Genome and transcriptome analyses reveal genes involved in the formation of fine ridges on petal epidermal cells inHibiscus trionum

Abstract

AbstractHibiscus trionum, commonly known as the ’Flower of an Hour’, is an easily cultivated plant in the Malvaceae family. The purple base part of its petal exhibits structural color due to the fine ridges on the epidermal cell surface, and the molecular mechanism of ridge formation has been actively investigated. We performed genome sequencing ofH. trionumusing a long-read sequencing technology with transcriptome and pathway analyses to identify candidate genes for fine structure formation. The ortholog ofAtSHINE1, which is involved in the biosynthesis of cuticular wax inArabidopsis thaliana, was significantly overexpressed in the iridescent tissue. In addition, orthologs ofAtCUS2andAtCYP77A, which contribute to cutin synthesis, were also overexpressed. Our results provide important insights into the formation of fine ridges on epidermal cells in plants usingH. trionumas a model.