Abstract: To reveal the molecular characterization and expression patterns of the WRKY transcription factor gene HbWRKY41 in Hevea brasiliensis (para rubber tree),this gene was cloned from para rubber tree by RT-PCR. HbWRKY41 contained an open reading frame of 1 020 bp encoding a protein of 339 amino acids. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of HbWRKY41 were 38.48 kDa and 5.52,respectively. HbWRKY41 possessed a conserved WRKY domain and a C₂HC-type zinc-finger motif,and it was clustered into the group Ⅲ of the WRKY family with WRKY41 proteins from castor,cotton,soybean and Arabidopsis thaliana. Quantitative Real-time PCR analysis showed that HbWRKY41 was expressed in root,bark,latex,leaf and flower of para rubber tree,with the highest expression in senescent leaf and relatively low expression in latex and bark. HbWRKY41 expression was up-regulated by cold,drought and salt stresses,its expression was continuously increased during cold or salt stress. HbWRKY41 may play important roles in regulating leaf senescence and abiotic stress responses in para rubber tree.

Key words: Hevea brasiliensis, WRKY transcription factor, Gene cloning, Expression analysis, Abiotic stress

CLC Number: 

• Q78

• S794.03