The shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT) gene involved into lignin synthesis was cloned by RT-PCR from wild Cryptotaenia japonica Hassk from Guizhou Province.In this paper,the expression profiles of CjHCT under different temperature treatments have been analyzed and explore suitable temperature of artificial cultivation of C.japonica Hassk.The results showed as follows:(1)CjHCT gene contains 1 290 bp nucleotide acids,which encodes 429 amino acids.Using DNAMAN software prediction,the molecular weight and pI of CjHCT were 47.58 kD and 6.67,respectively.Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that CjHCT showed the highest identity with HCTs from Apiaceae family plants.(2)Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of CjHCT gene was different in root,petiole,leaf,and flower of C.japonica Hassk.The expression level of CjHCT gene was the highest in root and the lowest in leaf.The expression levels of CjHCT gene were similar in leaf and flower.(3)The expression profiles of CjHCT gene was analyzed under 10 ℃,18 ℃,30 ℃ and 38 ℃ temperature treatments for 0,0.5,1,2,4,8,12,and 24 h.The expression level of 0 h treatment which was used as control was treated as 1.Under high temperatures (30 ℃ and 38 ℃) treatments,the CjHCT gene showed the highest expression levels at 0.5 h.The expression level of CjHCT under 30 ℃ treatments is higher than that under 38 ℃ treatments at this time.Under low temperature (10 ℃ and 18 ℃) treatments,the CjHCT showed the highest expression level at 12 h.The expression level of CjHCT under 10 ℃ treatment for 0.5 h is lower than that of control.The highest expression levels of CjHCT under high temperature (30 ℃ and 38 ℃) treatments are higher than that under low temperature (10 ℃ and 18 ℃) treatments.The CjHCT under high temperature (30 ℃ and 38 ℃) treatments showed the highest expression levels earlier than that under low temperature (10 ℃ and 18 ℃) treatments.C.japonica Hassk is an edible vegetable.In order to improve the taste,the lignin contents in C.japonica Hassk should be reduced.This study aims to choose the optimum temperature for C.japonica Hassk cultivation by cloning CjHCT and analyzing its expression profiles under the different temperatures.And at the same time,this paper provides novel insights into the condition of C.japonica Hassk cultivation.The experiment is a preliminary study that low temperature treatment inhibits the expression of CjHCT gene and provides the reference for suitable temperature of artificial cultivation for C.japonica Hassk.