Background: Mung bean is a short-duration and essential food crop owing to its cash prominence in Asia. Mung bean seeds are rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. The NAC transcription factors (TFs) family is a large plant-specific family, participating in tissue development regulation and abiotic and biotic stresses. Results: In this study, we perform genome-wide comparisons of VrNAC with their homologs from Arabidopsis. We identified 81 NAC transcription factors (TFs) in mung bean genome and named as per their chromosome location. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that VrNACs are broadly distributed in nine groups. Moreover, we identified 20 conserved motifs across the VrNACs highlighting their roles in different biological process. Based on the gene structure of the putative VrNAC and segmental duplication events might be playing a vital role in the expansion of mung bean genome. A comparative phylogenetic analysis of mung bean NAC together with homologs from Arabidopsis allowed us to classify NAC genes into 13 groups, each containing several orthologs and paralogs. Gene ontology (GO) analysis categorized the VrNACs into biological process, cellular components and molecular functions, explaining the functions in different plant physiology processes. A gene co-expression network analysis identified 173 genes involved in the transcriptional network of putative VrNAC genes. We also investigated how miRNAs potentially target VrNACs and shape their interactions with proteins. VrNAC1.4 (Vradi01g03390.1) was targeted by the Vra-miR165 family, including 9 miRNAs. Vra-miR165 contributes to leaf development and drought tolerance. We also performed qRT-PCR on 22 randomly selected VrNAC genes to assess their expression patterns in the NM-98 genotype, widely known for being tolerant to drought and bacterial leaf spot disease. Conclusions: This genome-wide investigation of VrNACs provides a unique resource for further detailed investigations aimed at predicting orthologs functions and what role the play under abiotic and biotic stress, with the ultimate aim to improve mung bean production under diverse environmental conditions.

Origanum dubium is a valuable wild oregano species of the natural flora of Antalya, Turkey. In this study, we extracted essential oil (EO) by hydro-distillation of the aerial parts of selected O. dubium chemotype with highest EO content, and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Carvacrol was the pri- mary component (85.9%) among 24 different compounds in the EO. The volatile test showed minimum inhibitory effect of the EO against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria, Clavibacter michiganen- sis subsp. michiganensis, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscans, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, at 309, 303, 318, 254, and 901 µL/mL, respectively. A 1-hour treatment of bean and tomato seeds in the volatile phase of the EO effectively sterilized the seeds from bacterial pathogens without inhibiting their germination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the potential for the use of O. dubium EO as a seed protectant against bean and tomato seed-borne bacterial pathogens.