Open AccessTranscriptional analyses reveal the molecular mechanism governing shade tolerance in the invasive plant Solidago canadensis
Author(s) -
Wu Miao,
Li Zeyu,
Wang Jianbo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.6206
Subject(s) - solidago canadensis , photosynthesis , biology , secondary metabolism , superoxide dismutase , botany , catalase , reactive oxygen species , photosystem ii , shade tolerance , chlorophyll , transcriptome , biochemistry , antioxidant , gene , gene expression , biosynthesis , invasive species , canopy
Solidago canadensis is an invasive plant that is capable of adapting to variable light conditions. To elucidate the shade tolerance mechanism in S. canadensis at the molecular level, transcriptome analyses were performed for leaves growing under natural light and three shade level conditions. Many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in the comparative analysis, including those involved in photosynthesis, antioxidant, and secondary metabolism of phenol‐ and flavonoid‐related pathways. Most genes encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis, such as photosystem I reaction center subunit (Psa), photosystem II core complex protein (Psb), and light‐harvesting chlorophyll protein (Lhca and Lhcb), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging‐related enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), were upregulated with the shade levels. Furthermore, most of the DEGs related to secondary metabolite synthesis were also upregulated in the shade conditions. Our study indicates that S . canadensis can respond to shade stress by modulating the expression of several photosynthesis‐related, free radical scavenging‐related, and secondary metabolism‐related genes; thus, this species has the ability to adapt to different light conditions.