Comprehensive Analysis of the RAV Gene Family and Its Expression Patterns Under PEG-Simulated Drought Stress in Avena sativa

Abstract

The RAV transcription factors play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, the RAV gene family has not been systematically characterized in oat. In this study, we performed a genome-wide identification and characterization of the RAV gene family in oat and investigated their expression patterns under PEG-simulated drought stress. A total of 12 AsRAV genes were identified in oat, which were distributed across six chromosomes. The AsRAV genes were classified into four groups, with members within the same group sharing similar conserved motifs. Promoter cis-element analysis identified various stress- and hormone-related elements. Synteny analyses suggested that both tandem and segmental duplication events played important roles in the expansion of the AsRAV gene family. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR analyses showed that nine AsRAV genes were significantly up-regulated under PEG-simulated drought stress, with AsRAV1 showing the highest expression level. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that AsRAV1 is localized to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Collectively, our findings provide a comprehensive characterization of the AsRAV genes and lay a foundation for further functional studies on the drought stress response in oat.