Adaptive Traits and Molecular Mechanisms of Rhododendron Species in Changbai Mountains' Alpine Tundra: A
Zhongzan Yang1, Jian You1, Jiangnan Li1
1National & Local United Engineering Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Medicine Breeding and Cultivation, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Avenue 2699, Changchun 130012, China.
Abstract:
Alpine tundra's harsh conditions challenge plants, but Rhododendron's adaptive mechanisms remain unclear. This study explored phenotypic/transcriptomic adaptations of three Rhododendron species (R. aureum, R. lapponicum, R. redowskianum) in Changbai Mountains' tundra vs. timberline. Mature leaves were sampled for leaf length and leaf width measurement and RNA-seq. Results showed leaf width (not leaf length uniformly) reduced in tundra across all species. RNA-seq identified 2399-5716 DEGs per species; plant dwarfism DEGs (e.g., DELLA, EDS1) were up-regulated. Shared DEGs were enriched in carbon/nitrogen metabolism and stress response; IPUT1 (DUH022406.1) and PGT1 (DUH001929.1) were consistently down-regulated (linked to dwarfism). Species-specific responses included R. aureum's light adaptation, R. lapponicum's freezing/hypoxia response, and R. redowskianum's sugar/UV/microbial regulation. Rhododendron adapts to tundra via leaf width adjustment, metabolic optimization, and IPUT1/PGT1-mediated dwarfism, with conserved core mechanisms and species specialization, supporting climate change response predictions and conservation.
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