Identification and Haplotype Diversity Analysis of DVL Family Genes in Rice
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Background: The DEVIL (DVL) family encodes small signaling peptides that are functionally important for coordinating plant development and stress responses. However, the evolutionary dynamics, genetic diversity, and agronomic relevance of DVL genes in rice remain poorly understood. Results: In this study, we identified five DVL genes in the rice genome through comprehensive bioinformatic analyses. Promoter characterization revealed multiple stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements. Expression profiling demonstrated tissue-specific patterns, with transcript levels of selected OsDVL genes showing significant changes under salt and cold stress. Haplotype analysis across 3,010 rice accessions uncovered substantial allelic diversity at OsDVL loci, which appears to have contributed to population differentiation and genetic improvement during rice breeding. Importantly, the predominant haplotypes at most OsDVL loci were significantly associated with key yield-related traits. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that OsDVL genes may play a role in abiotic stress tolerance and provide new insights into their adaptive evolution. These results also highlight the potential utility of DVL-associated haplotypes as targets for marker-assisted breeding in rice.
