Adaptive Traits and Molecular Mechanisms of <i>Rhododendron</i> Species in Changbai Mountains' Alpine Tundra: A Phenotype-Transcriptome Study.

ABSTRACT: Alpine tundra's harsh conditions challenge plants, but Rhododendron's adaptive mechanisms remain unclear. This study explored phenotypic/transcriptomic adaptations of three Rhododendron species (R. aureum, R. lapponicum, R. redowskianum) in Changbai Mountains' tundra vs. timberline. Mature leaves were sampled for leaf length and leaf width measurement and RNA-seq. Results showed leaf width (not leaf length uniformly) reduced in tundra across all species. RNA-seq identified 2399-5716 DEGs per species; plant dwarfism DEGs (e.g., DELLA, EDS1) were up-regulated. Shared DEGs were enriched in carbon/nitrogen metabolism and stress response; IPUT1 (DUH022406.1) and PGT1 (DUH001929.1) were consistently down-regulated (linked to dwarfism). Species-specific response

SUBMITTER: Yang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12694299 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature