Identification and characterization of Phaseolus vulgaris CHS genes in response to salt and drought stress

Abstract

Common beans hold significant importance in sustainable agriculture and their critical role in human nutrition cannot be overstated. Factors such as climate change underscore the necessity for expanding genetic diversity and delineating the attributes of local bean cultivars. Among the various abiotic stressors, drought emerges as a formidable constraint limiting bean cultivation. While diverse set of strategies are employed to mitigate the impacts of drought stress, the ultimate and enduring solution lies in the development of drought-resistant bean cultivars, and it can be stated that the same situation is valid for salinity stress. Flavonoid biosynthesis is very important for plant growth and development and flavonoids are known to be involved in many pathways including stress response. This study aimed to comprehensively identify and characterize the CHS gene family within different bean cultivars exposed to drought and salt stress, utilizing genome-wide analysis, and assessing gene expression levels. Employing a spectrum of in silico methodologies, 14 CHS genes were identified in the common bean genome. These genes exhibited molecular weights ranging from 37.38 to 43.34 kDa and consisted of 341–393 amino acid residues. Remarkably, all Pvul-CHS genes shared a common structure comprising two exons. Phylogenetic analyses conducted across Phaseolus vulgaris, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Glycine max revealed that the Pvul-CHS gene family could be classified into three primary clusters. The expression profiles of Pvul-CHS genes unveiled their varied tissue-specific expressions and their pivotal roles in responding to diverse abiotic stresses. Furthermore, we conducted in silico assessments of the chromosomal positions of CHS gene family members in beans, their orthologous associations with related genomes, and cis-acting element analyses. The outcomes of this study hold the potential to significantly contribute to the breeding of beans endowed with enhanced resilience against salt and drought conditions.