Genome-wide identification and analysis of bZIP gene family reveal their roles during development and drought stress in Wheel Wingnut (Cyclocarya paliurus).

BACKGROUND: The bZIP gene family has important roles in various biological processes, including development and stress responses. However, little information about this gene family is available for Wheel Wingnut (Cyclocarya paliurus).  RESULTS: In this study, we identified 58 bZIP genes in the C. paliurus genome and analyzed phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal locations, gene structure, collinearity, and gene expression profiles. The 58 bZIP genes could be divided into 11 groups and were unevenly distributed among 16 C. paliurus chromosomes. An analysis of cis-regulatory elements indicated that bZIP promoters were associated with phytohormones and stress responses. The expression patterns of bZIP genes in leaves differed among developmental stages. In addition, several bZIP members were differentially expressed under drought stress. These expression patterns were verified by RT-qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide insights into the evolutionary history of the bZIP gene family in C. paliurus and the function of these genes during leaf development and in the response to drought stress. In addition to basic genomic information, our results provide a theoretical basis for further studies aimed at improving growth and stress resistance in C. paliurus, an important medicinal plant.

Plant Virome Analysis by the Deep Sequencing of Small RNAs of Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis and the Rapid Identification of Viruses.

Thunberg fritillary (Fritillaria thunbergii), a perennial used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is a members of the family Liliaceae. The degeneration of germplasm is a severe problem in the production of Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis. However, no information about viral infections of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis has been reported. In this study, we sequenced the small RNAs of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis from leaves and bulbs, and viruses were identified using a phylogenetic analysis and BLAST search for sequence. In addition, multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to rapidly detect viruses in this variety. Our study first reported that five viruses infected F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Among them, fritillary virus Y (FVY), lily mottle virus (LMoV), Thunberg fritillary mosaic virus (TFMV), and hop yellow virus (HYV) had been reported in F. thunbergii, while apple stem grooving virus was first reported in the genus Fritillaria. A multiplex RT-PCR method was developed to rapidly test the four viruses FVY, LMoV, TFMV, and HYV in F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Our results provide a better understanding of the infection of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis by viruses and a basic reference for the better design of suitable control measures.