Identification of lncRNAs and Their Regulatory Network Involved in Oil Biosynthesis in Developing Seeds of Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium)

Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium) seeds can have as high 67% oil content and are especially rich in oleic acid, linoleic nervonic acid. Exploration of the lipid biosynthesis regulatory network is essential for increasing yellowhorn content. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles various plant biological processes; however, there no report on identification lncRNAs involved seed development affecting production. We performed whole transcriptome sequencing at four developmental stages identified 16,920 putative lncRNAs. Among them, 325 were revealed to trans-regulate 58 key genes fatty acid (FA) triacylglycerol (TAG) pathways. Of these, ECR-2–LNC_009778 was found be DGAT-1–LNC_009778 beneficial TAG accumulation. sRNA-seq performed, 55 microRNAs (miRNAs) target 26 FA biosynthesis; miR396a-4 targets FAD2, biosynthesis, miR156f-5p PDAT-2, contributing Interestingly, 30 lncRNA–miRNA–gene modules identified, which KCS11-1–miR156g-2–LNC_000849 module participate synthesis, DGAT-2–miR172j–LNC_005874 assumed contribute accumulation TAG. Our results constitute first comprehensive developing serve a new theoretical reference improving future.