Transcriptome analyses reveal key genes related to pod dehiscence of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.).

Abstract

To investigate the mechanism of pod dehiscence in adzuki bean, RNA sequencing was utilized to analyze transcriptomes in the ventral and dorsal sutures of pods from two dehiscence-resistant accessions and two dehiscence-susceptible accessions. A total of 943 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Through the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic enrichment pathways, 34 genes related to pod dehiscence were identified. The genes associated with pod dehiscence primarily encode enzymes involved in cell wall modification, including pectin esterase, cellulose synthase, glucosyltransferase, glycoside hydrolase, D-galactosidase, peroxidases, and transcription factors from the MADS-box gene family. The genes exhibit significant enrichment in pathways such as "Pentose and glucuronate interconversions," "Galactose metabolism," "Fructose and mannose metabolism," "Starch and sucrose metabolism," and "Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites." These components primarily play a role in modifying the cell wall, regulating the biochemistry of cells in the dehiscence zone of the pod, and influencing the physiological and metabolic processes of the ventral and dorsal sutures of the pod. This study examined transcript level variations between adzuki bean varieties resistant and susceptible to pod dehiscence, specifically focusing on the ventral and dorsal sutures. The findings offer novel perspectives for elucidating the pod dehiscence regulatory network in adzuki bean and provide valuable genetic resources to guide pod dehiscence-resistant breeding in adzuki bean.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04255-z.