Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Branch Prickles Development in Different Zanthoxylum bungeanum Varieties

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of prickles in the bark of Huajiao(Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.),this study utilized the two locally selected superior cultivars:Kuntai No.1(spiny type)and Kuntai No.2(thornless type),as research subjects and performed transcriptomic sequencing analysis using the Illumina NovaSeq platform.The results indicated that a total of 14245 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified between the two cultivars,including 8864 upregulated genes and 5381 downregulated genes.GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis identified 129 significantly enriched pathways,primarily involving biological processes such as plant hormone signaling and plant-pathogen interactions.Transcription factor analysis revealed that members of the bHLH gene family exhibited the most significant differential expression,with a total of 129 DEGs(89 upregulated and 40 downregulated).This study systematically analyzed the molecular differences underlying the formation of prickles in Huajiao bark at the transcriptomic level,providing a theoretical basis for the subsequent genetic improvement,cultivar selection and utilization of Huajiao.