Parent-of-origin effects orchestrate transcriptional reprogramming and epigenetic regulation of seedling vigor heterosis in triploid loquat.

ABSTRACT: Triploid breeding is a promising avenue for generating seedless varieties with enhanced vigor, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly the relative contributions of hybridity, ploidy level, and parent-of-origin effects (POE), remain largely elusive in perennial fruit crops. This study focuses on loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), a highly heterozygous woody perennial, to explore the molecular mechanism of triploid seedling vigor heterosis. RNA-seq across a series of reciprocal diploid (2x), triploid (3x) and tetraploid (4x) hybrids with clear genetic background revealed POE as the predominant driver of triploid heterosis at the transcriptomic level. Specifically, 784 POE-responsive differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between paternal-excess [3x(p)] and mat

SUBMITTER: Zhang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12580266 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature