Abstract:Plant ferritin (FER) can store iron and respond to various abiotic stresses. The FER gene family of cassava (Manihot esculenta) was analyzed based on a genome-wide level. The results showed that four FER genes had been identified from cassava, named MeFERs, encoded MeFERs could be divided into two clades based on phylogenetic tree analysis. All members contained Euk_Ferritin functional domain, and located in the chloroplast. The MeFERs genes located in chromosome LG7-LG10, respectively. Gene collinearity analysis showed that there were three potential duplicate gene pairs without tandem duplication events. The Ka/Ks value indicated that the homologous gene of MeFER was purified and selected. The family contained cis-acting elements in response to hormones and stress induction. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of MeFERs gene was tissue-specific, and MeFER4 gene responded to various stresses, with the most significant response under drought stress. Therefore, these would provide a foundation for future functional studies of the cassava FER gene family.
