Identification of the related genes on the asymmetric root growth of Oryza sativa induced by ethylene through transcriptome sequencing, GO and KEGG analysis

Ethylene (ETH) can induce asymmetric root growth (ARG) in plants to form waves and coiling, which can be eliminated by the ETH perception antagonist silver thiosulfate (STS), indicating that this process depends on the ETH signal transduction. Nevertheless, the related genes have not been reported. In this study, different concentrations of ethephon (ETP) or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) were applied to explore the optimal concentration for inducing the ARG of Oryza sativa. On this basis, five treatments (Water, ETP, ETP + STS, ACC, ACC + STS) were set up. Then, transcriptome sequencing, GO and KEGG analysis were used to identify the genes related to ETH-induced ARG. Finally, 1533 DEGs were screened. Among them, 43 were involved in phytohormone signaling transduction and 26 were phytohormone synthase genes. Meanwhile, 13 DEGs could regulate the polar auxin transport (PAT) and affect the tropism of roots, including the auxin influx carrier gene OsAUX2; five ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family genes OsABCB4, OsABCB8, OsABCB15, OsABCB17, OsABCB21; 2 histidine kinase genes OsHK3, OsHK5; 4 flavonoid biosynthesis genes OsCHI/OsTT5, OsFLS, OsHCT1, OsCYP75B3; and the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase gene OsWAV3. These 13 DEGs were all up-regulated by ETH. Besides, the receptor-like kinase (RLK) gene Oryza sativa Root Meander Curling (OsRMC), a negative regulator of jasmonic acid-induced ARG, was also up-regulated in ETH. The results obtained here provide a first step toward understanding the molecular mechanisms of ETH-induced ARG.

Automated summary

In this study, the genes related to ethylene-induced asymmetric root growth (ARG) were identified using transcriptome sequencing and analysis. A total of 1533 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened, with 43 involved in phytohormone signaling transduction and 26 being phytohormone synthase genes. Additionally, 13 DEGs were found to regulate polar auxin transport (PAT) and affect root tropism, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of ethylene-induced ARG.