Comprehensive Analysis of TaNCED Gene Family in Wheat Vernalization Process

9-<i>cis</i>-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenases (NCEDs), serving as the rate-limiting enzymes in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis, play a pivotal role in regulating plant growth and development, as well as responses to abiotic stresses. Despite their agronomic importance, the molecular dialog between ABA signaling and vernalization, a cold-induced switch from vegetative to reproductive growth in wheat, remains poorly characterized, particularly regarding the <i>TaNCED</i> gene family members. Here, we systematically identified 13 <i>TaNCED</i> members in hexaploid wheat, followed by multi-omics characterization encompassing physicochemical properties, exon-intron architectures, conserved catalytic domains, protein motifs, and <i>cis</i>-acting elements. By analyzing transcriptome data from vernalization treatments, we profiled the expression patterns of <i>TaNCED</i> genes during vernalization. Notably, <i>TaNCED5-6A</i>, <i>TaNCED5-6B</i>, and <i>TaNCED5-6D</i> exhibited significant upregulation in vernalized leaves and tiller buds, while maintaining basal expression in the shoot apical meristem, the site of floral induction. This tissue-specific expression pattern implicates their specialized role in mediating vernalization responses via ABA biosynthesis. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of ABA-mediated vernalization in wheat and offer valuable targets for vernalization efficiency in cereal breeding programs.