Comparative physiological and cytological analysis, and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stems
Abstract Background The abnormal chloroplast and pigment accumulation could lead to plant yellowing. However, the plant tissue chlorisis is species-specific and could display various phenotypes due to the genetic and environmental impacts. The molecular mechanisms underlying the plant stem yellowing...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06673-w |
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| author | Liting Deng Jianning Luo Haibin Wu Xiaoxi Liu Gangjun Zhao Hao Gong Xiaoming Zheng Chaoqun Ni Xueting Wang Junxing Li |
| author_facet | Liting Deng Jianning Luo Haibin Wu Xiaoxi Liu Gangjun Zhao Hao Gong Xiaoming Zheng Chaoqun Ni Xueting Wang Junxing Li |
| author_sort | Liting Deng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The abnormal chloroplast and pigment accumulation could lead to plant yellowing. However, the plant tissue chlorisis is species-specific and could display various phenotypes due to the genetic and environmental impacts. The molecular mechanisms underlying the plant stem yellowing are less understood than the flower or leaf coloring mechanisms. Herein, the physiological, cytological, transcriptome analysis, along with genome-wide association study (GWAS) were integrated to illustrate the processes relevant to pumpkin stem coloring. Results Similar yet different variations were discovered in the pumpkin yellow stems. Low content of photosynthetic pigments, and impaired chloroplast thylakoid membrane were identified in the pumpkin yellowing stems, together with the presence of plastoglobules and starch grains. Elevated expression of genes in catabolism of chlorophylls and carotenoids was found in yellow stems, which may result in the failed accumulation of pigments and pumpkin stem chlorisis. Concurrently, increased expression of genes in chloroplast development, antioxidant protection, photosynthesis, and ribosome were found, which may act as compensation mechanisms for chloroplast defects. The integrated analysis of transcriptome and GWAS identified the up-regulated proteases and decreased kinesins in yellow stems, which could result in the breakdown of thylakoid systems, and the disability of photosynthetic pigments accumulation. Additionally, transcription factors could be involved in the regulation of the specific color change in pumpkin stems. Conclusions These findings provide clues into the molecular mechanisms of stem yellowing, and will facilitate the exploration of candidate targets as markers or genetic improvement through molecular breeding. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a751c90feb4d4352a7e2d37fe166b330 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a751c90feb4d4352a7e2d37fe166b3302025-08-20T01:52:22ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111710.1186/s12870-025-06673-wComparative physiological and cytological analysis, and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stemsLiting Deng0Jianning Luo1Haibin Wu2Xiaoxi Liu3Gangjun Zhao4Hao Gong5Xiaoming Zheng6Chaoqun Ni7Xueting Wang8Junxing Li9Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesAbstract Background The abnormal chloroplast and pigment accumulation could lead to plant yellowing. However, the plant tissue chlorisis is species-specific and could display various phenotypes due to the genetic and environmental impacts. The molecular mechanisms underlying the plant stem yellowing are less understood than the flower or leaf coloring mechanisms. Herein, the physiological, cytological, transcriptome analysis, along with genome-wide association study (GWAS) were integrated to illustrate the processes relevant to pumpkin stem coloring. Results Similar yet different variations were discovered in the pumpkin yellow stems. Low content of photosynthetic pigments, and impaired chloroplast thylakoid membrane were identified in the pumpkin yellowing stems, together with the presence of plastoglobules and starch grains. Elevated expression of genes in catabolism of chlorophylls and carotenoids was found in yellow stems, which may result in the failed accumulation of pigments and pumpkin stem chlorisis. Concurrently, increased expression of genes in chloroplast development, antioxidant protection, photosynthesis, and ribosome were found, which may act as compensation mechanisms for chloroplast defects. The integrated analysis of transcriptome and GWAS identified the up-regulated proteases and decreased kinesins in yellow stems, which could result in the breakdown of thylakoid systems, and the disability of photosynthetic pigments accumulation. Additionally, transcription factors could be involved in the regulation of the specific color change in pumpkin stems. Conclusions These findings provide clues into the molecular mechanisms of stem yellowing, and will facilitate the exploration of candidate targets as markers or genetic improvement through molecular breeding.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06673-wPumpkinChlorisisChloroplastChlorophyllCarotenoidPhotosynthesis |
| spellingShingle | Liting Deng Jianning Luo Haibin Wu Xiaoxi Liu Gangjun Zhao Hao Gong Xiaoming Zheng Chaoqun Ni Xueting Wang Junxing Li Comparative physiological and cytological analysis, and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stems BMC Plant Biology Pumpkin Chlorisis Chloroplast Chlorophyll Carotenoid Photosynthesis |
| title | Comparative physiological and cytological analysis, and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stems |
| title_full | Comparative physiological and cytological analysis, and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stems |
| title_fullStr | Comparative physiological and cytological analysis, and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative physiological and cytological analysis, and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stems |
| title_short | Comparative physiological and cytological analysis, and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stems |
| title_sort | comparative physiological and cytological analysis and omics approach provide clues to the coloring mechanism of the pumpkin yellow stems |
| topic | Pumpkin Chlorisis Chloroplast Chlorophyll Carotenoid Photosynthesis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06673-w |
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