Primers for phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase(PEAMT) gene from the halophyte Halostachys caspica were designed according to the EST sequence,and the full length cDNA of PEAMT gene was cloned by using RACE(rapid amplification of cDNA ends).The obtained cDNA was named as HcPEAMT.Sequence analysis indicated that HcPEAMT contains an open reading frame(ORF) of 1 482 bp,which encodes 494 amino acids with a molecular weight of 56.3 kD and a theoretical pI of 5.51.Conserved domain analysis showed that HcPEAMT has two separate conserved domains of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase,and each domain contains four motifs.Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that HcPEAMT was closer to the halophyte of Salicornia europaea.Real time quantitative PCR results showed that the expression of HcPEAMT gene in assimilating branches and roots after salt stress for 3 h was rapidly up-regulated and reached the highest,which was 4.3-fold and 6.7-fold of that of the respective controls.When stressed by abscisic acid(ABA),the expression of HcPEAMT gene in assimilating branches and root reached the highest level at 3 and 12 h,and about 2.6-fold and 2.5-fold of the controls,respectively.These results indicated that the expression of HcPEAMT gene was strongly induced by salt stress,and also by ABA stress.Our results would help to clarify the relationship between HcPEAMT expression and plant resistance.