Genome-Wide Investigation of the Auxin Response Factor Gene Family in Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

Auxin signaling plays an important role in plant growth and development. It responds to various developmental and environmental events, such as embryogenesis, organogenesis, shoot elongation, tropical growth, lateral root formation, flower and fruit development, tissue and organ architecture, and vascular differentiation. However, there has been little research on the Auxin Response Factor (ARF) genes of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), an important edible and medicinal crop. The recent publication of the whole-genome sequence of tartary buckwheat enables us to study the tissue and expression profile of the FtARF gene on a genome-wide basis. In this study, 20 ARF (FtARF) genes were identified and renamed according to the chromosomal distribution of the FtARF genes. The results showed that the FtARF genes belonged to the related sister pair, and the chromosomal map showed that the duplication of FtARFs was related to the duplication of the chromosome blocks. The duplication of some FtARF genes shows conserved intron/exon structure, which is different from other genes, suggesting that the function of these genes may be diverse. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis exhibited distinct expression patterns of FtARF genes in various tissues and in response to exogenous auxin during fruit development. In this study, 20 FtARF genes were identified, and the structure, evolution, and expression patterns of the proteins were studied. This systematic analysis laid a foundation for the further study of the functional characteristics of the ARF genes and for the improvement of tartary buckwheat crops.