Identification and functional validation of hub genes responding to waterlogging stress during the filling period in quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa Willd.)

Abstract Background Quinoa is a new type of grain crop that has become popular in recent years. It is resistant to drought, and saline-alkali conditions. However, global warming has led to increased rainfall, making it susceptible to waterlogging stress during the growing season. The filling period is a critical period for plant growth and development, but there have been few reports on quinoa response under stress condition during the filling period in recent years. Methods Based on transcriptome data, combined with morphological and physiological indicators and significant metabolites under waterlogging stress, WGCNA (Weighted gene co-expression network analysis) was used to construct a co-expression network associated with it, mine relevant hub genes, and perform overexpression and functional verification of one of the genes. Results We used the WGCNA method to identify 11 hub genes that respond to waterlogging stress, six of which are transcription factors encoded by the AP2/ERF, NAC, and C3H gene families. One of the hub genes, LOC110688032, was overexpressed in Arabidopsis, and its T2 generation seedlings were phenotyped and functionally validated. It was found that overexpression of the LOC110688032 gene in Arabidopsis enhanced the tolerance to waterlogging of the transgenic. Conclusions The results of this study provide valuable insights for quinoa resistance research and lay a solid foundation for the future development of superior quinoa varieties with good tolerance to waterlogging.