Transcriptome Analysis of Adventitious Bulblet Initiation in Lilium lancifolium Thunb

Bulblet initiation in Lilium lancifolium is a critical yet understudied aspect of lily development. Prior research has predominantly focused on bulb production and tissue culture techniques, with limited exploration of regulatory mechanisms. This study investigates the initiation process through histological, biochemical, and molecular approaches. Scales from tissue-cultured bulblets were analyzed for sugar content and gene expression. Results revealed significant increases in sucrose levels at the scale base during culture, paralleled by transcriptomic enrichment in hormone signaling, cell cycle, DNA replication, and sugar metabolism pathways. These findings, validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), offer valuable insights into the molecular basis of bulblet initiation in L. lancifolium, providing a foundation for future research into lily developmental mechanisms.