AUTHOR=He Xinru , Long Fengying , Li Yingjie , Xu Yaowen , Hu Longsheng , Yao Tianshu , Huang Yingying , Hu Die , Yang Yujie , Fei Yongjun 

TITLE=Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Revealing the Potential Mechanism of Low-Temperature Stress in Machilus microcarpa

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.900870

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.900870

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Machilus microcarpa</italic> is a rare national tree species in China and possesses important ornamental and ecological value. <italic>M. microcarpa</italic> can be planted in low-temperature areas, depending on whether its seedlings can withstand the harm. To face this problem, the annual seedlings of <italic>M. microcarpa</italic> were subjected to five temperature treatments, and eight physiological indicators were measured. Furthermore, comparative transcriptome analysis was performed between <italic>M. microcarpa</italic> leaves treated at 25°C and −2.8°C. A total of 9,385 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in low-temperature stress in <italic>M. microcarpa</italic>. An upregulated (<italic>cobA</italic>) and five downregulated (<italic>HEM, CHLM, CRD, CLH</italic>, and <italic>PORA</italic>) genes associated with the porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism pathway may reduce chlorophyll synthesis under low-temperature stress. Upregulation of six DEGs (two <italic>GAPDHs, PFK, PGAM, PDC</italic>, and <italic>PK</italic>) involved in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway provided energy for <italic>M. microcarpa</italic> under adverse cold conditions. Thirteen upregulated and seven downregulated genes related to antioxidant enzymes were also observed under low-temperature stress. Candidate transcription factors (TFs) played key roles in signal transduction under low-temperature stress in <italic>M. microcarpa</italic>, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis validated the RNA-seq data. The results provide valuable information for further studies on the cold response mechanisms for low-temperature stress in <italic>M. microcarpa</italic>.</p>