Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of NF-YA Gene Family in the Filling Stage of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The <i>NF-YA</i> gene family is a highly conserved transcription factor that plays a crucial role in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to various stresses. Despite extensive studies in multiple plants, there has been a dearth of focused and systematic analysis on NF-YA genes in wheat grains. In this study, we carried out a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the <i>NF-YA</i> gene family in wheat, using the latest genomic data from the Chinese Spring. A total of 19 <i>TaNF-YA</i> genes were identified. An analysis of conserved domains, phylogenetic relationships, and gene structure indicated a significant degree of conservation among TaNF-YAs. A gene collinearity analysis demonstrated that fragment duplication was the predominant mechanism driving the amplification of <i>TaNF-YAs</i>. Furthermore, <i>cis</i>-acting elements within the promoters of <i>TaNF-YAs</i> were found to be implicated in grain development. Subsequently, SNP analysis revealed the genetic variation in the <i>NF-YA</i> gene family in different wheat. Moreover, published RNA-seq data were used and RNA-seqs of Pinyu8155, Yaomai30, Yaomai36, and Pinyu8175 were performed to identify <i>TaNF-YAs</i> influencing grain development. Finally, it was found that <i>NF-YAs</i> had no self-activating activity in wheat. This study provides key candidate genes for the exploration of grain development in the wheat filling stage and also lays a foundation for further research on the regulation of starch and protein synthesis and accumulation.