Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profile Analysis of the Phospholipase C Gene Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Phospholipid-hydrolyzing enzymes include members of the phospholipase C (PLC) family that play important roles in regulating plant growth and responding to stress. In the present study, a systematic in silico analysis of the wheatPLCgene family revealed a total of 26 wheatPLCgenes (TaPLCs). Phylogenetic and sequence alignment analyses divided the wheat PLC genes into 2 subfamilies,TaPI-PLC (containing the typical X, Y, and C2 domains) and TaNPC (containing a phosphatase domain).TaPLC expression patterns differed among tissues, organs, and under abiotic stress conditions. The transcript levels of 8 TaPLCgenes were validated through qPCR analyses. Most of theTaPLCgenes were sensitive to salt stress and were up-regulated rapidly, and some were sensitive to low temperatures and drought. Overexpression of TaPI-PLC1-2B significantly improved resistance to salt and drought stress inArabidopsis, and the primary root of P1-OE was significantly longer than that of the wild type under stress conditions. Our results not only provide comprehensive information for understanding thePLCgene family in wheat, but can also provide a solid foundation for functional characterization of the wheat PLC gene family.