Pangenome-wide identification and expression analysis of the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene family in five yellowhorn spp.

Twenty-seven CHS genes were identified across five yellowhorn genomes, with four core pangenes and two dispensable genes, revealing their evolutionary conservation and variation.

• Why it matters: Understanding the CHS gene family in yellowhorn is important because it plays a key role in flavonoid biosynthesis, plant development, and stress responses, yet remains uncharacterized in this species.
• What they did: Researchers performed a pangenome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, chromosomal mapping, and gene expression profiling of CHS genes in five yellowhorn genomes, focusing on structural features and stress-related expression.
• The result: Xg11_CHS1 and Xg11_CHS3 were significantly upregulated under cold and drought stress, suggesting their involvement in stress-responsive mechanisms and providing candidate genes for improving stress tolerance and flavonoid production.