Zhang Huan, Li Wenqiao, Zhang Xiao, Pan Rui, Tang Mingwei, Peng Yang, Wang Yiyun, Zuo Youwei, Zhang Zhe, Deng Hongping
School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 7;15(1):8010. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91317-0.
Salix variegata, a typical dioecious plant with high reproductive and adaptive ability, has important ecological and ornamental value. To understand the potential mechanisms and metabolite dynamics of male and female flowers development, the first comparative analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome of S. variegata was applied. As a result, 12,245 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 4,145 differently expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the male and female flowers development processes were related to phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. According to the metabolic profile, the main amino acids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and their derivatives were accumulated during the development of male and female flowers of the S. variegata. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that the AUX/IAA, bHLH, MIKC, MYB, NAC, ERF and RLK transcription factors (TFs) and their associated key DEGs may mediate the metabolism of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids, which in turn regulate the development of male and female flowers in S. variegata. These results provide important insights to elucidate the development of male and female flowers of S. variegata at the molecular level. Our results will contribute to understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms of male and female flower development in typical dioecious plants.
异色柳是一种典型的雌雄异株植物，具有较高的繁殖和适应能力，具有重要的生态和观赏价值。为了了解雌雄花发育的潜在机制和代谢物动态，首次对异色柳进行了转录组和代谢组的比较分析。结果，鉴定出12245个差异表达基因（DEGs）和4145个差异表达代谢物（DEMs）。转录组分析表明，雌雄花发育过程与苯丙烷类和黄酮类生物合成有关。根据代谢谱，主要氨基酸、黄酮类、苯丙烷类及其衍生物在异色柳雌雄花发育过程中积累。转录组和代谢组联合分析表明，AUX/IAA、bHLH、MIKC、MYB、NAC、ERF和RLK转录因子（TFs）及其相关的关键DEGs可能介导苯丙烷类和黄酮类的代谢，进而调控异色柳雌雄花的发育。这些结果为从分子水平阐明异色柳雌雄花的发育提供了重要见解。我们的结果将有助于理解典型雌雄异株植物中雌雄花发育的分子和遗传机制。
