Work

Energy Metabolism and Auxin Signaling Disruption Underlying Stamen Identity Defects in Tobacco Cytoplasmic Male Sterility K326 (CMS K326): Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) provides a natural model for studying nuclear–cytoplasmic interactions, although the details of nuclear–cytoplasmic communication remain poorly understood. In this study, transcriptomic and metabolomic data were integrated to elucidate the molecular and metabolic regulatory networks underlying stamen developmental defects in the tobacco CMS K326 (Nicotiana tabacum). Disrupted energy metabolism, auxin pathways, and floral development gene expression were identified in CMS K326. Metabolites such as glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, and oxalosuccinic acid decreased, while an accumulation of succinate was observed and auxin IAA was deficient. Our study revealed that disrupted nuclear–cytoplasmic interactions in CMS K326 are associated with concurrent disruptions in early auxin homeostasis and energy metabolism, which collectively lead to the disturbance of the stamen development program. This study provides multiomics-level evidence for understanding stamen identity defects in CMS.

Source: Plants

DOI: 10.3390/plants15040615

Authors: Jiange Wang, Dong Li, Qiyuan Liu

Institution: Jiangxi Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Plant Reproductive Biology

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258