Cloning and Functional Analysis of Wri1  Gene in Camellia Oleifera

Abstract

Camellia oleifera, an important woody oil crop, relies on seed oil accumulation for both plant development and economic value. Although WRINKLED1 (WRI1) plays a key role in fatty acid biosynthesis in many plants, its function in hexaploid C. oleifera is not well understood. This study aimed to clone and characterize the WRI1 gene (CoWRI1) and investigate its role in oil biosynthesis. The CoWRI1 gene was successfully cloned, showing high similarity to WRI1 genes in other plants. Subcellular localization confirmed its nuclear localization. Quantitative PCR revealed dynamic expression patterns, peaking during oil accumulation. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing CoWRI1 showed increased oil content and changes in seed oil composition, particularly higher palmitic and linolenic acid levels. These findings suggest that CoWRI1 promotes oil biosynthesis by regulating key genes, providing insights into enhancing seed oil content in C.oleifera.

Keywords: Camellia oleifera, WRI1, Overexpression, Fatty acids, Growth and development