Open Access

ARTICLE

Pathways Related to ROS Production, Clearance, and Signal Transduction during Cold Response in Brassica napus L. with Strong Cold Resistance

Weiliang Qi^1,2,3,4,*, Wancang Sun⁵, Li Ma⁵, Xiaolong Li¹, Haiqing Liu¹, Cairong Yang⁶, Ziyao Wei¹

1 School of Agriculture and Bioengineering, Longdong University, Qingyang, 745000, China
2 Collaborative Innovation Center for Longdong Dryland Crop Germplasm Improvement and Industrialization, Longdong University, Qingyang, 745000, China
3 Gansu Dryland Research Center of Winter Wheat Germplasm Innovation and Application Engineering, Longdong University, Qingyang, 745000, China
4 Gansu Collaborative Innovation of Academicians and Experts on Dryland Agriculture in the Loess Plateau, Longdong University, Qingyang, 745000, China
5 Agronomy College, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
6 College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, 611130, China

* Corresponding Author: Weiliang Qi. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Influence of Biotic and Abiotic Stresses Signals on Plants and their Performance at Different Environments)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(3), 739-762. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.060712

Received 07 November 2024; Accepted 18 February 2025; Issue published 31 March 2025

Abstract

Brassica napus L. (B. napus), recognized as a significant cash and oil crop, faces challenges in popularization and application in northern China due to its limited cold resistance. Clarifying the mechanism of cold stress on gene regulation and signal transduction in B. napus is crucial. To address these issues, we conducted transcriptome sequencing and gene expression analysis, along with gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway profiling under natural (25°C) and cold (4°C) conditions in cold tolerant 16VHNTS309 and weak cold-resistant Tianyou 2238 B. napus seedlings. Enhanced genomic annotation was achieved through additional sequencing. A total of 6127 and 8531 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified in 16VHNTS309 and Tianyou 2238, respectively. The expression patterns of 23 DEGs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), confirming the RNA-Seq results. Under cold stress, 58 pathways in 16VHNTS309 demonstrated significant changes (q-Value < 0.05), compared to 9 pathways in Tianyou 2238 (q-Value < 0.05), highlighting B. napus’ sophisticated regulatory network which aids in managing growth and development challenges. After 48 h of cold stress treatment, genes associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance, such as those involved in antioxidant VB₆, sulfur metabolism, peroxisomes, and phagosomes, were notably up-regulated in 16VHNTS309, indicating its robust ROS clearance capability. Significant gene expressions within Ca²⁺, MAPK, and transcription factor pathways related to ROS suggest that varieties with strong cold resistance possess a complex signal regulation mechanism. Comprehensive analyses of stomatal cells, physiological parameters of ROS, ABA, and H₂S, along with transcriptomic data, revealed that optimal ROS levels interact with ABA and H₂S to regulate stomatal closure in B. napus 16VHNTS309 under the influence of antioxidant enzymes.

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