Transcriptomic analysis reveals the growth of Populus Schneideri in different light qualities.

Background: Light plays a key role in plant growth, development and response to adversity. Plants perceive different wavelengths of light in the environment through various photoreceptors and regulate plant growth and development through light signaling. Nevertheless, it remains unknown how high-altitude plants adapt to different light conditions. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of high-altitude plants responding to light quality, this research compared the transcriptome of P. schneideri cuttings under blue and green film treatments.

Results: Blue film treatment significantly promoted the height growth of P. schneideri, while green film treatment inhibited it, and both treatments significantly suppressed stem thickness growth. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that blue film treatment induced a significantly higher number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared to green film treatment, with multiple transcription factor families (such as WRKY, NAC, bHLH, MIKC, and MYB) down-regulated across various treatments. DEGs were primarily enriched in the hormone signaling pathway, where blue film treatment significantly up-regulated the expression of CRY1, HY5 and ARF8 genes, while down-regulating GH3.1, Aux/IAA14 and Aux/IAA16. In contrast, green film treatment exhibited the opposite regulatory pattern.

Conclusion: These results imply that P. schneideri may benefit from blue film treatment in terms of growth and development, which may be helpful for further research into the introduction and cultivation of P. schneideri and other popular species in high-altitude regions.