Objective   F-BOX genes responsible for the resistance of Brassica rapa to sclerotinia were investigated.

  Method  Suspected members of F-BOX family were identified at the transcriptome level to identify their subcellular localization, chromosomal localization, and conserved domains as well as expressions by q-PCR under artificial induction of sclerotinia.

  Result  There were 32 BraF-BOX genes classified into 4 subgroups with the relative molecular masses varying from 34 751.13 Da to 105 942.22 Da. The predicted subcellular localizations of 26 F-BOX were in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and 6 in the chloroplast. The genetic structures of all 32 genes contained Motif 1 and exon in the DNA sequences with expressions differed in different parts of Chinese cabbage. The relative expressions by q-PCR of 6 genes agreed with the transcriptome data at 36 h. The expressions of Bra037120, Bra011427, and Bra009835 were upregulated and increased with prolonged induction.

  Conclusion  The bioinformatics and transcriptome data analysis on the BraF-BOX genes suggested that Bra037120, Bra011427, and Bra009835 were potentially associated with the sclerotinia resistance of Chinese cabbage.