Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals regulatory network and regulators associated with proanthocyanidin...

Area of Science:

• Plant Molecular Biology
• Fruit Genomics
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are vital plant compounds influencing flavor and defense, with persimmons being rich sources.
• High PA levels cause astringency, necessitating de-astringency treatments for persimmon fruit consumption.
• The molecular mechanisms governing PA accumulation, especially transcriptional regulation, remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct high-quality full-length transcriptomes for three distinct persimmon genotypes.
• To analyze transcriptome dynamics across four key fruit developmental stages.
• To identify potential transcriptional regulators controlling proanthocyanidin accumulation.

Main Methods:

• PacBio full-length sequencing and Illumina RNA sequencing were employed.
• Transcriptome analysis included Pearson correlation coefficient, principal component analysis, and differential expression analysis.
• Co-expression network analysis was utilized to identify key regulatory modules and transcription factors.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive transcriptome dataset comprising 96,463 transcripts was generated.
• Transcriptome activity showed similarity across developmental stages within genotypes, with stage-specific transcripts identified.
• Co-expression network analysis highlighted MEbrown and MEblue modules, implicating specific transcription factors (SBP, bZIP, MYB) in PA biosynthesis.

Conclusions:

• This research provides the first high-quality reference transcriptome for commercial persimmon.
• The study offers novel insights into the molecular pathways governing proanthocyanidin accumulation.
• The findings enhance the global understanding of transcriptome dynamics during persimmon fruit development.