Metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense

Abstract In this study, we aimed to investigate the heat tolerance mechanism in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense (Rhl). Rhl seedlings were treated at 40℃ (RLH), 32℃ (RLM), and 24℃ (RLC), and the changes in transcriptome and metabolome were compared. Overall, 78 differentially expressed meta...

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Main Authors: Yonghui Li, Xufeng Li, Mengxin Lei, Junwang Han, Ziming Huang, Kai Zhang, Yifan Yang, Ning Yang, Xiangli Yu, Xiaojun Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06305-3
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author Yonghui Li
Xufeng Li
Mengxin Lei
Junwang Han
Ziming Huang
Kai Zhang
Yifan Yang
Ning Yang
Xiangli Yu
Xiaojun Zhou
author_facet Yonghui Li
Xufeng Li
Mengxin Lei
Junwang Han
Ziming Huang
Kai Zhang
Yifan Yang
Ning Yang
Xiangli Yu
Xiaojun Zhou
author_sort Yonghui Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In this study, we aimed to investigate the heat tolerance mechanism in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense (Rhl). Rhl seedlings were treated at 40℃ (RLH), 32℃ (RLM), and 24℃ (RLC), and the changes in transcriptome and metabolome were compared. Overall, 78 differentially expressed metabolites were detected, and 8450 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. KEGG analysis revealed that the DEGs in RLH vs. RLC were mainly enriched in photosynthesis, secondary metabolic biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. Most genes encoding glutathione-S-transferase were upregulated, whereas genes related to heat shock proteins were significantly downregulated. 31 genes related to photosynthesis were significantly upregulated (P-value < 0.001). It was speculated that these DEGs are related to the response of Rhl to high temperature stress (HTS). Overall, 9 TF families might be the key regulators of Heat stress response pathways in Rhl. Mining of DEGs revealed that the expression of some genes related to heat stress function increased highly significantly, e.g., the Rhe008987 related to Glutathione-S-transferase, Rhe016769 encoding peroxidase, and Rhe001827 encoding chalcone and stilbene synthases. Metabolome and transcriptome correlation analysis revealed that three comparison groups (RLH vs. RLC, RLH vs. RLM, and RLM vs. RLC) shared 12 metabolic pathways in which the DEMs were enriched. HTS inhibited or induced expression of genes in flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and led to decreace in kaempferol content and quercetin accumulation. HT induced expression of genes in ABC pathway, which may be one of the reasons for the significant accumulation of L-isoleucine, L-leucine, and L-proline. In this study, DEGs mining found that the expression of some genes related to heat stress function increased highly significantly. And two omics correlation analysis revealed that 12 metabolic pathways were enriched in three comparison groups. These results helped in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of response of Rhl to HTS.
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spelling doaj-art-e9d0125e674b45c1a34da7269073da912025-08-20T03:05:57ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-03-0125111810.1186/s12870-025-06305-3Metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoenseYonghui Li0Xufeng Li1Mengxin Lei2Junwang Han3Ziming Huang4Kai Zhang5Yifan Yang6Ning Yang7Xiangli Yu8Xiaojun Zhou9School of Life Sciences, Luoyang Normal UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Luoyang Normal UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Luoyang Normal UniversityHenan Xiaoqinling National Nature Reserve Management BureauSchool of Life Sciences, Luoyang Normal UniversityHenan Xiaoqinling National Nature Reserve Management BureauHenan Xiaoqinling National Nature Reserve Management BureauSchool of Life Sciences, Luoyang Normal UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Luoyang Normal UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Luoyang Normal UniversityAbstract In this study, we aimed to investigate the heat tolerance mechanism in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense (Rhl). Rhl seedlings were treated at 40℃ (RLH), 32℃ (RLM), and 24℃ (RLC), and the changes in transcriptome and metabolome were compared. Overall, 78 differentially expressed metabolites were detected, and 8450 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. KEGG analysis revealed that the DEGs in RLH vs. RLC were mainly enriched in photosynthesis, secondary metabolic biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. Most genes encoding glutathione-S-transferase were upregulated, whereas genes related to heat shock proteins were significantly downregulated. 31 genes related to photosynthesis were significantly upregulated (P-value < 0.001). It was speculated that these DEGs are related to the response of Rhl to high temperature stress (HTS). Overall, 9 TF families might be the key regulators of Heat stress response pathways in Rhl. Mining of DEGs revealed that the expression of some genes related to heat stress function increased highly significantly, e.g., the Rhe008987 related to Glutathione-S-transferase, Rhe016769 encoding peroxidase, and Rhe001827 encoding chalcone and stilbene synthases. Metabolome and transcriptome correlation analysis revealed that three comparison groups (RLH vs. RLC, RLH vs. RLM, and RLM vs. RLC) shared 12 metabolic pathways in which the DEMs were enriched. HTS inhibited or induced expression of genes in flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and led to decreace in kaempferol content and quercetin accumulation. HT induced expression of genes in ABC pathway, which may be one of the reasons for the significant accumulation of L-isoleucine, L-leucine, and L-proline. In this study, DEGs mining found that the expression of some genes related to heat stress function increased highly significantly. And two omics correlation analysis revealed that 12 metabolic pathways were enriched in three comparison groups. These results helped in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of response of Rhl to HTS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06305-3Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoenseHigh-temperature stressTranscriptomeMetabolomeFlavonoid biosynthesisTranscriptome sequencing
spellingShingle Yonghui Li
Xufeng Li
Mengxin Lei
Junwang Han
Ziming Huang
Kai Zhang
Yifan Yang
Ning Yang
Xiangli Yu
Xiaojun Zhou
Metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense
BMC Plant Biology
Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense
High-temperature stress
Transcriptome
Metabolome
Flavonoid biosynthesis
Transcriptome sequencing
title Metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense
title_full Metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense
title_fullStr Metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense
title_full_unstemmed Metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense
title_short Metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense
title_sort metabolome and transcriptome analyses for explore heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in rhododendron henanense subsp lingbaoense
topic Rhododendron henanense subsp. lingbaoense
High-temperature stress
Transcriptome
Metabolome
Flavonoid biosynthesis
Transcriptome sequencing
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06305-3
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