A multilayered cross-species analysis of GRAS transcription factors uncovered their functional networks in plant adaptation to the environment.

Introduction: Environmental stress is both a major force of natural selection and a prime factor affecting crop qualities and yields. The impact of the GRAS [gibberellic acid-insensitive (GAI), repressor of GA1-3 mutant (RGA), and scarecrow (SCR)] family on plant development and the potential to resist environmental stress needs much emphasis.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the evolution, expansion, and adaptive mechanisms of of important representative plants during polyploidization.

Methods: We explored the evolutionary characteristics of in 15 representative plant species by systematic biological analysis of the genome, transcriptome, metabolite, protein complex map and phenotype.

Results: The GRAS family was systematically identified from 15 representative plant species of scientific and agricultural importance. The detection of gene duplication types of in all species showed that the widespread expansion of in these species was mainly contributed by polyploidization events. Evolutionary analysis reveals that most species experience independent genome-wide duplication (WGD) events and that interspecies functions may be broadly conserved. Polyploidy-related () and () formed robust networks with flavonoid pathways by crosstalk with auxin and photosynthetic pathways. Furthermore, population transcriptomes and the 1000 Plants (OneKP) project confirmed that are components of flavonoid biosynthesis, which enables plants to adapt to the environment by promoting flavonoid accumulation. More importantly, the of important species that may potentially improve important agronomic traits were mapped through TAIR and RARGE-II publicly available phenotypic data. Determining protein interactions and target genes contributes to determining functions.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that polyploidy-related in multiple species may be a target for improving plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation.