Exploring large-scale gene coexpression networks in peach (Prunus persica L.): a new tool for predicting gene function

Peach is a model for Prunus genetics and genomics, however, identifying and validating genes associated to peach breeding traits is a complex task. A gene coexpression network (GCN) capable of capturing stable gene–gene relationships would help researchers overcome the intrinsic limitations of peach genetics and genomics approaches and outline future research opportunities. In this study, we created four GCNs from 604 Illumina RNA-Seq libraries. We evaluated the performance of every GCN in predicting functional annotations using an algorithm based on the ‘guilty-by-association’ principle. The GCN with the best performance was COO300, encompassing 21 956 genes. To validate its performance predicting gene function, we performed two case studies. In case study 1, we used two genes involved in fruit flesh softening: the endopolygalacturonases PpPG21 and PpPG22. Genes coexpressing with both genes were extracted and referred to as melting flesh (MF) network. Finally, we performed an enrichment analysis of MF network and compared the results with the current knowledge regarding peach fruit softening. The MF network mostly included genes involved in cell wall expansion and remodeling, and with expressions triggered by ripening-related phytohormones, such as ethylene, auxin, and methyl jasmonate. In case study 2, we explored potential targets of the anthocyanin regulator PpMYB10.1 by comparing its gene-centered coexpression network with that of its grapevine orthologues, identifying a common regulatory network. These results validated COO300 as a powerful tool for peach and Prunus research. This network, renamed as PeachGCN v1.0, and the scripts required to perform a function prediction analysis are available at https://github.com/felipecobos/PeachGCN.