Transcriptome analysis unravels differential genes involved in essential oil content in callus and tissue culture seedlings of Lavandula angustifolia

Abstract

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) essential oil is of high medicinal and economic importance. The preliminary results of this study found that lavender tissue culture seedlings contained 2.1% essential oil, which was 21 times that of callus tissue. However, the mechanisms involved in its synthesis are unclear. This study used transcriptome sequencing of L. angustifolia callus and tissue culture seedlings to compare changes in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolic pathways. Transcriptome analysis revealed 2394 DEGs in callus and tissue culture seedlings. Several DEGs were enriched in plant hormone signal transduction, as well as the biosynthesis of terpenoids and other secondary metabolites. In the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway, 93 genes were differentially expressed, and four receptors protein genes (BRI1) of brassinosteroid (BR) hormone were significantly differentially expressed. This study provides deeper insights into regulatory genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis and BR signal transduction in L. angustifolia, contributing to the genetic improvement of L. angustifolia.

Keywords

• Lavandula angustifolia;, transcriptome sequencing
• terpenoid biosynthesis
• BRI1 genes
• brassinosteroids