Transcriptome Profile Analysis Reveals the Regulation Mechanism of Stamen Abortion in Handeliodendron bodinieri

Abstract

Handeliodendron bodinieri has unisexual flowers with aborted stamens in female trees, which can be used to study unisexual flower development in tree species. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of stamen abortion underlying sex differentiation, the stage of stamen abortion was determined by semi-thin sections; results showed that stamen abortion occurred in stage 6 during anther development. In addition, differentially expressed transcripts regulating stamen abortion were identified by comparing the transcriptome of female flowers and male flowers with RNA-seq technique. The results showed that 14 genes related to anther development and meiosis such as HbGPAT, HbAMS, HbLAP5, HbLAP3, and HbTES were down-regulated, and HbML5 was up-regulated. Therefore, this information will provide a theoretical foundation for the conservation, breeding, scientific research, and application of Handeliodendron bodinieri.

Tree Genetics: Molecular and Functional Characterization of Genes

“…As a positive consequence of the new technical approaches in -omics research [1] and the continuous decrease in sequencing and other molecular biology techniques costs, the papers do not merely focus on model species. Indeed, six papers focus on broadleaved trees and four on conifers, including economically relevant species for a plethora of different uses, but also rare/endangered species [3] and ecologically important trees [4,5]. The variety of different species studied by the research papers belonging to this Special Issue perfectly respond to the invitation reported in [2], to extend the research fields in forest genetics to a broader number of species.…”

“…In particular, [6] analyzes Camellia oleifera, which is used for oil production; [7] Liriodendron sino-americanum, a relevant ornamental and afforestation species; and [3] Handeliodendron bodinieri, a rare and endangered species, which is also important for bio-energy, landscaping, and water and soil conservation. The of [4] focuses on Picea likiangensis, one of the dominant tree species in the subalpine forest southwest China, with an important ecological in soil and water and carbon storage; [8] reports findings on Pinus massoniana, a relevant timber well as loblolly and slash pines studied in [9].…”

“…Ref. [3] studies the molecular mechanism of stamen abortion underlying sex differentiation, using the H. bodinieri features of unisexual flowers with aborted stamens in female trees, which can be used as a model to study unisexual flower development in tree species. The results showed the differential accumulation of RNA belonging to 14 genes related to another development and meiosis, providing a theoretical basis for future research.…”