Identification and expression analysis of the Golden2-like transcription factor family of Vitis vinifera L.

In this study, the Golden2-like transcription factor (TF) gene family was identified and analyzed in Vitis vinifera L. We further verified the expression patterns of Golden2-like genes under low temperature in V. vinifera ‘Muscat Hamburg’ seedlings. Results showed that 46 Golden2-like genes were identified in V. vinifera and classified into five subgroups. The conserved domain was similar within the same subgroup. Forty-six VvGLKs were located in the nucleus, chloroplast, cytoplasm, and peroxisome, and their promoter regions contained a variety of cis-elements related to stress response. Gene chip data showed that 22 VvGLKs changed significantly during fruit development and 15, 15, and 9 VvGLKs were expressed after salt, drought, and low-temperature stress, respectively. qRT-PCR identified 26 VvGLKs involved in cold-stress response. Notably, VvGLK41 was down-regulated after salt, drought, and low-temperature treatment. Thus, this study provides clues for fruit development and stress response in grape.