Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), which belongs to the large Asteraceae (Compositae) family, breeds by sexual reproduction and produce seeds. Actually, lettuce seeds are achenes, which are defined as fruits. However, few studies have described the morphological characteristics of the lettuce achenes, and genes essential for achene development are largely unknown in lettuce. To investigate the gene activity during achene development and determine the possible mechanisms that influence achene development in lettuce, we performed a time-course transcriptome analysis of lettuce achenes. A total of 23,790 expressed genes were detected at the five achene development stages. We investigated the gene expression patterns during achene development and identified the enriched biological processes at the corresponding stages. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analyses revealed a variety of transcriptomic similarities and differentiation at different achene development stages. Further, transcription factors and phytohormones were found to play important roles during achene development. Finally, we proposed a working model to illustrate the gene expression modules and possible molecular mechanism underlying achene development. Our time-course transcriptome data also provides a foundation for future functional studies to reveal the genetic control of achene development in lettuce.

中文翻译：

---

生菜瘦果发育的时程转录组景观

属于大型菊科（菊科）的生菜（莴苣（Lactuca sativa L.））通过有性繁殖进行繁殖并产生种子。实际上，生菜种子是瘦果，被定义为水果。然而，很少有研究描述莴苣瘦果的形态特征，并且在莴苣中很大程度上未知瘦果发育必需的基因。为了调查瘦果发育过程中的基因活性并确定影响莴苣瘦果发育的可能机制，我们对莴苣瘦果进行了时程转录组分析。在五个瘦果发育阶段共检测到23,790个表达基因。我们调查了瘦果发育过程中的基因表达模式，并确定了相应阶段的丰富生物过程。京都基因与基因组百科全书和基因本体论分析揭示了在瘦果不同发育阶段的各种转录组相似性和分化。此外，发现转录因子和植物激素在瘦果发育过程中起重要作用。最后，我们提出了一个工作模型来说明瘦果发育的基因表达模块和可能的分子机制。我们的时程转录组数据也为将来的功能研究奠定基础，以揭示生菜瘦果发育的遗传控制。我们提出了一个工作模型来说明瘦果发育的基因表达模块和可能的分子机制。我们的时程转录组数据也为将来的功能研究奠定基础，以揭示生菜瘦果发育的遗传控制。我们提出了一个工作模型来说明瘦果发育的基因表达模块和可能的分子机制。我们的时程转录组数据也为将来的功能研究奠定基础，以揭示生菜瘦果发育的遗传控制。