Identification and analysis of glutathione S-transferase gene family in sweet potato reveal divergent GST -mediated networks in aboveground and underground tissues in response to abiotic stresses

Background Sweet potato, a hexaploid species lacking a reference genome, is one of the most important crops in many developing countries, where abiotic stresses are a primary cause of reduction of crop yield. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes that play important roles in oxidative stress tolerance and cellular detoxification.