The Construction of lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Networks Reveals Functional Genes Related to Growth Traits in .

is a precious timber and fire-resistant tree species widely distributed in southern China. Currently, there is little knowledge related to its growth traits, especially with respect to molecular breeding. The lack of relevant information has delayed the development of modern breeding. The purpose is to identify probable functional genes involved in growth through whole transcriptome sequencing. In this study, a total of 32,711 mRNAs, 525 miRNAs, 54,312 lncRNAs, and 1522 circRNAs were identified from 10 individuals containing different volumes of wood. Four possible regulators, comprising three lncRNAs, one circRNA, and eleven key miRNAs, were identified from the regulatory networks of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA to supply information on ncRNAs. Several candidate genes involved in phenylpropane and cellulose biosynthesis pathways, including , , and , and transcription factors, including (), (), (), and , were identified to reveal the molecular regulatory mechanisms regulating the growth traits of . The results not merely provide candidate functional genes related to growth trait and will be useful to carry out molecular breeding, but the strategy and method also provide scientists with an effective approach to revealing mechanisms behind important economic traits in other species.