Exploring gene networks associated with leaf senescence in sunflower using a system biology approach

Leaf senescence is a complex process, controlled by multiple genetic and environmental variables. In sunflower, leaf senescence is triggered abruptly after anthesis limiting the capacity of plants to keep their green leaf area during grain filling, which has a strong impact on crop yield. Recently, we performed a selection of contrasting sunflower genotypes for leaf senescence progress through a physiological, cytological and molecular approach. Here, utilizing the recently released of sunflower genome, we present a large scale transcriptomic analysis using RNA-seq for two contrasting sunflower homocygous lines, R453 and B481-6 (early and delayed senescence respectively), with the aim of identifying metabolic pathways associated to leaf senescence in sunflower. Our findings provide further insights towards a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying post-anthesis leaf senescence in sunflower and to the identification of new candidate genes involved in the regulation of this process useful for different management strategies to mitigate the impact of senescence on crop yield.