Genome-wide identification and analysis of Subtilisin-like serine protease gene family in banana (Musa accuminta L.) and their expression under abiotic stresses

Subtilisin-like serine proteases (SBT), a serine proteolytic enzymes play an important role in plant growth function and during different stresses responses. The systematic analysis of the SBT gene family in Musa acuminate ( MaSBT ) has been done and their responses to abiotic stresses in banana variety cv. G-9 were also analyzed . Total of 67 MaSBT genes were identified and based on phylogeny these were grouped into five districted subgroups. Cis -acting element analysis indicated that almost all MaSBT promoters contain regulatory elementary related to growth and development, hormonal regulation, and stress responses. The gene structure and domain analysis showed a maximum of seventeen exons and four functional domains in MaSBT . The 42 orthologous genes, 07 MaSBT paralogous genes were also identified through synteny analysis. The K a / K s study indicated that four MaSBT paralogous gene pairs were tandemly duplicated, while the other three were segmental duplications. Further, the expression pattern via RNA-seq data revealed that MaSBTs exhibited differential expression specifically in response to the abiotic stress of low nitrogen. and also during the flowering time. The MaSBT-1.7 gene was found involved in the response to salt stress and flowering. These findings establish a cornerstone for future research on banana's salt stress mechanism. The study offers valuable insights into SBT encoding genes, shedding light on their roles in growth, development, and abiotic stress responses.