Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Multi-Hormone Regulation of Seed Germination in Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis

Abstract

Seed germination of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis is intrinsically low, severely restricting its artificial propagation. Despite the known roles of ABA and GAs, the regulatory functions of other phytohormones in this process remain largely unexplored. In this study, we integrated transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic profiling to systematically investigate the dynamics of 34 phytohormones and global gene expression patterns across five germination stages of P. polyphylla seeds. Seven hormones showed significant changes during germination, including auxins, melatonin, cytokinins, and jasmonate, which exhibited distinct accumulation patterns. Integrative correlation analysis further uncovered candidate genes potentially involved in hormone biosynthesis and signaling. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the hormonal regulation of seed germination in P. polyphylla, establish a foundational framework for understanding its germination mechanisms, and offer candidate molecular targets for improving seed propagation efficiency.