Unraveling the Molecular Mechanism of Lignin Accumulation in Stipule Thorns of Zanthoxylum bungeanum: Insights from Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Analysis
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Zb), an economically important tree, is widely cultivated in China. However, its abundant and intricate thorns pose challenges in management and harvesting, thereby reducing its economic benefits. Although the origin and formation mechanism of stipule thorns in Zb remain unclear, it is hypothesized that thorn hardening may be associated with lignin synthesis and accumulation. In this study, we utilized histologic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis methods with stipule thorns at five distinct developmental stages (25 days, 40 days, 55 days, 70 days, and 80 days after flowering) to investigate the mechanisms underlying lignin accumulation and synthesis. Our findings revealed that guaiacyl and syringyl lignin were present in the stipule thorns of Zb. Lignification occurs from the top to bottom and from the outside to inside. Through a weighted gene co-expression network analysis and construction of a gene regulation network, we identified 20 genes significantly involved in lignin synthesis and metabolism including 10 structural genes and 9 transcription factors such as MYB, bHLH, WRKY, and NAC. Notably, our target gene prediction results of hub genes indicated that four NAC genes play a critical role in lignin synthesis. Furthermore, we predicted a possible NAC-MYB model gene-regulatory network. This research provides novel insights into the synthesis of lignin in Zb, while offering a molecular foundation for breeding varieties of thornless or soft-thorned Zb.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Plant Growth Regulation is an international publication featuring original articles on all aspects of plant growth and development. We welcome manuscripts reporting question-based research on various aspects of plant growth and development using hormonal, physiological, environmental, genetic, biophysical, developmental and/or molecular approaches.
The journal also publishes timely reviews on highly relevant areas and/or studies in plant growth and development, including interdisciplinary work with an emphasis on plant growth, plant hormones and plant pathology or abiotic stress.
In addition, the journal features occasional thematic issues with special guest editors, as well as brief communications describing novel techniques and meeting reports.
The journal is unlikely to accept manuscripts that are purely descriptive in nature or reports work with simple tissue culture without attempting to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth regulation, those that focus exclusively on microbial communities, or deal with the (elicitation by plant hormones of) synthesis of secondary metabolites.