Full-length transcriptome sequencing provides insights into alternative splicing under cold stress in peanut

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Genomics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a vital global crop for oil and protein.
• Low temperatures significantly limit peanut yield and distribution.
• The molecular basis of peanut cold tolerance remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying differential cold tolerance in peanut cultivars.
• To identify novel genes, isoforms, and regulatory networks involved in cold stress response.

Main Methods:

• Comparative transcriptomic analysis using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT).
• Analysis of differential gene expression (DEGs) and alternative splicing events (AS).
• Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified 8,949 novel gene loci and 95,291 new isoforms.
• More DEGs in cold-sensitive (ZH12) and more AS events in cold-tolerant (SLH) cultivars.
• Key roles for photosynthesis and transcription factors in cold response; identified 708 differential AS genes (DASGs).
• Overexpression of AhTPPs enhanced cold tolerance in yeast.

Conclusions:

• This research provides valuable genomic resources for peanut cold resistance studies.
• Identified key genes and pathways crucial for peanut adaptation to cold stress.
• Lays the groundwork for genetic engineering to improve crop stress tolerance.