Zhao Yang, Yang Peidi, Cheng Yang, Liu Yong, Yang Yang, Liu Zhen
Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Front Genet. 2023 Sep 6;14:1219335. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1219335. eCollection 2023.
Yanling Yinbiancha, a cultivar of (L.) O. Kuntze, is an evergreen woody perennial with characteristic albino leaves. A mutant variant with green leaves on branches has been recently identified. The molecular mechanisms underlying this color variation remain unknown. We aimed to utilize omics tools to decipher the molecular basis for this color variation, with the ultimate goal of enhancing existing germplasm and utilizing it in future breeding programs. Albinotic leaves exhibited significant chloroplast degeneration and reduced carotenoid accumulation. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the two variants revealed 1,412 differentially expressed genes and 127 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Enrichment analysis for DEGs suggested significant enrichment of pathways involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins, porphyrin, chlorophyll, and carotenoids. To further narrow down the causal variation for albinotic leaves, we performed a conjoint analysis of metabolome and transcriptome and identified putative candidate genes responsible for albinism in leaves. 12, 7, and 28 DEGs were significantly associated with photosynthesis, porphyrin/chlorophyll metabolism, and flavonoid metabolism, respectively. , , , , , , , and were identified as a potential regulator of albinism in Yanling Yinbiancha. Moreover, we identified and as DEGs influencing flavonoid accumulation in albino leaves. Identification of genes related to albinism in may facilitate genetic modification or development of molecular markers, potentially enhancing cultivation efficiency and expanding the germplasm for utilization in breeding programs.
艳玲银边茶是（L.）O. Kuntze的一个品种，是一种常绿多年生木本植物，具有特征性的白化叶。最近发现了一个在枝条上有绿叶的突变变体。这种颜色变化背后的分子机制仍然未知。我们旨在利用组学工具来破译这种颜色变化的分子基础，最终目标是改良现有种质并将其用于未来的育种计划。白化叶表现出明显的叶绿体退化和类胡萝卜素积累减少。对这两个变体的转录组和代谢组分析揭示了1412个差异表达基因和127种差异积累代谢物（DAMs）。对差异表达基因的富集分析表明，参与花青素、卟啉、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素生物合成的途径有显著富集。为了进一步缩小白化叶的因果变异范围，我们对代谢组和转录组进行了联合分析，并确定了艳玲银边茶中负责白化的假定候选基因。分别有12、7和28个差异表达基因与光合作用、卟啉/叶绿素代谢和类黄酮代谢显著相关。 、 、 、 、 、 、 和 被确定为艳玲银边茶白化的潜在调节因子。此外，我们确定 和 为影响白化叶中类黄酮积累的差异表达基因。鉴定艳玲银边茶中与白化相关的基因可能有助于基因改造或分子标记的开发，潜在地提高栽培效率并扩大用于育种计划的种质。
