Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Identification of the Genes Involved in Stomatal Development via Epidermal Phenotype Scoring
Published on: January 20, 2023
Nonglandular prickle formation is associated with development and secondary metabolism-related genes in Rosa
Yu Zhang1,2, Mingjie Zhao1,2, Wan Zhu1,2
1Key Laboratory of horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Abstract:
Roses are among the most economically important ornamental plants worldwide. But prickles on the stem and leaves cause difficulties for cultivation or inconveniences during harvest and transportation, thus are an undesirable horticultural character. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of prickle development. In this study, we sought to develop Rosa multiflora (in the family Rosaceae) as a model plant to study prickle formation. The morphology, structure, and ontogeny of prickles were characterized, and transcriptome analysis of prickly and prickleless R. multiflora genotypes was performed. Morphological observation and microscopic analyses revealed that prickles of R. multiflora were non-glandular prickles (NGPs) and their maturation went through five developmental stages, which was accompanied by the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as lignin and anthocyanins. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified key pathways and hub genes potentially involved in prickle formation. Interestingly, among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), several notable development and secondary metabolism-related transcription factors (TFs) including NAC, TCP, MYB, homeobox, and WRKY were up-regulated in prickly internodes. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were enriched in the pathways related to biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids in the prickly R. multiflora. Our study provides novel insights into the molecular network underlying the regulation of prickle morphogenesis in R. multiflora, and the identified candidates might be applied to the genetic improvement of roses.
Related Concept Videos
Cell Signaling in Plants
Morphogenesis
Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
Asexual Reproduction
Epistasis

