Identification of miRNAs and Target Genes at Key Stages of Sexual Differentiation in Androdioecious <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i>
Androdioecy is the crucial transition state in the evolutionary direction of hermaphroditism to dioecy, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of this sex system remain unclear. While popular in China for its ornamental and cultural value, <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> ha...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/18/10386 |
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| author | Cheng Zhang Kailu Zhang Zihan Chai Yanfeng Song Xianrong Wang Yifan Duan Min Zhang |
| author_facet | Cheng Zhang Kailu Zhang Zihan Chai Yanfeng Song Xianrong Wang Yifan Duan Min Zhang |
| author_sort | Cheng Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Androdioecy is the crucial transition state in the evolutionary direction of hermaphroditism to dioecy, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of this sex system remain unclear. While popular in China for its ornamental and cultural value, <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> has an extremely rare androdioecy breeding system, meaning that there are both male and hermaphroditic plants in a population. To unravel the mechanisms underlying the formation of androdioecy, we performed small RNA sequencing studies on male and hermaphroditic <i>O. fragrans</i>. A total of 334 miRNAs were identified, of which 59 were differentially expressed. Functional categorization revealed that the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly involved in the biological processes of reproductive development and the hormone signal transduction pathway. We speculated that the miRNA160, miRNA167, miRNA393 and miRNA396 families may influence the sex differentiation in <i>O. fragrans</i>. Overall, our study is the first exploration of miRNAs in the growth and development process of <i>O. fragrans</i>, and is also the first study of androdioecious plants from the miRNA sequencing perspective. The analysis of miRNAs and target genes that may be involved in the sex differentiation process lay a foundation for the ultimate discovery of the androdioecious molecular mechanism in <i>O. fragrans</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:47:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a14e41e3516f43969dafabf901e57e29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:47:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a14e41e3516f43969dafabf901e57e292023-11-23T16:40:56ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-09-0123181038610.3390/ijms231810386Identification of miRNAs and Target Genes at Key Stages of Sexual Differentiation in Androdioecious <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i>Cheng Zhang0Kailu Zhang1Zihan Chai2Yanfeng Song3Xianrong Wang4Yifan Duan5Min Zhang6Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, International Cultivar Registration Center for Osmanthus, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, International Cultivar Registration Center for Osmanthus, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, International Cultivar Registration Center for Osmanthus, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, International Cultivar Registration Center for Osmanthus, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, International Cultivar Registration Center for Osmanthus, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, International Cultivar Registration Center for Osmanthus, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCo-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, International Cultivar Registration Center for Osmanthus, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaAndrodioecy is the crucial transition state in the evolutionary direction of hermaphroditism to dioecy, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of this sex system remain unclear. While popular in China for its ornamental and cultural value, <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> has an extremely rare androdioecy breeding system, meaning that there are both male and hermaphroditic plants in a population. To unravel the mechanisms underlying the formation of androdioecy, we performed small RNA sequencing studies on male and hermaphroditic <i>O. fragrans</i>. A total of 334 miRNAs were identified, of which 59 were differentially expressed. Functional categorization revealed that the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly involved in the biological processes of reproductive development and the hormone signal transduction pathway. We speculated that the miRNA160, miRNA167, miRNA393 and miRNA396 families may influence the sex differentiation in <i>O. fragrans</i>. Overall, our study is the first exploration of miRNAs in the growth and development process of <i>O. fragrans</i>, and is also the first study of androdioecious plants from the miRNA sequencing perspective. The analysis of miRNAs and target genes that may be involved in the sex differentiation process lay a foundation for the ultimate discovery of the androdioecious molecular mechanism in <i>O. fragrans</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/18/10386androdioecy<i>Osmanthus fragrans</i>miRNAsgynoeciumsex differentiation |
| spellingShingle | Cheng Zhang Kailu Zhang Zihan Chai Yanfeng Song Xianrong Wang Yifan Duan Min Zhang Identification of miRNAs and Target Genes at Key Stages of Sexual Differentiation in Androdioecious <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> International Journal of Molecular Sciences androdioecy <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> miRNAs gynoecium sex differentiation |
| title | Identification of miRNAs and Target Genes at Key Stages of Sexual Differentiation in Androdioecious <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> |
| title_full | Identification of miRNAs and Target Genes at Key Stages of Sexual Differentiation in Androdioecious <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> |
| title_fullStr | Identification of miRNAs and Target Genes at Key Stages of Sexual Differentiation in Androdioecious <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of miRNAs and Target Genes at Key Stages of Sexual Differentiation in Androdioecious <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> |
| title_short | Identification of miRNAs and Target Genes at Key Stages of Sexual Differentiation in Androdioecious <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> |
| title_sort | identification of mirnas and target genes at key stages of sexual differentiation in androdioecious i osmanthus fragrans i |
| topic | androdioecy <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> miRNAs gynoecium sex differentiation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/18/10386 |
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