*3.3. Analyses of Cis-Elements in Water Lily SOD Gene Promoters*

Retrieving cis-regulatory elements from the promoter regions of water lily *SODs* enabled the differentiation of gene functions and regulatory roles. By using the PlantCARE database, an analysis was conducted on the 2 kb upstream region from the start codon of individual *SOD* gene. Based on current findings, the cis-elements were classified into three categories: light related, stress related, and hormone response elements (Figure 3).

**Figure 3.** Exploration of abiotic-stress related cis-regulatory components in the water lily *SOD* promoter regions. (**a**) Various hormone-associated and stress-responsive elements are explored. (**b**) The size of pie chart corresponds to the ratio of the respective promoter element. Cis-elements that share functional similarity are represented by the same colors.

In this study, five phytohormone-associated elements (Salicylic acid (SA), Gibberellin, Auxin, Abscisic acid (ABA), and Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), were detected, including ABRE, TCA-components, TGACG-and CGTCA-motif, TATC-box, P-box, etc. Moreover, four stress-responsive components (drought, low-temperature, light, and anaerobic) were recognized, such as LTR, ARE, TCT-motif, LAMP-element, MBS, etc (Figure 3). Generally many light reactive components were detected to be extensively dispersed in same group species, and demonstrating the important part of water lily *SODs* in response to light stress. Comparative analysis of the findings revealed that the *SOD* promoter cis-elements in water lily species can exhibit a significant response to abiotic stresses and can play a role in regulating plant growth and development and stress response.
