Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (22 March 2024) | Viewed by 13073

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: physiological; molecular biology; ornamental plant
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: horticulture crop germplasm and innovation; genomics; plant gene transcription and regulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ornamental plants play an important role in human life and health, and are widely used in agriculture, industry, and medicine, with great scientific interest and economic implications. However, although most flowers have difficulty in breeding, and their excellent characters cannot be maintained, the regulatory mechanism has not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the study of physiology and molecular biology of ornamental plants can not only provide assistance for the screening of candidate genes and targeted breeding, but also help to study the regulatory mechanism of ornamental flowers through classical molecular biology. Based on these, we have decided to launch this Special Issue on “Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower”.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions from researchers working in the field of physiological and molecular biology of ornamental plants. Original research articles are encouraged for submission.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Biotechnology or physiological research on ornamental plants;
  • Gene editing of ornamental traits;
  • Molecular regulatory mechanism of ornamental traits;
  • Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in ornamental plants;
  • Biotic or abiotic stress resistant gene function in ornamental plants;.
  • Integrative analysis of multi-omics.

Prof. Dr. Caiyun Wang
Dr. Tuo Zeng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ornamental traits
  • biotechnology
  • multi-omics
  • gene regulatory
  • secondary metabolites
  • gene editing
  • stress tolerance

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 7870 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic Analysis of Flower Color Changes in Impatiens uliginosa in Response to Copper Stress
by Yi Tan, Xiaoli Zhang, Qinmei Li, Xinyi Li, Liang Luo, Haihao He, Guangrong Liang, Haiquan Huang and Meijuan Huang
Horticulturae 2024, 10(4), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10040412 - 19 Apr 2024
Abstract
Impatiens uliginosa is a native and potential water body-restoring ornamental plant. In this study, RNA-Seq technology was used to analyze the transcriptome of its floral organs. Candidate genes related to flower color changes under copper stress were investigated through transcriptome screening, and the [...] Read more.
Impatiens uliginosa is a native and potential water body-restoring ornamental plant. In this study, RNA-Seq technology was used to analyze the transcriptome of its floral organs. Candidate genes related to flower color changes under copper stress were investigated through transcriptome screening, and the intrinsic mechanism of the effects of different concentrations of copper on I. uliginosa was revealed at the molecular level. The main findings were as follows: (1) Transcriptome sequencing analysis was performed on the flower organs of I. uliginosa treated with different concentrations of copper (0 mg·L−1, 10 mg·L−1, and 20 mg·L−1). A total of 70,319 transcripts and 39,949 unigenes were obtained. An analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed structural genes including GT, ANS, CHI, and PAL; transcription factors including MYB and WD40; and transport factors including GST and ABC. (2) The gene expression levels of flower color changed in the flowering period of I. uliginosa at different copper concentrations. The expression levels of IuGT and IuGST genes in I. uliginosa were significantly different under different concentrations of copper treatments. Their expression levels were the highest at a copper concentration of 0 mg·L−1 and the lowest at 20 mg·L−1. In summary, the low expression of IuGT and IuGST genes was more conducive to the formation of white flowers of I. uliginosa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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14 pages, 8183 KiB  
Article
Variations in Flower Color of Mutant Chrysanthemums
by Gulden Haspolat
Horticulturae 2024, 10(4), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10040385 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 348
Abstract
The induction of variation in chrysanthemums using gamma radiation under in vitro conditions is an effective technique in ornamental plants. The purpose of this study is to obtain new mutants by isolating desirable properties from the three-colored single chrysanthemum mutant using in vitro [...] Read more.
The induction of variation in chrysanthemums using gamma radiation under in vitro conditions is an effective technique in ornamental plants. The purpose of this study is to obtain new mutants by isolating desirable properties from the three-colored single chrysanthemum mutant using in vitro cultures. Bud explants were cultured four times, the plantlets were acclimatized, and 520 plants were planted in outdoor conditions. Observations of the mutants were collected during flowering time, and 97 of the mutants were compared to the control group. Plants with pink, white, and chimeric flowers were obtained. Mutant plants with white flowers constituted the majority of the population followed by plants with variegated flower colors. The population is divided into six clusters, based on the plant height, plant diameter, flower number, flower diameter, number of flower colors, ray flowers’ number, leaves’ number, stem weight, and lengths and widths of leaves. The population decreased in plant height, flower number, and stem weight, while other features increased compared to the control group. Thus, a new population with similar characteristics to the parent plant was obtained from a single mutant. Chrysanthemum plants exposed to mutagens showed major changes in flower parts as well as other parts of the plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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21 pages, 4425 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Floral Scent Component of Three Iris Species at Different Stages
by Keyu Cai, Zhengjie Ban, Haowen Xu, Wanlin Chen, Wenxu Jia, Ying Zhu and Hongwu Chen
Horticulturae 2024, 10(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020153 - 06 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1199
Abstract
The research investigates the variations in floral scent composition among different species and developmental stages of Iris plants: Iris uniflora, Iris typhifolia, and Iris sanguinea. The study analyzes the fragrance components by utilizing electronic nose technology in tandem with headspace [...] Read more.
The research investigates the variations in floral scent composition among different species and developmental stages of Iris plants: Iris uniflora, Iris typhifolia, and Iris sanguinea. The study analyzes the fragrance components by utilizing electronic nose technology in tandem with headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and loading analysis are applied to discern whether floral scents of the same Iris species at distinct stages could be differentiated. The results show that the electronic nose significantly distinguishes the aromas from different stages and that there are differences in aroma composition. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry confirms significant differences in volatile components regarding the three Iris species, with common compounds like alcohols, aromatics, and aldehydes present throughout stages. Notably, nonyl aldehyde, capric aldehyde, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, and n-heptadecane are consistently found. Cluster analysis reveals a grouping of decay stage samples of Iris typhifolia and Iris sanguinea due to terpene and ester abundance. Nonyl aldehyde significantly contributes to the aroma profiles of all species, owing to its high odor activity value. The significant content of volatile compounds in these Iris varieties suggests economic and medicinal potential beyond ornamental value, providing references for the development of Iris-scented products, aromatherapy, and the extraction of pharmacologically active substances from Iris. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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14 pages, 4169 KiB  
Article
Comparative Proteomics Analysis of Primulina serrulata Leaves Reveals New Insight into the Formation of White Veins
by Quan-Li Dou, Da-Jun Xie, Tan Deng, Mo-Fang Chen, Zheng-Min Qian, Shuang-Shuang Wang and Ren-Bo Zhang
Horticulturae 2024, 10(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10010019 - 23 Dec 2023
Viewed by 672
Abstract
Primulina serrulata is a valuable ornamental herb with rosette leaves and vibrant flowers. Some leaves of this species exhibit a bright and distinct white color along the upper veins, enhancing their ornamental value, while others are less white or entirely green. This variation [...] Read more.
Primulina serrulata is a valuable ornamental herb with rosette leaves and vibrant flowers. Some leaves of this species exhibit a bright and distinct white color along the upper veins, enhancing their ornamental value, while others are less white or entirely green. This variation is observed in adult leaves from natural habitats and among young leaves from seedlings grown in the laboratory. TMT-labeled proteomics technology was used to study the protein-level biogenesis of white-veined (WV) P. serrulata leaves. Our objective was to offer novel insight into the breeding of WV plants. Chlorophyll (Chl) content was significantly lower in the WV group than in the control group. Out of 6261 proteins identified, a mere 69 met the criteria for differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) after stringent screening for subsequent analyses. Among these DEPs, there were 44 proteins that exhibited downregulation and 25 that were upregulated in the WV plants. Some DEPs associated with chloroplasts and Chl biosynthesis were downregulated, leading to the absence of green coloration. Concurrently, Gene Ontology enrichment analysis further emphasized an insufficiency of magnesium, the key element in Chl biosynthesis. Many DEPs associated with abiotic or biotic stressors were downregulated, suggesting an overall weakening of stress resistance with certain compensatory mechanisms. Similarly, many DEPs related to modifying biomacromolecules were downregulated, possibly affected by the decrease in proteins involved in photosynthesis and stress resistance. Some DEPs containing iron were upregulated, indicating that iron is mainly used to synthesize heme and ferritin rather than Chl. Additionally, several DEPs related to sulfur or sulfate were upregulated, suggesting strengthened respiration. Expansin-A4 and pectinesterase were upregulated, coinciding with the emergence of a rough and bright surface in the white area of leaves, indicative of the elongation and gelation processes in the cell walls. These findings provide new insight for future studies to explore the mechanism of color formation in WV leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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16 pages, 8220 KiB  
Article
UPLC–MS/MS and Gene Expression Research to Distinguish the Colour Differences of Rhododendron liliiflorum H. Lév
by Jin Dai, Xinglin Wang, Xingpan Meng, Xu Zhang, Qihang Zhou, Zhengdong Zhang, Ximin Zhang, Yin Yi, Lunxian Liu and Tie Shen
Horticulturae 2023, 9(12), 1351; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121351 - 18 Dec 2023
Viewed by 858
Abstract
Among ornamental plants, the colour of the petals is an important feature. However, the reason for the colour differences of Rhododendron liliiflorum remains unclear. To reveal the differences in the colour of R. liliiflorum, high-efficiency liquid chromatographic collar (UPLC–MS/MS) technology was used [...] Read more.
Among ornamental plants, the colour of the petals is an important feature. However, the reason for the colour differences of Rhododendron liliiflorum remains unclear. To reveal the differences in the colour of R. liliiflorum, high-efficiency liquid chromatographic collar (UPLC–MS/MS) technology was used to study the yellow and white parts of R. liliiflorum. A total of 1187 metabolites were identified in R. liliiflorum petals, including 339 flavonoid metabolites. Seventy-eight types of flavonoids in these metabolites were found in the yellow and white parts of R. liliiflorum petals, along with 11 other significantly enriched substances. Combining gene expression-related data with differential metabolite data demonstrated effects of enrichment in the flavanonols (fustin), flavonols (epiafzelechin and afzelechin), and flavanones (pinocembrin) of flavonoid biosynthesis; glyccitin, 6″-O-malonylgenistin, and 6-hydroxydaidzein of isoflavonoid biosynthesis; and anthocyanin biosynthesis of malvidin-3-O-galactoside (primulin), delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (kuromanin), and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (keracyanin), which are potentially the contributing factors responsible for the differences in petal colour in R. liliiflorum. This study establishes a connection between the differential metabolites underlying the color differences in the petals of R. liliiflorum and the gene expression in R. liliiflorum. This will provide a foundation for subsequent research on the regulation of flower color in R. liliiflorum and have profound implications for horticultural applications of R. liliiflorum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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15 pages, 8174 KiB  
Article
The Variations of C/N/P Stoichiometry, Endogenous Hormones, and Non-Structural Carbohydrate Contents in Micheliamaudiae ‘Rubicunda’ Flower at Five Development Stages
by Ting Yu, Yao Yang, Hongrui Wang, Wenzhang Qian, Yunyi Hu, Shun Gao and Hai Liao
Horticulturae 2023, 9(11), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9111198 - 03 Nov 2023
Viewed by 790
Abstract
Michelia maudiae ‘Rubicunda’ (M. maudiae ‘Rubicunda’) is one of the most popular ornamental plants. However, relatively little is known regarding its floral development. Here, the variations of the mineral, endogenous hormone, and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) contents in the petals and gynoecium and [...] Read more.
Michelia maudiae ‘Rubicunda’ (M. maudiae ‘Rubicunda’) is one of the most popular ornamental plants. However, relatively little is known regarding its floral development. Here, the variations of the mineral, endogenous hormone, and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) contents in the petals and gynoecium and androecium (GA) at five developmental stages during M. maudiae ‘Rubicunda’ flower development were analyzed. The results suggested that the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) endogenous hormones, NSC contents, and C/N/P stoichiometric ratios exhibit large variations during flower development. There were significant differences in N and P contents in the GA and petals among the five growth stages, while C contents did not change significantly. In the five flower development stages, the average N and P contents in the GA were higher than those in the petals. The maximum C/N and N/P ratios in the GA and petals were foundat the senescent flower stage (stage5) and green bud stage (stage1), respectively. The C/P ratio in petals reached its maximum value at the mature bud stage (stage 2), and the C/P ratio in the GA reached its maximum value at the senescent flower stage (stage 5). The C/N/P stoichiometric ratios in the petals were more sensitive to development stages than those in the GA. There were highly significant correlations between the NSC and C/N/P stoichiometric ratios in the GAand petals. Moreover, acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid 3 (GA3), and cytokinin (CTK) contents in the petals exhibited significant changes in response to development stages. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant correlations and clear differences in the test indexes between the development stage and organs, and the variation was explained by PC-1 (55.6%), PC-2 (23.3%), and the cumulative contribution percentage of the total biplot (78.9%). These studies can lay the foundation for elucidating the requirements and dynamic balance among C, N, P, NSC, and hormone contents during the flower development of M. maudiae‘ Rubicunda’. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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13 pages, 2962 KiB  
Article
Nutrient Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Cercis chinensis Flower in Response to Different Development Stages
by Hong-Yu Ren, Wen-Zhang Qian, Lu Yi, Yu-Lin Ye, Tao Gu, Shun Gao and Guo-Xing Cao
Horticulturae 2023, 9(9), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9090961 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 916
Abstract
Cercis chinensis Bunge (C. chinensis), well known as an ornamental plant widely distributed in China, and its flowers, bark, fruit, etc., have multiple bioactivities. However, reports on the changes in mineral elements, nutrient composition and antioxidant activity in C. chinensis flower [...] Read more.
Cercis chinensis Bunge (C. chinensis), well known as an ornamental plant widely distributed in China, and its flowers, bark, fruit, etc., have multiple bioactivities. However, reports on the changes in mineral elements, nutrient composition and antioxidant activity in C. chinensis flower at different development stages are rare. In this study, the flower samples were collected every 20 days from March 2023 to May 2023. The changes in carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), soluble protein (SP), amino acid (AA), non-structural carbohydrate (NSC), total phenol (TP) and total flavonoids (TF) content as well as antioxidant activity in C. chinensis flower at different development stages were investigated. The results suggested that C, N, and P content, the C:N:P stoichiometric ratio, NSC contents, SP, AA, TP, TF and antioxidant activity of flower showed large variations at three development stages. This study found that C and P contents showed a significant decrease with the development and opening of flowers, while N content showed an opposite trend. The soluble protein content first decreased and then increased. The amino acid content, total polyphenol content, and total flavonoid content all showed a significant downward trend, while the content of NSC increased. Both ABTS and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) showed significant decreases at various developmental stages, but DPPH was completely opposite. The highest NSC content and DPPH activity were observed at stage III, but the highest AA, TP, TF, as well ABTS and FRAP activity wereobserved at stage I. These findings will improve understanding of the requirements and dynamic balance among C, N, and P, NSC and nutrient contents as well as antioxidant activity of C. chinensis flowers in response to development stages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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16 pages, 3287 KiB  
Article
Combined Analysis of Volatile Compounds and Extraction of Floral Fragrance Genes in Two Dendrobium Species
by Yanni Yang, Ke Xia, Qiaofen Wu, Xi Lu, Shunjiao Lu, Zhiguo Zhao and Shuo Qiu
Horticulturae 2023, 9(7), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9070745 - 26 Jun 2023
Viewed by 970
Abstract
Many species of the Dendrobium genus are traditional Chinese herbal medicine and ornamental plants. Flower fragrance is one of the most important horticultural ornamental characters and plays a crucial role in the ecology, economy, and aesthetics of plants. However, the volatile constituents and key [...] Read more.
Many species of the Dendrobium genus are traditional Chinese herbal medicine and ornamental plants. Flower fragrance is one of the most important horticultural ornamental characters and plays a crucial role in the ecology, economy, and aesthetics of plants. However, the volatile constituents and key regulatory genes related to floral biosynthesis are poorly understood. In this experiment, the flowers from two species of Dendrobium with high-scent smells, Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw. (D. moniliforme), and light-scent smells, Dendrobium nobile “H1” (D. “H1”), were selected. The aim of this study was to explore the key gene expression profiles of floral biosynthesis by combining volatile constituent determination and transcriptome analysis in two different Dendrobium species. Physiological determination results showed that 60 volatile compounds were identified in D. moniliforme and 52 volatile compounds were identified in D. ‘H1’ flowers in four flowering stages, and the full bloom stage was the most complicated stage because there were 41 and 33 volatile compounds, respectively. These compounds belong to terpenes, aromatics, fatty acids, nitrogenous compounds, ketones, alcohols, and alkanes, respectively. The components identified in the gynandrium and petals revealed that the petals were probably the most important sites affecting the release of volatiles. The relative content of terpene compounds was the highest, with 77.25% (D. moniliforme) and 50.38% (D. “H1”), respectively. Transcriptome analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were highly enriched in terpenoid backbone biosynthesis and that four linalool synthetase (LIS) genes were up-regulated in high-scent smell species. This study is helpful to explore the key genes of flower fragrance and provides a theoretical basis for further understanding of the regulatory molecular functions of floral synthesis and release, as well as for the cultivation of new aromatic species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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14 pages, 3238 KiB  
Article
Characterization, Evolutionary Analysis, and Expression Pattern Analysis of the Heat Shock Transcription Factors and Drought Stress Response in Heimia myrtifolia
by Guozhe Zhang, Cuihua Gu, Yacheng Ye, Yu Zhao, Linxue Shang, Weili Shao, Sidan Hong and Jin Ma
Horticulturae 2023, 9(5), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9050588 - 16 May 2023
Viewed by 1093
Abstract
Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are among the most important regulators of plant responses to abiotic stimuli. They play a key role in numerous transcriptional regulatory processes. However, the specific characteristics of HSF gene family members and their expression patterns in different tissues [...] Read more.
Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are among the most important regulators of plant responses to abiotic stimuli. They play a key role in numerous transcriptional regulatory processes. However, the specific characteristics of HSF gene family members and their expression patterns in different tissues and under drought stress have not been precisely investigated in Heimia myrtifolia. This study analyzed transcriptome data from H. myrtifolia and identified 15 members of the HSF family. Using a phylogenetic tree, these members were classified into three major classes and fifteen groups. The amino acid physicochemical properties of these members were also investigated. The results showed that all HmHSF genes are located in the nucleus, and multiple sequence alignment analysis revealed that all HmHSF proteins have the most conserved DBD structural domains. Interestingly, a special HmHSF15 protein was found in the three-dimensional structure of the protein, which has a conserved structural domain that performs a function in addition to the unique structural domain of HSF proteins, resulting in a three-dimensional structure for HmHSF15 that is different from other HmHSF proteins. GO enrichment analysis shows that most HmHSFA-like genes are part of various biological processes associated with abiotic stresses. Finally, this study analyzed the tissue specificity of HmHSF genes in different parts of H. myrtifolia by qRT-PCR and found that HmHSF genes were more abundantly expressed in roots than in other tissues, and HmHSF05, HmHSF12, and HmHSF14 genes were different from other HSF genes, which could be further analyzed to verify their functionality. The results provide a basis for analyzing the functions of HmHSF genes in H. myrtifolia and help to explore the molecular regulatory mechanism of HmHSF in response to drought stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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15 pages, 5771 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis of Rhododendron liliiflorum H. Lév. Flower Colour Differences
by Hang Zhang, Meifeng Chen, Xinglin Wang, Jin Dai, Xu Zhang, Zhengdong Zhang, Ximin Zhang, Ming Tang, Jing Tang, Jiyi Gong, Lunxian Liu and Yin Yi
Horticulturae 2023, 9(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010082 - 09 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1558
Abstract
Rhododendron liliiflorum H. Lév., with white outer edges and yellow inner edges of petals, is an ornamental flower that originated in China. In this study, we analysed the white (W) and yellow (Y) parts of R. liliiflorum flowers by RNA sequencing. Then, unigene [...] Read more.
Rhododendron liliiflorum H. Lév., with white outer edges and yellow inner edges of petals, is an ornamental flower that originated in China. In this study, we analysed the white (W) and yellow (Y) parts of R. liliiflorum flowers by RNA sequencing. Then, unigene assembly, unigene annotation, and classification of Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOGs) were performed. Gene ontology (GO) classification and pathway enrichment analysis for unigenes were also conducted. A total of 219,221 transcripts and 180,677 unigenes of R. liliiflorum were obtained from 48.52 Gb of clean reads. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis indicated that 2310 unigenes were upregulated and 3062 were downregulated in W vs. Y. Thirty-six of these DEGs were involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were significantly enriched in phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and isoflavone biosynthesis. The expression of dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR) and chalcone synthase (CHS) may affect differences in R. liliiflorum flower colour. The findings on flavonoid biosynthesis and other related genes in this study will provide guidance for exploring the mechanism of flower colour formation in Rhododendron. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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Review

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16 pages, 1215 KiB  
Review
Mechanisms Underlying the C3–CAM Photosynthetic Shift in Facultative CAM Plants
by Shuo Qiu, Ke Xia, Yanni Yang, Qiaofen Wu and Zhiguo Zhao
Horticulturae 2023, 9(3), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9030398 - 19 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3424
Abstract
Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), one of three kinds of photosynthesis, is a water-use efficient adaptation to an arid environment. CAM is characterized by CO2 uptake via open stomata during the nighttime and refixation CO2 via the Calvin cycle during the daytime. [...] Read more.
Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), one of three kinds of photosynthesis, is a water-use efficient adaptation to an arid environment. CAM is characterized by CO2 uptake via open stomata during the nighttime and refixation CO2 via the Calvin cycle during the daytime. Facultative CAM plants can shift the photosynthesis from C3 to CAM and exhibit greater plasticity in CAM expression under different environments. Though leaf thickness is an important anatomical feature of CAM plants, there may be no anatomical feature changes during the C3–CAM transition for all facultative CAM plants. The shift from C3 photosynthesis to CAM in facultative CAM plants is accompanied by significant changes in physiology including stomata opening, CO2 gas exchange and organic acid fluxes; the activities of many decarboxylating enzymes increase during the shift from C3 to CAM; the molecular changes occur during the photosynthesis C3–CAM shift involved DNA hypermethylation, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation and protein level regulation. Recently, omics approaches were used to discover more proceedings underling the C3–CAM transition. However, there are few reviews on the mechanisms involved in this photosynthetic shift in facultative CAM plants. In this paper, we summarize the progress in the comparative analysis of anatomical, physiological, metabolic and molecular properties of facultative CAM plants between C3 and CAM photosynthesis. Facultative CAM plants also show the potential for sustainable food crop and biomass production. We also discuss the implications of the photosynthesis transition from C3 to CAM on horticultural crops and address future directions for research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology Research on Ornamental Flower)
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