AUTHOR=Yu Yue , Meng Nan , Chen Song , Zhang Hongjiao , Liu Zhijie , Wang Yiran , Jing Yanan , Wang Yuting , Chen Su 

TITLE=Transcriptomic profiles of poplar (Populus simonii × P. nigra) cuttings during adventitious root formation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.968544

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2022.968544

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>The formation of adventitious roots (ARs) is vital for the vegetative propagation of poplars. However, the relevant mechanisms remain unclear. To reveal the underlying molecular mechanism, we used RNA-seq to investigate the transcriptional alterations of poplar cuttings soaked in water for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 d; 3,798 genes were differentially expressed at all the time points, including 2,448 upregulated and 1,350 downregulated genes. Biological processes including “cell cycle,” “photosynthesis,” “regulation of hormone levels,” and “auxin transport” were enriched in the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). KEGG results showed that the common DEGs were most enriched in the pathway of “Carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms” and “Starch and sucrose metabolism.” We further dissected 38 DEGs related to root and auxin, including two <italic>lateral root primordium</italic> 1 (<italic>LRP1</italic>), one <italic>root meristem growth factor</italic> (<italic>RGF9</italic>), one <italic>auxin-induced in the root</italic> (<italic>AIR12</italic>), three rooting-associated genes (<italic>AUR1</italic> and <italic>AUR3</italic>), eight auxin transcription factors (<italic>ARFs</italic> and <italic>LBD</italic>s), 10 auxin respective genes (<italic>SAUR</italic>s and <italic>GH3</italic>s), nine auxin transporters (<italic>PIN</italic>s, <italic>ABC</italic>s, <italic>LAX</italic>2, and <italic>AUX</italic>s), and four auxin signal genes (<italic>IAA</italic>s and <italic>TIR1</italic>). We found that the rooting abilities of poplar cuttings with and without leaves are different. By applying different concentrations of IBA and sucrose to the top of cuttings without leaves, we found that 0.2 mg/ml IBA and 2 mg/ml sucrose had the best effect on promoting AR formation. The transcriptome results indicated photosynthesis may influence AR formation in poplar cuttings with leaves and revealed a potential regulatory mechanism of leafy cuttage from poplar cuttings. In addition, we provided a new perspective to resolve rooting difficulties in recalcitrant species.</p>