**5. Conclusions**

In this study, we have identified 37 *TaPAL* gene family members, which were distributed onto 11 chromosomes. These *TaPAL* genes were found to be involved in droughtstress response mechanisms as they showed high expression in root tissues. Since a few *PAL* genes are reported in wheat, this is the first detailed study of the *PAL* gene family in wheat. We also find 27 putative miRNAs targeting *TaPAL* genes. Some questions are still to be answered, such as what is the exact role of each *TaPAL* gene, and how is the expression of each *TaPAL* controlled in different phases of development and in reaction to distinct stress or hormone signals? Therefore, to further our knowledge of the *TaPAL* family, more molecular, biochemical, and physiological studies are expected. Due to the potential roles of *TaPAL* in the growth of common wheat (*T. aestivum*), it may provide prospective targets for molecular high-quality grain breeding.

**Supplementary Materials:** The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/article/ 10.3390/agronomy11122511/s1, Figure S1: Ancestral relationship (phylogenetic tree) of *PAL* genes between *Triticum aestivum (Ta)*, *Hordeum vulgare (Hv)*, *Solanum tuberosum (St)*, and *Triticum urartu (Tu)*; File S1: Protein sequences of identified TaPAL in this study; File S2: Multiple sequence alignment in wheat; Supplementary Sheet S1:The details of the materials and treatments for the retrieved expression values; Sheet S2:List of genes in wheat to explore the gene duplication within the TaPAL gene family and ancestral species of wheat; Sheet S3: Expression level of genes in different conditions; Sheet S4:Putative miRNAs targeting the *TaPAL* genes.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, F.R. and M.R.K.; data curation, F.R., M.U., M.K.N., N.R., A.A. and H.S.; formal analysis, F.R. and N.R.; funding acquisition, M.R.K.; methodology, M.R.K.; resources, M.R.K.; software, F.R.; supervision, M.R.K.; validation, M.U. and M.R.K.; visualization, M.U.; writing—original draft, F.R.; writing—review and editing, F.R., M.U. and M.R.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was funded by ALP, PARC, Pakistan.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** The data and materials presented in this study are mentioned in the main text as well as in the supplementary files, further data will be provided on request from the corresponding author.

**Acknowledgments:** We acknowledge the assistance of NIGAB, NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan for infrastructural support.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

#### **References**

