The common bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i>) SULTR gene family: genome-wide identification, phylogeny, evolutionary expansion and expression patterns

Sulfate transporters (SULTRs) are responsible for the absorption and transport of sulfate in higher plants. They also play a key role in plant growth, development and abiotic stress responses. However, the SULTR gene family in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is still not well studied. In this study, 15 PvSULTRs were identified. Phylogenetic analysis divided the PvSULTR genes into four subgroups. Cis-regulatory element analysis of the promoter sequence of the PvSULTR genes showed that many cis-regulatory elements were related to hormone and environmental stresses. Collinearity analysis showed that two PvSULTR gene pairs are duplicated in common bean. Tissue-specific expression analysis of the 15 PvSULTR genes showed different expression patterns in various tissues. Furthermore, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that PvSULTR1/2/7 genes displayed specific responses to CdCl2 and HgCl2 stresses, whereas PvSULTR11/12 were explicitly induced by NaCl and HgCl2 stresses. These results suggest that PvSULTR family members might function under different mechanisms in response to specific metal stress. This study provides the basis for elucidating the functional diversity of PvSULTR gene family and reveals its role in metal stress response in common bean.</p