In-silico genome-wide identification and characterisation of NBS-LRR gene family in banana Musa acuminata

Various common diseases caused by bacteria and viruses are increasing threats to the production of bananas worldwide. Besides the practical application of cultivation techniques, intensive exploitation of resistant genes, most of which belong to the NBS-LRR(Nucleotide-binding site - Leucine-rich repeat) gene family, in fortifying banana’s disease resistance, has been considered as a sustainable approach. The recently published genome assembly of Musa acuminata, a species of the Musa genus native to Southern Asia, has facilitated the genome-wide identification and characterisation of NBS-LRR genes. In the present study, an in-silicoapproach was employed to identify and characterise 97 NBS-LRR genes and their evolution in M. acuminatagenome. Except Ma_NBS_083 belonging to the RNLsub-family, other identified genes are members of the sub-family CNL and most of them contain only one exon. Sixty-six (66) NBS-LRR genes (68%) were mapped on 11 banana chromosomes, among them 38 genes (39%) located in clusters. Phylogenetic analysis in combination with conserved motif identification classified the banana NBS-LRR genes into seven groups. This study provides novel insight into the NBS-LRR gene family in bananas as a potential resource for further research in functional evaluation and utilisation of resistant genes.