Understanding the Key Horticultural Traits of Chinese Native Thymes from the Analysis of Population Diversity
Published:30 Jan.2023    Source:Hortic Res

Thymus is widely distributed in the world. Because its leaves are rich in terpenoids and other bioactive compounds, it has a strong aromatic smell and significant pharmacological activity. It is not only used as spice, cooking material and feed additive, but also as a traditional medicinal plant, which exert antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, immunological, and antimicrobial effects. Thymus is also an ideal aromatic horticultural plant. Its plant type is highly related to its ornamental value. The content of terpenes and the development of secretory glandular hairs are closely related to aroma. However, the molecular mechanism of these traits is still unclear.

 
Recently, Horticulture Research launched (Advance Access) a research paper entitled "Population diversity analyses provide insights into key horticultural traits of Chinese native thymes". This study collected 39 CNTs providing strategic plant resources for studies of lignin, terpenoids, and glandular trichomes of thymes. Using resequencing data as well as phenotypic, metabonomic, phylogenetic, population genetic, and transcriptomic analyses.
 
The results revealed that T. mongolicus accessions might be wild ancestors, and T. quinquecostatusT. quinquecostatus var. asiaticus, and T. quinquecostatus var. przewalskii might be transitional accessions which derived from T. mongolicus populations. Finally, T. nervulosusT. inaequalisT. mandschuricusT. curtusTypopeltis amurensisT. proximusT. altaicusT. roseus, and T. marschallianus showed high divergence. These findings improve understanding to the determinants of variation in horticultural traits and provide candidate loci for research and breeding.