Comprehensive analysis of NAC transcription factors in Scutellaria baicalensis and their response to exogenous ABA and GA3

The NAC is a plant-specific family of transcription factor that plays important roles in various biological processes. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, belongs to the Lamiaceae family and has been widely used as a traditional herb with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antitumor, heat-clearing, and detoxifying functions. However, no study on the NAC family in S. baicalensis has been conducted to date. In the present study, we identified 56 SbNAC genes using genomic and transcriptome analyses. These 56 SbNACs were unevenly distributed across nine chromosomes and were phylogenetically divided into six clusters. Cis-element analysis identified plant growth and development-, phytohormone-, light-, and stress-responsive elements were present in SbNAC genes promoter regions. Protein–protein interaction analysis was performed using Arabidopsis homologous proteins. Potential transcription factors, including bHLH, ERF, MYB, WRKY, and bZIP, were identified and constructed a regulatory network with SbNAC genes. The expression of 12 flavonoid biosynthetic genes was significantly upregulated with abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA3) treatments. Eight SbNAC genes (SbNAC9/32/33/40/42/43/48/50) also exhibited notable variation with two phytohormone treatments, among which SbNAC9 and SbNAC43 showed the most significant variation and deserved further study. Additionally, SbNAC44 displayed a positive correlation with C4H3, PAL5, OMT3, and OMT6, while SbNAC25 had negatively correlated with OMT2, CHI, F6H2, and FNSII-2. This study constitutes the first analysis of SbNAC genes and lays the basis foundation for further functional studies of SbNAC genes family members, while it may also facilitate the genetic improvement of plants and breeding of elite S. baicalensis varieties.