Abstract
BACKGROUND: Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) gene family members represent one of the most diverse and largest groups of transcription factors in eukaryotes. Research has demonstrated that bZIP transcription factors play crucial roles not only in plant growth and development but also in response to various abiotic stresses. However, studies focusing on bZIP factors in Rhododendron delavayi (RdbZIPs) remain limited. RESULT: In this study, a total of 59 RdbZIPs were identified using bioinformatics approaches, and these could be classified into 13 subfamilies based on the genomic data of R. delavayi. Members of the same RdbZIP subfamily exhibited similar gene structures and conserved motifs, and were unevenly distributed across the 13 chromosomes of R. delavayi. Collinearity analysis revealed a total of 20 duplication events, comprising 3 pairs of tandem duplications and 17 pairs of segmental duplications. Additionally, cis-acting element analysis indicated that RdbZIP family members may be involved in various biological processes, including transcription, development, hormone regulation, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that RdbZIP family genes were highly expressed in reproductive tissues. RT-qPCR expression analysis revealed that many selected RdbZIP genes were significantly upregulated under high salinity and drought conditions, suggesting their potential involvement in stress-responsive regulatory networks. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the bZIP transcription factor family in Rhododendron delavayi, laying a foundational framework for functional studies of individual RdbZIP genes. The results highlight the pivotal role of RdbZIP genes in abiotic stress tolerance, which is crucial for understanding the adaptive mechanisms of R. delavayi. Future research should focus on the functional validation of key RdbZIP genes and elucidation of their regulatory pathways, which may contribute to the genetic improvement of Rhododendron species under adverse environmental conditions. CLINICAL TRIAL: Not applicable.