濒危植物水松种子败育的分子机制研究

Glyptostrobus pensilis（Staunton ex D. Don）K. Koch, now unique in the genus Glyptostrobus (Taxodiaceae), is critically endangered and endemic species in China. It has been listed as a first-class threatened plant species and extremely small population species. G. pensilis has important scientific value in many research fields such as phylogenesis of family Taxodiaceae, paleobotany, Quaternary glacial climate and mechanism of the threat to endangered species. They are also known as famous ornamental plants. However, research on the underlying molecular mechanism of low seed production and germination rate which led to the endangerment of G. pensilis has not been reported. This project from the perspective of seed abortion, classify G. pensilis aborted seed into different categories and speculate the cause of the abortion through morphological and cytological observations of seed maturation. RNA-seq is used to globally investigate and compare the transcriptomes of normal and aborted seeds of G. pensilis and to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The functions of differentially expressed genes are analyzed to construct the gene regulation network during seed development and to discover functional genes related to seed abortion. The results obtained in this study allow us to preliminary elucidate the molecular mechanism of G. pensilis seed abortion. It will aid the alleviation of endangered situation of G. pensilis, and also provide the theoretical support and reference for investigation of seed development of gymnosperms.

水松（Glyptostrobus pensilis（Staunt.）K. Koch）为杉科单种属孑遗植物，属极小种群物种，是我国一级保护植物，目前处于极危状态，在研究杉科植物系统发育，古植物学，第四纪冰川气候以及孑遗植物濒危机制等方面具有重要的科学价值，也是著名的观赏植物。然而，对于水松种子产量低，萌发率低从而致其濒危的分子机制研究目前还处于空白。本研究拟从种子败育角度着手，通过对水松种子发育全过程进行形态学以及细胞学观察，对种子败育类型进行分类，推测其败育原因；对水松正常以及败育种子进行转录组高通量测序，分析正常以及败育种子中基因表达差异，对差异基因进行功能分析，构建水松种子发育过程中的基因表达调控网络，找到调控种子败育的相关基因。本研究将初步阐明水松种子败育的分子机制，为缓解水松的濒危局面提供理论基础，同时为研究裸子植物种子发育提供理论指导和借鉴。