Characterization of 14-3-3 gene family and their expression patterns under abiotic and biotic stresses in melon (Cucumis melo L.)

Several studies have shown that the plant 14-3-3 gene family plays an important role in plant growth and development, as well as its response to abiotic and biotic stresses. At present, the 14-3-3 gene family has been found successively in many plants; however, no detailed characterization and expression profiles of the 14-3-3 gene family are found in melon. Thus, the author performed genome-wide identification, characterization and expression pattern in different tissues and under various abiotic and biotic stresses by analyzing the published RNA-Seq raw data from NCBI database. Nine 14-3-3 genes in melon were identified and classified as non-epsilon and epsilon groups based on the orthologs of Arabidopsis 14-3-3 genes and dispersedly distributed on five chromosomes. The majority of melon 14-3-3 members contained 300 amino acids or less, which might localize in the nucleus. Members of the epsilon group commonly contained more exons or introns than those of the non-epsilon group. Gene duplication analysis indicated that segmental duplication was dominant in the expansion of the melon 14-3-3 family. Many cis-elements in response to different stresses and hormones were predicted by using the PlantCARE server. The published RNA-Seq showed that several 14-3-3 genes showed significant expression changes in different tissues, during fruit development and under salt, cold and pathogen stresses at a certain time point. These results provided a general introduction to melon 14-3-3 genes and a preliminary basis for later functional verification.