ABSTRACT
Objective: To compare the expression of genes in the leaves of Tussilago farfara that involved in biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids in different developmental stages, and infer the accumulation period of biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and provide a scientific basis for the resource utilization of leaves of T. farfara. Methods: The Illumina HiSeq2500 highthroughput sequencing method was used to analyze the transcriptome of the leaves of T. farfara in different periods. After obtaining transcriptome data, bioinformatics analysis of gene function annotation was performed to compare the expression of genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in different periods. Results: A total of 46 793 unigenes were obtained by transcriptome sequencing and the average length was 952.144 8 bp. Among them, 4 774 unigenes were annotated in the public databases NR, Swiss-Prot, eggNOG, GO, and KEGG. According to the assignment of KEGG pathway, 144 unigenes were involved in terpenoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoids, 65 unigenes were involved in terpenoid biosynthesis, 64 unigenes were involved in phenylpropanoid and 15 unigenes were involved in flavonoids biosynthesis. The enzyme genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were also compared in different development stages, and the results indicated that the expression of PAL, 4CL, HCT, and CCoAOMT, which were closely related to biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, were highest in September, which means that the contents of these compounds might be highest in September. Conclusion: This study lays the foundation for the biosynthetic pathway and regulation analysis of phenylpropanoids, and provides a scientific basis for the development and the resource utilization of leaves of T. farfara.