Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42363041›Full record

ArticleBMC plant biology2026

Integrated methylome and transcriptome analysis provides insight into DNA methylation-mediated networks in sexual dimorphism of Vernicia montana.

Xiang Dong, Lin Zhang, Huaguo Zhu, Jinping Peng, Congchuan Lu, Wenying Li

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Article in BMC plant biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Xiang DongCollege of Biology and Agricultural Resources, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, Hubei, 438000, China.
Lin ZhangState Key Laboratory of Woody Oil Resources Utilization, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China.
Huaguo ZhuCollege of Biology and Agricultural Resources, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, Hubei, 438000, China.
Jinping PengCollege of Biology and Agricultural Resources, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, Hubei, 438000, China.
Congchuan LuCollege of Biology and Agricultural Resources, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, Hubei, 438000, China.
Wenying LiCollege of Biology and Agricultural Resources, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, Hubei, 438000, China. wenyingli@hgnu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8488-1578

Funding

Hubei Provincial Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Science and Technology Innovation Teams T2023025National Natural Science Foundation of China 32230073National Natural Science Foundation of China 32401637Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province 2024AFB006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSexual dimorphism is fundamental to reproduction in dioecious plants and is regulated by both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. DNA methylation is a central epigenetic mark known to influence phenotypic variation in plants. However, its specific role in shaping sexual dimorphism in dioecious trees remains poorly understood. To address this question, we performed integrated genome-wide DNA methylome and transcriptome analyses of four tissue types in the dioecious tung tree (Vernicia montana), including male and female flower buds and their corresponding leaves.

resultsOur analysis revealed distinct DNA methylation patterns between male and female tissues. Notably, the coordination between DNA methylation reprogramming and transcriptional regulation appeared to be more strongly associated with reproductive development than with vegetative growth in V. montana. We identified a set of sex-biased genes that may reflect different reproductive strategies between the sexes. Further analysis identified several key transcription factors (TFs) potentially associated with promoter differentially methylated regions (DMRs), including flowering-time regulators (e.g., FRS5, REM16, and VRN1) and TFs involved in hormone signaling pathways such as jasmonic acid, auxin, and salicylic acid signaling. Cis-regulatory element analysis showed that some promoter DMRs overlapped with hormone response elements related to abscisic acid, auxin, and gibberellin. Co-expression network analysis further revealed potential regulatory correlations among promoter DMR-mediated TFs, hormone-responsive pathways, and key floral development regulators.

conclusionsCollectively, our results suggest that interactions among DNA methylation, transcriptional regulation, and hormone-responsive pathways may contribute to the establishment of sexual dimorphism in V. montana. This study provides the first integrated view of these regulatory layers in V. montana and supports a species-specific regulatory framework for understanding the epigenetic basis of sexual dimorphism in this economically important dioecious tree. The proposed framework is based on multi-omics analyses and warrants further validation through targeted functional studies.

Indexed as

DNA MethylationEpigenomeTranscriptomeEpigenesis, GeneticFlowersGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, PlantGene Regulatory NetworksSex CharacteristicsTranscription FactorsTranscription FactorsCo-expression networkDifferentially methylated and expressed transcription factorDNA methylationSexual dimorphismVernicia montana

Identifiers

PMID42363041
PMCPMC13573456

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.