Combined analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with coloration and wax formation during ‘Fumei’ Apple development

Abstract ‘Fumei’ apple is characterized by high anthocyanin content and thick wax layer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in the growth and development of various plants via regulation of gene expression. This study explored the potential mechanism underlying anthocyanin accumulat...

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Main Authors: Wenping Huo, Shasha Liu, Xiao Chen, Tingting Gu, Zhongkang Wang, Xiaolong Xu, Daliang Liu, Yugang Zhang, Shenghui Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06545-3
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author Wenping Huo
Shasha Liu
Xiao Chen
Tingting Gu
Zhongkang Wang
Xiaolong Xu
Daliang Liu
Yugang Zhang
Shenghui Jiang
author_facet Wenping Huo
Shasha Liu
Xiao Chen
Tingting Gu
Zhongkang Wang
Xiaolong Xu
Daliang Liu
Yugang Zhang
Shenghui Jiang
author_sort Wenping Huo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract ‘Fumei’ apple is characterized by high anthocyanin content and thick wax layer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in the growth and development of various plants via regulation of gene expression. This study explored the potential mechanism underlying anthocyanin accumulation and cuticular wax formation during the development of ‘Fumei’ apple fruit. The results demonstrated that anthocyanin accumulation correlates with fruit coloration, while wax content drives wax layer formation. A total of 6039 and 3410 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), as well as 230 and 131 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were identified in the M1/M2 and M2/M3 pairs, respectively, by using RNA-seq. In the M1/M2 pair, the DEGs were mainly enriched in the ‘photosynthesis’ and ‘flavonoid biosynthesis’ pathways; in the M2/M3 pair, the DEGs were significantly enriched in the ‘photosynthesis’ and ‘cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis’ pathways. Furthermore, the structural and regulatory genes involved in anthocyanin and cuticular wax biosynthesis were investigated, and the potential lncRNAs and genes that may control the anthocyanin and cuticular wax biosynthesis were identified. This study provides candidate lncRNAs and potential regulatory genes associated with both the regulation of anthocyanins and wax during apple development.
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issn 1471-2229
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spelling doaj-art-225682e3f3874b478dcbe347cbed44b62025-08-20T02:30:22ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-04-0125111410.1186/s12870-025-06545-3Combined analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with coloration and wax formation during ‘Fumei’ Apple developmentWenping Huo0Shasha Liu1Xiao Chen2Tingting Gu3Zhongkang Wang4Xiaolong Xu5Daliang Liu6Yugang Zhang7Shenghui Jiang8College of Horticulture, Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityCollege of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityCollege of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shandong Agriculture And Engineering UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityAbstract ‘Fumei’ apple is characterized by high anthocyanin content and thick wax layer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in the growth and development of various plants via regulation of gene expression. This study explored the potential mechanism underlying anthocyanin accumulation and cuticular wax formation during the development of ‘Fumei’ apple fruit. The results demonstrated that anthocyanin accumulation correlates with fruit coloration, while wax content drives wax layer formation. A total of 6039 and 3410 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), as well as 230 and 131 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were identified in the M1/M2 and M2/M3 pairs, respectively, by using RNA-seq. In the M1/M2 pair, the DEGs were mainly enriched in the ‘photosynthesis’ and ‘flavonoid biosynthesis’ pathways; in the M2/M3 pair, the DEGs were significantly enriched in the ‘photosynthesis’ and ‘cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis’ pathways. Furthermore, the structural and regulatory genes involved in anthocyanin and cuticular wax biosynthesis were investigated, and the potential lncRNAs and genes that may control the anthocyanin and cuticular wax biosynthesis were identified. This study provides candidate lncRNAs and potential regulatory genes associated with both the regulation of anthocyanins and wax during apple development.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06545-3AppleAnthocyaninWaxlncRNAs
spellingShingle Wenping Huo
Shasha Liu
Xiao Chen
Tingting Gu
Zhongkang Wang
Xiaolong Xu
Daliang Liu
Yugang Zhang
Shenghui Jiang
Combined analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with coloration and wax formation during ‘Fumei’ Apple development
BMC Plant Biology
Apple
Anthocyanin
Wax
lncRNAs
title Combined analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with coloration and wax formation during ‘Fumei’ Apple development
title_full Combined analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with coloration and wax formation during ‘Fumei’ Apple development
title_fullStr Combined analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with coloration and wax formation during ‘Fumei’ Apple development
title_full_unstemmed Combined analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with coloration and wax formation during ‘Fumei’ Apple development
title_short Combined analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with coloration and wax formation during ‘Fumei’ Apple development
title_sort combined analysis of lncrnas and mrnas associated with coloration and wax formation during fumei apple development
topic Apple
Anthocyanin
Wax
lncRNAs
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06545-3
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