Abstract
Background: The MYB gene family regulates key biological processes and stress responses in plants. Although MYB has been extensively studied in A. thaliana and other species, research on MYB in faba bean is limited. Results: This study offers a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the MYB transcription factor family in faba bean (Vicia faba L.). A total of 53 unique VfMYB genes were identified and classified into nine distinct subfamilies (V1-V9) based on phylogenetic analysis. These genes are unevenly distributed across all seven faba bean chromosomes. Evolutionary studies indicate that segmental duplication played a key role in expanding the VfMYB family, with seven such pairs identified, compared to only one tandem duplication. Additionally, synteny analysis indicates that faba bean has the highest number of orthologous MYB genes with white clover (Trifolium repens), with 104 syntenic pairs, underscoring their close evolutionary relationship. The combined analysis of promoter cis-elements and gene expression under various abiotic stresses (salt, drought, and cold) and hormone treatments (ABA, SA, and MeJA) provides strong evidence that specific VfMYB genes participate in stress response regulation and hormonal signaling pathways. Our results provide a valuable resource for future functional studies of MYB genes in faba bean and identify potential candidate genes for molecular breeding to improve stress resilience. Conclusions: In this study, we first systematically identified VfMYB genes in faba bean and then examined their physicochemical properties, evolution, and expression patterns. These results lay the groundwork for future research into the functional and evolutionary mechanisms of VfMYB genes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-08083-4.