patterns were analyzed. Result] A total of 18 GR genes were identified. The number of GR genes in G. hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. raimondii and G. arboreum was 6, 6, 3 and 3, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that GR genes were divided into two sub-groups. The genes in the same subgroup exhibited similar gene structure in relation to exon-intron ratios. The ratios of the non-synonymous mutations (K_a) and homologous mutations (K_s) were all less than 1, indicating that the GR genes underwent strong purification selection during their evolution process. The analysis of the expression patterns of GR genes in upland cotton indicated that all the GR genes responded actively to the stress environment; but under different abiotic stresses, the gene expression patterns were significantly different. Conclusion] The study explored the evolution and function of the GR gene family in the four cotton genomes, providing a theoretical basis for future studies of cotton GR genes.