Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of High and Low Thujone-Producing Artemisia argyi Reveals Candidate Genes for Thujone Synthetic and Regulatory Pathway

Artemisia argyi Levl. et Van (A. argyi) is a traditional medicinal plant, which widely used in health, food and medicine. Thujone an important cyclic monoterpene derivative the volatile oil of A. leaves with multiple efficacy. Although thujone synthetic pathway has been preliminarily analyzed very few species, genes related to content remain largely unknown. In this study, we identify candidate involved synthesis regulation by comparative transcriptome analysis two group materials high low content. A total 89 are identified including one gene mevalonate pathway, three methylerythritol phosphate 19 metabolic process from geranyl pyrophosphate (four b-terpene synthase, five cytochrome P450, dehydrogenase, reductase-encoding genes) 66 transcription factor-encoding genes. Taken together, our results provide valuable resources for further analyzing regulatory argyi.