Comprehensive Identification of WDR Gene Family in Panax ginseng: PgWDR Gene Expression Analysis with Ginsenosides Biosynthesis Under MeJA

Abstract

Simple Summary Panax ginseng is a valuable medicinal plant, and ginsenosides are its main active compounds. WD40-repeat proteins are known to regulate plant growth and metabolism, but their role in ginsenoside production under methyl jasmonate treatment was unclear. The WDR gene family was identified in ginseng and analyzed their structures, regulatory elements, and expression patterns. Six PgWDR genes associated with ginsenoside biosynthesis were identified via multi-dimensional screening. The expression patterns of these six genes, together with twelve key enzyme genes for ginsenoside biosynthesis that exhibited significant co-expression with the candidate genes, were further investigated in MeJA-treated ginseng adventitious roots across different treatment times. PgWDR24 was negatively correlated with the levels of major ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, and Rd), suggesting that it may be involved in negative-type association with ginsenoside accumulation.