Carbohydrates are essential for plant growth and serve as the primary carbon source for lipid biosynthesis in oilseed crops. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying starch degradation and its regulatory network during seed development remain largely unknown, particularly in oil crops such as Torreya grandis. In this study, we systematically characterized the amylase gene family in T. grandis. Through phylogenetic analysis, chromosomal localization, and gene structure examination, we identified 12 amylase genes. Expression profiling across various tissues and seed developmental stages revealed that TgAMY3 was specifically highly expressed in T. grandis seeds, suggesting its crucial role in starch metabolism. Functional analyses demonstrated that TgAMY3 promotes starch degradation, as confirmed by both homologous and heterologous overexpression assays. Moreover, we identified a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, TgbZIP6, as a key regulator of TgAMY3. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays showed that TgbZIP6 directly binds to the TgAMY3 promoter and enhances its transcriptional activity. TgbZIP6 overexpression significantly increased TgAMY3 expression, accelerating starch degradation and promoting subsequent oil accumulation. Our findings establish a regulatory cascade in which TgbZIP6, acting as a transcriptional activator, directly binds to the TgAMY3 promoter to enhance its expression, thereby driving the conversion of starch into lipids during seed development. This study not only elucidates the molecular basis of starch metabolism in T. grandis but also identifies a validated gene regulatory module with potential applications for improving oil yield and quality in other woody oil crops.
{"title":"TgbZIP6-TgAMY3 regulatory module drives starch degradation and oil accumulation in Torreya grandis seeds","authors":"Qianxi Li, Yuxiang Ren, Minmin Yang, Jiesi Liang, Yulong Zheng, Jiasheng Wu, Weijie Chen, Jinwei Suo","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"Carbohydrates are essential for plant growth and serve as the primary carbon source for lipid biosynthesis in oilseed crops. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying starch degradation and its regulatory network during seed development remain largely unknown, particularly in oil crops such as <ce:italic>Torreya grandis</ce:italic>. In this study, we systematically characterized the <ce:italic>amylase</ce:italic> gene family in <ce:italic>T. grandis</ce:italic>. Through phylogenetic analysis, chromosomal localization, and gene structure examination, we identified 12 <ce:italic>amylase</ce:italic> genes. Expression profiling across various tissues and seed developmental stages revealed that <ce:italic>TgAMY3</ce:italic> was specifically highly expressed in <ce:italic>T. grandis</ce:italic> seeds, suggesting its crucial role in starch metabolism. Functional analyses demonstrated that TgAMY3 promotes starch degradation, as confirmed by both homologous and heterologous overexpression assays. Moreover, we identified a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, TgbZIP6, as a key regulator of <ce:italic>TgAMY3</ce:italic>. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays showed that TgbZIP6 directly binds to the <ce:italic>TgAMY3</ce:italic> promoter and enhances its transcriptional activity. <ce:italic>TgbZIP6</ce:italic> overexpression significantly increased <ce:italic>TgAMY3</ce:italic> expression, accelerating starch degradation and promoting subsequent oil accumulation. Our findings establish a regulatory cascade in which TgbZIP6, acting as a transcriptional activator, directly binds to the <ce:italic>TgAMY3</ce:italic> promoter to enhance its expression, thereby driving the conversion of starch into lipids during seed development. This study not only elucidates the molecular basis of starch metabolism in <ce:italic>T. grandis</ce:italic> but also identifies a validated gene regulatory module with potential applications for improving oil yield and quality in other woody oil crops.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"77 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146209549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.hpj.2025.10.015
Jiyu Zhang, Xuefan Wang, Gang Wang, Tao Wang, Zhanhui Jia, Fan Zhang, Jiping Xuan
Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wagenh.) K. Koch] kernels are composed of the embryo and cotyledons. Rapid nut sizing and kernel filling are key periods during which kernels acquire large quantities of nutrients to produce high-quality nuts. Hence, an understanding of the molecular regulation of assimilate partitioning is important for improving pecan nut quality. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that CiSWEET10a transcript abundance was significantly decreased in abscising nuts compared to persisting nuts. CiSWEET10a was expressed in the basal shuck sucrose unload zone of persisting nuts before the rapid nut sizing stage, and a large starch granule content was observed in the upper tissues of the zone. However, CiSWEET10a was not expressed, and starch granules were not detected in the same zones in abscising nuts, indicating that CiSWEET10a unloads and transports sucrose across this zone during rapid nut sizing. CiSWEET10a expression was the highest in the seed coat. During the kernel filling stage, the starch content was the highest in the seed coat, and the sucrose content was the highest in kernel. In transgenic rice, CiSWEET10a promoter-derived GUS activity was detected in the ovular vascular trace, nucellar projection, nucellar epidermis, nucellar layers, and aleurone layer of the caryopsis at 5 days after pollination (DAP). Transgenic rice overexpressing CiSWEET10a had a significantly decreased starch content in the pericarp at 5 DAP but significantly increased starch content in the caryopsis at 9 DAP. CiSWEET10a transported sucrose from the shell and middle septum through the seed coat to the developing endosperm and embryo during the kernel filling stage. These results show that CiSWEET10a is indispensable for nut sizing and kernel filling in pecan.
{"title":"Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal that sugar transporter CiSWEET10a is indispensable for nut sizing and kernel filling in Carya illinoinensis","authors":"Jiyu Zhang, Xuefan Wang, Gang Wang, Tao Wang, Zhanhui Jia, Fan Zhang, Jiping Xuan","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.10.015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.10.015","url":null,"abstract":"Pecan [<ce:italic>Carya illinoinensis</ce:italic> (Wagenh.) K. Koch] kernels are composed of the embryo and cotyledons. Rapid nut sizing and kernel filling are key periods during which kernels acquire large quantities of nutrients to produce high-quality nuts. Hence, an understanding of the molecular regulation of assimilate partitioning is important for improving pecan nut quality. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that <ce:italic>CiSWEET10a</ce:italic> transcript abundance was significantly decreased in abscising nuts compared to persisting nuts. <ce:italic>CiSWEET10a</ce:italic> was expressed in the basal shuck sucrose unload zone of persisting nuts before the rapid nut sizing stage, and a large starch granule content was observed in the upper tissues of the zone. However, <ce:italic>CiSWEET10a</ce:italic> was not expressed, and starch granules were not detected in the same zones in abscising nuts, indicating that CiSWEET10a unloads and transports sucrose across this zone during rapid nut sizing. <ce:italic>CiSWEET10a</ce:italic> expression was the highest in the seed coat. During the kernel filling stage, the starch content was the highest in the seed coat, and the sucrose content was the highest in kernel. In transgenic rice, <ce:italic>CiSWEET10a</ce:italic> promoter-derived GUS activity was detected in the ovular vascular trace, nucellar projection, nucellar epidermis, nucellar layers, and aleurone layer of the caryopsis at 5 days after pollination (DAP). Transgenic rice overexpressing <ce:italic>CiSWEET10a</ce:italic> had a significantly decreased starch content in the pericarp at 5 DAP but significantly increased starch content in the caryopsis at 9 DAP. CiSWEET10a transported sucrose from the shell and middle septum through the seed coat to the developing endosperm and embryo during the kernel filling stage. These results show that <ce:italic>CiSWEET10a</ce:italic> is indispensable for nut sizing and kernel filling in pecan.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146209543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PsFUL acts as a bridge to regulate flowering in tree peony in autumn","authors":"Yuqian Xue, Ziliang Wu, Jiaoping Zhang, Yutong Cui, Jingqi Xue, Caihuan Tian, Xiuxin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.09.014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.09.014","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146152895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.hpj.2025.10.013
Khammuanthang Samte, Yogesh Khokhar, Nav Prem Singh, Pankaj Sharma
{"title":"Integrative effects of nutrients and hormonal regulation on quality and postharvest physiology of strawberry","authors":"Khammuanthang Samte, Yogesh Khokhar, Nav Prem Singh, Pankaj Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.10.013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.10.013","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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