Rongchang Wei1, Dongping Tu2, Xiyang Huang3, Zuliang Luo4, Xiaohua Huang1, Nan Cui3, Juan Xu5, Faqian Xiong6, Haifeng Yan7, Xiaojun Ma8. 1. Cash Crops Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007, China. 2. Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530020, China. 3. Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Phytochemicals Research and Sustainable Utilization, Guilin, 541006, China. 4. Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China. 5. Biotechnology Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007, China. 6. Cash Crops Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007, China. xfq2002@126.com. 7. Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007, China. gstsyhf@163.com. 8. Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China. mayixuan10@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey, also known as Luohanguo or monk fruit, is a famous traditional Chinese medicine ingredient with important medicinal value and broad development prospects. Diploid S. grosvenorii has too many seeds, which will increase the utilization cost of active ingredients. Thus, studying the molecular mechanism of seed abortion in triploid S. grosvenorii, identifying the abortion-related genes, and regulating their expression will be a new direction to obtain seedless S. grosvenorii. Herein, we examined the submicroscopic structure of triploid S. grosvenorii seeds during abortion. RESULTS: Upon measuring the endogenous hormone content, we found that abscisic acid (ABA) and trans-zeatin (ZR) levels were significantly downregulated after days 15 and 20 of flowering. RNA sequencing of triploid seeds at different developmental stages was performed to identify key genes regulating abortion in triploid S. grosvenorii seeds. Multiple genes with differential expression between adjacent stages were identified; seven genes were differentially expressed across all stages. Weight gene co-expression network analysis revealed that the enhancement of monoterpene and terpene metabolic processes might lead to seed abortion by reducing the substrate flow to ABA and ZR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insights into the gene-regulatory network of seed abortion in triploid S. grosvenorii from different perspectives, thereby facilitating the innovation of the breeding technology of S. grosvenorii.
BACKGROUND: Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey, also known as Luohanguo or monk fruit, is a famous traditional Chinese medicine ingredient with important medicinal value and broad development prospects. Diploid S. grosvenorii has too many seeds, which will increase the utilization cost of active ingredients. Thus, studying the molecular mechanism of seed abortion in triploid S. grosvenorii, identifying the abortion-related genes, and regulating their expression will be a new direction to obtain seedless S. grosvenorii. Herein, we examined the submicroscopic structure of triploid S. grosvenorii seeds during abortion. RESULTS: Upon measuring the endogenous hormone content, we found that abscisic acid (ABA) and trans-zeatin (ZR) levels were significantly downregulated after days 15 and 20 of flowering. RNA sequencing of triploid seeds at different developmental stages was performed to identify key genes regulating abortion in triploid S. grosvenorii seeds. Multiple genes with differential expression between adjacent stages were identified; seven genes were differentially expressed across all stages. Weight gene co-expression network analysis revealed that the enhancement of monoterpene and terpene metabolic processes might lead to seed abortion by reducing the substrate flow to ABA and ZR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insights into the gene-regulatory network of seed abortion in triploid S. grosvenorii from different perspectives, thereby facilitating the innovation of the breeding technology of S. grosvenorii.
Authors: Aleksandra Boba; Kamil Kostyn; Bartosz Kozak; Wioleta Wojtasik; Marta Preisner; Anna Prescha; Edyta M Gola; Dzmitry Lysh; Barbara Dudek; Jan Szopa; Anna Kulma Journal: Planta Date: 2020-01-16 Impact factor: 4.116