Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the <i>DMP</i> and <i>MTL</i> Genes in Sweetpotato (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i> L.)

Sweetpotato (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i> L.) is a strategic crop with both economic and energy value. However, improving sweetpotato varieties through traditional breeding approaches can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process due to the complex genetic nature of sweetpotato as a hexaploid species (2n = 6x = 90). Double haploid (DH) breeding, based on in vivo haploid induction, provides a new approach for rapid breeding of crops. The success of haploid induction can be achieved by manipulating specific genes. Two of the most critical genes, <i>DMP</i> (DUF679 membrane proteins) and <i>MTL</i> (MATRILINEAL), have been shown to induce haploid production in several species. Here, we identified and characterized <i>DMP</i> and <i>MTL</i> genes in sweetpotato using gene family analysis. In this study, we identified 5 <i>IbDMPs</i> and 25 <i>IbpPLAs</i>. <i>IbDMP5</i> and <i>IbPLAIIs</i> (<i>IbPLAIIκ</i>, <i>IbPLAIIλ</i>, and <i>IbPLAIIμ</i>) were identified as potential haploid induction (HI) genes in sweetpotato. These results provide valuable information for the identification and potential function of HI genes in sweetpotato and provide ideas for the breeding of DH lines.