Identification and expression analysis of the NCED gene family under abiotic stresses in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

As a rate-limiting enzyme in the abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis pathway, 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) plays a crucial role in plant development and stress response by regulating ABA synthesis. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of the NCED gene family in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), focusing on their physicochemical properties, secondary structures, conserved domains, genomic organization, and expression patterns. The results revealed the presence of