RNAseq data from Arabidopsis and BC204 treatment

BC204 is a citrus-based plant extract applied as a plant biostimulant on a variety of plant species in South Africa, China and Australia. Although there are reports that it elicits physiological responses such as an increase in crop yield and fruit quality, no molecular data is available to explain the specific mechanisms associated with these effects. In this study, an RNA-seq approach was adopted to elucidate the effects of BC204 at the molecular level in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em>. BC204, applied via a soil drench at low concentrations of 0.01% (v/v), stimulated above-ground biomass production whilst eliciting a large change in gene expression levels across several biochemical pathways. Of the entire transcriptomic profile examined, 8.212% of genes were significantly differentially expressed between the treated and control groups, of which 5.136% were upregulated and 3.076% downregulated. Most notably, genes involved in photosynthesis, several aspects of cell wall biogenesis, remodelling and restructuring, carbohydrate metabolism, signalling, stress and secondary metabolism were upregulated, which could explain the observed increase in plant growth. Genes related to transcription and RNA regulation were both strongly up- and downregulated, which suggests that BC204 plays a role in inducing and suppressing several pathways. This novel study provides valuable information to be used as starting point for targeted future research.

BC204是一种柑橘基植物提取物，作为植物生物刺激素（plant biostimulant）应用于南非、中国与澳大利亚的多种植物物种。尽管已有研究报道其可诱导作物增产、提升果实品质等生理响应，但目前尚无分子层面的数据阐明与这些效应相关的具体作用机制。本研究采用RNA测序（RNA-seq）技术，旨在从分子层面解析BC204对拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）的作用效应。以0.01%（体积比，v/v）的低浓度BC204通过土壤浇灌方式施用后，其可促进植株地上部分生物量积累，同时引发多条生化通路的基因表达水平发生显著变化。在所检测的全部转录组表达谱中，处理组与对照组间共有8.212%的基因呈现显著差异表达，其中5.136%为上调基因，3.076%为下调基因。尤为关键的是，参与光合作用、细胞壁生物发生、重塑与重构多个环节、碳水化合物代谢、信号传导、胁迫响应以及次生代谢的基因均呈上调表达，这可为观测到的植株生长提升现象提供合理解释。而与转录及RNA调控相关的基因则同时出现显著上调与下调表达，提示BC204可通过诱导或抑制多条通路发挥调控作用。本创新性研究可为后续针对性研究提供极具价值的参考起点。