Genome-Wide Identification of the AMT Gene Family in Wheat: Expression Profiles Under Ammonium Nutrition and Pathogen Effects

<b>Background</b>: Ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺) serves as a vital nitrogen source, playing pivotal regulatory roles in plant growth, development, and high-yield formation. Ammonium transporters (AMTs), encoded by the <i>AMT</i> gene family, are central to NH₄⁺ transport. However, the functional roles of <i>AMT</i> genes in wheat remain poorly understood. <b>Methods</b>: A comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the Ta<i>AMT</i> gene family numbers was conducted, encompassing investigations into gene structure, protein motif composition, gene duplication events, collinearity relationships, and <i>cis</i>-acting regulatory elements. Furthermore, the expression patterns of distinct <i>TaAMT</i> members were examined under varying ammonium supply conditions and pathogen stress. <b>Results</b>: In this study, a total of 21 <i>TaAMT</i> members were identified. Additionally, all TaAMT proteins were localized to the plasma membrane. Phylogenetic analysis clustered these genes into four distinct subgroups. Comparative analyses of gene structure and conserved motifs revealed conserved domain composition and motif organization within each subgroup. Interspecific synteny analysis highlighted evolutionary conservation across species. Promoter region analysis identified multiple <i>cis</i>-regulatory elements associated with hormone signaling, light responsiveness, and abiotic stress adaptation. Expression profiling demonstrated that <i>TaAMT</i> members exhibit both tissue-specific and constitutive expression patterns across developmental stages. RT-qPCR further revealed that the expression of <i>TaAMT</i> members responds to varying concentrations of ammonium nitrogen supply, as well as infection stresses caused by stripe rust and powdery mildew. <b>Conclusions</b>: Collectively, this study uncovered the functional diversity of <i>TaAMT</i> members, offering novel molecular targets and theoretical foundations for breeding wheat varieties with enhanced nitrogen use efficiency and disease resistance.