Integrated proteomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic profiling reveals that the gibberellin–abscisic acid hub runs flower development in the Chinese orchid Cymbidium sinense

Cymbidium sinense exhibits rich variations in flower shape, color, and leaf color, making it an ideal material for studying the evolution of phenotypic traits in orchids. Recently, as the first author and corresponding institution, the research team led by Dr. Yang Fengxi and Dr. Zhu Genfa published studies on the molecular regulatory mechanisms of flower and leaf color variation in Cymbidium sinensea in the internationally renowned journals Horticulture Research and Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Dr. Sagheer Ahmad and Assistant Researcher Dr. Lu Chuqiao were co-first authors of a research paper titled "Integrated proteomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic profiling reveals that GA-ABA hub runs the flower development in Chinese orchid Cymbidium sinense," published in Horticulture Research (IF=7.6). This study, for the first time, performed a combined analysis of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, revealing that the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) is a significant feature of dormancy in Mokara. Exogenous ABA inhibits flower bud development, while ABA inhibitors promote the release from dormancy. The gene CsAPETALA1 (CsAP1) was identified as a potential target for ABA-mediated inhibition of flower bud development. Several ABA response elements (ABREs) were found in the promoter of CsAP1, and its expression was negatively regulated by ABA. The application of ABA inhibitors may counteract ABA’s suppression of CsAP1, thereby releasing CsAP1 and activating the flower development process in Mokara.

These research projects were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Guangzhou Science and Technology Projects, the Guangdong Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Floral Innovation Team Project, and the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences Discipline Team Construction Project.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae073