Genome‑wide identification and expression analysis of wheat ARID gene family with experimental validation of salt‑stress responses

Abstract Wheat is a globally critical staple cereal crop, yet abiotic stresses pose a major constraint on its yield and grain quality. The AT-rich interaction domain (ARID) family is widely involved in transcriptional regulation and abiotic stress responses in eukaryotes. However, systematic genome-wide characterization of the ARID family remains absent in wheat. Here, we performed comprehensive bioinformatic analyses and experimental validation to explore the evolutionary features and potential functions of wheat ARID genes. Twenty TaARID genes were identified and divided into three distinct phylogenetic groups, unevenly distributed across 14 chromosomes. Segmental duplication was the main driving force for family expansion, and strong interspecific synteny was detected between wheat and other grass species. Members within the same group showed highly conserved gene structures and motif compositions. Numerous hormone- and stress-responsive cis-elements were present in TaARID promoters. Transcriptome analysis revealed diverse tissue-specific expression patterns, and qRT-PCR confirmed dynamic, tissue- and time-dependent expression responses of TaARID genes to salt stress. Representative TaARID proteins were verified to localize to the nucleus, and protein-protein interaction analysis predicted functional associations among multiple family members. Our results elucidate the evolutionary conservation and functional divergence of TaARID members, providing a valuable basis for subsequent functional validation of TaARID .