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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2021, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (1): 40-52.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20210105

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Screening and Co-Expression Network Building of Xylem Development-Related Genes in Larix kaempferi

Hui Li1,2,Xinren Dai1,Zaizhi Zhou2,Quanzi Li1,*   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    2. Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry Guangzhou 510520
  • Received:2020-03-16 Online:2021-01-01 Published:2021-03-10
  • Contact: Quanzi Li

Abstract:

Objective: In this study, we identified xylem development-related genes in differentiating xylem of Larix kaempferi and built a gene co-expression network among hub genes and xylem development-related genes, aiming to provide reference for wood formation-related studies in L. kaempferi in future. Method: Illumia-seq and SMRT-seq were used to sequence xylem, phloem and needles of L. kaempferi; The differential expressed genes(DEGs) between xylem and phloem and between xylem and needles were identified by DEseq2 package in R software. The specifically expressed genes in differentiating xylem were obtained by comparing DEGs in the two parallel groups. The functions of these xylem-specific genes were predicted using GO, KEGG and BLASTN method. WGCNA method was used to build a co-expression network. Result: We obtained 2 596 genes in total that were specifically up or down regulated in the differentiating xylem of L. kaempferi; GO analysis showed that these genes were mainly enriched in metabolic process, cellular process, localization, membrane, cell, cell part, catalytic activity, binding and transporter activity. KEGG analysis showed that these genes were significantly enriched in starch and sucrose metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis and metabolic pathways. 38 and 196 genes were enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, respectively; In the differentiating xylem of L. kaempferi, lignin formation-related genes were identified including PAL4, CCR1, C4H, HCT, COMT1, PER12, PER52, CYP98A3, LAC12 and LAC17, and cellulose and hemicellulose formation-related genes were identified including DEC, CEL1, Csl, CTL2 and SPS3. All 2 596 up or down regulated genes were analysed by WGCNA method, 17 hub genes having close relationship with wood formation-related genes were obtained. Conclusion: Xylem development-related genes in Larix kaempferi participate in biological processes of wood formation such as galactomannan biosynthesis, xyloglucan biosynthesis, microfibrils formation, fiber biosynthesis in cell wall, secondary cell wall formation, fiber elongation, carbon flux to lignins, biosynthesis and degradation of lignin, monolignol polymerization, monolignol methylation and programmed cell death; the 17 hub genes in gene co-expression network are candidates for function exploration during wood formation in future.

Key words: Larix kaempferi, xylem, differentially expressed genes, GO, KEGG, hub gene

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