MicroRNA Identification and Integrated Network Analyses for Age-Dependent Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba leaves contain abundant flavonoids, and flavonoid accumulation is affected by age. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the plant aging pathway. However, miRNAs involved biosynthesis related to age G. have rarely been studied. In this study, we compared 1-, 4-, 7-year-old ginkgo seedings found a significant decrease content of quercetin, kaempferol, total flavonol aglycones with We then profiled through high-throughput sequencing on leaf samples ginkgo. GO KEGG analyses suggest that photosynthesis hormones may influence content. particular, identified 29 pathway according their miRNA expression patterns. Correlation analysis age-related major compounds screened 17 vital miRNAs, including miRN79, miR535a, miR166a, miR171a, miR396. Interactive miRNA-transcription factor network suggested pivotal miRN79-DELLA miR535a-SPL modules be pathways post-transcriptional regulation. Our findings provide insights into age-dependent regulatory roles biosynthesis.