Genome-Wide Characterization of the SAMS Gene Family in Cotton Unveils the Putative Role of GhSAMS2 in Enhancing Abiotic Stress Tolerance

The most devastating abiotic factors worldwide are drought and salinity, causing severe bottlenecks in the agricultural sector. To acclimatize to these harsh ecological conditions, plants have developed complex molecular mechanisms involving diverse gene families. Among them, S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase (SAMS) genes initiate physiological, morphological, changes enable adapt appropriately. We identified characterized 16 upland cotton SAMS (GhSAMSs). Phylogenetic analysis classified GhSAMSs into three major groups closely related their homologs soybean. Gene expression under salt stress conditions revealed that GhSAMS2, which has shown highest interaction with GhCBL10 (a key responsive gene), was one induced. GhSAMS2 knockdown via virus-induced silencing (VGIS) enhanced transgenic plants’ susceptibility stress. TRV2:GhSAMS2 showed defects terms of growth physiological performances, including antioxidative processes, chlorophyll synthesis, membrane permeability. Our findings provide insights genes’ structure, classification, role response cotton. Moreover, they show potential for targeted improvement tolerance multiple stresses.