Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric complex composed of three unique subunits: NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC. The NF-Y transcription factor complex binds to the CCAAT box of eukaryotic promoters, playing a vital role in various biological processes in plants. However, the NF-Y gene family has not yet been reported from the peach genome. The current study identified and classified candidate peach NF-Y genes for further functional analysis of this family. The current study identified 24 Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factor subunits (6 NF-YA, 12 NF-YB, and 6 NF-YC subunits) in peach. These NF-Y subunits were described with respect to basic physicochemical characteristics, chromosome locations, gene structures, and conserved domains. Based on an analysis of the phylogenetic relationships among peach NF-Ys, six pairs of paralogous NF-Ys were detected. The expansion of the peach NF-Y family occurred by segmental and tandem duplication. Phylogenetic gene synteny of NF-Y proteins was observed between peach and Arabidopsis, and five pairs of paralogous NF-Y proteins from peach and Arabidopsis were identified. Twenty-four peach NF-Ys displayed a diversity of tissue expression patterns. In addition, drought-responsive cis-elements were observed in peach NF-Y promoters, and 9 peach NF-Y genes were shown to distinctly increase their transcript abundances under drought stress. This study identified 24 NF-Y genes in the peach genome and analysed their properties at different levels, providing a foundation for researchers to understand this gene family in peach. The up-regulation of 9 NF-Y genes under drought stress indicates that they can serve as candidate functional genes to further study drought resistance in peach.

Leaves require the coordinated regulation of multiple types of cells to accumulate energy for plants. Transcriptome analysis at the tissue level cannot ana

‘Qing Zhou Mi’ (QZM) is a typical representative landrace of the late-ripening, high-resistance, and small-fruited peaches found in northern China. However, its genetic information has not been systematically analyzed. In this study, we sequenced and de novo assembled the QZM genome. The chromosome-level genome was 252.39 Mb in size, with a contig N50 of 24.35 Mb. Comparative genomic analysis found a total of 9.24 Mb unique fragments and 418 genes in the QZM genome, most of which were associated with resistance. Compared with the genomes of some early maturing peach accessions, the differentiation ability of the ACC oxidase and ethylene receptor gene families related to ethylene synthesis and transport in QZM was significantly weakened. In the genome-wide association study, we identified PpNAC1 as a major gene regulating the late-ripening trait of QZM. In addition, we discovered a novel locus associated with fruit weight and focused on a candidate gene in its regulation, PpLOB33. The findings of this study can serve as a foundation for further research on the genetic basis underlying the core traits of QZM, providing precise targets for molecular breeding.