Soybean is one of the most important legumes, providing high-quality protein for humans. The caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene has previously been demonstrated to be a critical gene that regulates lignin production in plant cell walls and plays an important function in plant growth and development. However, the COMT gene family has not been studied in soybeans. In this study, 55 COMT family genes in soybean were identified by phylogenetic analysis and divided into two groups, I and II. The analysis of conserved domains showed that all GmCOMTs genes contained Methyltransferase-2 domains. Further prediction of cis-acting elements showed that GmCOMTs genes were associated with growth, light, stress, and hormonal responses. Eventually, based on the genomic data of soybean under different stresses, the results showed that the expression of GmCOMTs genes was different under different stresses, such as salt and drought stress. This study has identified and characterized the COMT gene family in soybean, which provides an important theoretical basis for further research on the biological functions of COMT genes and promotes revealing the role of GmCOMTs genes under stress resistance.

The AT-hook motif nuclear localized (AHL) gene family encodes transcription factors pivotal in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stimuli, including low temperature, salinity, darkness, and drought. In this study, we systematically identified 21 BpAHL genes in birch and characterized their sequence features, evolutionary relationships, and expression dynamics. Phylogenetic analysis classified BpAHLs into two clades (Clade-A and Clade-B) and three types (Type-I, -II, and -III), based on PPC domain and AT-hook motifs. Chromosomal mapping revealed an even distribution across nine chromosomes and one contig, with dispersed duplication events recognized as the major driver of BpAHL family expansion. Tissue-specific expression profiling uncovered striking divergence: Type-I BpAHLs displayed root-predominant expression, whereas Type-II/III BpAHLs were highly expressed in plant flowers and leaves. Notably, Type-II/III BpAHL genes in leaves showed distinct expression patterns in response to cold and heat stresses, while Type-I BpAHLs in roots were down-regulated under salt stress. This study provides a comprehensive phylogenomic and functional analysis of the AHLs in birch, providing insights into their roles in enhancing abiotic stress resilience in forest trees.