Genome-Wide Identification of Terpene Synthase Genes in Siraitia grosvenorii Reveals Sexual Dimorphism in Floral Traits and a Fruit-Specific Candidate SgTPS49
Background: Siraitia grosvenorii (monk fruit) is a dioecious medicinal crop native to southern China, yet its terpene synthase (TPS) gene family and the molecular basis of floral sexual dimorphism remain unexplored. Methods: Genome-wide identification of the TPS gene family was performed using HMMER and BLAST-based approaches. Phylogenetic classification, gene structure and conserved motif characterization, and comparative synteny analyses were conducted. Transcriptome data from leaves and fruits at different developmental stages were analyzed for tissue-specific expression profiling. Promoter cis-element analysis, protein–protein interaction network prediction, and molecular docking were performed to characterize the fruit-specific candidate SgTPS49. Results: A total of 58 SgTPS genes were identified and classified into six subfamilies, with TPS-a and TPS-b comprising 72.4% of the family. Approximately 88% of SgTPS genes arose from lineage-specific tandem duplication. Female flowers exhibited monoterpene-dominant scents and smaller corollas, whereas male flowers displayed a mid-morning sesquiterpene burst and greater morphological variation. SgTPS49 was specifically upregulated at 20 days post-pollination and possessed a unique promoter architecture devoid of classical hormone-responsive elements. Molecular docking supported its annotation as a putative monoterpene synthase with favorable GPP binding. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive genomic resource for the SgTPS family in S. grosvenorii, reveals significant sexual dimorphism in floral traits, and identifies SgTPS49 as a key candidate for future functional validation.