Genome-wide identification of the NCED gene family and functional characterization of PavNCED5 related to bud dormancy in sweet cherry

•We identified 10 PavNCED genes in the sweet cherry, and they are involved in ABA, GA, IAA, JA, and SA hormone signaling pathway.•PavNCED5 gene in response to ABA and low temperature is highly expressed during the initiation of endodormancy in floral buds.•PavNCED5 regulated dormancy via affecting the expression levels of flowering genes.