), and extensive transcriptome reprogramming, including 8896 upregulated genes in response to phosphorus deficiency. In contrast, the Jiangsu germplasm showed limited adaptive responses, with reduced root hairs and biomass under stress. WGCNA partitioned 21,734 expressed genes into 20 co-expression modules, among which the turquoise and light green modules showed significant correlations with phosphorus treatments and phenotypic traits. Genes in the turquoise module were primarily enriched in oxidative phosphorylation and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways, whereas the light green module was significantly enriched in ribosome-related pathways. Five hub genes, ABCG5, TALDO, VAMP7B, EEF1AS, and RPLP0, were identified as core components of these modules. Collectively, these findings establish the Australian kudzu as a valuable germplasm resource for improving phosphorus use efficiency in crops and provide key molecular targets for precision breeding.
Tang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.