Global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process: insights from the iconic seagrass Zostera marina L

Seagrasses are the only group of higher angiosperms capable of fully living in seawater, playing a significant role in plant evolutionary history. However, studies on the molecular regulatory networks underlying sexual reproduction in seagrasses remain limited. This study evaluated the morphological...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yu Zhang, Shidong Yue, Xinhua Wang, Mingjie Liu, Shaochun Xu, Xiaomei Zhang, Yi Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1545658/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850036156485337088
author Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
author_facet Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
author_sort Yu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Seagrasses are the only group of higher angiosperms capable of fully living in seawater, playing a significant role in plant evolutionary history. However, studies on the molecular regulatory networks underlying sexual reproduction in seagrasses remain limited. This study evaluated the morphological changes of the spathe during eelgrass sexual reproduction and analyzed global transcriptome dynamics across eight sequential stages. The key findings are as follows:(1) Key flowering integrators such as FT, SOC1, AP1, and LFY exhibited high expression levels during the early stages, indicating their involvement in the induction of eelgrass flowering, consistent with terrestrial plants. (2) Based on the classical model of floral organ development in terrestrial plants – the “ABCDE model, genes related to the development of stamens, carpels, and ovules of eelgrass, including B-, C-, D-, and E-class genes, were identified. (3) Photosynthesis was temporarily suppressed after the initiation of sexual reproduction, and gradually resumed during the seed development stage, suggesting that the developed seed may perform photosynthesis. The Fv/Fm value (0.641 ± 0.028) of seeds at the developed seed stage further indicated that these seeds are indeed capable of photosynthesis. These findings provide important insights into the potential mechanisms underlying seagrass sexual reproduction and enrich knowledge of its reproductive genetics.
format Article
id doaj-art-5dd1d937b3234e64b080ba53bd8145f6
institution DOAJ
issn 1664-462X
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-5dd1d937b3234e64b080ba53bd8145f62025-08-20T02:57:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-03-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15456581545658Global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process: insights from the iconic seagrass Zostera marina LYu Zhang0Yu Zhang1Yu Zhang2Yu Zhang3Shidong Yue4Shidong Yue5Shidong Yue6Shidong Yue7Xinhua Wang8Xinhua Wang9Xinhua Wang10Xinhua Wang11Mingjie Liu12Mingjie Liu13Mingjie Liu14Mingjie Liu15Shaochun Xu16Shaochun Xu17Shaochun Xu18Shaochun Xu19Xiaomei Zhang20Xiaomei Zhang21Xiaomei Zhang22Xiaomei Zhang23Yi Zhou24Yi Zhou25Yi Zhou26Yi Zhou27Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaField Scientific Observation and Research Station of Yellow-Bohai Sea Temperate Seagrass Bed Ecosystems, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaField Scientific Observation and Research Station of Yellow-Bohai Sea Temperate Seagrass Bed Ecosystems, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaField Scientific Observation and Research Station of Yellow-Bohai Sea Temperate Seagrass Bed Ecosystems, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaField Scientific Observation and Research Station of Yellow-Bohai Sea Temperate Seagrass Bed Ecosystems, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaField Scientific Observation and Research Station of Yellow-Bohai Sea Temperate Seagrass Bed Ecosystems, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaField Scientific Observation and Research Station of Yellow-Bohai Sea Temperate Seagrass Bed Ecosystems, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaField Scientific Observation and Research Station of Yellow-Bohai Sea Temperate Seagrass Bed Ecosystems, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSeagrasses are the only group of higher angiosperms capable of fully living in seawater, playing a significant role in plant evolutionary history. However, studies on the molecular regulatory networks underlying sexual reproduction in seagrasses remain limited. This study evaluated the morphological changes of the spathe during eelgrass sexual reproduction and analyzed global transcriptome dynamics across eight sequential stages. The key findings are as follows:(1) Key flowering integrators such as FT, SOC1, AP1, and LFY exhibited high expression levels during the early stages, indicating their involvement in the induction of eelgrass flowering, consistent with terrestrial plants. (2) Based on the classical model of floral organ development in terrestrial plants – the “ABCDE model, genes related to the development of stamens, carpels, and ovules of eelgrass, including B-, C-, D-, and E-class genes, were identified. (3) Photosynthesis was temporarily suppressed after the initiation of sexual reproduction, and gradually resumed during the seed development stage, suggesting that the developed seed may perform photosynthesis. The Fv/Fm value (0.641 ± 0.028) of seeds at the developed seed stage further indicated that these seeds are indeed capable of photosynthesis. These findings provide important insights into the potential mechanisms underlying seagrass sexual reproduction and enrich knowledge of its reproductive genetics.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1545658/fullseagrassZostera marinasexual reproductionflowering processseed developmentcomparative transcriptomics
spellingShingle Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Shidong Yue
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Xinhua Wang
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Mingjie Liu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Shaochun Xu
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Xiaomei Zhang
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
Yi Zhou
Global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process: insights from the iconic seagrass Zostera marina L
Frontiers in Plant Science
seagrass
Zostera marina
sexual reproduction
flowering process
seed development
comparative transcriptomics
title Global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process: insights from the iconic seagrass Zostera marina L
title_full Global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process: insights from the iconic seagrass Zostera marina L
title_fullStr Global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process: insights from the iconic seagrass Zostera marina L
title_full_unstemmed Global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process: insights from the iconic seagrass Zostera marina L
title_short Global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process: insights from the iconic seagrass Zostera marina L
title_sort global transcriptome dynamics of seagrass flowering and seed development process insights from the iconic seagrass zostera marina l
topic seagrass
Zostera marina
sexual reproduction
flowering process
seed development
comparative transcriptomics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1545658/full
work_keys_str_mv AT yuzhang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT yuzhang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT yuzhang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT yuzhang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT shidongyue globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT shidongyue globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT shidongyue globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT shidongyue globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT xinhuawang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT xinhuawang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT xinhuawang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT xinhuawang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT mingjieliu globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT mingjieliu globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT mingjieliu globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT mingjieliu globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT shaochunxu globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT shaochunxu globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT shaochunxu globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT shaochunxu globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT xiaomeizhang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT xiaomeizhang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT xiaomeizhang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT xiaomeizhang globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT yizhou globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT yizhou globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT yizhou globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal
AT yizhou globaltranscriptomedynamicsofseagrassfloweringandseeddevelopmentprocessinsightsfromtheiconicseagrasszosteramarinal