AUTHOR=Singh Chandra Mohan , Kumar Mukul , Pratap Aditya , Tripathi Anupam , Singh Smita , Mishra Anuj , Kumar Hitesh , Nair Ramkrishnan M. , Singh Narendra Pratap 

TITLE=Genome-Wide Analysis of Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein Gene Family in Vigna Species and Expression of VrLEA Encoding Genes in Vigna glabrescens Reveal Its Role in Heat Tolerance

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.843107

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.843107

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are identified in many crops for their response and role in adaptation to various abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature. The LEA genes have been studied systematically in several crops but not in Vigna crops. Here, we report the first comprehensive analysis of the LEA gene family in three legume species namely mungbean (Vigna radiata), adzuki bean (V. angularis), and cowpea (V. unguiculata) and cross species expression of VrLEA genes in a wild tetraploid species, V. glabrescens. A total of 201 LEA genes from three Vigna crops were identified harboring the LEA conserved motif. Among these 55, 64, and 82 LEA genes were identified in mungbean, adzuki bean, and cowpea genomes, respectively. These LEA genes were grouped into eight different classes. Our analysis revealed that the cowpea genome comprised of all eight classes of LEA genes, whereas the LEA-6 class was absent in the mungbean genome. Likewise, LEA-5 and LEA-6 were absent in adzuki bean genome. The analysis of LEA genes provides an insight into their structural and functional diversity in Vigna genome. The genes such as VrLEA-2, VrLEA-40, VrLEA-47 and VrLEA-55 were significantly upregulated in the heat tolerant genotype under stress condition indicating the basis of heat tolerance. The successful amplification and expression of VrLEA genes in V. glabrescens indicated the utility of the developed markers in mungbean improvement. The results of the present study increase our understanding of LEA genes and provide robust candidate genes for future functional investigations and basis for improving heat stress tolerance in Vigna crops.