Abstract
Pollination is an important event in plant sexual reproduction, and post-pollination response is an essential process for reproduction. Populus alba × P. glandulosa is used widely in scientific research, especially in cross breeding as parents. Adult female P. alba × P. glandulosa flowers are highly compatible with pollen from male P. tomentosa, but the early post-pollination response of flowers at the molecular levels is unclear. In this study, RNA-seq was employed to comprehensively understand the response of female P. alba × P. glandulosa flowers to pollination. Enrichment analysis reveals that the ‘plant hormone signal transduction’ pathway is enhanced during pollen-pistil interaction. Moreover, genes related to auxin, gibberellin and ethylene biosynthesis were significantly up-regulated. Ca2+ and H+-related genes and cell wall-related genes are interrelated, and all of them are essential for pollen tube elongation in pistil, especially, free Ca2+ providing a concentration gradient for pollen tube guidance and involved in signal transduction. Furthermore, RNA-seq results indicate that genes involved in the adhesion and guidance for pollen germination and pollen tube growth are abundantly present in the extracellular matrix. Our study provides an overview and detailed information for understanding the molecular mechanism of early post-pollination response in this hybrid poplar reproduction.
Highlights
Pollination is an essential process for reproduction and generation of offspring in plants
Shufang, et al.[8] found that seed setting rate of hybridization of female P. alba and male P. alba × P. glandulosa was 80% and seed germination rate was 75.32%, and transplanting survival rate of seedlings was 57.3% that traits segregation happened in progenies.The clonal propagation is always used to maintain P. alba × P. glandulosa traits, and progeny superior clones will be selected in interspecific cross breeding
This study is focused on the process of reproduction in female flowers of this hybrid poplar using RNA-seq technology to detect plant transcriptome, which can results in a comprehensive understanding to the molecular mechanism of early post-pollination response especially during crossing breeding using this hybrid poplar as female parent
Summary
Pollination is an essential process for reproduction and generation of offspring in plants. The physiological and biochemical characteristics and morphological structures of female floral organs create certain changes to attract the pollen tube to penetrate the stylar tissue and enter the ovary. During this period, more signals are received and new responses are made in distal floral organs[1]. This study is focused on the process of reproduction in female flowers of this hybrid poplar using RNA-seq technology to detect plant transcriptome, which can results in a comprehensive understanding to the molecular mechanism of early post-pollination response especially during crossing breeding using this hybrid poplar as female parent
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