# Integrated metabolome-transcriptome analyses reveal key pathways regulating staminate catkin development and pollen maturation in Betula platyphylla

## TL;DR

This study explores how flavonoids influence staminate catkin development and pollen maturation in Betula platyphylla using metabolomic and transcriptomic data.

## Contribution

The study identifies key flavonoid-related genes and transcription factors regulating staminate catkin and pollen development in Betula platyphylla.

## Key findings

- Mature pollen in Betula platyphylla has high and diverse flavonoid concentrations.
- Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses identified key genes and metabolites in the flavonoid pathway.
- WGCNA analysis revealed transcription factors like BpMYB18 and BpMYB72 as potential regulators of flavonoid pathways.

## Abstract

Flavonoids are the major metabolites in Betula platyphylla. However, our understanding of the role that flavonoids play in staminate catkin development and pollen maturation is still limited.

Here, we performed a metabolome analysis during staminate catkin development and pollen maturation in B. platyphylla. These results indicated that mature pollen exhibited significantly high concentrations and diverse profiles of flavonoids. Moreover, using the integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we found major metabolites and key genes involved in staminate catkin development and pollen maturation in the flavonoid pathway. Furthermore, WGCNA analysis identified key transcription factors (BpMYB18, BpMYB72, BpMYB95, and BpMYB109) as potential regulators in the flavonoid pathway.

These findings shed light into the metabolic pathways regulating the development of staminate catkins and pollen maturation in B. platyphylla.