Transcriptomic analyze of the less branches of Brassica napus L. suitable for mechanized harvesting

Abstract Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is one of the main oil crops in the world. Its multi branching characteristics cause great difficulties and losses to mechanical harvesting. Less branched plant type is a favorable feature for promoting mechanical harvesting. In this paper, a natural mutant rape of less branches with NY12 (Ningyou 12) as background was obtained, which was named sfz (shao fen zhi, meaning less branches in Chinese). The mutant showed a significant decrease in branching and a significant increase in the lowest branch height, which are beneficial to harvest. Transcriptomic analysis of shoot tip tissue showed that the expression of gens related to strigolactone is up-regulated, which promotes its inhibitory effect on plant branching, and the expression of genes related to cell division cycle and cytoplasmic division were all down regulated. It is speculated that the decrease of cell division may also result in the decrease of branching. The research provides a basis for the formation of branching and promoted the development of mechanized harvesting.