Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals hormonal and nutrient networks regulating sugarcane tillering

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Sugarcane tillering is a complex process influenced by multiple molecular networks.
• Understanding the regulatory framework of tillering is crucial for improving sugarcane yield.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a multi-omics regulatory framework for sugarcane tillering.
• To link hormonal, ionomic, and transcriptomic variations to tillering capacity.

Main Methods:

• Integrated transcriptomics, phytohormone metabolomics, and ionomics were applied to four sugarcane genotypes.
• Three biological replicates were used per genotype and tissue combination at the peak tillering stage.

Main Results:

• High-tillering sugarcane exhibited enhanced growth pathways, elevated auxin and cytokinin metabolites, and enriched micronutrients.
• Low-tillering sugarcane showed activated defense pathways, reduced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) levels, and accumulated stress-related metabolites.
• Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis revealed distinct modules associated with growth and defense, correlated with specific hormones and metabolites.

Conclusions:

• An integrated multi-omics framework for sugarcane tillering was established.
• A coordinated growth-defense trade-off underlies contrasting tillering strategies in sugarcane.