Genome‐Wide Identification and Functional Analysis of WRKY Transcription Factors in Tetraploid Camellia oleifera Highlights a Key Regulator of Anthracnose Resistance

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are pivotal in plant stress responses, yet their roles in Camellia oleifera, an economically important oil crop, remain poorly understood. We identified 192 WRKY genes in the tetraploid C. oleifera genome, and classified them into three groups (I, II and III) based on conserved domains. Chromosomal distribution revealed uneven localization of the WRKY genes, with the highest density (25 WRKY genes) on the Chromosome 10. RNA-seq analysis on anthracnose-resistant (CL150) and susceptible (CL102) cultivars inoculated with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides identified 1,822 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 109 DEGs dependent to CL150, including 11 core DEGs shared between the cultivars. Notably, one WRKY gene (YC.08G0001620-1A, Type I) exhibited significant upregulation in CL150, suggesting its role in disease resistance. Functional enrichment linked the DEGs to oxidative stress and metabolic pathways. This study provides a comprehensive WRKY family analysis in C. oleifera and highlights YC.08G0001620-1A as a promising candidate for molecular breeding to enhance anthracnose resistance in this economically important oil crop.