Genome-wide identification and expression pattern analysis of the trihelix gene family in cucumber

Trihelix family genes (TFGs) serve as a crucial transcription factor (TF) family influencing plant growth and development. Despite its significance, knowledge regarding TFGs in cucumber is scarce. This study uncovered the identification of 28 TFGs in cucumber, distributed across seven chromosomes and categorized into five subfamilies: SIP1, GTγ, SH4, GT-1, and GT-2. Synteny analysis revealed colinearity between 24 cucumber TFGs and 28 Arabidopsis TFGs, along with 21 cucumber TFGs and 33 rice TFGs. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated varying expression profiles of TFGs across diverse tissues, with only the CsaV3₇G033160 gene remaining unexpressed in all tissues. Expression pattern analysis of cucumber TFGs under different types of abiotic stress (AbS) and biotic stress (BS) such as high-temperature, chilling, salt, waterlogging, downy mildew, powdery mildew, Phytophthora capsici, Fusarium wilt, root-knot nematode and angular leaf spot treatments showed that the differential expression of CsaV3₃G033700 gene under 6 types of AbS and BS, while CsaV3₃G036680 and CsaV3₆G004030 genes had differential expression under 5 types of AbS and BS, indicating their pivotal roles in cucumber growth and development. This comprehensive study on the identification, evolution, and expression patterns of the TFG provides valuable insights into potential candidates for breeding stress-resistant cucumber varieties, laying important foundation for future investigations into the molecular biological functions of cucumber TFGs. (author)