Genome-wide identification of pepper OSCA gene family and expression analysis under different stress conditions

The calcium-permeable cation channel protein (OSCA) plays an important role in osmotic stress response. In this study, 14 OSCA family members were identified using whole-genome information of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Chromosomal localization and homology analysis showed that the OSCA family members were located on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12, respectively. Subcellular localization prediction showed that they were all located on the plasma membrane. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the CaOSCA gene family could be divided into four subfamilies, named Ⅰ-Ⅳ, and there were 11 collinear gene pairs with Arabidopsis. Cis-acting element prediction showed that the CaOSCA family genes may respond to hormone and abiotic stress. Furthermore, relative expression analysis of pepper showed that most CaOSCA genes respond to drought, salt, and low temperature stresses. Under drought stress for 24 h, the relative expression levels of CaOSCA8 and CaOSCA11 were significantly higher than those in the control, increasing by 14 and 13 times, respectively. This study provides new information for the OSCA gene family and provides a reference for subsequent study of OSCA in pepper.