Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of KNOTTED-Like Homeobox (KNOX) Homologs in Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and Their Expression Profilings Responding to Exogenous Cytokinin and Gibberellin

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an important vegetable and is cultivated and consumed worldwide for its economic and medicinal values. Garlic cloves, the major reproductive and edible organs, are derived from the axillary meristems. KNOTTED-like homeobox (KNOX) proteins, such as SHOOT MERISTEM-LESS (STM), play important roles in axillary meristem formation and development. However, the KNOX proteins in garlic are still poorly known. Here, 10 AsKNOX genes, scattered on 5 of the 8 chromosomes, were genome-wide identified and characterized based on the newly released garlic genome. The typical conserved domains of KNOX proteins were owned by all these 10 AsKNOX homologs, which were divided into two Classes (Class I and Class II) based on the phylogenetic analysis. Prediction and verification of the subcellular localizations revealed the diverse subcellular localization of these 10 AsKNOX proteins. Cis-element prediction, tissue expression analysis, and expression profilings in responding to exogenous GA(3) and 6-BA showed the potential involvement of AsKNOX genes in the gibberellin and cytokinin signaling pathways. Overall, the results of this work provided a better understanding of AsKNOX genes in garlic and laid an important foundation for their further functional studies.