The effect of nojirimycin on the transcriptome of germinating seeds.

Orobanchaceae root parasitic weeds cause serious agricultural damage worldwide. Although numerous studies have been conducted to establish an effective control strategy for the growth and spread of root parasitic weeds, no practical method has been developed so far. Previously, metabolomic analyses were conducted on germinating seeds of a broomrape, , to find novel targets for its selective control. Interestingly, planteose metabolism was identified as a possible target, and nojirimycin (NJ) selectively inhibited the germination of by intercepting planteose metabolism, although its precise mode of action was unclear. Here, transcriptome analysis by RNA-Seq was conducted to obtain molecular insight into the effects of NJ on germinating seeds. Differential gene expression analysis results suggest that NJ alters sugar metabolism and/or signaling, which is required to promote seed germination. This finding will contribute to understanding the effect of NJ and establishing a novel strategy for parasitic weed control.