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Background WRKY transcription factors are a prominent gene family in plants, playing a crucial role in various biological processes including development, metabolism, defense, differentiation, and stress response. Although the WRKY gene family has been extensively studied and analysed in numerous plant species, research on Prunus sibirica ’s WRKY genes ( PsWRKY ) remains lacking. Results This study analysed the basic physicochemical properties, phylogeny, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and Gene ontology (GO) annotation of PsWRKY gene family members using bioinformatics methods based on the whole-genome data of P. sibirica . In total, 55 WRKYs were identified in P. sibirica and were heterogeneously distributed on eight chromosomes. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, these WRKYs were classified into three major groups: Group I, Group II (II-a, II-b, II-c, II-d, II-e), and Group III. Members of different subfamilies have different cis-acting elements, conserved motifs, and intron-exon structures, indicating functional heterogeneity of the WRKY family. Prediction of subcellular localisation indicated that PsWRKYs were mainly located in the nucleus. Twenty pairs of duplicated genes were identified, and segmental duplication events may play an important role in PsWRKY gene family expansion. Analysis of the Ka/Ks ratio showed that the PsWRKY family’s homologous genes were primarily purified by selection. Additionally, GO annotation analysis showed that the WRKY gene family was mainly involved in responses to stimuli, immune system processes, and reproductive processes. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that 23 PsWRKYs were highly expressed in one or more tissues (pistils and roots) and PsWRKYs showed specific expression patterns under different low-temperature stress conditions. Conclusions Our results provide a scientific basis for the further exploration and functional validation of WRKYs in P. sibirica .

The aim was to explore the alterations in growth traits, physiological and biochemical characteristics of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds. The seedlings cultivated by the “Shenzhou XII” spacecraft carrying the seeds of superior clones of P. sibirica were used to observe their growth traits and determine physiological indicators. The results showed that plant height of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds increased by 18–34% and internode length increased by 8–26%, but the number of primary branches, secondary branches, and leaves showed no significant change compared to the ground control. Leaf length and width of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds were significantly higher than those of the ground control, with leaf length, width, and area increasing to 1.21–1.80 times higher than that of the ground control. Furthermore, the antioxidant and osmoregulatory capacities of P. sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds were altered. The peroxidase (POD) activity and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content were increased in ST28, ST207, and ST507, while they were reduced in ST1 and ST453. Compared with the ground control, the content of soluble sugar(SS), starch (St), and free proline (Pro) were significantly or highly significantly increased in all lines. The content of soluble protein (SP) was significantly increased in ST1, ST28, ST207, and ST507, while there was no significant change in ST453. P. sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds exhibited increased leaf pigment content, the interstitial CO 2 concentration (Ci), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr). In conclusion, compared with the ground control, the growth indexes and physiological characteristics of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds were changed, and the direction of change was different for different lines. This provided a foundation for subsequent germplasm improvement and variety selection.

Pink-flowered Prunus sibirica , of the genus Prunus , is an exceptional germplasm resource with high ornamental value. Understanding the mechanism behind petal coloration is crucial for cultivating ornamental P. sibirica varieties. This study utilized pink-flowered and white-flowered P. sibirica petals at different stages of flowering to explore the relationship between various physiological indicators, anatomical structures of petals, and flower coloration during flowering. Results indicated that anthocyanins, key pigment indicators in pink-flowered P. sibirica , directly influenced the a* values (redness). Increased activity of phenylalanine deaminase (4.43–29.69 U/g), chalcone isomerase (9.80–46.67 U/g), and soluble sugar content (29.25–35.28 mg/g) promoted anthocyanin synthesis and accumulation. These substances indirectly affected flower color by influencing anthocyanin content through physiological processes related to petal coloration. Structural changes in epidermal cells of pink and white flower petals during flowering were similar, with differences in pigment content and distribution impacting petal light absorption. Correlation analysis revealed that a* values were significantly and positively correlated with five factors, one of which was anthocyanin content, and significant negative correlations with soluble protein content and cytosol pH. This study examined the factors influencing petal coloration in pink-flowered P. sibirica from both physiological and anatomical perspectives, providing a theoretical foundation for breeding new varieties of ornamental flowering plants.

Drought stress is a significant environmental factor affecting plant growth, fruit quality and distribution. Wild jujube is an important species of eco-economic forest tree. In this study, two wild jujube families, ‘NO. 1’ (tolerant) and ‘NO. 5’ (sensitive), which show significant differences in morphological and physiological indicators in drought treatment, are considered. Compared with the ‘NO. 5’, the ‘NO. 1’ exhibited lower water loss, leaf yellowing and abscission rates, as well as reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content, while showing higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and elevated levels of soluble sugars (SS), soluble proteins (SP), and proline (Pro). In contrast, the ‘NO. 5’ suffered more severe damage to leaf epidermal cells compared with the ‘NO. 1’, accompanied by a significant decline in net photosynthetic rate (A) and instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi). Transcriptomic profiles between two wild jujube families with markedly different drought responses (withholding water for 15 days) are shown. The two wild jujube families included 3238 up-regulated and 2675 down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Many DEGs enriched in the GO and KEGG pathways are related to antioxidant activity, transmembrane transport, carbohydrate biosynthesis and metabolism, plant hormones, and photosynthesis. The biosynthesis of amino acids, the MAPK signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, and flavonoid and alkaloid biosynthesis were the transcriptome modifications most significantly altered by drought stress. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the precision of the RNA-seq data. ZjJIP23-1, ZjbZIP53, ZjSPS8, ZjCAO, ZjADH1 and ZjERF39 may play important roles in the drought tolerance of the wild jujube. This study provides a solid foundation for further studies on the complex mechanisms and breeding of drought-resistant plants in wild jujube.

Siberian apricot ( Prunus sibirica L.) is a woody tree species of ecological, economic, and social importance. To evaluate the genetic diversity, differentiation, and structure of P. sibirica , we analyzed 176 individuals from 10 natural populations using 14 microsatellite markers. These markers generated 194 alleles in total. The mean number of alleles (13.8571) was higher than the mean number of effective alleles (6.4822). The average expected heterozygosity (0.8292) was higher than the average observed heterozygosity (0.3178). Shannon information index and polymorphism information content were separately 2.0610 and 0.8093, demonstrating the rich genetic diversity of P. sibirica . Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 85% of the genetic variation occurred within populations, with only 15% among them. The genetic differentiation coefficient and gene flow were separately 0.151 and 1.401, indicating a high degree of genetic differentiation. Clustering results showed that a genetic distance coefficient of 0.6 divided the 10 natural populations into two subgroups (subgroups A and B). STRUCTURE and principal coordinate analysis divided the 176 individuals into two subgroups (clusters 1 and 2). Mantel tests revealed that genetic distance was correlated with geographical distance and elevation differences. These findings can contribute to the effective conservation and management of P. sibirica resources.

Background The R2R3-MYB transcription factors in plants participate in various physiological and biochemical processes and responds to various external stimuli. Prunus sibirica (known as Siberian apricot) is a drupe tree species that produces extremely high nutritional value kernels. However, it is susceptiblility to frost damage during the flowering period, results in a marked reduction in kernel yield. Results In this study, the MYB gene family of P. sibirica ( PsMYB ) was systematically analyzed, and 116 R2R3-MYB genes that were distributed unevenly over eight chromosomes were ultimately screened. Phylogenetic analysis divided these 116 genes into 30 subgroups. We discovered that 37 PsMYBs had cold stress-responsive promoters, and six PsMYBs were annotated to be associated with cold response. Intraspecific homology analysis identified segmental duplication as the primary gene amplification mechanism, and homology analysis of the PsMYB genes with those of five other species revealed phylogenetic relationships with Rosaceae species. Protein interaction studies revealed collaborative regulation of the PsMYB proteins with Arabidopsis protein, and transcriptome analysis identified PsMYB genes that were highly expressed at low temperatures. Additionally, the expression levels of 22 PsMYB s in different tissue parts of P. sibirica and under different low-temperature stress conditions were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR, with the results verifying that PsMYBs are specifically expressed in different plant parts and may be involved in the growth and development of P. sibirica species. Genes upregulated after exposure to low-temperature stress and likely involved in cold response were identified. Conclusion This study lays a foundation for understanding the molecular biology of PsMYBs in P. sibirica and provides a theoretical basis for the future study of transgenic lines with cold resistance during the flowering period of this tree.

The genetic diversity and genetic structure of P . armeniaca var. ansu were analyzed based on SSR markers. The aim was to provide scientific basis for conservation, efficient utilization, molecular marker assisted breeding and improved variety selection of P . armeniaca var. ansu germplasm resources. The results showed that the level of genetic diversity within the population was high. Among the 30 SSR markers, the mean number of observed alleles was 11.433, the mean number of effective alleles was 4.433, the mean of Shannon information index was 1.670, and the mean of polymorphic information content was 0.670. Among the eight provenances, Tuanjie Township, Xinyuan County, Xinjiang had the highest genetic diversity. The observed alleles, effective alleles, Shannon information index and Nei’s gene diversity index among provenances were higher than those within provenances. Based on Bayesian mathematical modeling and UPGMA cluster analysis, 86 P . armeniaca var. ansu accessions were divided into three subpopulations and four groups, which reflected individual differences in provenances. Subpopulations classified by Bayesian mathematical modeling and groups classified by UPGMA cluster analysis were significantly correlated with geographical provenance (Sig<0.01) and the provenances significantly impacted classification of groups. The provenances played an important role in classification of groups. The genetic distance between Tuanjie Township of Xinyuan County and Alemale Township of Xinyuan County was the smallest, while the genetic relationship between them was the closest and the degree of genetic differentiation was small.

Prunus sibirica is an economically important tree species that occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of northern China. For this species, creation of a core collection is critical for future ecological and evolutionary studies, efficient economic utilization, and development and management of the broader collection of its germplasm resources. In this study, we sampled 158 accessions of P . sibirica from Russia and China using 30 pair of simple sequence repeat molecular markers and 30 different schemes to identify candidate core collections. The 30 schemes were based on combinations of two different sampling strategies, three genetic distances, and five different sample sizes of the complete germplasm resource. We determined the optimal core collection from among the 30 results based on maximization of genetic diversity among groups according to Number of observed alleles (N a ), Number of effective alleles (N e ), Shannon’s information index (I), Polymorphic information content (PIC), Nei gene diversity (H) and compared to the initial collection of 158 accessions. We found that the optimal core collection resulted from preferred sampling at 25% with Nei & Li genetic distance these ratios of N a , N e , I, PIC and H to the complete 158 germplasm resources were 73.0%, 113%, 102%, 100% and 103%, respectively, indicating that the core collection comprised a robust representation of genetic diversity in P . sibirica . The proposed core collection will be valuable for future molecular breeding of this species and management of its germplasm resources.

Background AP2/ERF transcription factors are involved in the regulation of growth, development, and stress response in plants. Although the gene family has been characterized in various species, such as Oryza sativa , Arabidopsis thaliana , and Populus trichocarpa , studies on the Prunus sibirica AP2/ERF (PsAP2/ERF) gene family are lacking. In this study, PsAP2/ERFs in P. sibirica were characterized by genomic and transcriptomic analyses. Results In the study, 112 PsAP2/ERFs were identified and categorized into 16 subfamilies. Within each subfamily, PsAP2/ERFs exhibited similar exon-intron structures and motif compositions. Additionally, 50 pairs of segmentally duplicated genes were identified within the PsAP2/ERF gene family. Our experimental results showed that 20 PsAP2/ERFs are highly expressed in leaves, roots, and pistils under low-temperature stress conditions. Among them, the expression of PsAP2/ERF21 , PsAP2/ERF56 and PsAP2/ERF88 was significantly up-regulated during the treatment period, and it was hypothesised that members of the PsAP2/ERF family play an important role inlow temperature stress tolerance. Conclusions This study improves our understanding of the molecular basis of development and low-temperature stress response in P. sibirica and provides a solid scientific foundation for further functional assays and evolutionary analyses of PsAP2/ERFs.

Background Prunus sibirica L. is one of the most pivotal eco-economic tree species in China’s arid and semi-arid areas. The phenomenon of physiological fruit drop in P. sibirica L. is severe, and understanding fruit growth patterns and drop characteristics is crucial for high-quality cultivar production. However, there are few reports on P. sibirica fruit development and physiological fruit drop. Results In this study, we investigated the characteristics of fruit development, vegetative bud outgrowth, and fruit abscission, and explored the dynamic features of sugar metabolism in different tissues during physiological fruit drop and its relationship with fruit drop. The results showed that the fruit and vegetative bud outgrowth of the “Shanxing No. 1” variety exhibited an S-shaped growth pattern with three physiological stages. The flower and fruit drop of “Shanxing No. 1” lasted for about 70 days with an 89.73% total drop rate and three abscission peaks, which could be divided into the flower abscission stage mainly caused by pistil abortion, rapid fruitlet abscission stage, mainly caused by carbohydrate competition between the fruit and vegetative bud outgrowth; and slow fruit abscission stage mostly related to seed abortion. The perspective of the vegetative buds removal experiment further proved the competition between fruitlet and vegetative bud outgrowth simultaneously. During physiological fruit drop, the sugar contents and activities of sucrose metabolism enzymes in different tissues showed regular changes, corresponding to the dynamic law of fruit drop. Sucrose metabolism was mainly dominated by decomposition, and the enzymes involved in sucrose decomposition played a significant role. Acid invertase and sucrose synthase (decomposition direction) were the key enzymes regulating fruit abscission in P. sibirica L. Conclusions These results laid a foundation for revealing the physiological characteristics and physiological mechanism of P. sibirica L. fruit development, and also provided a theoretical basis for high-quality and high-yield cultivation of P. sibirica L.