The Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Signaling for Bamboo Shoot Development of Sympodial Bamboo

Bamboo is a member of the Poaceae family and serves as an important economic resource with various applications, including reforestation, food production, and environmental conservation, due to its rapid growth and renewable nature. Among its various uses, bamboo shoots stand out for their tender te...

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Main Authors: Shunkai Hu, Mengran Dong, Qirong Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1647
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author Shunkai Hu
Mengran Dong
Qirong Guo
author_facet Shunkai Hu
Mengran Dong
Qirong Guo
author_sort Shunkai Hu
collection DOAJ
description Bamboo is a member of the Poaceae family and serves as an important economic resource with various applications, including reforestation, food production, and environmental conservation, due to its rapid growth and renewable nature. Among its various uses, bamboo shoots stand out for their tender texture and delicate flavor, making them a highly sought-after culinary delicacy in many cultures and a key ingredient in global food industries. Despite extensive research on the development of monopodial bamboos, studies focused on the developmental processes of sympodial bamboos, especially regarding their culinary potential, remain limited. This study conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of sympodial bamboo (<i>Bambusa</i> sp.) across six developmental stages (S1–S6) to uncover the molecular regulatory networks governing early bamboo shoot development. The results revealed that 1603 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across S1–S6 were enriched in multiple key pathways, with the most significant being plant hormone signaling, MAPK signaling, and Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis pathways. Co-expression clustering analysis indicated that the Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis pathway plays a crucial role during the later stages of bamboo shoot development (S5–S6), impacting its texture and flavor—two critical factors determining its culinary quality. Further Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) highlighted the significant role of the MAPK signaling pathway during early bamboo shoot development and identified key hub genes (<i>MKK</i>, <i>MPK</i>, <i>MEKK</i>) within this pathway, emphasizing their importance in cell division and hormonal coordination. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid growth and exceptional flavor of bamboo shoots and lays the foundation for the genetic improvement of bamboo as a sustainable and nutritious food source, enhancing its value as a premium food ingredient in the global market.
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spelling doaj-art-58bbb74b6a61412ebc8eff65ebb892bc2025-08-20T01:49:20ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-05-01149164710.3390/foods14091647The Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Signaling for Bamboo Shoot Development of Sympodial BambooShunkai Hu0Mengran Dong1Qirong Guo2Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaBamboo is a member of the Poaceae family and serves as an important economic resource with various applications, including reforestation, food production, and environmental conservation, due to its rapid growth and renewable nature. Among its various uses, bamboo shoots stand out for their tender texture and delicate flavor, making them a highly sought-after culinary delicacy in many cultures and a key ingredient in global food industries. Despite extensive research on the development of monopodial bamboos, studies focused on the developmental processes of sympodial bamboos, especially regarding their culinary potential, remain limited. This study conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of sympodial bamboo (<i>Bambusa</i> sp.) across six developmental stages (S1–S6) to uncover the molecular regulatory networks governing early bamboo shoot development. The results revealed that 1603 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across S1–S6 were enriched in multiple key pathways, with the most significant being plant hormone signaling, MAPK signaling, and Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis pathways. Co-expression clustering analysis indicated that the Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis pathway plays a crucial role during the later stages of bamboo shoot development (S5–S6), impacting its texture and flavor—two critical factors determining its culinary quality. Further Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) highlighted the significant role of the MAPK signaling pathway during early bamboo shoot development and identified key hub genes (<i>MKK</i>, <i>MPK</i>, <i>MEKK</i>) within this pathway, emphasizing their importance in cell division and hormonal coordination. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid growth and exceptional flavor of bamboo shoots and lays the foundation for the genetic improvement of bamboo as a sustainable and nutritious food source, enhancing its value as a premium food ingredient in the global market.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1647sympodial bamboobamboo shoot developmenttranscriptomesignaling pathway
spellingShingle Shunkai Hu
Mengran Dong
Qirong Guo
The Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Signaling for Bamboo Shoot Development of Sympodial Bamboo
Foods
sympodial bamboo
bamboo shoot development
transcriptome
signaling pathway
title The Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Signaling for Bamboo Shoot Development of Sympodial Bamboo
title_full The Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Signaling for Bamboo Shoot Development of Sympodial Bamboo
title_fullStr The Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Signaling for Bamboo Shoot Development of Sympodial Bamboo
title_full_unstemmed The Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Signaling for Bamboo Shoot Development of Sympodial Bamboo
title_short The Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Signaling for Bamboo Shoot Development of Sympodial Bamboo
title_sort transcriptome analysis provides new insights into signaling for bamboo shoot development of sympodial bamboo
topic sympodial bamboo
bamboo shoot development
transcriptome
signaling pathway
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1647
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