Articles
Comparative RNA-Seq analysis of Cynara cardunculus L. at different developmental stages
Article number
1424_18
Pages
145 – 154
Language
English
Abstract
The flower development in Cynara cardunculus L. is a complex process involving intricate molecular and cellular events.
To understand how different molecular mechanisms are associated with flower transition, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was conducted to assess differences in gene expression patterns between the two phases, vegetative and reproductive.
For that, a morphological evaluation to identify the corresponding developmental stage involved in the transition was performed.
The morphological evaluation showed that the C. cardunculus plants reached stage 4 at the end of March, where the maximum leaf mass is yielded.
In May, the flower buds with main and secondary capitulum were detected in this plant subset (stage 5/6). High-quality sequencing generated an average of 23.5 million reads per sample.
Differential expression analysis generated 552 DEGs, from which 321 and 231 were more expressed in stages 4 and 5/6, respectively.
The 88.0% of DEGs had a functional annotation whereas the remaining were proteins with unknown functions.
Most of the differentially expressed genes related to developmental stages were transcription factors and genes associated to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and the phytohormone process.
Additionally, several MADS-box proteins were also identified as differentially expressed.
These proteins have a role in the regulation of meristem identity and flowering time.
Our study provides the first molecular insight into regulatory mechanisms underlying the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase in C. cardunculus.
To understand how different molecular mechanisms are associated with flower transition, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was conducted to assess differences in gene expression patterns between the two phases, vegetative and reproductive.
For that, a morphological evaluation to identify the corresponding developmental stage involved in the transition was performed.
The morphological evaluation showed that the C. cardunculus plants reached stage 4 at the end of March, where the maximum leaf mass is yielded.
In May, the flower buds with main and secondary capitulum were detected in this plant subset (stage 5/6). High-quality sequencing generated an average of 23.5 million reads per sample.
Differential expression analysis generated 552 DEGs, from which 321 and 231 were more expressed in stages 4 and 5/6, respectively.
The 88.0% of DEGs had a functional annotation whereas the remaining were proteins with unknown functions.
Most of the differentially expressed genes related to developmental stages were transcription factors and genes associated to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and the phytohormone process.
Additionally, several MADS-box proteins were also identified as differentially expressed.
These proteins have a role in the regulation of meristem identity and flowering time.
Our study provides the first molecular insight into regulatory mechanisms underlying the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase in C. cardunculus.
Authors
A. Paulino, R.C. Pires, I. Fernandes, A. Faustino, J. Santos, A. Usié, T. Brás, D. Rosa, O.S. Paulo, M.F. Duarte, L. Marum
Keywords
cardoon, transcriptome, DEGs, gene ontology, vegetative stage, flower development, transcription factor, MADS-box proteins
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