Identification of the HSP20 Gene Family in <i>L. barbarum</i> and Their Contrasting Response to Heat Stress Between Two Varieties.

ABSTRACT: Background: Small heat shock proteins (sHsps), particularly Hsp20 family members, are pivotal for plant thermotolerance and abiotic stress adaptation. However, their evolutionary dynamics and functional roles in Lycium barbarum (goji berry), a commercially significant stress-tolerant crop, remain uncharacterized. This study aims to comprehensively identify LbHsp20 genes, delineate their evolutionary patterns, and decipher their regulatory mechanisms under heat stress to accelerate molecular breeding of resilient cultivars. Methods: Forty-three LbHsp20 genes were identified from the goji genome using HMMER and BLASTP. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed via MEGA-X (maximum likelihood, 1000 bootstraps), while conserved motifs and dom

SUBMITTER: Wu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12027169 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature