To investigate the physiological changes,steroidal saponins metabolism and gene expression of D. zingiberensis under low phosphorus stress,D. zingiberensis from Nanyang,Henan province was selected to simulate low phosphorus stress.The phosphorus content (total phosphorus,available phosphorus,aluminophosphate,phosphoric acid iron salt,calcium phosphate) and soil acid phosphatase (S-ACP) activities in rhizosphere matrix,root development characteristics (total root length,total projected area,total surface area),peroxidase，superoxide dismutase activities and steroid saponins contents in each tissue were analyzed at different periods.The key period of D. zingiberensis response to low phosphorus stress was determined,and RNA-seq sequencing was used to analyze the gene expression characteristics in roots,leaves and stems of D. zingiberensis.It was found that the content of absorbable phosphorus in rhizosphere matrix of D. zingiberensis was significantly decreased,the activities of antioxidant enzymes (POD,SOD) and soil acid phosphatase (S-ACP) were significantly increased under low phosphorus stress,and root development was inhibited;The synthesis and accumulation of steroidal saponins in D. zingiberensis were obviously affected by low phosphorus stress,and the response characteristics of different parts were different;The early stage of stress is the critical period for D. zingiberensis to respond to the low phosphorus stress;The gene expression of D. zingiberensis in the critical period of low phosphorus stress showed obvious tissue specificity.The gene expression levels and metabolic pathways in different parts of the three treatment groups were analyzed,and 239,211 and 237 differential genes were found from the root,leaf and stem of D. zingiberensis,respectively.It involves many metabolic pathways such as terpenoid skeleton,organic acid and inositol biosynthesis.et al.The above research results indicate that D. zingiberensis responded to the low phosphorus stress by regulating phenotypic traits and physiological metabolic process through changing gene expression level,which provided theoretical basis for studying the molecular mechanism of D. zingiberensis response to the low phosphorus stress.

"> Dioscorea zingiberensis C.H.Wright, low phosphorus stress, phosphorus form, soil acid phosphatase, antioxidant enzymes, steroidal saponins, gene expression