| Description |
The tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is renowned for its production of tea tree oil (TTO), an essential oil primarily composed of terpenes extracted from its shoot. MYB transcription factors (TFs), which are one of the largest TF families in plants, play a crucial role in regulating primary and secondary metabolite synthesis. However, knowledge of the MYB gene family in M. alternifolia is limited. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of MYB genes in M. alternifolia, referred to as MaMYBs, including phylogenetic relationships, structures, promoter regions, and GO annotations. Our findings classified MaMYBs into four subfamilies: MYB-related (61), R2R3-MYB (153), R1R2R3-MYB (4), and 5R-MYB (1). Seven genes (MYB189, MYB146, MYB44, MYB29, MYB175, MYB162, and MYB160) were linked to terpenoid synthesis based on GO annotation. Phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis homologous MYB genes suggested that MYB193 and MYB163 may also be involved in terpenoid synthesis. Additionally, through correlation analysis of gene expression and metabolite content, we identified 42 MYB genes associated with metabolite content. The results of our study provide valuable insights into the role of MYB transcription factors in essential oil production in M. alternifolia. These findings lay the groundwork for a better understanding of the MYB regulatory network and the development of novel strategies to enhance essential oil synthesis in M. alternifolia. |
