Unraveling the Functional Diversity of MYB Transcription Factors in Plants: A Systematic Review of Recent Advances

Myeloblastosis (MYB) transcription factors (TFs) are evolutionarily conserved regulatory proteins that are crucial for plant growth, development, secondary metabolism, and stress adaptation. Recent studies have highlighted their crucial role in coordinating growth–defense trade-offs through transcriptional regulation of key biosynthetic and stress-response genes. Despite extensive functional characterization in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, systematically evaluating the broader functional landscape of MYB TFs across diverse species and contexts remains necessary. This systematic review integrates results from 24 peer-reviewed studies sourced from Scopus and Web of Science, focusing on the functional diversity of MYB TFs, particularly in relation to abiotic stress tolerance, metabolic regulation, and plant developmental processes. Advances in genomic technologies, such as transcriptomics, genome editing, and comparative phylogenetics, have considerably enhanced our understanding of MYB-mediated regulatory mechanisms. These tools have facilitated the identification and functional characterization of MYB genes across model and non-model plant species. Key findings underscore the multifaceted roles of MYB TFs in enhancing stress resilience, modulating anthocyanin and flavonoid biosynthesis, and contributing to yield-related traits, thereby highlighting their potential applications in crop improvement and sustainable agriculture. However, critical gaps exist in understanding MYB interactions within complex regulatory networks, particularly in underrepresented plant species and ecological contexts. This review consolidates current knowledge as well as identifies research gaps and proposes future directions to advance the understanding and application of MYB TFs. The insights derived from this study underscore their transformative potential in addressing global challenges including food security and climate resilience through innovative agricultural practices.