Multi-omics analysis reveals the transcription factor AtuMYB306 improves drought tolerance by regulating flavonoid metabolism in Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler)
Taotao Li,
Zhen Wang,
Yanyan Chen,
Pengqiang Yao,
Zhongqiu Zhang,
Shenao Cai,
Yutao Zhu,
Yingying Yu,
Chunli Liao,
Dongxiao Liu,
Xiaofei Yang,
Lianzhe Wang,
Xuan Ma
Affiliations
Taotao Li
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Correspondence authors.
Zhen Wang
Henan Engineering Research Center for Chinese Chives, Pingdingshan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Pingdingshan, 467001, Henan, China
Yanyan Chen
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China
Pengqiang Yao
Henan Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Eco-Economic Woody Plant, Pingdingshan University, Pingdingshan 467000, China
Zhongqiu Zhang
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China
Shenao Cai
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; National Navel Orange Engineering and Technology Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
Yutao Zhu
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China
Yingying Yu
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China
Chunli Liao
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China
Dongxiao Liu
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China
Xiaofei Yang
Pingdingshan Jiudu Agricultural Technology Company, Pingdingshan, Henan, China
Lianzhe Wang
College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Center of Healthy Food Engineering and Technology of Henan, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, Henan, China; Correspondence authors.
Xuan Ma
College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Molecular Breeding for Dominant Crops in Ningxia, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China; Correspondence authors.
Drought is one of the most detrimental stresses that severely constrains plant growth and productivity. Although Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) is a vegetable species that is cultivated and consumed worldwide, few studies have investigated how this species responds to drought. In this study, we conducted transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics analyses on chive seedlings exposed to different water availability conditions (mild drought, moderate drought, severe drought, and re-watering) and found that the accumulation of flavonoids in chive leaves was substantially altered under drought stress. Gene co-expression regulatory network analysis, conducted by integrating transcriptome and metabolome data, revealed a chive R2R3-MYB transcription factor, AtuMYB306, as a central regulator of flavonoid synthesis. Overexpression of AtuMYB306 significantly improved osmotic stress tolerance and enhanced flavonoid content in Arabidopsis. We further demonstrated that AtuMYB306 directly binds to the promoters of three flavonoid biosynthetic genes (Atu4CL, AtuF3H, and AtuF3’H) and activates their expression. These results suggest that AtuMYB306 improves drought tolerance in Chinese chive by enhancing flavonoid biosynthesis to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated under water-deficit conditions. Thus, our findings provide evidence that AtuMYB306 playing a pivotal role in improving drought resistance in Chinese chive.
