Identification and expression analysis of maize NF-YA subunit genes.

encode subunits of the nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) gene family. s represent a kind of conservative transcription factor in plants and are involved in plant growth and development, as well as resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. In this study, 16 maize () subunit genes were identified using bioinformatics methods, and they were divided into three categories by a phylogenetic analysis. A conserved domain analysis showed that most contained a CCAAT-binding transcription factor (CBFB) _NF-YA domain. Maize subunit genes showed very obvious tissue expression characteristics. The expression level of the subunit genes significantly changed under different abiotic stresses, including infection and salicylic acid (SA) or jasmonic acid (JA) treatments. After inoculation with and , the lesion areas of and were significantly larger than that of B73, indicating that and positively regulated maize disease resistance. and may regulated maize disease resistance by affecting the transcription levels of s. Thus, subunit genes played important roles in promoting maize growth and development and resistance to stress. The results laid a foundation for clarifying the functions and regulatory mechanisms of subunit genes in maize.