Integrated Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Provides New Insights into Starch and Sucrose Metabolism and Regulation of Corm Expansion Process in Colocasia esculenta

The global significance of Colocasia esculenta, a tuber crop rich in nutritional value and starch, prompts further investigation into its corm development. Background: Previous studies have focused on starch accumulation within the tubers, yet the genetic and proteomic basis of corm expansion remains largely unexplored. This study aims to elucidate the key genes and proteins involved in this process. Methods: We selected 'Lipu Taro No.1' and conducted a longitudinal starch content analysis, full-length transcriptome sequencing, and a proteomic analysis during three distinct stages of corm development. Results: Our findings reveal a significant increase in both amylose and amylopectin contents as the corm develops, indicating the temporal regulation of starch biosynthesis. The integration of transcriptome and proteomic data identified differentially expressed genes and proteins associated with starch and sucrose metabolism, as well as plant hormone signal transduction. Conclusions: This study delineates a temporal gene expression pattern that is crucial for starch synthesis and provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms controlling corm expansion and starch deposition, offering valuable references for future molecular breeding strategies to enhance taro yield and quality.