Characterization of the CLE Family in Three Nicotiana Species and Potential Roles of CLE Peptides in Osmotic and Salt Stress Responses

The CLE family (CLAVATA3/embryo surrounding region-related), a class of small secreted proteins, play important roles in plant development and stress responses. Members the have been characterized number species, including Arabidopsis rice. However, limited information is available about peptides tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) related Nicotiana species. Here we report identification 84 members three species based on sequence similarity. newly identified members, 41 from N. tabacum, 19 sylvestris, 24 tomentosiformis, together with 32 CLEs 52 tomato, formed 9 subgroups phylogenic tree. unbalanced distribution suggested potential preferential gene expansion during evolution. Expression NtCLE genes was analyzed NtCLEs showed induced expression upon abiotic treatments. Synthetic several NtCLEs, when applied to detached leaf discs, were able increase plants’ tolerance osmotic salinity stresses, suggesting responses tobacco.