Genome-Wide Identification of the TaBON Gene Family and Its Role in Wheat Pathogen Response

The BONZAI/BON (copine) gene family encodes evolutionarily conserved proteins that modulate the balance between plant defense responses and growth. However, comprehensive identification and functional exploration of BON members have remained largely lacking in wheat. In this study, we identified 10 Triticum aestivum BON (TaBON) members, which are unevenly distributed across seven wheat chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis clustered these TaBON proteins into two distinct groups. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses revealed high evolutionary conservation within the TaBON family. Cis-acting element analysis revealed that the promoter regions of TaBON genes are enriched with elements responsive to hormones, abiotic stress, and biotic defense signals. Expression profiling further demonstrated distinct transcriptional patterns of TaBON genes in response to infections by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (stripe rust), Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (powdery mildew), Fusarium graminearum, and Zymoseptoria tritici. Overall, this study presents a comprehensive analysis of the TaBON members and provides valuable molecular information for understanding its role in disease resistance.