Transcriptomics-based identification of transcription factors in the halophyte Apocynum venetum L

The medicinal halophyte plant Apocynum venetum L. can tolerate high salt levels in the soil, which significantly affects its growth and development. To study the molecular mechanisms underlying its environmental adaptations, omics tools were employed. Apocynum venetum L. plants were subjected to varying levels of salt stress. The corresponding RNA of Apocyni Veneti Folium (AVF), the leaf of Apocynum venetum L., was sequenced using a de novo approach. Functional annotation and expression analysis were utilised to identify differentially expressed transcription factors (TFs). The classification of these TFs was further divided into different families, including AP2/ERF, bHLH, WRKY, and HSF. Under conditions of modest saline stress, the majority of TF genes exhibited a predilection for up-regulation, particularly bHLHs, which were discovered to be consistent with the build-up of flavonoid glycosides. In conjunction with previous proteomics and metabolomics findings, we have discovered that the gene bHLH35 is a potential candidate. This gene has shown changes at both the transcript and protein levels, indicating that it may play a crucial role in the biosynthesis of flavonoids under salt-induced environments. These findings provide invaluable information on the identification of key genes involved in elucidating flavonoid biosynthesis mechanisms and serve as a basis for the improvement of the halophyte AVF’s quality.