GENOME-WIDE IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GATA TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR FAMILY SUGGESTS FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION PATTERN AGAINST VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN CASSAVA (Manihot esculenta)

GATA transcription factors (TFs) play a significant role in regulating many plant physiological processes. The GATA TF family has been identified and characterized in many important crop species. However, no information is available on the GATA TFs in cassava (Manihot esculenta). In this study, 36 MeGATA genes have been comprehensively identified, annotated, and characterized in the cassava genome using various bioinformatics tools. The gene structure and duplication of the MeGATA genes indicated the redundancy and differences in their gene structural organization. The GATA TFs in cassava could divide into three different groups, as in other plant species. Interestingly, the expression levels of the MeGATA genes were significantly changed in various major organs/tissues in the growth and development, especially in response to adverse environmental conditions. Taken together, this study could propose a list of candidate genes for further functional characterization of stress-inducible MeGATA genes in cassava. Keywords: GATA, transcription factor, identification, gene duplication, cassava, expression, characterization.