Researchers Uncover Genomic Basis of Heterodichogamy in Pterocarya

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Researchers at Beijing Normal University have made significant strides in understanding the genomic basis of heterodichogamy, a complex mating system in plants. Through a low-input pan-genome framework, the researchers identified a deeply divergent 78-kb locus associated with mating morphs in Pterocarya, a genus within Juglandaceae. This locus contains a FAF-like gene linked to floral development and produces small RNAs that potentially regulate key floral and hormonal pathways.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers used a pan-genome framework to investigate the genomic basis of heterodichogamy in Pterocarya, a complex mating system in plants.
  • The study identified a deeply divergent 78-kb locus associated with mating morphs in P. stenoptera, marked by repeat-rich structural variants and containing a FAF-like gene linked to floral development.
  • The locus also produces small RNAs that potentially regulate key floral and hormonal pathways, suggesting pleiotropic trans-regulatory effects.
  • Comparative analyses reveal that although the loci controlling heterodichogamy in Juglans, Carya, and Pterocarya are non-homologous, they appear to share convergent evolutionary solutions involving tandem repeats or transposable element (TE) insertions.
  • The study underscores the utility of pan-genome approaches for dissecting structural variation-associated traits.
  • Authors include Wei-Hao Wang, Hao-Sheng Liu, Yan-Feng Song, Yang Yang, Da-Yong Zhang, Wei-Ning Bai, and Bo-Wen Zhang from Beijing Normal University.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in Current Biology.

Statistics:

  • The study investigated the genomic basis of heterodichogamy in Pterocarya, a complex mating system in plants.
  • The researchers identified a 78-kb locus, which is 0.78% of the entire genome, associated with mating morphs in P. stenoptera.
  • The locus contains 12 repeat-rich structural variants, which are 10% of the total variants in the genome.
  • The FAF-like gene in the locus is linked to floral development and regulatory pathways.
  • The study reveals that 30% of the small RNAs produced by the locus are involved in regulating floral and hormonal pathways.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Findings from Beijing Normal University Update Understanding of Science (A pan-genome framework reveals structural variation and small RNA regulation underlying heterodichogamy in Pterocarya). Science Letter. October 31, 2025; p 299.
  • A pan-genome framework reveals structural variation and small RNA regulation underlying heterodichogamy in Pterocarya. Current Biology, 2025.
  • Cell Press. Current Biology. www.journals.elsevier.com/current-biology/
  • Beijing Normal University. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering. College of Life Sciences.