PRJNA797535
Comparative analysis of two species of garlic seedlings: qualities and transcriptional landscape
Allium is composed of more than 920, species some of which are economically important vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. With the increasing demand for the yield and quality of allium plants, facility cultivation is widely applied. Light intensity and light quality become one of the limiting factors for yield and quality. However, the molecular mechanisms of how light changes affect development and quality are still unclear in allium. Garlic seedlings and blanched garlic seedlings are two kinds of important vegetables, spice, and medicinal crops in China. Blanched garlic seedlings that could ameliorate exterior quality, modify the biosynthetic process of bioactive constituents, and better flavor are produced by treating garlic seedlings under dark or weak light conditions (blanching culture). Therefore, garlic seedlings and blanched garlic seedlings are good materials to study the effect of light intensity and light quality on the quality and yield of Allium. In this study, 12-day old garlic seedlings and blanched garlic seedlings were used to compare the qualities and transcriptome profiles and to detect the molecular mechanism responsible for garlic seedlings' light and black signals. The findings revealed that the content of SOD, chlorophyll, carotenol, soluble sugar, vitamin C, and allicin was lower in the blanched garlic seedlings, but the soluble protein content of blanched garlic seedlings was higher than garlic seedlings. Transcriptome analysis identified 5783 differentially expressed genes, including genes involved in auxin responses, JA synthesis, allicin biosynthesis, plant-pathogen interaction pathway, and cell elongation pathways. Grouping transcription factor family genes identified multiple types of transcription factors that are differentially expressed in garlic seedlings and blanched garlic seedlings. This study increases our understanding of the regulatory network of the blanching culture in the garlic seedlings and provides a useful resource for blanched garlic seedlings genetics and cultivation.