Transcriptomic analysis of rapeseed (Brassica napus. L.) seed development in Xiangride, Qinghai Plateau, reveals how its special eco-environment results in high yield in high-altitude areas

Abstract

As one of the most important oil crops, rapeseed (Brassica napus) is cultivated worldwide to produce vegetable oil, animal feed, and biodiesel. As the population grows and the need for renewable energy increases, the breeding and cultivation of high-yield rapeseed varieties have become top priorities. The formation of a high rapeseed yield is so complex because it is influenced not only by genetic mechanisms but also by many environmental conditions, such as climatic conditions and different farming practices. Interestingly, many high-yield areas are located in special eco-environments, for example, in the high-altitude Xiangride area of the Qinghai Plateau. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of high yields in such a special eco-environment area remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted field yield analysis and transcriptome analysis in the Xiangride area. Compared with the yield and environmental factors in the Xinning area (a low-yielding area), we found that the relatively longer daylight length is the key to high rapeseed yield in the Xiangride area, which leads up to a 52.1% increase in rapeseed yield, especially the increase in thousand seed weight and silique number (SN). Combined with transcriptome H-cluster analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional analyses, we can assume that the grain development of rapeseed in the Xiangride area is ahead of schedule and lasts for a long time, leading to the high-yield results in the Xiangride area, confirmed by the expression analysis by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) of yield-related genes. Our results provide valuable information for further exploring the molecular mechanism underlying high yield in special ecological environments and provide a helpful reference for studying seed development characteristics in special-producing regions for Brassica napus.

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Ephedra saxatilis on the vertical altitude gradient changed in southern Tibet Plateau, China

“…In recent years, it has attracted wide attention and made important progress in the field of plant research, especially in the field of abiotic stress of medicinal plants, which is aimed at secondary metabolites [18,19,28,29]. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) is an online database where genomes, biochemical products, molecular interaction networks and other information are collected jointly [30][31][32]. In this study, KEGG was used to analyze the enrichment of five iconic metabolic pathways.…”

Harnessing Heterogeneity: Clustering Kazakh Spring Rapeseed for Breeding Value

“…Statistical analysis of yield data was performed using the dispersion method based on data from the study by Xiong et al [26]. Cluster analysis of samples was carried out for a complex of economically valuable traits of spring rapeseed using the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) module and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).…”

Low CO2 concentration, a key environmental factor for developing plateau adapted rapeseed

“…The low-altitude plains have a mild climate suitable for large-scale rapeseed cultivation, and the terrain is flat, which facilitates mechanized harvesting. However, in the plateau region, the rapeseed industry faces the lack of germplasm resources, a low level of mechanization, and an urgent need to increase yield and quality due to the unique climatic ecological environment [ 2 ]. Since the plateau region has a vast land area and abundant sunlight resources, effective use of the potential agricultural resources of the plateau region, selection and breeding of new high-yielding rapeseed varieties suitable for growing on the plateau is crucial for improving global oilseed rape production, promoting the development of global agricultural production, and ensuring food and oil security.…”