MADS-box genes encode a large family of transcription factors that play significant roles in plant growth and development. Bamboo is an important non-timber forest product worldwide, but previous studies on the moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) MADS-box gene family were not accurate nor sufficiently detailed. Here, a complete genome-wide identification and characterization of the MADS-box genes in moso bamboo was conducted. There was an unusual lack of type-I MADS-box genes in the bamboo genome database ( http://202.127.18.221/bamboo/index.php ), and some of the PeMADS sequences are fragmented and/or inaccurate. We performed several bioinformatics techniques to obtain more precise sequences using transcriptome assembly. In total, 42 MADS-box genes, including six new type-I MADS-box genes, were identified in bamboo, and their structures, phylogenetic relationships, predicted conserved motifs and promoter cis-elements were systematically investigated. An expression analysis of the bamboo MADS-box genes in floral organs and leaves revealed that several key members are involved in bamboo inflorescence development, like their orthologous genes in Oryza. The ectopic overexpression of one MADS-box gene, PeMADS5, in Arabidopsis triggered an earlier flowering time and the development of an aberrant flower phenotype, suggesting that PeMADS5 acts as a floral activator and is involved in bamboo flowering. We produced the most comprehensive information on MADS-box genes in moso bamboo. Additionally, a critical PeMADS gene (PeMADS5) responsible for the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth was identified and shown to be related to bamboo floral development.

Cinnamomum camphora is widely cultivated for its camphor in essential oil (EO), which is used in pharmaceutical industries. However, the candidate genes for the camphor biosynthesis pathway are unknown. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify differences in the composition of camphor- and linalool-type camphor EOs and in conjunction with transcriptional analysis to identify terpene biosynthesis-related genes. The GC-MS analysis of C. camphora revealed 67 chemical components, including 32 monoterpenes and 35 sesquiterpenes, with camphor-type leaves dominated by camphor and linalool-type leaves by linalool. Transcriptome analysis revealed 6499 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between camphor- and linalool-type C. camphora, with 4244 upregulated and 2255 downregulated in the camphor-type. GO enrichment highlighted DEGs involved in monoterpene biosynthesis, cell wall organization, and membrane-related processes. KEGG analysis identified pathways such as monoterpenoid, diterpenoid, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis as significantly enriched. Furthermore, DEGs encoding TPS, dehydrogenases, and transcription factors, which might contribute to the terpenoid diversity in C. camphora, were identified. Twenty-one candidate genes involved in the camphor biosynthesis pathway were identified, providing a foundation for further elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying camphor production in C. camphora.