Genome-wide identification of Dicer-like, Argonaute and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene families and their expression analyses in response to viral infection and abiotic stresses in Solanum lycopersicum

► The authors identified seven DCL, 15 AGO and six RDR genes. ► Performed phylogenetic comparison of these genes with their orthologs in Arabidopsis and Rice. ► Expression analyses in different organs and under diverse stresses were done using RT-PCR. ► Most of these genes were stress-responsive is remarkable. ► SlDCL2s may play an important role in the evolution of tomato and its viral defense function.