RNA-seq of Lilium

Lilium is a well-known ornamental flower in the world. Floral fragrance is an important ornamental characteristics of garden flowers. In this study, Sorbonne, an Oriental lily with strong aroma, was used as the research material to analyze the release rules and main components of volatile substances in floral fragrance by GC-MS. A total of 274,849 genes and 129,017 transcripts were assembled by transcriptome sequencing. Differentially expressed scent genes were analyzed at 5 different flowering stages. Gene Ontology and KEGG were used to analyzed function and pathway of significantly DEGs. Candidate genes and transcription factors related to fragrance synthesis process in MEP pathway was excavated and identified. Tissue localization, expression characteristics and subcellular localization results showed MEP pathway skeleton genes play important roles in the chloroplast of Sorbonne petals at full flowering stage. qRT-PCR analysis of terpenoid-related genes in the MEP and MVA pathways in WT and LiMCT/LiLIS /LiMYS transgenic Arabidopsis proved LiMCT/LiLIS /LiMYS participated in monoterpene synthesis pathway. The results lay a theoretical foundation for the synthesis of aromatic substances of lily and the cultivation of new varieties of garden flowers.