The GASA Gene Family in Cacao (Theobroma cacao, Malvaceae): Genome Wide Identification and Expression Analysis

The gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA/GAST) gene family is widely distributed in plants and involved various physiological biological processes. These genes also provide resistance to abiotic biotic stresses, including antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal. We are interested characterizing the GASA determining its role process Theobroma cacao. Here, we report 17 tcGASA on six chromosomes T. structure, promoter region, protein structure biochemical properties, expression, phylogenetics of all tcGASAs were analyzed. Phylogenetic analyses divided proteins into five groups. Among genes, nine segmentally duplicating identified which formed four pairs cluster together phylogenetic tree. Differential expression revealed that most showed elevated seeds (cacao food), implying their seed development. differential was recorded between tolerant susceptible cultivars cacao, indicating possible as fungal resistant. Our findings new insight function, evolution, regulatory system T.cacao may suggest target for development fungi-resistant cacao varieties breeding programs.