Identification of the YABBY Gene Family in Cerasus humilis and Analysis of Expression Patterns During Different Growth Stages

YABBY belongs to the family of plant-specific transcription factors, known for their role in plant morphology, growth, and development. Its name is derived from the first discovered member-the <i>YABBY1</i> gene of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> (named due to its mutated phenotype showing a "Y-shaped" bifurcation). Despite extensive research across various plant species, no studies have conducted a genome-wide investigation of the YABBY gene family in <i>Cerasus humilis</i>. This study identified six <i>ChYABBY</i> (<i>Cerasus humilis YABBY</i>) genes distributed across five chromosomes through a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of the <i>C. humilis</i> genome. The gene expression during the four growth phases was confirmed using real-time-quantitative fluorescent PCR (qPCR). <i>ChYABBY</i> is segmented into five distinct subfamilies. Genetic lineage analysis determined the close genetic relationship between the <i>YABBY</i> genes of <i>C. humilis</i> and <i>Malus pumila</i>. An examination of the gene architecture and preserved motifs revealed that <i>ChYABBY</i> typically comprises 5-6 introns, with motif1, motif2, and motif3 being preserved domains across all ChYABBY protein sequences. Promoter analysis suggests that <i>ChYABBY</i> genes play various roles in the growth and maturation of <i>C. humilis</i>. An examination of the homology revealed the absence of tandem replication in the ChYABBY gene family, with a single pair of fragment-replicating genes. The heat map and q-PCR results indicate that the expression of the <i>ChYABBY</i> gene is tissue-specific and correlates with some aspects of the fruit growth and development. This suggests a potential role for this gene family in fruit maturation. The determination of total sugar and total flavonoid content indicated that the content of the two substances was high when the fruit was green. The antioxidant capacity of the fruit at each stage was different. This research provides an important basis for further understanding the structure and function of the <i>ChYABBY</i> gene, and lays a foundation for the identification of <i>YABBY</i> genes in Rosaceae plants.