Genome wide identification, genomic organization, and expression profiling of the CONSTANS-like (COL) gene family in petunia under multiple stresses

CONSTANS-like (CO-like, COL) is a putative zinc-finger transcription
factor family that plays a key role in the control of flowering time in
photoperiod-sensitive plants. Besides, the COL family protein is also
involved in plant development, responses to stresses. However, information
on plant development and stress response related function has not been
previously performed in any solanaceous crop. In this study, a genome-wide
analysis of COL gene family was conducted in petunia to elucidate their
roles in organ development and stress response. A total of 33 COL genes
(15 PaCOL genes in P. axillaris and 18 PiCOL genes in P. inflata) were
identified in petunia. Subsequently, a genome-wide systematic analysis was
performed in 15 PaCOL genes. Based on their amino acid sequence identity
and domain composition they were phylogenetically classified into three
groups those are conserved among the flowering plants. Similar gene
structure and motif distribution were observed in the same group.
Subcellular localization assays demonstrated that all PaCOL proteins were
localized in nucleus. Furthermore, differential expression patterns of
PaCOL genes were observed in various tissues. The expression patterns of
PaCOL genes were observed under various abiotic and phytohormone treatment
to explore their relatedness in different stresses. Moreover, several
stress and light-responsive cis-elements were detected for different PaCOL
genes. The COL genes of petunia species, those were clustered into three
distinct groups, are conserved among flowering plants, were expressed in
different tissues and induced under multiple abiotic stress treatments
indicating their involvement in plant growth and development and stress
response mechanism. This work laid the significant foundation for
functional characterization of PaCOL gene family to uncover their
biological roles in plant growth, development and in stress response.
Petunia, Genome-wide analysis, Constans-like gene（COL), Expression
patterns, Abiotic stresses