Integrated transcriptomic and WGCNA identify drought-responsive TFs in Larix olgensis

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Genetics
• Forestry

Background:

• Global forests, including larch, are increasingly impacted by severe drought events.
• Drought stress suppresses larch growth, necessitating an understanding of adaptation mechanisms.
• Transcription factors (TFs) are crucial regulators that enhance plant stress tolerance by modulating gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze the adaptation mechanisms of Larix olgensis under drought stress.
• To identify drought-responsive transcription factors (TFs) in L. olgensis.
• To provide a foundational resource for future functional studies and molecular breeding.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify unigenes and TFs.
• Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to cluster genes into modules.
• Physiological measurements to assess stress indicators like H2O2, MDA, and POD activity.

Main Results:

• 1,391 TFs were identified among 50,110 unigenes.
• Ten candidate TFs were selected based on differential expression during wilting.
• Co-expression network analysis identified specific TFs within modules correlated with oxidative stress markers (H2O2, MDA) and antioxidant activity (POD).

Conclusions:

• This study elucidates drought-responsive TFs in L. olgensis.
• Identified TFs are crucial for modulating gene expression networks under drought conditions.
• The findings offer valuable insights for enhancing drought tolerance in larch through molecular breeding.