SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) transcription factors play vital roles in various plant physiological processes. Although, the identification of the SPL gene family has been done in C4 grass plants, including rice and maize, the same has not been characterized in the C3 grass species Dichanthelium oligosanthes. In this study, 14 SPL genes were identified in the genome of D. oligosanthes. Gene structure analysis of the identified DoSPLs revealed the similarity and redundancy in their exon/intron organizations. Sequence comparisons within the DoSPLs and along with rice SPLs revealed the putative paralogs and orthologs in D. oligosanthes SPL genes. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the DoSPLs into eight groups along with other plant SPLs. Identification of the conserved SBP motifs in all 14 DoSPLs suggested them to be putative SPLs. In addition, the prediction of sub-cellular localization and associated functions for DoSPLs further supported to be SPL genes. The outcome of this study can serve as a framework for the isolation and functional validation of SPL genes in D. oligosanthes.
Keywords: Dichanthelium oligosanthes; SPLs; phylogenetic analysis; transcription factors.