Hormone Fluctuation and Gene Expression During Early Stages of the Hickory Grafting Process
Grafting involves complex hormonal interactions at graft interfaces that are not yet fully understood. In this study, we analyzed hormone fluctuations and gene expression during callus proliferation and vascular tissue differentiation in hickory (<i>Carya cathayensis</i> Sarg.) grafts. C...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Qiaoyu Huang Haixia Liu Qinyuan Shen Huwei Yuan Fuqiang Cui Daoliang Yan Wona Ding Xiaofei Wang Bingsong Zheng |
| author_facet | Qiaoyu Huang Haixia Liu Qinyuan Shen Huwei Yuan Fuqiang Cui Daoliang Yan Wona Ding Xiaofei Wang Bingsong Zheng |
| author_sort | Qiaoyu Huang |
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| description | Grafting involves complex hormonal interactions at graft interfaces that are not yet fully understood. In this study, we analyzed hormone fluctuations and gene expression during callus proliferation and vascular tissue differentiation in hickory (<i>Carya cathayensis</i> Sarg.) grafts. Cytokinin and ethylene precursor ACC levels steadily increased after grafting. The biosynthetic genes for these hormones (<i>IPT3</i>, <i>ACS1</i>, <i>ACO1</i>, and <i>ACO5</i>) exhibited heightened expression. Genes related to cytokinin signaling (<i>RR3</i>, <i>ARR4</i>, and <i>ZFP5</i>) and ethylene signaling (<i>MKK9</i>, <i>ESE1</i>, and <i>ESE3</i>) were similarly upregulated. Conversely, genes associated with jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and strigolactone pathways were downregulated, including synthesis genes (<i>AOC4</i> and <i>AOS</i>) and those involved in signal transduction (<i>NAC3</i>, <i>WRKY51</i>, and <i>SMAX1</i>). Correspondingly, JA-Ile and 5-deoxystrigol levels significantly decreased. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels also dropped during the early stages of graft union formation. These results suggest that low auxin concentrations may be essential in the initial stages after grafting to encourage callus proliferation, followed by an increase at later stages to facilitate vascular bundle differentiation. These findings imply that maintaining a balance between low auxin levels and elevated cytokinin and ethylene levels may be critical to support cell division and callus formation during the initial proliferation phase. Later, during the vascular differentiation phase, a gradual rise in auxin levels, accompanied by elevated ethylene, may facilitate the differentiation of vascular bundles in hickory grafts. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-a23e22b2e25548dcb8f1e620ae8d16872025-08-20T03:56:47ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011414222910.3390/plants14142229Hormone Fluctuation and Gene Expression During Early Stages of the Hickory Grafting ProcessQiaoyu Huang0Haixia Liu1Qinyuan Shen2Huwei Yuan3Fuqiang Cui4Daoliang Yan5Wona Ding6Xiaofei Wang7Bingsong Zheng8National Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaCollege of Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315300, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaGrafting involves complex hormonal interactions at graft interfaces that are not yet fully understood. In this study, we analyzed hormone fluctuations and gene expression during callus proliferation and vascular tissue differentiation in hickory (<i>Carya cathayensis</i> Sarg.) grafts. Cytokinin and ethylene precursor ACC levels steadily increased after grafting. The biosynthetic genes for these hormones (<i>IPT3</i>, <i>ACS1</i>, <i>ACO1</i>, and <i>ACO5</i>) exhibited heightened expression. Genes related to cytokinin signaling (<i>RR3</i>, <i>ARR4</i>, and <i>ZFP5</i>) and ethylene signaling (<i>MKK9</i>, <i>ESE1</i>, and <i>ESE3</i>) were similarly upregulated. Conversely, genes associated with jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and strigolactone pathways were downregulated, including synthesis genes (<i>AOC4</i> and <i>AOS</i>) and those involved in signal transduction (<i>NAC3</i>, <i>WRKY51</i>, and <i>SMAX1</i>). Correspondingly, JA-Ile and 5-deoxystrigol levels significantly decreased. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels also dropped during the early stages of graft union formation. These results suggest that low auxin concentrations may be essential in the initial stages after grafting to encourage callus proliferation, followed by an increase at later stages to facilitate vascular bundle differentiation. These findings imply that maintaining a balance between low auxin levels and elevated cytokinin and ethylene levels may be critical to support cell division and callus formation during the initial proliferation phase. Later, during the vascular differentiation phase, a gradual rise in auxin levels, accompanied by elevated ethylene, may facilitate the differentiation of vascular bundles in hickory grafts.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2229hormonal crosstalkcallus proliferationvascular differentiationgraft union formation |
| spellingShingle | Qiaoyu Huang Haixia Liu Qinyuan Shen Huwei Yuan Fuqiang Cui Daoliang Yan Wona Ding Xiaofei Wang Bingsong Zheng Hormone Fluctuation and Gene Expression During Early Stages of the Hickory Grafting Process Plants hormonal crosstalk callus proliferation vascular differentiation graft union formation |
| title | Hormone Fluctuation and Gene Expression During Early Stages of the Hickory Grafting Process |
| title_full | Hormone Fluctuation and Gene Expression During Early Stages of the Hickory Grafting Process |
| title_fullStr | Hormone Fluctuation and Gene Expression During Early Stages of the Hickory Grafting Process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hormone Fluctuation and Gene Expression During Early Stages of the Hickory Grafting Process |
| title_short | Hormone Fluctuation and Gene Expression During Early Stages of the Hickory Grafting Process |
| title_sort | hormone fluctuation and gene expression during early stages of the hickory grafting process |
| topic | hormonal crosstalk callus proliferation vascular differentiation graft union formation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2229 |
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