Wang Xiaoqing, Zheng Kaifeng, Na Tiancang, Ye Guangji, Han Shengcheng, Wang Jian
Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, China.
Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 31;15(1):19122. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-02215-4.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the world's most important non-cereal food crops, with stolon development playing a crucial role in determining tuber yield. While some studies have examined the effects of sugars on potato stolon growth, their influence-particularly that of sucrose-on early stolon development remains unclear. Furthermore, the regulatory role of plant hormones in this process has yet to be established. Using a combination of in vitro culture, transcriptomics, gene expression analysis, and biochemical approaches, we investigated the contribution of sucrose (3% or 8%) on potato seedling stem nodes and stolon initials through phenotypic observation, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), comparison of expression patterns, and hormone quantification. Firstly, compared to other types of sugars, we found that high concentrations of sucrose were the most effective in inducing stolon initial formation in potato seedlings. Furthermore, RNA-seq data showed that high sucrose levels significantly up-regulated the expression of genes involved in sugar metabolism and plant hormone metabolism. Additionally, the development of stem nodes and stolon initials under high sucrose conditions was also closely linked to hormone metabolism. Notably, high sucrose concentrations contributed to stem node and stolon initial development by modulating the IAA, CK, and GA signaling pathways. Based on the endogenous hormone measurement, and exogenous hormone application, together with heterologous overexpression of a potato Auxin response factor 9 (StARF9), we concluded that the early development of potato stolons was regulated by plant hormones, particularly auxin. In summary, this study elucidates the hormonal regulation of stolon initiation under high sucrose concentrations, offering a theoretical foundation and potential targets for in vitro culture and genetic improvement of potato.
马铃薯（Solanum tuberosum L.）是世界上最重要的非谷类粮食作物之一，匍匐茎的发育对决定块茎产量起着关键作用。虽然一些研究已经考察了糖类对马铃薯匍匐茎生长的影响，但其影响，尤其是蔗糖对匍匐茎早期发育的影响仍不清楚。此外，植物激素在这一过程中的调节作用尚未明确。我们结合体外培养、转录组学、基因表达分析和生化方法，通过表型观察、RNA测序（RNA-seq）、表达模式比较和激素定量，研究了蔗糖（3%或8%）对马铃薯幼苗茎节和匍匐茎原基的作用。首先，与其他类型的糖类相比，我们发现高浓度蔗糖最有效地诱导了马铃薯幼苗匍匐茎原基的形成。此外，RNA-seq数据表明，高蔗糖水平显著上调了参与糖代谢和植物激素代谢的基因表达。此外，高蔗糖条件下茎节和匍匐茎原基的发育也与激素代谢密切相关。值得注意的是，高蔗糖浓度通过调节生长素（IAA）、细胞分裂素（CK）和赤霉素（GA）信号通路促进了茎节和匍匐茎原基的发育。基于内源激素测定、外源激素施用以及马铃薯生长素响应因子9（StARF9）的异源过表达，我们得出结论，马铃薯匍匐茎的早期发育受植物激素调节，尤其是生长素。总之，本研究阐明了高蔗糖浓度下匍匐茎起始的激素调控机制，为马铃薯的离体培养和遗传改良提供了理论基础和潜在靶点。
