Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of regulatory mechanisms associated with uniconazole-induced dwarfism in banana

Abstract BackgroundUniconazole is an effective plant growth regulator that can be used in banana cultivation to promote dwarfing and enhance lodging resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying banana dwarfing induced by uniconazole are unknown. In uniconazole-treated bananas, gibberellin (GA) was downregulated compared to the control groups. An integrative analysis of transcriptomes and metabolomes was performed on dwarf bananas induced by uniconazole and control groups. ResultsCompared with the control groups, the levels of some flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids increased, and those of most lipids, amino acids and derivatives, organic acids, nucleotides and derivatives, and terpenoids decreased in uniconazole-treated bananas. Transcriptome analysis shows that the differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the treatment and control groups were related to a series of metabolic pathways, including lignin biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid metabolism, and peroxidase activity. Comprehensive analysis of the key pathways of co-enrichment of DEG and differential metabolites from 15 d to 25 d after uniconazole treatment shows that flavonoid biosynthesis was upregulated. ConclusionsIn addition to the decrease in GA, the increase in tannin procyanidin B1 may contribute to banana dwarfing by inhibiting the activity of GA, and the increased flow of metabolites towards flavonoid synthesis may lead to the downregulation of lignin biosynthesis, which contributes to the dwarf phenotype of bananas. This study expands our understanding of the mechanisms underlying uniconazole-induced banana dwarfing.