Transcriptome Analysis of Camellia reticulata Nectary in Two Development Stages

PurposeThe component of production secreted by nectary is regulated by the nectary gene. And the chemical component of nectar can directly affect the attraction for pollinator. This study was undertaken to reveal the change of gene expression profile of nectary in developing and secreting process.

MethodsThe high-throughput Illumina Hiseq sequencing platform was used to investigate the transcriptome of nectary on the bud phase and nectary on the fifth day after anthesis. The sequencing data were subsequently analyzed to help reveal the change of gene expression profile in developing and secreting process.

Result58 488 differentially expressed genes were detected in nectary developing and secreting process. After screening 1 602 up-regulated genes and 693 down-regulated genes were obtained. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that 3 096 DEGs were involved in biological processes, the enrichment DEGs participated in biological regulation, cellular process and metabolic process. Meanwhile, 1 280 DEGs could be mapped as functional molecule, the enrichment DEGs involved in binding, catalytic activity and transporter activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that 2 147 DEGs were involved in 292 different metabolic pathways, which enriched larger numbers of DEGs including metabolism (941 genes, accounted for 43.83%), and it main involved in carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism.

ConclusionThe majority of differentially expressed genes in nectary developing and secreting process were related to the regulation of chemical component in nectar.