Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the GATA Gene Family in Hevea brasiliensis and Their Response to Cold Stress

The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg), the primary source of natural rubber, faces severe constraints from low temperature stress in industrial production. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cold tolerance, this study identified and systematically analyzed 44 HbGATA transcription factor family members at the whole-genome level. Based on physicochemical property analysis, phylogenetic tree construction, chromosome localization, gene structure analysis, and profiling of promoter cis-elements, the characteristics of individual genes were determined. Using the cold-tolerant cultivar yunyan 77-2 subjected to 4 °C treatment (0, 2, 8, and 24 h), candidate genes were validated via quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The results demonstrate that HbGATA10, HbGATA13, and HbGATA27 were significantly up-regulated after 24 h treatment, whereas HbGATA44 exhibited down-regulated expression at 24 h, suggesting that these four genes represent core candidates in the response to cold stress in rubber trees. This study provides the first systematic insight into the potential functions of the HbGATA family in cold acclimation in rubber tree and offers novel theoretical foundations and genetic resources for molecular breeding aimed at improving cold tolerance.