Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) is the first enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway and plays a critical role in plant growth, development and stress defence. However, there have been few reports of the PAL gene family in lucerne (also known as alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.), one of the most important forage legume species worldwide. In this study, we report that PAL in lucerne is encoded by a family of seven genes: MsPAL1-MsPAL7. Furthermore, a comprehensive genome-wide bioinformatics analysis of the MsPAL gene family is presented, including chromosomal locations, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures and conserved motifs. The cis-elements and potential biological functions of these genes were investigated, revealing the potential roles of MsPAL members in response to various stresses. RT-qPCR results showed that the expression of MsPAL6 was significantly upregulated under both salinity- and waterlogging-stress conditions. Other MsPAL members such as MsPAL1 and MsPAL2 were downregulated under saline conditions and upregulated significantly after waterlogging stress. Our findings provide useful information for further practical analyses and for the genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance of lucerne.
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9 February 2022
Molecular characterisation of PAL gene family reveals their role in abiotic stress response in lucerne (Medicago sativa)
Yating Feng,
Qiaoli Huang,
Rui Zhang,
Junyi Li,
Kai Luo,
Yinhua Chen
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Crop and Pasture Science
Vol. 73 • No. 3
March 2022
Vol. 73 • No. 3
March 2022
abiotic stress
bioinformatics analysis
expression profiling
functional verification
gene family
lucerne(Medicago sativa)
phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL)