Discovery and modulation of diterpenoid metabolism improves glandular trichome formation, artemisinin production and stress resilience in <i>Artemisia annua</i>

Plants synthesize diverse diterpenoids with numerous functions in organ development and stress resistance. However, the role of glandular trichome (GT) GT-localized biosynthesis plants remains unknown. Here, identification 10 diterpene synthases (diTPSs) revealed diversity diterpenoid Artemisia annua. Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) between AaKSL1 AaCPS2 plastids highlighted their potential modulating metabolic flux to gibberellins (GAs) or ent-isopimara-7,15-diene-derived metabolites (IDMs) through engineering. A phenotypic analysis transgenic suggested a complex repertoire annua important roles GT formation, artemisinin accumulation resilience. Metabolic engineering simultaneously increased yield Transcriptome profiling that bioactive GA4/GA1 promote formation. Collectively, these results expand our knowledge show improve both metabolite resistance, planta.