Ge Jie, Liu Guangyang, Yang Qin, Fan Jide, Zhao Yongqiang, Lu Xinjuan, Liu Canyu, Zhang Biwei, Yang Qingqing, Li Mengqian, Yang Yan, Yang Feng
Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Sweetpotato, Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xuzhou, China.
School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China.
Plant Cell Environ. 2025 Jun 20. doi: 10.1111/pce.70018.
The reproductive cycle of plants features a crucial transition between diploid sporophytic and haploid gametophytic generations. In garlic (Allium sativum L.), a lack of gametophyte fertility poses significant challenges for breeding. This study conducted a comprehensive comparative transcriptomic analysis across three developmental stages of garlic floral buds from three genotypes with varied fertility profiles to unravel the genetic underpinnings of gametophyte development. Through differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we identified key pathways and genes influencing gametophyte fertility. Our findings provided a comprehensive framework that reveals both shared and sex-specific regulatory mechanisms in garlic gametophyte development. Lipid metabolism appeared to be a common pathway influencing the fertility of both male and female gametes, whereas ribosome biogenesis was crucial for female gametophyte development. Furthermore, we identified the AsAMS gene as a key regulator of male gametophyte fertility, likely orchestrating tapetal development and microspore formation by modulating lipid metabolism through a conserved tapetum network. The first functional validation using virus-induced gene silencing in garlic further substantiated the role of AsAMS, which demonstrated its critical impact on pollen viability and morphological integrity of reproductive structures. Taken together, these findings not only deepen our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying gametophyte development in garlic but also shed light on potential genetic interventions to overcome fertility barriers. By delineating the pathways and key regulators such as AsAMS, this study opens new avenues for enhancing reproductive efficiency in garlic.
植物的生殖周期以二倍体孢子体世代和单倍体配子体世代之间的关键转变为特征。在大蒜（Allium sativum L.）中，配子体育性的缺乏给育种带来了重大挑战。本研究对三种具有不同育性特征的基因型大蒜花芽的三个发育阶段进行了全面的比较转录组分析，以揭示配子体发育的遗传基础。通过差异表达分析和加权基因共表达网络分析，我们确定了影响配子体育性的关键途径和基因。我们的研究结果提供了一个全面的框架，揭示了大蒜配子体发育中共同的和性别特异性的调控机制。脂质代谢似乎是影响雄配子和雌配子育性的共同途径，而核糖体生物发生对雌配子体发育至关重要。此外，我们确定AsAMS基因是雄配子体育性的关键调节因子，可能通过一个保守的绒毡层网络调节脂质代谢，从而协调绒毡层发育和小孢子形成。首次在大蒜中使用病毒诱导基因沉默进行功能验证，进一步证实了AsAMS的作用，它对花粉活力和生殖结构的形态完整性具有关键影响。综上所述，这些发现不仅加深了我们对大蒜配子体发育遗传机制的理解，也为克服育性障碍的潜在遗传干预提供了线索。通过描绘途径和关键调节因子如AsAMS，本研究为提高大蒜的生殖效率开辟了新途径。
