Abstract:

【Objective】The identification and analyses of heat shock proteins（HSP20s/sHSPs）in kiwifruit would lay foundation for the functional studies of AcHSP20 genes and resistance breeding of kiwifruit. 【Method】Based on the genome-wide data of kiwifruit, the AcHSP20 gene family was identified, and the physicochemical properties, phyletic evolution, chromosome distribution, gene structure, subcellular localization as well as promoters were analyzed by bioinformatics. 【Result】The 34 members of AcHSP20 gene family were identified. They encoded proteins with 85-371 amino acids, 9.93-40.18 kD molecular weight（Mw）and 4.4-9.3 isoelectric points（pI）. Meanwhile, most AcHSP20 proteins were predicted to be located in cytoplasm and chloroplast. The 34 AcHSP20 genes were distributed on 17 chromosomes, and there were no or only one intron, mostly. Promoters of AcHSP20 genes had phytohormone and abiotic stress response elements. All the detected AcHSP20 genes expressed ubiquitously in the roots, stems and leaves of kiwifruit and the expressions changed significantly under abiotic stresses and phytohormone treatments. 【Conclusion】The AcHSP20 gene family plays important roles in high temperature, ABA, MeJA, NaCl stress responses in kiwifruit.

Key words: kiwifruit, AcHSP20 gene family, gene characterization, bioinformatics