Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Obtaining High-Quality Transcriptome Data from Cereal Seeds by a Modified Method for Gene Expression Profiling
Published on: May 21, 2020
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Key Candidate Genes Related to Seed Abortion in Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill)
Fengxia Shao1, Hengfu Yin2, Sen Wang1
1College of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China.
Background:
Seed abortion is a common phenomenon in Chinese jujube that seriously hinders the process of cross-breeding. However, the molecular mechanisms of seed abortion remain unclear in jujube.
Methods:
Here, we performed transcriptome sequencing using eight flower and fruit tissues at different developmental stages in Ziziphus jujuba Mill. 'Zhongqiusucui' to identify key genes related to seed abortion. Histological analysis revealed a critical developmental process of embryo abortion after fertilization.
Results:
Comparisons of gene expression revealed a total of 14,012 differentially expressed genes. Functional enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes between various sample types uncovered several important biological processes, such as embryo development, cellular metabolism, and stress response, that were potentially involved in the regulation of seed abortion. Furthermore, gene co-expression network analysis revealed a suite of potential key genes related to ovule and seed development. We focused on three types of candidate genes, agamous subfamily genes, plant ATP-binding cassette subfamily G transporters, and metacaspase enzymes, and showed that the expression profiles of some members were associated with embryo abortion.
Conclusion:
This work generates a comprehensive gene expression data source for unraveling the molecular mechanisms of seed abortion and aids future cross-breeding efforts in jujube.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Gene Regulation During Sporulation
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
Transgenic Plants
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...

