Genome-wide analysis of NAC transcription factor family in maize under drought stress and rewatering

The plant-specific NAC transcription factor (TFs) plays crucial role in plant growth as well as in stress resistance. In the present study, 87 Zea mays NAC TFs were obtained from the transcriptome analysis using drought-resistant maize inbred line Y882 as experimental material under PEG stress and rewatering treatment. Comprehensive analyses were conducted including genes structure, chromosomal localization, phylogenetic tree and motif prediction, cis-elements and expression patterns. The results showed that the 87 ZmNAC genes distributed on 10 chromosomes and were categorized into 15 groups based on their conserved gene structure and motifs. Phylogenetic tree analysis was also constructed referencing to the counterparts of Arabidopsis and rice, and the stress-related cis-elements in the promoter region were also analyzed. 87 ZmNAC genes exhibited different expression levels at 3 treatment points, indicating different response to drought stress. This genome-wide analysis of 87 ZmNAC genes will provide basis for further gene function detection.