Identification and expression analysis of the SPL gene family during flower bud differentiation in Rhododendron molle
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Published on: August 5, 2020
Dongmei Zhu1,2, Xingmin Geng3,4, Fanyu Zeng1,2
1College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
Background:
The family of SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like (SPL) transcription factors is essential for regulating plant growth and development. While this SPL gene functional research has been limited in Rhododendron molle (R. molle).
Objective:
To preliminarily explore the regulatory mechanism of the SPL gene in flower bud development of R. molle.
Methods:
In this study, for R. molle, the flower bud differentiation period was determined by observing the morphological anatomy of the flower bud. The SPL gene family members were identified based on the R. molle genome, Additionally, the expressions of RmSPL genes at five flower bud differentiation stages were analyzed via Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR).
Results:
We first characterized 20 SPL family members in the reference genome of R. molle. The phylogenetic analysis of plant SPL proteins separated them into eight subfamilies (G1-G8) according to conserved gene structures and protein motifs. Cis-elements of promoter region analysis showed that RmSPL genes were regulated by light, phytohormones, stress response, and plant growth and development and may play a critical role in the photoresponse, abasic acid, anaerobic induction, and meristematic expression. Gene expression analysis showed that 18 RmSPL genes were differentially expressed in different developing flower buds. In particular, RmSPL1/7/8/12/13 exhibited significantly different expressions, suggesting that they were likely essential genes for regulating the differentiation of flower buds.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, our analysis of RmSPL genes provides a theoretical basis and reference for future functional analysis of RmSPL genes in the flower bud differentiation of R. molle.
