The TALE gene family plays a crucial role in regulating growth, development, and abiotic stress responses in plants. However, limited studies have been conducted on the functions of the ZmTALE gene family in maize under drought stress. This study identified 40 members of the ZmTALE family within the maize genome through Blast comparisons, distributed unevenly across the first nine chromosomes. Intraspecific collinearity analysis revealed 13 linked pairs. By constructing a phylogenetic tree with Arabidopsis AtTALE members as references, maize members were divided into two subfamilies, KNOX and BEL1-Like, with KNOX further divided into three branches (KNOX Class I, KNOX Class II, and KNOX Class III). The gene structure and motifs of ZmTALE genes within the same subfamily or branch showed similarities, as did their encoded proteins, which possess similar motifs and conserved domains. Analysis of the physicochemical properties of the ZmTALE proteins revealed that the proteins encoded by this family are stable. Expression analysis of ZmTALE genes in maize demonstrated their varied roles in development and drought stress regulation, confirmed through qRT-PCR. The identification, characterization, and expression analysis of ZmTALE genes provide a reference for future gene function research and aid in the genetic enhancement of maize to withstand drought stress.

The maize Snf2 gene family plays a crucial role in chromatin remodeling and response to environmental stresses. In this study, we identified and analyzed 35 members of the maize Snf2 gene family (ZmCHR1 to ZmCHR35) using the Ensembl Plants database. Each protein contained conserved SNF2-N and Helicase-C domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed six groups among the Snf2 proteins, with an uneven distribution across subfamilies. Physicochemical analysis indicated that the Snf2 proteins are hydrophilic, with varied amino acid lengths, isoelectric points, and molecular weights, and are predominantly localized in the nucleus. Chromosomal mapping showed that these genes are distributed across all ten maize chromosomes. Gene structure analysis revealed diverse exon–intron arrangements, while motif analysis identified 20 conserved motifs. Collinearity analysis highlighted gene duplication events, suggesting purifying selection. Cis-regulatory element analysis suggested involvement in abiotic and biotic stress responses. Expression analysis indicated tissue-specific expression patterns and differential expression under various stress conditions. Specifically, qRT-PCR validation under drought stress showed that certain Snf2 genes were upregulated at 12 h and downregulated at 24 h, revealing potential roles in drought tolerance. These findings provide a foundation for further exploration of the functional roles of the maize Snf2 gene family in development and stress responses.