Single-nucleus RNA sequencing and mRNA hybridization indicate key bud events and LcFT1 and LcTFL1-2 mRNA transportability during floral transition in litchi.

Ming-Chao Yang, Zi-Chen Wu, Ri-Yao Chen, Farhat Abbas, Gui-Bing Hu, Xu-Ming Huang, Wei-Song Guan, Yi-Song Xu, Hui-Cong Wang

Journal of experimental botany 2023 Jun 27

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In flowering plants, floral induction signals intersect at the shoot apex to modulate meristem determinacy and growth form. Here, we report a single-nucleus RNA sequence analysis of litchi apical buds at different developmental stages. A total of 41 641 nuclei expressing 21 402 genes were analyzed, revealing 35 cell clusters corresponding to 12 broad populations. We identify genes associated with floral transition and propose a model that profiles the key events associated with litchi floral meristem identity by analyzing 567 identified floral meristem cells at single cell resolution. Interestingly, single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data indicated that all putative FT and TFL1 genes were not expressed in bud nuclei, but significant expression was detected in bud samples by RT-PCR. Based on the expression patterns and gene silencing results, we highlight the critical role of LcTFL1-2 in inhibiting flowering and propose that the LcFT1/LcTFL1-2 expression ratio may determine the success of floral transition. In addition, the transport of LcFT1 and LcTFL1-2 mRNA from the leaf to the shoot apical meristem is proposed based on in situ and dot-blot hybridization results. These findings allow a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular events during the litchi floral transition, as well as the identification of new regulators. © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Citation

Ming-Chao Yang, Zi-Chen Wu, Ri-Yao Chen, Farhat Abbas, Gui-Bing Hu, Xu-Ming Huang, Wei-Song Guan, Yi-Song Xu, Hui-Cong Wang. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing and mRNA hybridization indicate key bud events and LcFT1 and LcTFL1-2 mRNA transportability during floral transition in litchi. Journal of experimental botany. 2023 Jun 27;74(12):3613-3629