Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis Under Abiotic Stress of the Gene Family in Maize ().

Abiotic stresses impose significant constraints on crop growth, development, and yield. However, the comprehensive characterization of the maize () () gene family under stress conditions remains limited. LOXs play vital roles in plant stress responses by mediating lipid oxidation and signaling pathways. In this study, 13 genes were identified in maize and characterized to explore their functions under abiotic stresses. Phylogenetics revealed that genes share evolutionary origins with genes in Arabidopsis and rice. Promoter analysis identified -acting elements associated with growth, light response, hormone signaling, and stress response, indicating their diverse biological roles. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that genes are involved in jasmonic acid metabolism, lipid signaling, and photosynthetic processes, while protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis positioned ZmLOX proteins as central hubs in stress-related regulatory networks. Differential expression and qRT-PCR analyses revealed stress-specific (including heat, drought, salt, and cold) expression patterns, with and showing key roles in drought and cold tolerance, respectively. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory functions of genes, offering potential targets for enhancing maize resilience to abiotic stresses and improving agricultural productivity.