Identification, functional prediction, and verification of key lncRNAs involved in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuberization under nitrogen deficiency stress

Chalavi, Aminollah; Nazarian-Firouzabadi, Farhad; Sohrabi, Seyed Sajad; Soorni, Aboozar

doi:10.30473/cb.2025.72513.1985

Identification, functional prediction, and verification of key lncRNAs involved in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuberization under nitrogen deficiency stress

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Plant Production and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University

² Department of Plant Production and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.

³ Production Engineering and Plant Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

⁴ Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

10.30473/cb.2025.72513.1985

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important nutrients needed for the growth and development of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). In the course of evolution, long non-coding RNA molecules (lncRNAs) have played a role in causing significant changes in plant’s responses to abiotic stresses. Given the limited information available on the mechanisms of action and the role of such important regulatory elements during potato tuber developmental stages, this study was conducted to identify and investigate the expression and function of lncRNAs, as well as their target genes, in response to nitrogen treatment. The results of the present study revealed that a total of 211 differentially expressed lncRNA molecules were detected under nitrogen treatment. Of these, four intergenic lncRNA sequences were differentially expressed under nitrogen treatment, and their target genes were associated with ion homeostasis, signal transduction, and protein degradation. The metabolic pathways most frequently associated with the target genes involved the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, fatty acid metabolism, and fatty acid degradation. This study identified lncRNAs in potatoes under nitrogen treatment for the first time, marking a significant step towards understanding the function of lncRNA in plant’s responses to nitrogen. Identifying the location and function of these lncRNAs, along with the activity of differentially expressed genes, will provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the plant's response to nitrogen.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Bioinformatics

References

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