Cloning and expression of putative ethylene receptor genes in soybean plant

Ethylene plays important roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses, and ethylene receptors have been identified and studied extensively in various plant species. Here we report the cloning of four ethylene receptor genes from soybean, i.e.GmETR1, GmERS1, GmETR2 and GmEIN4. Construction of the phylogenic tree showed that GmETR1 and GmERS1 belong to subfamily Ⅰ whereas GmETR2 and GmEIN4 belong to subfamily Ⅱ. The four ethylene receptor genes showed different tissue-specific expression patterns in roots, stems, leaves, cotyledons, flowers, pods and seeds of soybean. These genes were differentially regulated by various abiotic stresses and plant hormones. The possible roles of the four genes in soybean plant were also discussed.