Abstract
Drought stress is an important factor that reduces plant biomass production and quality. The APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) gene family is widely involved in biological processes such as plant growth, development, and stress response. However, the characteristics of the AP2/ERF gene family in hybrid tea rose (Rosa × hybrida) and their potential functions in responding to drought stress are still unclear. In the current study, 127 AP2/ERF genes were identified in hybrid tea rose. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the corresponding 127 AP2/ERF transcription factors belonged to five subfamilies. There was a large number of cis-acting elements in the AP2/ERF gene promoters related to regulation of stress response, growth and development. By examining the RNA sequencing data in the PlantExp database, the RhAP2/ERF genes exhibiting tissue-specific and stress-responsive expression in rose were identified. Furthermore, three candidate RhAP2/ERF genes (RhDREB36, RhERF59, and RhDREB44) that might participate in drought response were determined via qRT-PCR analysis in rose cultivars under drought treatment. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that RhDREB44 was located in the nucleus. These results provide a foundation for exploring the regulatory functions of RhAP2/ERF genes in the growth and development of roses, as well as for selecting key genes for future molecular breeding.