Weeping is a specific plant architecture with high ornamental value. Despite the considerable importance of the weeping habit to landscaping applications and knowledge of plant architecture biology, little is known regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, growth and phytohormone content were analyzed among the progeny of different branch types in an F1 mapping population of Prunus mume with varying plant architecture. Bulked segregant RNA sequencing was conducted to compare differences among progeny at a transcriptional level. The weeping habit appears to be a complex process regulated by a series of metabolic pathways, with photosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis highly enriched in differentially expressed genes between weeping and upright progeny. Based on functional annotation and homologous analyses, we identified 30 candidate genes related to weeping that merit further analysis, including 10 genes related to IAA and GA3 biosynthesis, together with 6 genes related to secondary branch growth. The results of this study will facilitate further studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying the weeping habit in P. mume.

中文翻译：

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使用 Prunus mume F1 种群中哭泣和直立后代的比较转录组学分析筛选哭泣候选基因

垂枝是一种特殊的植物建筑，具有很高的观赏价值。尽管哭泣习惯对园林绿化应用和植物结构生物学知识具有相当大的重要性，但对潜在的分子机制知之甚少。在这项研究中，分析了具有不同植物结构的梅花 F1 定位种群中不同分支类型后代的生长和植物激素含量。进行批量分离 RNA 测序以在转录水平上比较后代之间的差异。哭泣的习性似乎是一个受一系列代谢途径调控的复杂过程，光合作用和类黄酮生物合成在哭泣和直立后代之间的差异表达基因中高度富集。基于功能注释和同源分析，我们确定了 30 个与哭泣相关的候选基因，值得进一步分析，其中包括 10 个与 IAA 和 GA3 生物合成相关的基因，以及 6 个与次级分支生长相关的基因。这项研究的结果将有助于进一步研究 P. mume 哭泣习性背后的分子机制。