The Integration of Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Provides Insights into the Determinants of the Wood Properties in Toona ciliata

Abstract

Toona ciliata, also known as Chinese mahogany, is a high-quality and fast-growing wood species with a high economic value. The wood properties of T. ciliata of different provenances vary significantly. In this study, we conducted comprehensive transcriptome and metabolome analyses of red and non-red T. ciliata wood cores of different provenances to compare their wood properties and explore the differential metabolites and genes that govern the variation in their wood properties. Through combined analyses, three differential genes and two metabolites were identified that are possibly related to lignin synthesis. The lignin content in wood cores from T. ciliata of different provenances shows significant variation following systematic measurement and comparisons. The gene Tci09G002190, one of the three differential genes, was identified as a member of the CAD (Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase) gene family of T. ciliata, which is associated with lignin synthesis. Our data provide insights into the determinants of the wood properties in T. ciliata, providing a solid foundation for research into the subsequent mechanisms of the formation of T. ciliata wood.