TRICHOME AND ARTEMISININ REGULATOR 2 positively regulates trichome development and artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.16777
• Publication Date: 2020-06-27T09:41:01Z
• Authors: Zheng Zhou; Hexin Tan; Qi Li; Qing Li; Yun Wang; Qitao Bu; Yaoxin Li; Yu Wu; Wansheng Chen; Lei Zhang
• Keywords: Artemisia annua; Trichome; MYB; Flavonoid Biosynthesis

Glandular secretory trichomes (GSTs) are regarded as biofactories for synthesizing, storing, and secreting artemisinin. It is necessary to figure out the initiation development regulatory mechanism of GSTs cultivate high-yielding Artemisia annua. Here, we identified an MYB transcription factor, AaTAR2, from bioinformatics analysis A. annua genome database Arabidopsis trichome development-related genes. AaTAR2 mainly expressed in young leaves located nucleus. Repression overexpression resulted a decrease increase, respectively, numbers, leaf biomass, artemisinin content transgenic plants. Furthermore, morphological characteristics changed obviously trichomes, suggesting plays key role formation. In addition, expression flavonoid biosynthesis genes total increased dramatically AaTAR2-overexpressing Owing flavonoids possibly counteracting emerging resistance Plasmodium species, potential target improve effect clinical therapy. Taken together, positively regulates biosynthesis. A better understanding this 'multiple functions' factor may enable enhanced yield. breeding cultivating high-quality