Trends Plant Sci , IF:18.313 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.03.016
Endoreplication controls cell size via mechanochemical signaling.
Plant & Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK. Electronic address: rahul.bhosale@nottingham.ac.uk.; Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), Biology Department, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology Lab, Department of Agriculture, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Stavromenos PC 71410, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: kris.vissenberg@uantwerpen.be.
During hypocotyl development, an asymmetric auxin gradient causes differential cell elongation, leading to tissue bending and apical hook formation. Recently, Ma et al. identified a molecular pathway that links auxin with endoreplication and cell size through cell wall integrity sensing, cell wall remodeling, and regulation of cell wall stiffness.
PMID: 36997439
Trends Plant Sci , IF:18.313 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.03.002
Biomolecular condensation: a new player in auxin signaling.
Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Schubertstrasse 51, 8010 Graz, Austria. Electronic address: alicja.gorska@uni-graz.at.; Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Schubertstrasse 51, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Biomolecular condensates are increasingly being recognized as a fundamental mechanism for the organization of the intracellular space. Powers et al. and Jing et al. recently demonstrated that a cytoplasmic condensation of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) transcription factors restrains auxin responses, acting as an additional regulatory layer in the auxin-mediated control of plant development.
PMID: 36959045
Trends Plant Sci , IF:18.313 , 2023 Apr , V28 (4) : P447-459 doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.12.004
Auxin-cytokinin interplay shapes root functionality under low-temperature stress.
Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KA 66506, USA. Electronic address: manishtiwari@ksu.edu.; Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KA 66506, USA.; Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA.; Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.; Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KA 66506, USA; Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79410, USA. Electronic address: kjagadish.sv@ttu.edu.
Low-temperature stress alters root system architecture. In particular, changes in the levels and response to auxin and cytokinin determine the fate of root architecture and function under stress because of their vital roles in regulating root cell division, differentiation, and elongation. An intricate nexus of genes encoding components of auxin and cytokinin biosynthesis, signaling, and transport components operate to counteract stress and facilitate optimum development. We review the role of auxin transport and signaling and its regulation by cytokinin during root development and stem cell maintenance under low-temperature stress. We highlight intricate mechanisms operating in root stem cells to minimize DNA damage by altering phytohormone levels, and discuss a working model for cytokinin in low-temperatures stress response.
PMID: 36599768
Nat Plants , IF:15.793 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1038/s41477-023-01396-y
Four class A AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORs promote tomato fruit growth despite suppressing fruit set.
Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.; School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China.; Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. tps@duke.edu.
In flowering plants, auxin produced in seeds after fertilization promotes fruit initiation. The application of auxin to unpollinated ovaries can also induce parthenocarpy (seedless fruit production). Previous studies have shown that auxin signalling components SlIAA9 and SlARF7 (a class A AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF)) are key repressors of fruit initiation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). A similar repressive role of class A ARFs in fruit set has also been observed in other plant species. However, evidence is lacking for a role of any class A ARF in promoting fruit development as predicted in the current auxin signalling model. Here we generated higher-order tomato mutants of four class A SlARFs (SlARF5, SlARF7, SlARF8A and SlARF8B) and uncovered their precise combinatorial roles that lead to suppressing and promoting fruit development. All four class A SlARFs together with SlIAA9 inhibited fruit initiation but promoted subsequent fruit growth. Transgenic tomato lines expressing truncated SlARF8A/8B lacking the IAA9-interacting PB1 domain displayed strong parthenocarpy, further confirming the promoting role of SlARF8A/8B in fruit growth. Altering the doses of these four SlARFs led to biphasic fruit growth responses, showing their versatile dual roles as both negative and positive regulators. RNA-seq and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR analyses further identified SlARF8A/8B target genes, including those encoding MADS-BOX transcription factors (AG1, MADS2 and AGL6) that are key repressors of fruit set. These results support the idea that SlIAA9/SlARFs directly regulate the transcription of these MADS-BOX genes to inhibit fruit set. Our study reveals the previously unknown dual function of four class A SlARFs in tomato fruit development and illuminates the complex combinatorial effects of multiple ARFs in controlling auxin-mediated fruit set and fruit growth.
PMID: 37037878
Nat Plants , IF:15.793 , 2023 Apr , V9 (4) : P631-644 doi: 10.1038/s41477-023-01360-w
Gibberellins promote polar auxin transport to regulate stem cell fate decisions in cambium.
Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.; Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.; European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Geel, Belgium.; Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.; Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. AriPekka.Mahonen@helsinki.fi.; Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. AriPekka.Mahonen@helsinki.fi.
Vascular cambium contains bifacial stem cells, which produce secondary xylem to one side and secondary phloem to the other. However, how these fate decisions are regulated is unknown. Here we show that the positioning of an auxin signalling maximum within the cambium determines the fate of stem cell daughters. The position is modulated by gibberellin-regulated, PIN1-dependent polar auxin transport. Gibberellin treatment broadens auxin maximum from the xylem side of the cambium towards the phloem. As a result, xylem-side stem cell daughter preferentially differentiates into xylem, while phloem-side daughter retains stem cell identity. Occasionally, this broadening leads to direct specification of both daughters as xylem, and consequently, adjacent phloem-identity cell reverts to being stem cell. Conversely, reduced gibberellin levels favour specification of phloem-side stem cell daughter as phloem. Together, our data provide a mechanism by which gibberellin regulates the ratio of xylem and phloem production.
PMID: 36997686
Nat Commun , IF:14.919 , 2023 Mar , V14 (1) : P1449 doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36774-9
MicroRNA156 conditions auxin sensitivity to enable growth plasticity in response to environmental changes in Arabidopsis.
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.; Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.; Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.; Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA.; Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA. meng.chen@ucr.edu.; Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA. xuemei.chen@pku.edu.cn.; School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Joint Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China. xuemei.chen@pku.edu.cn.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play diverse roles in plant development, but whether and how miRNAs participate in thermomorphogenesis remain ambiguous. Here we show that HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1)-a key component of miRNA biogenesis-acts downstream of the thermal regulator PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 in the temperature-dependent plasticity of hypocotyl growth in Arabidopsis. A hyl1-2 suppressor screen identified a dominant dicer-like1 allele that rescues hyl1-2's defects in miRNA biogenesis and thermoresponsive hypocotyl elongation. Genome-wide miRNA and transcriptome analysis revealed microRNA156 (miR156) and its target SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING-PROTEIN-LIKE 9 (SPL9) to be critical regulators of thermomorphogenesis. Surprisingly, perturbation of the miR156/SPL9 module disengages seedling responsiveness to warm temperatures by impeding auxin sensitivity. Moreover, miR156-dependent auxin sensitivity also operates in the shade avoidance response at lower temperatures. Thus, these results unveil the miR156/SPL9 module as a previously uncharacterized genetic circuit that enables plant growth plasticity in response to environmental temperature and light changes.
PMID: 36949101
Genome Biol , IF:13.583 , 2023 Mar , V24 (1) : P49 doi: 10.1186/s13059-023-02886-0
Cell-specific clock-controlled gene expression program regulates rhythmic fiber cell growth in cotton.
State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.; Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.; TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, RNA Institute, Remin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.; Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.; Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.; Research Institute of Economic Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China.; State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. yu.zhou@whu.edu.cn.; Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. yu.zhou@whu.edu.cn.; TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, RNA Institute, Remin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. yu.zhou@whu.edu.cn.; Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. yu.zhou@whu.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. wangk05@whu.edu.cn.; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China. wangk05@whu.edu.cn.; Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. wangk05@whu.edu.cn.
BACKGROUND: The epidermis of cotton ovule produces fibers, the most important natural cellulose source for the global textile industry. However, the molecular mechanism of fiber cell growth is still poorly understood. RESULTS: Here, we develop an optimized protoplasting method, and integrate single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell ATAC sequencing (scATAC-seq) to systematically characterize the cells of the outer integument of ovules from wild type and fuzzless/lintless (fl) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). By jointly analyzing the scRNA-seq data from wildtype and fl, we identify five cell populations including the fiber cell type and construct the development trajectory for fiber lineage cells. Interestingly, by time-course diurnal transcriptomic analysis, we demonstrate that the primary growth of fiber cells is a highly regulated circadian rhythmic process. Moreover, we identify a small peptide GhRALF1 that circadian rhythmically controls fiber growth possibly through oscillating auxin signaling and proton pump activity in the plasma membrane. Combining with scATAC-seq, we further identify two cardinal cis-regulatory elements (CREs, TCP motif, and TCP-like motif) which are bound by the trans factors GhTCP14s to modulate the circadian rhythmic metabolism of mitochondria and protein translation through regulating approximately one third of genes that are highly expressed in fiber cells. CONCLUSIONS: We uncover a fiber-specific circadian clock-controlled gene expression program in regulating fiber growth. This study unprecedentedly reveals a new route to improve fiber traits by engineering the circadian clock of fiber cells.
PMID: 36918913
Mol Plant , IF:13.164 , 2023 Mar , V16 (3) : P571-587 doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.01.010
Ca(2+)-dependent TaCCD1 cooperates with TaSAUR215 to enhance plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase activity and alkali stress tolerance by inhibiting PP2C-mediated dephosphorylation of TaHA2 in wheat.
Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China. Electronic address: lshuwei@sdu.edu.cn.
Alkali stress is a major constraint for crop production in many regions of saline-alkali land. However, little is known about the mechanisms through which wheat responds to alkali stress. In this study, we identified a calcium ion-binding protein from wheat, TaCCD1, which is critical for regulating the plasma membrane (PM) H(+)-ATPase-mediated alkali stress response. PM H(+)-ATPase activity is closely related to alkali tolerance in the wheat variety Shanrong 4 (SR4). We found that two D-clade type 2C protein phosphatases, TaPP2C.D1 and TaPP2C.D8 (TaPP2C.D1/8), negatively modulate alkali stress tolerance by dephosphorylating the penultimate threonine residue (Thr926) of TaHA2 and thereby inhibiting PM H(+)-ATPase activity. Alkali stress induces the expression of TaCCD1 in SR4, and TaCCD1 interacts with TaSAUR215, an early auxin-responsive protein. These responses are both dependent on calcium signaling triggered by alkali stress. TaCCD1 enhances the inhibitory effect of TaSAUR215 on TaPP2C.D1/8 activity, thereby promoting the activity of the PM H(+)-ATPase TaHA2 and alkali stress tolerance in wheat. Functional and genetic analyses verified the effects of these genes in response to alkali stress, indicating that TaPP2C.D1/8 function downstream of TaSAUR215 and TaCCD1. Collectively, this study uncovers a new signaling pathway that regulates wheat responses to alkali stress, in which Ca(2+)-dependent TaCCD1 cooperates with TaSAUR215 to enhance PM H(+)-ATPase activity and alkali stress tolerance by inhibiting TaPP2C.D1/8-mediated dephosphorylation of PM H(+)-ATPase TaHA2 in wheat.
PMID: 36681864
EMBO J , IF:11.598 , 2023 Apr : Pe111926 doi: 10.15252/embj.2022111926
Auxin-dependent regulation of cell division rates governs root thermomorphogenesis.
Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.; Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.; Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle (Saale), Germany.; Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany.
Roots are highly plastic organs enabling plants to adapt to a changing below-ground environment. In addition to abiotic factors like nutrients or mechanical resistance, plant roots also respond to temperature variation. Below the heat stress threshold, Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings react to elevated temperature by promoting primary root growth, possibly to reach deeper soil regions with potentially better water saturation. While above-ground thermomorphogenesis is enabled by thermo-sensitive cell elongation, it was unknown how temperature modulates root growth. We here show that roots are able to sense and respond to elevated temperature independently of shoot-derived signals. This response is mediated by a yet unknown root thermosensor that employs auxin as a messenger to relay temperature signals to the cell cycle. Growth promotion is achieved primarily by increasing cell division rates in the root apical meristem, depending on de novo local auxin biosynthesis and temperature-sensitive organization of the polar auxin transport system. Hence, the primary cellular target of elevated ambient temperature differs fundamentally between root and shoot tissues, while the messenger auxin remains the same.
PMID: 37071525
EMBO J , IF:11.598 , 2023 Apr : Pe111273 doi: 10.15252/embj.2022111273
TOR acts as a metabolic gatekeeper for auxin-dependent lateral root initiation in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Center for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.; Institut de Biologie Moleculaire des Plantes (IBMP), UPR CNRS 2357, Strasbourg, France.; Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany.; Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Barcelona, Spain.; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Plant organogenesis requires matching the available metabolic resources to developmental programs. In Arabidopsis, the root system is determined by primary root-derived lateral roots (LRs), and adventitious roots (ARs) formed from non-root organs. Lateral root formation entails the auxin-dependent activation of transcription factors ARF7, ARF19, and LBD16. Adventitious root formation relies on LBD16 activation by auxin and WOX11. The allocation of shoot-derived sugar to the roots influences branching, but how its availability is sensed for LRs formation remains unknown. We combine metabolic profiling with cell-specific interference to show that LRs switch to glycolysis and consume carbohydrates. The target-of-rapamycin (TOR) kinase is activated in the lateral root domain. Interfering with TOR kinase blocks LR initiation while promoting AR formation. The target-of-rapamycin inhibition marginally affects the auxin-induced transcriptional response of the pericycle but attenuates the translation of ARF19, ARF7, and LBD16. TOR inhibition induces WOX11 transcription in these cells, yet no root branching occurs as TOR controls LBD16 translation. TOR is a central gatekeeper for root branching that integrates local auxin-dependent pathways with systemic metabolic signals, modulating the translation of auxin-induced genes.
PMID: 37021425
EMBO J , IF:11.598 , 2023 Mar , V42 (6) : Pe113018 doi: 10.15252/embj.2022113018
The birth of a giant: evolutionary insights into the origin of auxin responses in plants.
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
The plant signaling molecule auxin is present in multiple kingdoms of life. Since its discovery, a century of research has been focused on its action as a phytohormone. In land plants, auxin regulates growth and development through transcriptional and non-transcriptional programs. Some of the molecular mechanisms underlying these responses are well understood, mainly in Arabidopsis. Recently, the availability of genomic and transcriptomic data of green lineages, together with phylogenetic inference, has provided the basis to reconstruct the evolutionary history of some components involved in auxin biology. In this review, we follow the evolutionary trajectory that allowed auxin to become the "giant" of plant biology by focusing on bryophytes and streptophyte algae. We consider auxin biosynthesis, transport, physiological, and molecular responses, as well as evidence supporting the role of auxin as a chemical messenger for communication within ecosystems. Finally, we emphasize that functional validation of predicted orthologs will shed light on the conserved properties of auxin biology among streptophytes.
PMID: 36786017
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1093/plcell/koad064
Phosphorylation and ubiquitination of OsWRKY31 are integral to OsMKK10-2-mediated defense responses in rice.
Key Laboratory of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, MOA; Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding; Department of Plant Pathology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MPK) cascades play vital roles in plant innate immunity, growth, and development. Here, we report that the rice (Oryza sativa) transcription factor gene OsWRKY31 is a key component in an MPK signaling pathway involved in plant disease resistance in rice. We found that the activation of OsMKK10-2 enhances resistance against the rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae and suppresses growth through an increase in jasmonic acid and salicylic acid accumulation, and a decrease of indole-3-acetic acid levels. Knockout of OsWRKY31 compromises the defense responses mediated by OsMKK10-2. OsMKK10-2 and OsWRKY31 physically interact, and OsWRKY31 is phosphorylated by OsMPK3, OsMPK4, and OsMPK6. Phosphomimetic OsWRKY31 has elevated DNA-binding activity and confers enhanced resistance to M. oryzae. In addition, OsWRKY31 stability is regulated by phosphorylation and ubiquitination via RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligases interacting with WRKY 1 (OsREIW1). Taken together, our findings indicate that modification of OsWRKY31 by phosphorylation and ubiquitination functions in the OsMKK10-2-mediated defense signaling pathway.
PMID: 36869655
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2023 Mar , V35 (3) : P971-972 doi: 10.1093/plcell/koad012
Hormone synergy: Auxin and jasmonate boost abscisic acid signaling via ARF10 and ARF16.
Assistant Features Editor, The Plant Cell, American Society of Plant Biologists, USA.; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
PMID: 36651138
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2023 Mar , V35 (3) : P965-966 doi: 10.1093/plcell/koad004
Gateway to morphogenesis: TIR1 auxin receptor is essential for cellular differentiation and organ formation in Marchantia polymorpha.
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
PMID: 36648106
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2023 Mar , V35 (4) : P1202-1221 doi: 10.1093/plcell/koac369
Cytokinin-responsive MdTCP17 interacts with MdWOX11 to repress adventitious root primordium formation in apple rootstocks.
College of Horticulture, Yangling Sub-Center of National Center for Apple Improvement, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China.
Adventitious root (AR) formation plays an important role in vegetatively propagated plants. Cytokinin (CK) inhibits AR formation, but the molecular mechanisms driving this process remain unknown. In this study, we confirmed that CK content is related to AR formation and further revealed that a high auxin/CK ratio was beneficial to AR formation in apple (Malus domestica). A correlation between expression of CK-responsive TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA, and PCF17 (MdTCP17) and AR formation in response to CK was identified, and overexpression of MdTCP17 in transgenic apple inhibited AR formation. Yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed an interaction between MdTCP17 and WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX11 (MdWOX11), and a significant correlation between the expression of MdWOX11 and AR ability. Overexpression of MdWOX11 promoted AR primordium formation in apple, while interference of MdWOX11 inhibited AR primordium production. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between MdWOX11 and LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN29 (MdLBD29) expression, and yeast one-hybrid, dual luciferase reporter, and ChIP-qPCR assays verified the binding of MdWOX11 to the MdLBD29 promoter with a WOX-box element in the binding sequence. Furthermore, MdTCP17 reduced the binding of MdWOX11 and MdLBD29 promoters, and coexpression of MdTCP17 and MdWOX11 reduced MdLBD29 expression. Together, these results explain the function and molecular mechanism of MdTCP17-mediated CK inhibition of AR primordium formation, which could be used to improve apple rootstocks genetically.
PMID: 36544357
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2023 Mar , V35 (3) : P1058-1075 doi: 10.1093/plcell/koac367
Auxin signaling is essential for organogenesis but not for cell survival in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.
Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.; Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.; Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.; Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan.; Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-8510, Japan.
Auxin plays pleiotropic roles in plant development via gene regulation upon its perception by the receptors TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1/AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (TIR1/AFBs). This auxin-regulated transcriptional control mechanism originated in the common ancestor of land plants. Although the complete loss of TIR1/AFBs causes embryonic lethality in Arabidopsis thaliana, it is unclear whether the requirement for TIR1-mediated auxin perception in cell viability can be generalized. The model liverwort Marchantia polymorpha has a minimal auxin signaling system with only a single TIR1/AFB, MpTIR1. Here we show by genetic, biochemical, and transcriptomic analyses that MpTIR1 functions as an evolutionarily conserved auxin receptor. Null mutants and conditionally knocked-out mutants of MpTIR1 were viable but incapable of forming any organs and grew as cell masses. Principal component analysis performed using transcriptomes at various developmental stages indicated that MpTIR1 is involved in the developmental transition from spores to organized thalli, during which apical notches containing stem cells are established. In Mptir1 cells, stem cell- and differentiation-related genes were up- and downregulated, respectively. Our findings suggest that, in M. polymorpha, auxin signaling is dispensable for cell division but is essential for three-dimensional patterning of the plant body by establishing pluripotent stem cells for organogenesis, a derived trait of land plants.
PMID: 36529527
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2023 Mar , V35 (3) : P1110-1133 doi: 10.1093/plcell/koac362
Auxin contributes to jasmonate-mediated regulation of abscisic acid signaling during seed germination in Arabidopsis.
CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.; Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.; College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, China.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.; School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
Abscisic acid (ABA) represses seed germination and postgerminative growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. Auxin and jasmonic acid (JA) stimulate ABA function; however, the possible synergistic effects of auxin and JA on ABA signaling and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that exogenous auxin works synergistically with JA to enhance the ABA-induced delay of seed germination. Auxin biosynthesis, perception, and signaling are crucial for JA-promoted ABA responses. The auxin-dependent transcription factors AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR10 (ARF10) and ARF16 interact with JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN (JAZ) repressors of JA signaling. ARF10 and ARF16 positively mediate JA-increased ABA responses, and overaccumulation of ARF16 partially restores the hyposensitive phenotype of JAZ-accumulating plants defective in JA signaling in response to combined ABA and JA treatment. Furthermore, ARF10 and ARF16 physically associate with ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5), a critical regulator of ABA signaling, and the ability of ARF16 to stimulate JA-mediated ABA responses is mainly dependent on ABI5. ARF10 and ARF16 activate the transcriptional function of ABI5, whereas JAZ repressors antagonize their effects. Collectively, our results demonstrate that auxin contributes to the synergetic modulation of JA on ABA signaling, and explain the mechanism by which ARF10/16 coordinate with JAZ and ABI5 to integrate the auxin, JA, and ABA signaling pathways.
PMID: 36516412
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A , IF:11.205 , 2023 Apr , V120 (15) : Pe2301054120 doi: 10.1073/pnas.2301054120
Plant microbiota controls an alternative root branching regulatory mechanism in plants.
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom.; Center for Genomics Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.; Future Food Beacon of Excellence, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom.; Division of Crop Biotechnics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.; Leuven Plant Institute, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
The establishment of beneficial interactions with microbes has helped plants to modulate root branching plasticity in response to environmental cues. However, how the plant microbiota harmonizes with plant roots to control their branching is unknown. Here, we show that the plant microbiota influences root branching in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We define that the microbiota's ability to control some stages in root branching can be independent of the phytohormone auxin that directs lateral root development under axenic conditions. In addition, we revealed a microbiota-driven mechanism controlling lateral root development that requires the induction of ethylene response pathways. We show that the microbial effects on root branching can be relevant for plant responses to environmental stresses. Thus, we discovered a microbiota-driven regulatory pathway controlling root branching plasticity that could contribute to plant adaptation to different ecosystems.
PMID: 37011213
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A , IF:11.205 , 2023 Mar , V120 (11) : Pe2219916120 doi: 10.1073/pnas.2219916120
Cooperative action of separate interaction domains promotes high-affinity DNA binding of Arabidopsis thaliana ARF transcription factors.
Laboratory of Biophysics, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.; Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.; ALBA synchrotron Light Source, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona 08290, Spain.; Microspectroscopy Research Facility, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
The signaling molecule auxin coordinates many growth and development processes in plants, mainly through modulating gene expression. Transcriptional response is mediated by the family of auxin response factors (ARF). Monomers of this family recognize a DNA motif and can homodimerize through their DNA-binding domain (DBD), enabling cooperative binding to an inverted binding site. Most ARFs further contain a C-terminal PB1 domain that is capable of homotypic interactions and mediating interactions with Aux/IAA repressors. Given the dual role of the PB1 domain, and the ability of both DBD and PB1 domain to mediate dimerization, a key question is how these domains contribute to DNA-binding specificity and affinity. So far, ARF-ARF and ARF-DNA interactions have mostly been approached using qualitative methods that do not provide a quantitative and dynamic view on the binding equilibria. Here, we utilize a DNA binding assay based on single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) to study the affinity and kinetics of the interaction of several Arabidopsis thaliana ARFs with an IR7 auxin-responsive element (AuxRE). We show that both DBD and PB1 domains of AtARF2 contribute toward DNA binding, and we identify ARF dimer stability as a key parameter in defining binding affinity and kinetics across AtARFs. Lastly, we derived an analytical solution for a four-state cyclic model that explains both the kinetics and the affinity of the interaction between AtARF2 and IR7. Our work demonstrates that the affinity of ARFs toward composite DNA response elements is defined by dimerization equilibrium, identifying this as a key element in ARF-mediated transcriptional activity.
PMID: 36881630
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2023 Jun , V452 : P131226 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131226
Tryptophan pretreatment adjusts transcriptome and metabolome profiles to alleviate cadmium toxicity in Arabidopsis.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Resources and Biotechnology for Carbon Reduction and Environmental Improvement and College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.; Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Resources and Biotechnology for Carbon Reduction and Environmental Improvement and College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China. Electronic address: qixiaoting@cnu.edu.cn.
Cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic to all organisms including plants, and recently tryptophan (Trp) pretreatment of plant seedlings is shown to improve Cd tolerance. But the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we used Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to determine the physiological relevance of Trp pretreatment in alleviating Cd toxicity in plants and explore its molecular mechanism with a focus on the metabolic pathways. The results showed that Trp pretreatment maintained the biomass and root lengths, relieved Cd-induced lipid peroxidation, and reduced Cd transport to the shoots, and eventually improved the response against Cd in Arabidopsis seedlings. The integrative analyses of the transcriptome and metabolome further revealed that Trp pretreatment alleviated Cd toxicity not only through a known mechanism of producing a major auxin indole-3-acetic acid and maintaining its levels, but also through two previously unrecognized mechanisms: increasing the area and strength of cell walls by promoting lignification to further reduce Cd entry, and fine-tuning Cd detoxification products derived from sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism. Our findings thereby provide deep mechanical insights into how Trp alleviates Cd toxicity in plants.
PMID: 36934628
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2023 Mar , V445 : P130530 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130530
Pre treatment of melatonin rescues cotton seedlings from cadmium toxicity by regulating key physio-biochemical and molecular pathways.
State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Hualan St. 90, Xinxiang 453003, China.; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 450000, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572024, China; National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Sanya 572024, China.; School of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Hualan St. 90, Xinxiang 453003, China.; Faculty of Science, University Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.; Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 5289 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.; Sinopharm Wuhan Plasma-derived Biotherapies Co., Ltd, Wuhan, China.; School of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Hualan St. 90, Xinxiang 453003, China. Electronic address: ruiyangzh@gmail.com.; State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China. Electronic address: xiongyc@lzu.edu.cn.
Melatonin, a plant/animal origin hormone, regulates plant response to abiotic stresses by protecting them from oxidative damage. This study identified physiochemical and molecular mechanism of melatonin-induced cadmium (Cd) stress tolerance and detoxification in cotton seedlings. Cotton seedlings, with or without melatonin (15 microM) pretreatment, were subjected to Cd (100 microM) stress in a hydroponic medium for eight days. We found that higher cellular Cd accumulation in leaf tissues significantly inhibited the growth and physiology of cotton seedlings. In contrast, melatonin-treated seedlings maintained leaf photosynthetic capacity, producing relatively higher fresh (17.4%) and dry (19.3%) weights than non-melatonin-treated plants under Cd-contaminated environments. The improved growth and leaf functioning were strongly linked with the melatonin-induced repression of Cd transporter genes (LOC107894197, LOC107955631, LOC107899273) in roots. Thus, melatonin induced downregulation of the Cd transporter genes further inhibited Cd ion transport towards leaf tissues. This suggests that the differentially expressed transporter genes (DEG) are key drivers of the melatonin-mediated regulation of Cd transportation and sequestration in cotton. Melatonin also protected cotton seedlings from Cd-induced oxidative injury by reducing tissues malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) levels and increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzymes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that melatonin activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways to simulate stomatal adjustment and photosynthesis in Cd-stressed leaves. Further, melatonin protects intercellular organs, particularly ribosomes, from Cd-induced oxidative damage by promoting ribosomal biosynthesis and improving translational efficiency. The findings elucidated the molecular basis of melatonin-mediated Cd stress tolerance in plants and provided a key for the effective strategy of Cd accumulation in cotton.
PMID: 36463746
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 Jun , V238 (5) : P1813-1824 doi: 10.1111/nph.18898
Loss-of-function of gynoecium-expressed phospholipase pPLAIIgamma triggers maternal haploid induction in Arabidopsis.
Department of Applied Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Korea.; Interdisciplinary Program in IT-Bio Convergence System, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Korea.; Laboratoire Reproduction et Developpement des Plantes, Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, UCB Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, Lyon, F-69342, France.
Production of in planta haploid embryos that inherit chromosomes from only one parent can greatly increase breeding efficiency via quickly generating homozygous plants, called doubled haploid. One of the main players of in planta haploid induction is a pollen-specific phospholipase A, which is able, when mutated, to induce in vivo haploid induction in numerous monocots. However, no functional orthologous gene has been identified in dicots plants. Here, we show that loss-of-function of gynoecium-expressed phospholipase AII (pPLAIIgamma) triggers maternal haploid plants in Arabidopsis, at an average rate of 1.07%. Reciprocal crosses demonstrate that haploid plants are triggered from the female side and not from the pollen, and the haploid plants carry the maternal genome. Promoter activity of pPLAIIgamma shows enriched expression in the funiculus of flower development stages 13 and 18, and pPLAIIgamma fused to yellow fluorescent protein reveals a plasma-membrane localization Interestingly, the polar localized PIN1 at the basal plasma membrane of the funiculus was all internalized in pplaIIgamma mutants, suggesting that altered PIN1 localization in female organ could play a role in maternal haploid induction.
PMID: 36967578
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 Jun , V238 (5) : P1924-1941 doi: 10.1111/nph.18879
AZG1 is a cytokinin transporter that interacts with auxin transporter PIN1 and regulates the root stress response.
Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologia Vegetal, Velez Sarsfield 249, 5000, Cordoba, Argentina.; Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany, University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, 53115, Bonn, Germany.; Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, Schanzlestrasse 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.; Conservation Ecology, Department Biology, Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany.; Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Institute of Experimental Botany ASCR and Palacky, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic.; Zentrum fur Molekularbiologie der Pflanzen, Universitat Tubingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076, Tubingen, Germany.; Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology II, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 7, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.; Labormedizinisches Zentrum Ostschweiz, Lagerstrasse 30, 9470, Buchs, SG, Switzerland.; Centre of Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.; BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
An environmentally responsive root system is crucial for plant growth and crop yield, especially in suboptimal soil conditions. This responsiveness enables the plant to exploit regions of high nutrient density while simultaneously minimizing abiotic stress. Despite the vital importance of root systems in regulating plant growth, significant gaps of knowledge exist in the mechanisms that regulate their architecture. Auxin defines both the frequency of lateral root (LR) initiation and the rate of LR outgrowth. Here, we describe a search for proteins that regulate root system architecture (RSA) by interacting directly with a key auxin transporter, PIN1. The native separation of Arabidopsis plasma membrane protein complexes identified several PIN1 co-purifying proteins. Among them, AZG1 was subsequently confirmed as a PIN1 interactor. Here, we show that, in Arabidopsis, AZG1 is a cytokinin (CK) import protein that co-localizes with and stabilizes PIN1, linking auxin and CK transport streams. AZG1 expression in LR primordia is sensitive to NaCl, and the frequency of LRs is AZG1-dependent under salt stress. This report therefore identifies a potential point for auxin:cytokinin crosstalk, which shapes RSA in response to NaCl.
PMID: 36918499
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 May , V238 (4) : P1379-1385 doi: 10.1111/nph.18864
Lateral root branching: evolutionary innovations and mechanistic divergence in land plants.
Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India.; Center for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany.
The root system architecture in plants is a result of multiple evolutionary innovations over time in response to changing environmental cues. Dichotomy and endogenous lateral branching in the roots evolved in lycophytes lineage but extant seed plants use lateral branching instead. This has led to the development of complex and adaptive root systems, with lateral roots playing a key role in this process exhibiting conserved and divergent features in different plant species. The study of lateral root branching in diverse plant species can shed light on the orderly yet distinct nature of postembryonic organogenesis in plants. This insight provides an overview of the diversity in lateral root (LR) development in various plant species during the evolution of root system in plants.
PMID: 36882384
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 May , V238 (4) : P1498-1515 doi: 10.1111/nph.18854
PIN-FORMED is required for shoot phototropism/gravitropism and facilitates meristem formation in Marchantia polymorpha.
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., 3800, Australia.; ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., 3800, Australia.
PIN-FORMED auxin efflux transporters, a subclass of which is plasma membrane-localised, mediate a variety of land-plant developmental processes via their polar localisation and subsequent directional auxin transport. We provide the first characterisation of PIN proteins in liverworts using Marchantia polymorpha as a model system. Marchantia polymorpha possesses a single PIN-FORMED gene, whose protein product is predicted to be plasma membrane-localised, MpPIN1. To characterise MpPIN1, we created loss-of-function alleles and produced complementation lines in both M. polymorpha and Arabidopsis. In M. polymorpha, gene expression and protein localisation were tracked using an MpPIN1 transgene encoding a translationally fused fluorescent protein. Overexpression of MpPIN1 can partially complement loss of an orthologous gene, PIN-FORMED1, in Arabidopsis. In M. polymorpha, MpPIN1 influences development in numerous ways throughout its life cycle. Most notably, MpPIN1 is required to establish gemmaling dorsiventral polarity and for orthotropic growth of gametangiophore stalks, where MpPIN1 is basally polarised. PIN activity is largely conserved within land plants, with PIN-mediated auxin flow providing a flexible mechanism to organise growth. Specifically, PIN is fundamentally linked to orthotropism and to the establishment of de novo meristems, the latter potentially involving the formation of both auxin biosynthesis maxima and auxin-signalling minima.
PMID: 36880411
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 May , V238 (3) : P1146-1162 doi: 10.1111/nph.18775
RRS1 shapes robust root system to enhance drought resistance in rice.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, 572025, China.; Shandong Rice Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, 250100, Shandong, China.; Sanya Institute, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, 572025, China.
A strong root system facilitates the absorption of water and nutrients from the soil, to improve the growth of crops. However, to date, there are still very few root development regulatory genes that can be used in crop breeding for agriculture. In this study, we cloned a negative regulator gene of root development, Robust Root System 1 (RRS1), which encodes an R2R3-type MYB family transcription factor. RRS1 knockout plants showed enhanced root growth, including longer root length, longer lateral root length, and larger lateral root density. RRS1 represses root development by directly activating the expression of OsIAA3 which is involved in the auxin signaling pathway. A natural variation in the coding region of RRS1 changes the transcriptional activity of its protein. RRS1(T) allele, originating from wild rice, possibly increases root length by means of weakening regulation of OsIAA3. Knockout of RRS1 enhances drought resistance by promoting water absorption and improving water use efficiency. This study provides a new gene resource for improving root systems and cultivating drought-resistant rice varieties with important values in agricultural applications.
PMID: 36862074
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 May , V238 (3) : P971-976 doi: 10.1111/nph.18783
Save your TIRs - more to auxin than meets the eye.
John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.; Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK.
Auxin has long been known as an important regulator of plant growth and development. Classical studies in auxin biology have uncovered a 'canonical' transcriptional auxin-signalling pathway involving the TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE1/AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (TIR1/AFB) receptors. TIR1/AFB perception of auxin triggers the degradation of repressors and the derepression of auxin-responsive genes. Nevertheless, the canonical pathway cannot account for all aspects of auxin biology, such as physiological responses that are too rapid for transcriptional regulation. This Tansley insight will explore several 'non-canonical' pathways that have been described in recent years mediating fast auxin responses. We focus on the interplay between a nontranscriptional branch of TIR1/AFB signalling and a TRANSMEMBRANE KINASE1 (TMK1)-mediated pathway in root acid growth. Other developmental aspects involving the TMKs and their association with the controversial AUXIN-BINDING PROTEIN 1 (ABP1) will be discussed. Finally, we provide an updated overview of the ETTIN (ETT)-mediated pathway in contexts outside of gynoecium development.
PMID: 36721296
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 Apr , V238 (2) : P673-687 doi: 10.1111/nph.18774
Somatic embryo initiation by rice BABY BOOM1 involves activation of zygote-expressed auxin biosynthesis genes.
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.; Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Plant embryogenesis results from the fusion of male and female gametes but can also be induced in somatic cells. The molecular pathways for embryo initiation are poorly understood, especially in monocots. In rice, the male gamete expressed BABY BOOM1 (OsBBM1) transcription factor functions as an embryogenic trigger in the zygote and can also promote somatic embryogenesis when ectopically expressed in somatic tissues. We used gene editing, transcriptome profiling, and chromatin immunoprecipitation to determine the molecular players involved in embryo initiation downstream of OsBBM1. We identify OsYUCCA (OsYUC) auxin biosynthesis genes as direct targets of OsBBM1. Unexpectedly, these OsYUC targets in zygotes are expressed only from the maternal genome, whereas the paternal genome exclusively provides functional OsBBM1 to initiate embryogenesis. Induction of somatic embryogenesis by exogenous auxin requires OsBBM genes and downstream OsYUC targets. Ectopic OsBBM1 initiates somatic embryogenesis without exogenous auxins but requires functional OsYUC genes. Thus, an OsBBM-OsYUC module is a key player for both somatic and zygotic embryogenesis in rice. Zygotic embryo initiation involves a partnership of male and female genomes, through which paternal OsBBM1 activates maternal OsYUC genes. In somatic embryogenesis, exogenous auxin triggers OsBBM1 expression, which then activates endogenous auxin biosynthesis OsYUC genes.
PMID: 36707918
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 Mar , V237 (6) : P2118-2135 doi: 10.1111/nph.18691
A Physcomitrella PIN protein acts in spermatogenesis and sporophyte retention.
Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.; Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.; CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.; Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT - Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.
The auxin efflux PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins are conserved in all land plants and important players in plant development. In the moss Physcomitrella (Physcomitrium patens), three canonical PINs (PpPINA-C) are expressed in the leafy shoot (gametophore). PpPINA and PpPINB show functional activity in vegetative growth and sporophyte development. Here, we examined the role of PpPINC in the life cycle of Physcomitrella. We established reporter and knockout lines for PpPINC and analysed vegetative and reproductive tissues using microscopy and transcriptomic sequencing of moss gametangia. PpPINC is expressed in immature leaves, mature gametangia and during sporophyte development. The sperm cells (spermatozoids) of pinC knockout mutants exhibit increased motility and an altered flagella phenotype. Furthermore, the pinC mutants have a higher portion of differentially expressed genes related to spermatogenesis, increased fertility and an increased abortion rate of premeiotic sporophytes. Here, we show that PpPINC is important for spermatogenesis and sporophyte retention. We propose an evolutionary conserved way of polar growth during early moss embryo development and sporophyte attachment to the gametophore while suggesting the mechanical function in sporophyte retention of a ring structure, the Lorch ring.
PMID: 36696950
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 Apr , V238 (1) : P142-154 doi: 10.1111/nph.18733
Local auxin biosynthesis regulates brace root angle and lodging resistance in maize.
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.; Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.; HainanYazhou Bay Seed Lab, Sanya, 572025, China.; Department of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00790, Finland.; College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.; Shimadzu (China) Co. Ltd Shenzhen Branch, 518042, Shenzhen, China.; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Root lodging poses a major threat to maize production, resulting in reduced grain yield and quality, and increased harvest costs. Here, we combined expressional, genetic, and cytological studies to demonstrate a role of ZmYUC2 and ZmYUC4 in regulating gravitropic response of the brace root and lodging resistance in maize. We show that both ZmYUC2 and ZmYUC4 are preferentially expressed in root tips with partially overlapping expression patterns, and the protein products of ZmYUC2 and ZmYUC4 are localized in the cytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum, respectively. The Zmyuc4 single mutant and Zmyuc2/4 double mutant exhibit enlarged brace root angle compared with the wild-type plants, with larger brace root angle being observed in the Zmyuc2/4 double mutant. Consistently, the brace root tips of the Zmyuc4 single mutant and Zmyuc2/4 double mutant accumulate less auxin and are defective in proper reallocation of auxin in response to gravi-stimuli. Furthermore, we show that the Zmyuc4 single mutant and the Zmyuc2/4 double mutant display obviously enhanced root lodging resistance. Our combined results demonstrate that ZmYUC2- and ZmYUC4-mediated local auxin biosynthesis is required for normal gravity response of the brace roots and provide effective targets for breeding root lodging resistant maize cultivars.
PMID: 36636793
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2023 Apr , V238 (1) : P125-141 doi: 10.1111/nph.18625
Hormonal control of medial-lateral growth and vein formation in the maize leaf.
Division of Biological Sciences, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and Missouri Maize Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.; Department of Biology, School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila, 1108, Philippines.
Parallel veins are characteristic of monocots, including grasses (Poaceae). Therefore, how parallel veins develop as the leaf grows in the medial-lateral (ML) dimension is a key question in grass leaf development. Using fluorescent protein reporters, we mapped auxin, cytokinin (CK), and gibberellic acid (GA) response patterns in maize (Zea mays) leaf primordia. We further defined the roles of these hormones in ML growth and vein formation through combinatorial genetic analyses and measurement of hormone concentrations. We discovered a novel pattern of auxin response in the adaxial protoderm that we hypothesize has important implications for the orderly formation of 3 degrees veins early in leaf development. In addition, we found an auxin transport and response pattern in the margins that correlate with the transition from ML to proximal-distal growth. We present evidence that auxin efflux precedes CK response in procambial strand development. We also determined that GA plays an early role in the shoot apical meristem as well as a later role in the primordium to restrict ML growth. We propose an integrative model whereby auxin regulates ML growth and vein formation in the maize leaf through control of GA and CK.
PMID: 36404129
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1111/pbi.14046
Auxin inhibits lignin and cellulose biosynthesis in stone cells of pear fruit via the PbrARF13-PbrNSC-PbrMYB132 transcriptional regulatory cascade.
College of Horticulture, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.; The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Mt Albert Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.; College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.
Stone cells are often present in pear fruit, and they can seriously affect the fruit quality when present in large numbers. The plant growth regulator NAA, a synthetic auxin, is known to play an active role in fruit development regulation. However, the genetic mechanisms of NAA regulation of stone cell formation are still unclear. Here, we demonstrated that exogenous application of 200 muM NAA reduced stone cell content and also significantly decreased the expression level of PbrNSC encoding a transcriptional regulator. PbrNSC was shown to bind to an auxin response factor, PbrARF13. Overexpression of PbrARF13 decreased stone cell content in pear fruit and secondary cell wall (SCW) thickness in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. In contrast, knocking down PbrARF13 expression using virus-induced gene silencing had the opposite effect. PbrARF13 was subsequently shown to inhibit PbrNSC expression by directly binding to its promoter, and further to reduce stone cell content. Furthermore, PbrNSC was identified as a positive regulator of PbrMYB132 through analyses of co-expression network of stone cell formation-related genes. PbrMYB132 activated the expression of gene encoding cellulose synthase (PbrCESA4b/7a/8a) and lignin laccase (PbrLAC5) binding to their promotors. As expected, overexpression or knockdown of PbrMYB132 increased or decreased stone cell content in pear fruit and SCW thickness in Arabidopsis transgenic plants. In conclusion, our study shows that the 'PbrARF13-PbrNSC-PbrMYB132' regulatory cascade mediates the biosynthesis of lignin and cellulose in stone cells of pear fruit in response to auxin signals and also provides new insights into plant SCW formation.
PMID: 37031416
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2023 Mar , V21 (3) : P591-605 doi: 10.1111/pbi.13974
Profiling of phytohormone-specific microRNAs and characterization of the miR160-ARF1 module involved in glandular trichome development and artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua.
Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China.; School of Food and Bioengineering, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, Fuqing, China.; Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.; Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.; Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Engineering Research Center of Edible Fungi, Shanghai, China.; Key Laboratory of Edible Fungi Resources and Utilization (South), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai, China.; Innovative Drug R&D Center, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in plant development and secondary metabolism through different modes of sequence-specific interaction with their targets. Artemisinin biosynthesis is extensively regulated by phytohormones. However, the function of phytohormone-responsive miRNAs in artemisinin biosynthesis remains enigmatic. Thus, we combined the analysis of transcriptomics, small RNAs, and the degradome to generate a comprehensive resource for identifying key miRNA-target circuits involved in the phytohormone-induced process of artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua. In total, 151 conserved and 52 novel miRNAs and their 4132 targets were determined. Based on the differential expression analysis, miR160 was selected as a potential miRNA involved in artemisinin synthesis. Overexpressing MIR160 significantly impaired glandular trichome formation and suppressed artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua, while repressing its expression resulted in the opposite effect, indicating that miR160 negatively regulates glandular trichome development and artemisinin biosynthesis. RNA ligase-mediated 5' RACE and transient transformation assays showed that miR160 mediates the RNA cleavage of Auxin Response Factor 1 (ARF1) in A. annua. Furthermore, ARF1 was shown to increase artemisinin synthesis by activating AaDBR2 expression. Taken together, our results reveal the intrinsic link between the miR160-ARF1 module and artemisinin biosynthesis, and may expedite the innovation of metabolic engineering approaches for high and stable production of artemisinin in the future.
PMID: 36478140
Cell Rep , IF:9.423 , 2023 Mar , V42 (3) : P112187 doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112187
Control of grain size in rice by TGW3 phosphorylation of OsIAA10 through potentiation of OsIAA10-OsARF4-mediated auxin signaling.
Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.; National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address: songxj@ibcas.ac.cn.
Grain size is a key component of grain yield and quality in crops. Several core players of auxin signaling have been revealed to modulate grain size; however, to date, few genetically defined pathways have been reported, and whether phosphorylation could boost degradation of Aux/IAA proteins is uncertain. Here, we show that TGW3 (also called OsGSK5) interacts with and phosphorylates OsIAA10. Phosphorylation of OsIAA10 facilitates its interaction with OsTIR1 and subsequent destabilization, but this modification hinders its interaction with OsARF4. Our genetic and molecular evidence identifies an OsTIR1-OsIAA10-OsARF4 axis as key for grain size control. In addition, physiological and molecular studies suggest that TGW3 mediates the brassinosteroid response, the effect of which can be relayed through the regulatory axis. Collectively, these findings define a auxin signaling pathway to regulate grain size, in which phosphorylation of OsIAA10 enhances its proteolysis and potentiates OsIAA10-OsARF4-mediated auxin signaling.
PMID: 36871218
EMBO Rep , IF:8.807 , 2023 Apr , V24 (4) : Pe56271 doi: 10.15252/embr.202256271
ABCB-mediated shootward auxin transport feeds into the root clock.
Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.; Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.; School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.; Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.; Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.; Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.; Lab of Plant Growth Analysis, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Although strongly influenced by environmental conditions, lateral root (LR) positioning along the primary root appears to follow obediently an internal spacing mechanism dictated by auxin oscillations that prepattern the primary root, referred to as the root clock. Surprisingly, none of the hitherto characterized PIN- and ABCB-type auxin transporters seem to be involved in this LR prepatterning mechanism. Here, we characterize ABCB15, 16, 17, 18, and 22 (ABCB15-22) as novel auxin-transporting ABCBs. Knock-down and genome editing of this genetically linked group of ABCBs caused strongly reduced LR densities. These phenotypes were correlated with reduced amplitude, but not reduced frequency of the root clock oscillation. High-resolution auxin transport assays and tissue-specific silencing revealed contributions of ABCB15-22 to shootward auxin transport in the lateral root cap (LRC) and epidermis, thereby explaining the reduced auxin oscillation. Jointly, these data support a model in which LRC-derived auxin contributes to the root clock amplitude.
PMID: 36718777
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad254
Integration of multiple stress signals in plants using synthetic Boolean logic gates.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.; BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
As photosynthetic organisms, plants have a potential role in the sustainable production of high-value products such as medicines, biofuels, and chemical feedstocks. With effective engineering using synthetic biology approaches, plant-based platforms could conceivably be designed to minimize the costs and waste of production for materials that would otherwise be uneconomical. Additionally, modern agricultural crops could be engineered to be more productive, resilient, or restorative in different or rapidly changing environments and climates. Information-processing genetic devices and circuits containing multiple interacting parts that behave predictably must be developed to achieve these complex goals. A genetic Boolean AND logic gate is a device that computes the presence or absence of two inputs (signals, stimuli) and produces an output (response) only when both inputs are present. We optimized individual genetic components and used synthetic protein heterodimerizing domains to rationally assemble genetic AND logic gates that integrate two hormonal inputs in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants. These AND gates produce an output only in the presence of both abscisic acid and auxin but not when either or neither hormone is present. The AND logic gate can also integrate signals resulting from two plant stresses, cold temperature and bacterial infection, to produce a response. The design principles used here are generalizable, and, therefore, multiple orthogonal AND gates could be assembled and rationally layered to process complex genetic information in plants. These layered logic gates may be used in genetic circuits to probe fundamental questions in plant biology, such as hormonal crosstalk, in addition to plant engineering for bioproduction.
PMID: 37119276
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad248
WAVE-DAMPENED2-LIKE4 modulates the hyper-elongation of light-grown hypocotyl cells.
Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405.
Light, temperature, water, and nutrient availability influence how plants grow to maximize access to resources. Axial growth, the linear extension of tissues by coordinated axial cell expansion, plays a central role in these adaptive morphological responses. Using Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) hypocotyl cells to explore axial growth control mechanisms, we investigated WAVE-DAMPENED2-LIKE4 (WDL4), an auxin-induced, microtubule-associated protein and member of the larger WDL gene family shown to modulate hypocotyl growth under changing environmental conditions. Loss-of-function wdl4 seedlings exhibited a hyper-elongation phenotype under light conditions, continuing to elongate when wild type Col-0 hypocotyls arrested and reaching 150-200% of wild type length before shoot emergence. wdl4 seedling hypocotyls showed dramatic hyper-elongation (500%) in response to temperature elevation, indicating an important role in morphological adaptation to environmental cues. WDL4 associated with microtubules under both light and dark growth conditions, and no evidence was found for altered microtubule array patterning in loss-of-function wdl4 mutants under various conditions. Examination of hormone responses showed altered sensitivity to ethylene and evidence for changes in the spatial distribution of the auxin-dependent DR5:GFP reporter. Our data provide evidence that WDL4 regulates hypocotyl cell elongation without substantial changes to microtubule array patterning, suggesting an unconventional role in axial growth control.
PMID: 37096683
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad205
Modulating auxin response stabilizes tomato fruit set.
The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Hebrew University, PO Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.; Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle, Germany.; Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280.; Umea Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umea, Sweden.
Fruit formation depends on successful fertilization and is highly sensitive to weather fluctuations that affect pollination. Auxin promotes fruit initiation and growth following fertilization. Class A auxin response factors (Class A ARFs) repress transcription in the absence of auxin and activate transcription in its presence. Here we explore how multiple members of the ARF family regulate fruit set and fruit growth in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Arabidopsis thaliana, and test whether reduction of SlARF activity improves yield stability in fluctuating temperatures. We found that several tomato Slarf mutant combinations produced seedless parthenocarpic fruits, most notably mutants deficient in SlARF8A and SlARF8B genes. Arabidopsis Atarf8 mutants deficient in the orthologous gene had less complete parthenocarpy than did tomato Slarf8a Slarf8b mutants. Conversely, Atarf6 Atarf8 double mutants had reduced fruit growth after fertilization. AtARF6 and AtARF8 likely switch from repression to activation of fruit growth in response to a fertilization-induced auxin increase in gynoecia. Tomato plants with reduced SlARF8A and SlARF8B gene dosage had substantially higher yield than the wild type under controlled or ambient hot and cold growth conditions. In field trials, partial reduction in the SlARF8 dose increased yield under extreme temperature with minimal pleiotropic effects. The stable yield of the mutant plants resulted from a combination of early onset of fruit set, more fruit-bearing branches and more flowers setting fruits. Thus, ARF8 proteins mediate the control of fruit set, and relieving this control with Slarf8 mutations may be utilized in breeding to increase yield stability in tomato and other crops.
PMID: 37032117
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad197
The trans-zeatin-type side-chain modification of cytokinins controls rice growth.
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furocho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22, Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.; Biosci. Biotech Center, Nagoya University., Furocho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.; Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan.; Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.
Cytokinins (CKs), a class of phytohormones with vital roles in growth and development, occur naturally with various side-chain structures, including N6-(Delta2-isopentenyl)adenine-, cis-zeatin- and trans-zeatin (tZ)-types. Recent studies in the model dicot plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) have demonstrated that tZ-type CKs are biosynthesized via cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) CYP735A and have a specific function in shoot growth promotion. Although the function of some of these CKs has been demonstrated in a few dicotyledonous plant species, the importance of these variations and their biosynthetic mechanism and function in monocots and in plants with distinctive side-chain profiles other than Arabidopsis, such as rice (Oryza sativa), remain elusive. In this study, we characterized CYP735A3 and CYP735A4 to investigate the role of tZ-type CKs in rice. Complementation test of the Arabidopsis CYP735A-deficient mutant and CK profiling of loss-of-function rice mutant cyp735a3 cyp735a4 demonstrated that CYP735A3 and CYP735A4 encode P450s required for tZ-type side-chain modification in rice. CYP735As are expressed in both roots and shoots. The cyp735a3 cyp735a4 mutants exhibited growth retardation concomitant with reduction in CK activity in both roots and shoots, indicating that tZ-type CKs function in growth promotion of both organs. Expression analysis revealed that tZ-type CK biosynthesis is negatively regulated by auxin, abscisic acid, and CK and positively by dual nitrogen nutrient signals, namely glutamine-related and nitrate-specific signals. These results suggest that tZ-type CKs control the growth of both roots and shoots in response to internal and environmental cues in rice.
PMID: 36994817
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad182
The microRNA ppe-miR393 mediates auxin-induced peach fruit softening by promoting ethylene production.
College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; Ningbo Fenghua District Peach Research Institute, Ningbo, 315502, China.; Institute of Pomology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement.; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
Auxin can inhibit or promote fruit ripening, depending on the species. Melting flesh (MF) peach fruit (Prunus persica L. Batsch) cultivars produce high levels of ethylene caused by high concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which leads to rapid fruit softening at the late stage of development. In contrast, due to the low concentrations of IAA, the fruit of stony hard (SH) peach cultivars do not soften and produce little ethylene. Auxin seems necessary to trigger the biosynthesis of ethylene in peach fruit, however, the mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we identified miRNA gene family members ppe-miR393a and ppe-miR393b that are differentially expressed in SH and MF fruit. RNA ligase-mediated 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends and transient transformation of Nicotiana benthamiana revealed PpTIR1(TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1), part of the auxin perception and response system, as a target of ppe-miR393a and b. Yeast two-hybrid assay and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay revealed that PpTIR1 physically interacts with an Aux/IAA protein PpIAA13. The results of yeast one-hybrid assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and dual-luciferase assay indicated that PpIAA13 could directly bind to and trans-activate the promoter of PpACS1 (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase 1), required for ethylene biosynthesis. Transient overexpression and suppression of ppe-miR393a and PpIAA13 in peach fruit induced and repressed the expression of PpACS1, confirming their regulatory role in ethylene synthesis. Gene expression analysis in developing MF and SH fruit, combined with postharvest alpha-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) treatment, supports a role for a ppe-miR393-PpTIR1-PpIAA13-PpACS1 module in regulating auxin-related differences in ethylene production and softening extent in different types of peach.
PMID: 36943294
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad103
FAR-RED INSENSITIVE 219 and phytochrome B co-repress shade avoidance via modulating nuclear speckle formation.
Institute of Plant Biology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.; Department of Life Science, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.; Master Program in Global Agriculture Technology and Genomic Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
Plants can sense the shade from neighboring plants by detecting a reduction of the red:far-red light (R: FR) ratio. Phytochrome B (phyB) is the primary photoreceptor that perceives shade light and regulates jasmonic acid (JA) signaling. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phyB and JA signaling integration in shade responses remain largely unknown. Here, we show the interaction of phyB and FAR-RED INSENSITIVE 219 (FIN219)/JASMONATE RESISTANT1 (JAR1) in a functional demand manner in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedling development. Genetic evidence and interaction studies indicated that phyB and FIN219 synergistically and negatively regulate shade-induced hypocotyl elongation. Moreover, phyB interacted with various isoforms of FIN219 under high and low R: FR light. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, FIN219 mutation, and PHYBOE digalactosyldiacylglycerol synthase1-1 (dgd1-1) plants, which show increased levels of JA, altered the patterns of phyB-associated nuclear speckles under the same conditions. Surprisingly, PHYBOE dgd1-1 showed a shorter hypocotyl phenotype than its parental mutants under shade conditions. Microarray assays using PHYBOE and PHYBOE fin219-2 indicated that PHYB overexpression substantially affects defense response-related genes under shade light and co-regulates expression of auxin-responsive genes with FIN219. Thus, our findings reveal that phyB substantially crosstalks with JA signaling through FIN219 to modulate seedling development under shade light.
PMID: 36869668
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Feb doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad129
MEDIATOR SUBUNIT17 is required for transcriptional optimization of root system architecture in Arabidopsis.
Plant Mediator Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India.; Plant Transcription Regulation, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India.; Plant Nutritional Lab, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India.; Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary.
Sucrose and auxin are well-known determinants of root system architecture (RSA). However, the factors that connect the signaling pathways evoked by these two critical factors during root development are poorly understood. In this study, we report the role of MEDIATOR SUBUNIT17 (MED17) in RSA and its involvement in the transcriptional integration of sugar and auxin signaling pathways in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Sucrose regulates root meristem activation through the TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN-E2 PROMOTER BINDING FACTOR A TOR-E2FA pathway, and auxin regulates lateral root (LR) development through AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR-LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN ARF-LBDs. Both sucrose and auxin play a vital role during primary and LR development. However, there is no clarity on how sucrose is involved in the ARF-dependent regulation of auxin-responsive genes. This study establishes MED17 as a nodal point to connect sucrose and auxin signaling. Transcription of MED17 was induced by sucrose in an E2FA/B-dependent manner. Moreover, E2FA/B interacted with MED17, which can aid in the recruitment of the Mediator complex on the target promoters. Interestingly, E2FA/B and MED17 also occupied the promoter of ARF7, but not ARF19, leading to ARF7 expression, which then activates auxin signaling and thus initiates LR development. MED17 also activated cell division in the root meristem by occupying the promoters of cell-cycle genes, thus regulating their transcription. Thus, MED17 plays an important role in relaying the transcriptional signal from sucrose to auxin-responsive and cell-cycle genes to regulate primary and lateral root development, highlighting the role of the Mediator as the transcriptional processor for optimal root system architecture in Arabidopsis.
PMID: 36852886
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Apr , V191 (4) : P2447-2460 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad045
Sucrose-induced auxin conjugate hydrolase restores symbiosis in a Medicago cytokinin perception mutant.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700019, India.
Rhizobia-legume interactions recruit cytokinin for the induction of nodule primordia in the cortex. Cytokinin signaling regulates auxin transport and biosynthesis, causing local auxin accumulation, which triggers cortical cell division. Since sugar signaling can trigger auxin responses, we explored whether sugar treatments could rescue symbiosis in the Medicago truncatula cytokinin response 1 (cre1) mutant. Herein, we demonstrate that sucrose and its nonmetabolizable isomer turanose can trigger auxin response and recover functional symbiosis in cre1, indicating sucrose signaling to be necessary for the restoration of symbiosis. In both M. truncatula A17 (wild type) and cre1, sucrose signaling significantly upregulated IAA-Ala Resistant 3 (IAR33), encoding an auxin conjugate hydrolase, in rhizobia-infected as well as in uninfected roots. Knockdown of IAR33 (IAR33-KD) significantly reduced nodulation in A17, highlighting the importance of deconjugation-mediated auxin accumulation during nodule inception. In cre1, IAR33-KD restricted the sucrose-mediated restoration of functional symbiosis, suggesting that deconjugation-mediated auxin accumulation plays a key role in the absence of CRE1-mediated auxin biosynthesis and transport control. Overexpression of IAR33 also restored functional symbiosis in cre1, further suggesting that IAR33 mediates auxin accumulation in response to sucrose signaling. Since all the observed sucrose-mediated responses were common to A17 and cre1, deconjugation-mediated auxin response appeared to be independent of CRE1, which normally governs local auxin accumulation in the presence of rhizobia. We propose that sucrose-dependent restoration of symbiosis in cre1 occurs by the activation of IAR33-mediated auxin deconjugation.
PMID: 36722159
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Mar , V191 (3) : P1751-1770 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad006
Roles of very long-chain fatty acids in compound leaf patterning in Medicago truncatula.
The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266101, China.; Grassland Agri-Husbandry Research Center, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.; College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China.; State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.; Institute of Agricultural Biosciences, Oklahoma State University, 3210 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401, USA.
Plant cuticles are composed of hydrophobic cuticular waxes and cutin. Very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are components of epidermal waxes and the plasma membrane and are involved in organ morphogenesis. By screening a barrelclover (Medicago truncatula) mutant population tagged by the transposable element of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cell type1 (Tnt1), we identified two types of mutants with unopened flower phenotypes, named unopened flower1 (uof1) and uof2. Both UOF1 and UOF2 encode enzymes that are involved in the biosynthesis of VLCFAs and cuticular wax. Comparative analysis of the mutants indicated that the mutation in UOF1, but not UOF2, leads to the increased number of leaflets in M. truncatula. UOF1 was specifically expressed in the outermost cell layer (L1) of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and leaf primordia. The uof1 mutants displayed defects in VLCFA-mediated plasma membrane integrity, resulting in the disordered localization of the PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1) ortholog SMOOTH LEAF MARGIN1 (SLM1) in M. truncatula. Our work demonstrates that the UOF1-mediated biosynthesis of VLCFAs in L1 is critical for compound leaf patterning, which is associated with the polarization of the auxin efflux carrier in M. truncatula.
PMID: 36617225
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Mar , V191 (3) : P1953-1967 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiac586
Abscisic acid promotes auxin biosynthesis to inhibit primary root elongation in rice.
Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.; National Key Facility of Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081, China.
Soil compaction is a global problem causing inadequate rooting and poor yield in crops. Accumulating evidence indicates that phytohormones coordinately regulate root growth via regulating specific growth processes in distinct tissues. However, how abscisic acid (ABA) signaling translates into auxin production to control root growth during adaptation to different soil environments is still unclear. In this study, we report that ABA has biphasic effects on primary root growth in rice (Oryza sativa) through an auxin biosynthesis-mediated process, causing suppression of root elongation and promotion of root swelling in response to soil compaction. We found that ABA treatment induced the expression of auxin biosynthesis genes and auxin accumulation in roots. Conversely, blocking auxin biosynthesis reduced ABA sensitivity in roots, showing longer and thinner primary roots with larger root meristem size and smaller root diameter. Further investigation revealed that the transcription factor basic region and leucine zipper 46 (OsbZIP46), involved in ABA signaling, can directly bind to the YUCCA8/rice ethylene-insensitive 7 (OsYUC8/REIN7) promoter to activate its expression, and genetic analysis revealed that OsYUC8/REIN7 is located downstream of OsbZIP46. Moreover, roots of mutants defective in ABA or auxin biosynthesis displayed the enhanced ability to penetrate compacted soil. Thus, our results disclose the mechanism in which ABA employs auxin as a downstream signal to modify root elongation and radial expansion, resulting in short and swollen roots impaired in their ability to penetrate compacted soil. These findings provide avenues for breeders to select crops resilient to soil compaction.
PMID: 36535001
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Mar , V191 (3) : P1871-1883 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiac553
SUMO E3 ligase AtMMS21-dependent SUMOylation of AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID 17 regulates auxin signaling.
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Changes in plant auxin levels can be perceived and converted into cellular responses by auxin signal transduction. AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) proteins are auxin transcriptional inhibitors that play important roles in regulating auxin signal transduction. The stability of Aux/IAA proteins is important for transcription initiation and downstream auxin-related gene expression. Here, we report that the Aux/IAA protein IAA17 interacts with the small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase METHYL METHANESULFONATE-SENSITIVE 21 (AtMMS21) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). AtMMS21 regulated the SUMOylation of IAA17 at the K41 site. Notably, root length was suppressed in plants overexpressing IAA17, whereas the roots of K41-mutated IAA17 transgenic plants were not significantly different from wild-type roots. Biochemical data indicated that K41-mutated IAA17 or IAA17 in the AtMMS21 knockout mutant was more likely to be degraded compared with nonmutated IAA17 in wild-type plants. In conclusion, our data revealed a role for SUMOylation in the maintenance of IAA17 protein stability, which contributes to improving our understanding of the mechanisms of auxin signaling.
PMID: 36464768
Environ Pollut , IF:8.071 , 2023 Apr , V322 : P121140 doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121140
Enhanced detoxification via Cyt-P450 governs cross-tolerance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in weed species of Centaurea.
Agroforestry and Plant Biochemistry, Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, UCO-CeiA3, 14014, Cordoba, Spain.; Agroforestry and Plant Biochemistry, Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, UCO-CeiA3, 14014, Cordoba, Spain. Electronic address: z82vagaj@uco.es.; Biosciences Department, Polytechnic Institute of Beja, Beja, Portugal; VALORIZA-Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portalegre, Portugal.; Department of Agroforestry Sciences, Campus El Carmen, University of Huelva, 21007, Huelva, Spain.; Centro de Ciencias da Natureza, Campus Lagoa Do Sino, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Buri, 18290-000, Brazil.; Plant Protection Department, Extremadura Scientific and Technological Research Center (CICYTEX), Ctra. de AV, Km 372, Badajoz, 06187, Guadajira, Spain.; Department D'Hortofructicultura, Botanica i Jardineria, Agrotecnio-CERCA Center, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
Centaurea is a genus of winter weeds with a similar life cycle and competitive traits, which occurs in small-grains production fields in the central-southern of the Iberian Peninsula. However, most of herbicides recommended for weed management in wheat show poor control of Centaurea species. This study summarizes the biology, herbicide tolerance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors, and recommended chemical alternatives for the control of Centaurea species. Four species (C. cyanus L., C. diluta Aiton, C. melitensis L. and C. pullata L. subsp. baetica Talavera), taxonomically characterized, were found as the main important broadleaf weeds in small-grains production fields of the Iberian Peninsula. These species showed innate tolerance to tribenuron-methyl (TM), showing LD(50) values (mortality of 50% of a population) higher than the field dose of TM (20 g ai ha(-1)). The order of tolerance was C. diluta (LD(50) = 702 g ha(-1)) >> C. pullata (LD(50) = 180 g ha(-1)) >> C. cyanus (LD(50) = 65 g ha(-1)) > C. melitensis (LD(50) = 32 g ha(-1)). Centaurea cyanus and C. melitensis presented higher foliar retention (150-180 muL herbicide solution), absorption (14-28%) and subsequent translocation (7-12%) of TM with respect to the other two species. Centaurea spp. plants were able to metabolize (14)C-TM into non-toxic forms (hydroxylated OH-metsulfuron-methyl and conjugated-metsulfuron-methyl), with cytochrome P450 (Cyt-P450) monooxygenases being responsible for herbicide detoxification. Centaurea cyanus and C. mellitensis metabolized up to 25% of TM, while C. diluta and C. pullata metabolized more than 50% of the herbicide. Centaurea species showed 80-100% survival when treated with of florasulam, imazamox and/or metsulfuron-methyl, i.e., these weeds present cross-tolerance to ALS inhibitors. In contrast, auxin mimics herbicides (2,4-D, clopyralid, dicamba, fluroxypir and MCPA) efficiently controlled the four Centaurea species. In addition, the mixture of ALS-inhibitors and auxin mimics also proved to be an interesting alternative for the control of Centaurea. These results show that plants of the genus Centaurea found in the winter cereal fields of the Iberian Peninsula have an innate tolerance to TM and cross-resistance to other ALS-inhibiting herbicides, governed by reduced absorption and translocation, but mainly by the metabolization of the herbicide via Cyt-P450.
PMID: 36706859
mBio , IF:7.867 , 2023 Feb , V14 (1) : Pe0336322 doi: 10.1128/mbio.03363-22
Emergence of an Auxin Sensing Domain in Plant-Associated Bacteria.
Laboratory of Crystallographic Studies, IACT (CSIC-UGR), Armilla, Spain.; Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Estacion Experimental del Zaidin, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Granada, Spain.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B and Immunology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, Murcia, Spain.; Bioinformatics Research Center, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg Medical State University, St. Petersburg, Russia.; Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.; The Center of Bio- and Chemoinformatics, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.; Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Bacteria have evolved a sophisticated array of signal transduction systems that allow them to adapt their physiology and metabolism to changing environmental conditions. Typically, these systems recognize signals through dedicated ligand binding domains (LBDs) to ultimately trigger a diversity of physiological responses. Nonetheless, an increasing number of reports reveal that signal transduction receptors also bind antagonists to inhibit responses mediated by agonists. The mechanisms by which antagonists block the downstream signaling cascade remain largely unknown. To advance our knowledge in this field, we used the LysR-type transcriptional regulator AdmX as a model. AdmX activates the expression of an antibiotic biosynthetic cluster in the rhizobacterium Serratia plymuthica. AdmX specifically recognizes the auxin phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and its biosynthetic intermediate indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA) as signals. However, only IAA, but not IPA, was shown to regulate antibiotic production in S. plymuthica. Here, we report the high-resolution structures of the LBD of AdmX in complex with IAA and IPA. We found that IAA and IPA compete for binding to AdmX. Although IAA and IPA binding does not alter the oligomeric state of AdmX, IPA binding causes a higher degree of compactness in the protein structure. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed significant differences in the binding modes of IAA and IPA by AdmX, and the inspection of the three-dimensional structures evidenced differential agonist- and antagonist-mediated structural changes. Key residues for auxin binding were identified and an auxin recognition motif defined. Phylogenetic clustering supports the recent evolutionary emergence of this motif specifically in plant-associated enterobacteria. IMPORTANCE Although antagonists were found to bind different bacterial signal transduction receptors, we are still at the early stages of understanding the molecular details by which these molecules exert their inhibitory effects. Here, we provide insight into the structural changes resulting from the binding of an agonist and an antagonist to a sensor protein. Our data indicate that agonist and antagonist recognition is characterized by small conformational differences in the LBDs that can be efficiently transmitted to the output domain to modulate the final response. LBDs are subject to strong selective pressures and are rapidly evolving domains. An increasing number of reports support the idea that environmental factors drive the evolution of sensor domains. Given the recent evolutionary history of AdmX homologs, as well as their narrow phyletic distribution within plant-associated bacteria, our results are in accordance with a plant-mediated evolutionary process that resulted in the emergence of receptor proteins that specifically sense auxin phytohormones.
PMID: 36602305
Curr Opin Plant Biol , IF:7.834 , 2023 Apr , V72 : P102350 doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102350
Flavonols modulate plant development, signaling, and stress responses.
Climate Resilient Crop Production Laboratory, Division of Crop Biotechnics, Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.; Department of Biology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.; Climate Resilient Crop Production Laboratory, Division of Crop Biotechnics, Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Plant Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.; Department of Biology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. Electronic address: muday@wfu.edu.
Flavonols are plant-specialized metabolites with important functions in plant growth and development. Isolation and characterization of mutants with reduced flavonol levels, especially the transparent testa mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana, have contributed to our understanding of the flavonol biosynthetic pathway. These mutants have also uncovered the roles of flavonols in controlling development in above- and below-ground tissues, notably in the regulation of root architecture, guard cell signaling, and pollen development. In this review, we present recent progress made towards a mechanistic understanding of flavonol function in plant growth and development. Specifically, we highlight findings that flavonols act as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and inhibitors of auxin transport in diverse tissues and cell types to modulate plant growth and development and responses to abiotic stresses.
PMID: 36870100
Food Chem , IF:7.514 , 2023 May , V408 : P135215 doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.135215
A multiomics integrative analysis of color de-synchronization with softening of 'Hass' avocado fruit: A first insight into a complex physiological disorder.
Escuela de Agronomia, Facultad de Ciencias Agronomicas y de los Alimentos, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Quillota, Chile.; KU Leuven, Facility for Systems Biology based Mass Spectrometry SYBIOMA, Leuven, Belgium; Biodiversity International, Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture, Leuven, Belgium.; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.; Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Lima, Peru.; Centro de Estudios Postcosecha, Facultad de Ciencias Agronomicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.; Departamento de Fruticultura y Enologia, Facultad de Agronomia e Ingenieria Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Genetica Molecular y Microbiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Nucleus for the Development of Super Adaptable Plants (MN-SAP), Santiago, Chile; Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CRG), Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: claudio.meneses@uc.cl.; Escuela de Agronomia, Facultad de Ciencias Agronomicas y de los Alimentos, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Quillota, Chile; Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CRG), Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: romina.pedreschi@pucv.cl.
Exocarp color de-synchronization with softening of 'Hass' avocado is a relevant recurrent problem for the avocado supply chain. This study aimed to unravel the mechanisms driving this de-synchronization integrating omics datasets from avocado exocarp of different storage conditions and color phenotypes. In addition, we propose potential biomarkers to predict color synchronized/de-synchronized fruit. Integration of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics and network analysis revealed eight transcription factors associated with differentially regulated genes between regular air (RA) and controlled atmosphere (CA) and twelve transcription factors related to avocado fruit color de-synchronization control in ready-to-eat stage. CA was positively correlated to auxins, ethylene, cytokinins and brassinosteroids-related genes, while RA was characterized by enrichment of cell wall remodeling and abscisic acid content associated genes. At ready-to-eat higher contents of flavonoids, abscisic acid and brassinosteroids were associated with color-softening synchronized avocados. In contrast, de-synchronized fruit revealed increases of jasmonic acid, salicylic acid and auxin levels.
PMID: 36528992
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2023 Jun , V46 (6) : P1921-1934 doi: 10.1111/pce.14580
SlIAA23-SlARF6 module controls arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by regulating strigolactone biosynthesis in tomato.
Department of Horticulture, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, China.; Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plants Growth and Development, Agricultural Ministry of China, Hangzhou, China.
Auxins are a class of phytohormones with roles involved in the establishment and maintenance of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS). Auxin response factors (ARFs) and Auxin/Indole-acetic acids (AUX/IAAs), as two transcription factors of the auxin signaling pathway, coregulate the transcription of auxin response genes. However, the interrelation and regulatory mechanism of ARFs and AUX/IAAs in regulating AMS are still unclear. In this study, we found that the content of auxin in tomato roots increased sharply and revealed the importance of the auxin signaling pathway in the early stage of AMS. Notably, SlARF6 was found to play a negative role in AMF colonization. Silencing SlARF6 significantly increased the expression of AM-marker genes, as well as AMF-induced phosphorus uptake. SlIAA23 could interact with SlARF6 in vivo and in vitro, and promoted the AMS and phosphorus uptake. Interestingly, SlARF6 and SlIAA23 played a contrary role in strigolactone (SL) synthesis and accumulation in AMF-colonized roots of tomato plants. SlARF6 could directly bind to the AuxRE motif of the SlCCD8 promoter and inhibited its transcription, however, this effect was attenuated by SlIAA23 through interaction with SlARF6. Our results suggest that SlIAA23-SlARF6 coregulated tomato-AMS via an SL-dependent pathway, thus affecting phosphorus uptake in tomato plants.
PMID: 36891914
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2023 May , V46 (5) : P1562-1581 doi: 10.1111/pce.14548
Low light stress promotes new tiller regeneration by changing source-sink relationship and activating expression of expansin genes in wheat.
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Laboratory of Agricultural Water-Saving, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China.; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; Jilin Da'an Agro-ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Changchun Jingyuetan Remote Sensing Experiment Station, State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China.
Low light stress seriously decreased wheat grain number through the formation of aborted spike during the reproductive period and induced new tiller regeneration to offset the loss of grain number. However, the mechanism by which plants coordinate spike aborted growth and the regeneration of new tillers remains unknown. To better understand this coordinated process, morphological, physiological and transcriptomic analyses were performed under low light stress at the young microspore stage. Our findings indicated that leaves exhausted most stored carbohydrates in 1 day of darkness. However, spike and uppermost internode (UI) were converted from sink to source, due to increased abscisic acid (ABA) content and decreased cytokinin content. During this process, genes encoding amylases, Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEET) and sucrose transporters or sucrose carriers (SUT/SUC) were upregulated in spike and UI, which degraded starch into soluble sugars and loaded them into the phloem. Subsequently, soluble sugars were transported to tiller node (TN) where cytokinin and auxin content increased and ABA content decreased, followed by unloading into TN cells by upregulated cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes and highly expressed H(+) /hexose symporter genes. Finally, expansin genes integrated the sugar pathway and hormone pathway, and regulate the formation of new tillers directly.
PMID: 36695201
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2023 Mar , V46 (3) : P975-990 doi: 10.1111/pce.14517
ZmBET5L1 inhibits primary root growth and decreases osmotic stress tolerance by mediating vesicle aggregation and tethering in maize.
National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, Tai-An, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaption Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.
Improving osmotic stress tolerance is critical to help crops to thrive and maintain high yields in adverse environments. Here, we characterized a core subunit of the transport protein particle (TRAPP) complex, ZmBET5L1, in maize using knowledge-driven data mining and genome editing. We found that ZmBET5L1 can interact with TRAPP I complex subunits and act as a tethering factor to mediate vesicle aggregation and targeting from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. ZmBET5L1 knock-out increased the primary root elongation rate under 20% polyethylene glycol-simulated osmotic stress and the survival rate under drought stress compared to wild-type seedlings. In addition, we found that ZmBET5L1 moderates PIN1 polar localization and auxin flow to maintain normal root growth. ZmBET5L1 knock-out optimized auxin flow to the lateral side of the root and promoted its growth to generate a robust root, which may be related to improved osmotic stress tolerance. Together, these findings demonstrate that ZmBET5L1 inhibits primary root growth and decreases osmotic stress tolerance by regulating vesicle transport and auxin distribution. This study has improved our understanding of the role of tethering factors in response to abiotic stresses and identified desirable variants for breeding osmotic stress tolerance in maize.
PMID: 36515184
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2023 Mar , V46 (3) : P1018-1032 doi: 10.1111/pce.14508
Wheat genome architecture influences interactions with phytobeneficial microbial functional groups in the rhizosphere.
Univ Lyon, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR5557 Ecologie Microbienne, Villeurbanne, France.; Genebank Department, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany.
Wheat has undergone a complex evolutionary history, which led to allopolyploidization and the hexaploid bread wheat Triticum aestivum. However, the significance of wheat genomic architecture for beneficial plant-microbe interactions is poorly understood, especially from a functional standpoint. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that wheat genomic architecture was an overriding factor determining root recruitment of microorganisms with particular plant-beneficial traits. We chose five wheat species representing genomic profiles AA (Triticum urartu), BB SS (Aegilops speltoides), DD (Aegilops tauschii), AABB (Triticum dicoccon) and AABBDD (Triticum aestivum) and assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction their ability to interact with free-nitrogen fixers, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase producers, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol producers and auxin producers via the phenylpyruvate decarboxylase pathway, in combination with Illumina MiSeq metabarcoding analysis of N fixers (and of the total bacterial community). We found that the abundance of the microbial functional groups could fluctuate according to wheat genomic profile, as did the total bacterial abundance. N fixer diversity and total bacterial diversity were also influenced significantly by wheat genomic profile. Often, rather similar results were obtained for genomes DD (Ae. tauschii) and AABBDD (T. aestivum), pointing for the first time that the D genome could be particularly important for wheat-bacteria interactions.
PMID: 36494920
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2023 Apr , V46 (4) : P1075-1086 doi: 10.1111/pce.14494
Roles of auxin response factors in rice development and stress responses.
Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Auxin signalling plays a key role in various developmental processes ranging from embryogenesis to senescence in plants. Auxin response factor (ARF), a key component of auxin signalling, functions by binding to auxin response element within promoter of auxin response genes, activating or repressing the target genes. Increasing evidences show that ARFs are crucial for plant response to stresses. This review summarises the recent advance on the functions and their regulatory pathways of rice ARFs in development and responding to stresses. The importance of OsARFs is demonstrated by their roles in triggering various physiological, biochemical and molecular reactions to resist adverse environmental conditions. We also describe the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of OsARFs, and discuss the major challenges in this area.
PMID: 36397176
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2023 Apr , V46 (4) : P1327-1339 doi: 10.1111/pce.14438
Homeobox transcription factors OsZHD1 and OsZHD2 induce inflorescence meristem activity at floral transition in rice.
Department of Plant Bioscience, College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang, Republic of Korea.; Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, Republic of Korea.; Graduate School of Biotechnology and Crop Biotech Institute, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
Floral transition starts in the leaves when florigens respond to various environmental and developmental factors. Among several regulatory genes that are preferentially expressed in the inflorescence meristem during the floral transition, this study examines the homeobox genes OsZHD1 and OsZHD2 for their roles in regulating this transition. Although single mutations in these genes did not result in visible phenotype changes, double mutations in these genes delayed flowering. Florigen expression was not altered in the double mutants, indicating that the delay was due to a defect in florigen signaling. Morphological analysis of shoot apical meristem at the early developmental stage indicated that inflorescence meristem development was significantly delayed in the double mutants. Overexpression of ZHD2 causes early flowering because of downstream signals after the generation of florigens. Expression levels of the auxin biosynthesis genes were reduced in the mutants and the addition of indole-3-acetic acid recovered the defect in the mutants, suggesting that these homeobox genes play a role in auxin biosynthesis. A rice florigen, RICE FLOWERING LOCUS T 1, binds to the promoter regions of homeobox genes. These results indicate that florigens stimulate the expression of homeobox genes, enhancing inflorescence development in the shoot apex.
PMID: 36120845
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2023 Apr , V46 (4) : P1157-1175 doi: 10.1111/pce.14434
Auxin plays a role in the adaptation of rice to anaerobic germination and seedling establishment.
Department of Bioagricultural Sciences, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan.; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Auxin is well known to stimulate coleoptile elongation and rapid seedling growth in the air. However, its role in regulating rice germination and seedling establishment under submergence is largely unknown. Previous studies revealed that excessive levels of indole-3-acetic acid(IAA) frequently cause the inhibition of plant growth and development. In this study, the high-level accumulation of endogenous IAA is observed under dark submergence, stimulating rice coleoptile elongation but limiting the root and primary leaf growth during anaerobic germination (AG). We found that oxygen and light can reduce IAA levels, promote the seedling establishment and enhance rice AG tolerance. miRNA microarray profiling and RNA gel blot analysis results show that the expression of miR167 is negatively regulated by submergence; it subsequently modulates the accumulation of free IAA through the miR167-ARF-GH3 pathway. The OsGH3-8 encodes an IAA-amido synthetase that functions to prevent free IAA accumulation. Reduced miR167 levels or overexpressing OsGH3-8 increase auxin metabolism, reduce endogenous levels of free IAA and enhance rice AG tolerance. Our studies reveal that poor seed germination and seedling growth inhibition resulting from excessive IAA accumulation would cause intolerance to submergence in rice, suggesting that a certain threshold level of auxin is essential for rice AG tolerance.
PMID: 36071575
Chemosphere , IF:7.086 , 2023 Jun , V326 : P138394 doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138394
Waste valorization as low-cost media engineering for auxin production from the newly isolated Streptomyces rubrogriseus AW22: Model development.
Laboratory of Mycology, Biotechnology and Microbial Activity (LaMyBAM), Department of Applied Biology, Constantine 1 University, BP, 325, Ain El Bey, Constantine, 25017, Algeria. Electronic address: wiemalloun@gmail.com.; Biotechnology Laboratory, National Higher School of Biotechnology, Ali Mendjeli University City, BP E66, 25100, Constantine, Algeria. Electronic address: m.berkani@ensbiotech.edu.dz.; Pharmaceutical Research and Sustainable Development Laboratory (ReMeDD), Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Process Engineering, Constantine 3 University, Constantine, 25000, Algeria.; 3BIO-BioMatter Unit, Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50-CP 165/61, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.; Laboratory of Mycology, Biotechnology and Microbial Activity (LaMyBAM), Department of Applied Biology, Constantine 1 University, BP, 325, Ain El Bey, Constantine, 25017, Algeria.; The University of Johannesburg, Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2088, South Africa. Electronic address: cmdanesh@gmail.com.; Biotechnology Laboratory, National Higher School of Biotechnology, Ali Mendjeli University City, BP E66, 25100, Constantine, Algeria; Research Center in Industrial Technologies CRTI, P.O. Box 64, Cheraga 16014, Algiers, Algeria.; Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) represents a crucial phytohormone regulating specific tropic responses in plants and functions as a chemical signal between plant hosts and their symbionts. The Actinobacteria strain of AW22 with high IAA production ability was isolated in Algeria for the first time and was characterized as Streptomyces rubrogriseus through chemotaxonomic analysis and 16 S rDNA sequence alignment. The suitable medium for a maximum IAA yield was engineered in vitro and in silico using machine learning-assisted modeling. The primary low-cost feedstocks comprised various concentrations of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) and carob bean grounds (CBGs) extracts. Further, we combined the Box-Behnken design from response surface methodology (BBD-RSM) with artificial neural networks (ANNs) coupled with the genetic algorithm (GA). The critical process parameters screened via Plackett-Burman design (PBD) served as BBD and ANN-GA inputs, with IAA yield as the output variable. Analysis of the putative IAA using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and (HPLC) revealed Rf values equal to 0.69 and a retention time of 3.711 min, equivalent to the authentic IAA. AW 22 achieved a maximum IAA yield of 188.290 +/- 0.38 mug/mL using the process parameters generated by the ANN-GA model, consisting of L-Trp, 0.6%; SCG, 30%; T degrees , 25.8 degrees C; and pH 9, after eight days of incubation. An R(2) of 99.98%, adding to an MSE of 1.86 x 10(-5) at 129 epochs, postulated higher reliability of ANN-GA-approach in predicting responses, compared with BBD-RSM modeling exhibiting an R(2) of 76.28%. The validation experiments resulted in a 4.55-fold and 4.46-fold increase in IAA secretion, corresponding to ANN-GA and BBD-RSM models, respectively, confirming the validity of both models.
PMID: 36925000
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:7.061 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1111/jipb.13484
Auxin signaling module OsSK41-OsIAA10-OsARF regulates grain yield traits in rice.
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.; College of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.; Institute of Crop Breeding and Cultivation, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201403, China.; Institute of Genetics and Regenerative Biology, Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518100, China.
Auxin is an important phytohormone in plants, and auxin signaling pathways in rice play key roles in regulating its growth, development, and productivity. To investigate how rice grain yield traits are regulated by auxin signaling pathways and to facilitate their application in rice improvement, we validated the functional relationships among regulatory genes such as OsIAA10, OsSK41, and OsARF21 that are involved in one of the auxin (OsIAA10) signaling pathways. We assessed the phenotypic effects of these genes on several grain yield traits across two environments using knockout and/or overexpression transgenic lines. Based on the results, we constructed a model that showed how grain yield traits were regulated by OsIAA10 and OsTIR1, OsAFB2, and OsSK41 and OsmiR393 in the OsSK41-OsIAA10-OsARF module and by OsARF21 in the transcriptional regulation of downstream auxin response genes in the OsSK41-OsIAA10-OsARF module. The population genomic analyses revealed rich genetic diversity and the presence of major functional alleles at most of these loci in rice populations. The strong differentiation of many major alleles between Xian/indica and Geng/japonica subspecies and/or among modern varieties and landraces suggested that they contributed to improved productivity during evolution and breeding. We identified several important aspects associated with the genetic and molecular bases of rice grain and yield traits that were regulated by auxin signaling pathways. We also suggested rice auxin response factor (OsARF) activators as candidate target genes for improving specific target traits by overexpression and/or editing subspecies-specific alleles and by searching and pyramiding the 'best' gene allelic combinations at multiple regulatory genes in auxin signaling pathways in rice breeding programs.
PMID: 36939166
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:7.061 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1111/jipb.13473
An ARF24-ZmArf2 module influences kernel size in different maize haplotypes.
State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Maize Engineering Technology Joint Center, College of Agronomy, and Center for Crop Genome Engineering, Longzi Lake Campus, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
Members of the ADP-ribosylation factor family, which are GTP-binding proteins, are involved in metabolite transport, cell division, and expansion. Although there has been a significant amount of research on small GTP-binding proteins, their roles and functions in regulating maize kernel size remain elusive. Here, we identified ZmArf2 as a maize ADP-ribosylation factor-like family member that is highly conserved during evolution. Maize zmarf2 mutants showed a characteristic smaller kernel size. Conversely, ZmArf2 overexpression increased maize kernel size. Furthermore, heterologous expression of ZmArf2 dramatically elevated Arabidopsis and yeast growth by promoting cell division. Using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis, we determined that ZmArf2 expression levels in various lines were mainly associated with variation at the gene locus. The promoters of ZmArf2 genes could be divided into two types, pS and pL, that were significantly associated with both ZmArf2 expression levels and kernel size. In yeast-one-hybrid screening, maize Auxin Response Factor 24 (ARF24) is directly bound to the ZmArf2 promoter region and negatively regulated ZmArf2 expression. Notably, the pS and pL promoter types each contained an ARF24 binding element: an auxin response element (AuxRE) in pS and an auxin response region (AuxRR) in pL, respectively. ARF24 binding affinity to AuxRR was much higher compared with AuxRE. Overall, our results establish that the small G-protein ZmArf2 positively regulates maize kernel size and reveals the mechanism of its expression regulation.
PMID: 36866706
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:7.061 , 2023 Mar , V65 (3) : P617-632 doi: 10.1111/jipb.13392
Advances in structure and function of auxin response factor in plants.
Key Laboratory of Herbage & Endemic Crop Biology of Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Herbage & Endemic Crop Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010000, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Auxin is a crucial phytohormone that has various effects on the regulators of plant growth and development. Auxin signal transduction is mainly controlled by two gene families: auxin response factor (ARF) and auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA). ARFs are plant-specific transcription factors that bind directly to auxin response elements in the promoters of auxin-responsive genes. ARF proteins contain three conserved regions: a conserved N-terminal B3 DNA-binding domain, a variable intermediate middle region domain that functions in activation or repression, and a C-terminal domain including the Phox and Bem1p region for dimerization, similar to the III and IV elements of Aux/IAA, which facilitate protein-protein interaction through homodimerization of ARF proteins or heterodimerization of ARF and Aux/IAA proteins. In the two decades following the identification of the first ARF, 23 ARF members have been identified and characterized in Arabidopsis. Using whole-genome sequencing, 22, 25, 23, 25, and 36 ARF genes have been identified in tomato, rice, wheat, sorghum, and maize, respectively, in addition to which the related biofunctions of some ARFs have been reported. ARFs play crucial roles in regulating the growth and development of roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and phytohormone signal crosstalk. In this review, we summarize the research progress on the structures and functions of ARFs in Arabidopsis, tomato, and cereal crops, to provide clues for future basic research on phytohormone signaling and the molecular design breeding of crops.
PMID: 36263892
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad159
Cytokinin-inducible response regulator SlRR6 regulates plant height through gibberellin and auxin pathways in tomato.
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.; Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China.; Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agricultural, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Plant height is a key agronomic trait regulated by several phytohormones like gibberellins (GAs) and auxin. However, little is known about how cytokinin (CK) participates in this process. Here, we report that SlRR6, a type-A response regulator in CK signaling pathway, positively regulates plant height in tomato. SlRR6 was induced by exogenous kinetin and GA3, but inhibited by indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Knockout of SlRR6 reduced tomato plant height through shortening internode length, while overexpression of SlRR6 caused higher plant due to increased internode number. Cytological observation of longitudinal stems showed that both knockout and overexpression of SlRR6 generated larger cells, but significantly reduced cell numbers in each internode. Further studies demonstrated that overexpression of SlRR6 enhanced GA accumulation and lowered IAA content, along with expression changes in GA- and IAA-related genes. Exogenous paclobutrazol and IAA treatments restored the increased plant height phenotype in SlRR6-overexpressing lines. Yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation and co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that SlRR6 interacts with a small auxin up RNA protein SlSAUR58. Moreover, SlSAUR58-overexpressing plants were dwarf with decreased internode length. Overall, our findings establish SlRR6 as a vital component in the CK signaling, GA, and IAA regulatory network that controls plant height.
PMID: 37115725
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad152
GhTCP7 suppresses petal expansion by interacting with the WIP-type zinc finger protein GhWIP2 in Gerbera hybrida.
State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources and Center for Life Science, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China.; Key Laboratory of Southern Subtropical Plant Diversity, Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, Shenzhen & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518004, China.; Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.; Institute of Biomass Engineering; Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Agricultural and Forestry Biomass, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.; Provincial Key Lab of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510631, China.
Petal size is for a critical factor in plant reproduction and horticulture, and is largely determined by cell expansion. Gerbera hybrida is an important horticultural plant and serves as a model for studying petal organogenesis. We have previously characterized GhWIP2, a WIP-type zinc protein, that constrains petal size by suppressing cell expansion. However, the molecular mechanism remained largely unclear. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and coimmunoprecipitation, we identified a TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) family transcription factor (TF), GhTCP7, that interacts with GhWIP2 both in vitro and in vivo. Using reverse genetic approaches, we elucidated the function of the GhTCP7-GhWIP2 complex in controlling petal expansion. GhTCP7 overexpression (GhTCP7-OE) severely reduced cell expansion and petal size, whereas GhTCP7 silencing resulted in increased cell expansion and petal size. GhTCP7 showed similar expression patterns to GhWIP2 in various types of G. hybrida petals. We further identified GhIAA26, which encodes an auxin signaling regulator, that is activated by the GhTCP7-GhWIP2 complex, leading to the suppression of petal expansion. Our findings reveal a previously unknown transcriptional regulatory mechanism that involves protein-protein interactions between two different TF families to activate a negative regulator of petal organogenesis.
PMID: 37102769
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad137
Learnings from a century of apical dominance research.
ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.; Universite Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000, Versailles, France.
The process of apical dominance by which the apical bud/shoot tip of the plant inhibits the outgrowth of axillary buds located below has been studied for more than a century. Different approaches were used over time with first the physiology era, the genetic era, and then the multidisciplinary era. During the physiology era, auxin was thought of as the master regulator of apical dominance acting indirectly to inhibit bud outgrowth via unknown secondary messenger(s). Potential candidates were cytokinin (CK) and abscisic acid (ABA). The genetic era with the screening of shoot branching mutants in different species revealed the existence of a novel carotenoid-derived branching inhibitor and led to the significant discovery of strigolactones (SLs) as a novel class of plant hormones. The re-discovery of the major role of sugars in apical dominance emerged from modern physiology experiments and involves ongoing work with genetic material affected in sugar-signalling. As crops and natural selection rely on the emergent properties of networks such as this branching network, future work should explore the whole network, the details of which are critical but not individually sufficient to solve the wicked problems of sustainable food supply and climate change.
PMID: 37076257
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad132
A matter of time: auxin signaling dynamics and the regulation of auxin responses during plant development.
Laboratoire Reproduction et Developpement des Plantes, Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, CNRS, INRAE, F-69342, Lyon, France.
As auxin is a major regulator of plant development, studying the signaling mechanisms by which auxin influences cellular activities is of primary importance. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on the different modalities of signaling, from the well-characterized canonical nuclear auxin pathway, to the more recently discovered or re-discovered non-canonical modes of auxin signaling. In particular, we discuss how both the modularity of the nuclear auxin pathway and the dynamic regulation of its core components allow to trigger specific transcriptomic responses. We highlight the fact that the diversity of modes of auxin signaling allows for a wide range of timescales of auxin responses, from second-scale cytoplasmic responses to minute/hour-scale modifications of gene expression. Finally, we question the extent to which the temporality of auxin signaling and responses contributes to development in both the shoot and the root meristems. We conclude by stressing the fact that future investigations should allow to build an integrative view not only of the spatial control, but also of the temporality of auxin-mediated regulation of plant development, from the cell to the whole organism.
PMID: 37042516
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad131
The dynamics of Arabidopsis H2A.Z on SMALL AUXIN UP RNAs regulates abscisic acid-auxin signaling crosstalk.
Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.; National key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
Extreme environmental changes threaten plant survival and worldwide food production. In response to osmotic stresses, plant hormone ABA activates stress responses and restricts plant growth. However, the epigenetic regulation of the ABA signaling and ABA-auxin crosstalk are not well known. Here we report that the histone variant H2A.Z knockdown mutant in Arabidopsis Col-0 ecotype, h2a.z-kd, has altered ABA signaling and stress performances. RNA-sequencing data showed that a majority of stress related genes are activated in h2a.z-kd. In addition, we revealed that ABA directly promotes the deposition of H2A.Z on SMALL AUXIN UP RNAs (SAURs), which is involved in ABA-repressed SAUR expression. Moreover, we found that ABA represses the transcription of H2A.Z genes through suppressing ARF7/19-HB22/25 module. Our results shed light on a dynamic and reciprocal regulation hub through H2A.Z deposition on SAURs and ARF7/19-HB22/25-mediated H2A.Z transcription to integrate ABA/auxin signaling and regulate stress responses in Arabidopsis.
PMID: 37022978
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad123
GOLVEN peptides regulate lateral root spacing as part of a negative feedback loop on the establishment of auxin maxima.
Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium.; Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB-UGent, Ghent 9052, Belgium.; Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.; Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umea, Sweden.
Lateral root initiation requires the accumulation of auxin in lateral root founder cells, yielding a local auxin maximum. The positioning of auxin maxima along the primary root determines the density and spacing of lateral roots. The GOLVEN6 (GLV6) and GLV10 signaling peptides and their receptors have been established as regulators of lateral root spacing via their inhibitory effect on lateral root initiation in Arabidopsis. However, it remained unclear how these GLV peptides interfere with auxin signaling or homeostasis. Here, we show that GLV6/10 signaling regulates the expression of a subset of auxin response genes, downstream of the canonical auxin signaling pathway, while simultaneously inhibiting the establishment of auxin maxima within xylem-pole pericycle cells that neighbor lateral root initiation sites. We present genetic evidence that this inhibitory effect relies on the activity of the PIN3 and PIN7 auxin export proteins. Furthermore, GLV6/10 peptide signaling was found to enhance PIN7 abundance in the plasma membranes of xylem-pole pericycle cells, which likely stimulates auxin efflux from these cells. Based on these findings, we propose a model in which the GLV6/10 signaling pathway serves as a negative feedback mechanism that contributes to the robust patterning of auxin maxima along the primary root.
PMID: 37004244
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad091
Cytokinin signaling promotes root hair growth by directly regulating RSL4 expression.
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.; School of Biological Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan.; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.; Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 119-0033, Japan.; RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
Root hairs are single-celled tubular structures produced from the epidermis, which play an essential role in water and nutrient uptake from the soil. Therefore, root hair formation and elongation are controlled not only by developmental programs but also by environmental factors, enabling plants to survive under fluctuating conditions. Phytohormones are key signals that link environmental cues to developmental programs; indeed, root hair elongation is known to be controlled by auxin and ethylene. Another phytohormone, cytokinin, also affects root hair growth, while whether cytokinin is actively involved in root hair growth and, if so, how it regulates the signaling pathway governing root hair development have remained unknown. In this study, we show that the two-component system of cytokinin, which involves the B-type response regulators ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR 1 (ARR1) and ARR12, promotes the elongation process of root hairs. They directly upregulate ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE 6-LIKE 4 (RSL4) encoding a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that plays a central role in root hair growth, whereas the ARR1/12-RSL4 pathway does not crosstalk with auxin or ethylene signaling. These results suggest that cytokinin signaling constitutes another input onto the regulatory module governed by RSL4, making it possible to fine-tune root hair growth in changing environments.
PMID: 36912789
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad094
Maize WRKY28 interacts with DELLA protein to affect skotomorphogenesis and participates in the regulation of shade avoidance and plant architecture.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.; Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Competition for light from neighboring vegetation can trigger the shade avoidance response (SAR) in plants, which is detrimental to their yield. The molecular mechanisms regulating SAR are well established in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), and some skotomorphogenesis regulators have been found to be involved in the regulation of the SAR and plant architecture. However, the role of WRKY transcription factors in this process is rarely reported, especially in maize (Zea mays L.). Here, we report that maize zmwrky28 mutants exhibited shorter mesocotyls in etiolated seedlings. Molecular and biochemical analyses demonstrated that ZmWRKY28 directly binds to the promoter region of a SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR) gene ZmSAUR54 and a PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORPIF gene ZmPIF4.1 to activate their expression. In addition, the maize DELLA protein DWARF PLANT8 (D8) interacts with ZmWRKY28 in the nucleus to inhibit its transcriptional activation activity. Our results also showed that ZmWRKY28 participates in the regulation of the SAR, plant height, leaf rolling and erectness in maize. Taken together, these results reveal that ZmWRKY28 is involved in GA-mediated skotomorphogenic development and can be used as a potential target to regulate SAR for breeding of high-density-tolerant cultivars.
PMID: 36884355
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad088
LONG HYPOCOTYL IN FAR-RED 1 mediates a trade-off between growth and defense under shade in Arabidopsis.
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Singapore.; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
Plants respond to vegetative shade with developmental and physiological changes that is collectively known as shade avoidance syndrome (SAS). Although LONG HYPOCOTYL IN FAR-RED 1 (HFR1) is known to be a negative regulator of SAS by forming heterodimers with other basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors to inhibit them, its function in genome-wide transcriptional regulation is not fully elucidated. Here, we performed RNA-sequencing analyses of hfr1-5 and HFR1 overexpression line (HFR1(DeltaN)-OE) to comprehensively identify HFR1-regulated genes at different time points of shade treatment. We found that HFR1 mediates the trade-off between shade-induced growth and shade-repressed defense, by regulating the expression of relevant genes in shade. Genes involved in promoting growth, such as for auxin biosynthesis, transport, signaling and response were induced by shade but suppressed by HFR1 at both short and long durations of shade. Likewise, most ethylene-related genes were shade-induced and HFR1-repressed. On the other hand, shade suppressed defense-related genes while HFR1 induced their expression, especially under long duration of shade treatment. We demonstrated that HFR1 confers increased resistance to bacterial infection under shade.
PMID: 36882154
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Apr , V74 (8) : P2542-2555 doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad051
The wheat basic helix-loop-helix gene TabHLH123 positively modulates the formation of crown roots and is associated with plant height and 1000-grain weight under various conditions.
National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.; College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030031, China.
Crown roots are the main components of the fibrous root system in cereal crops and play critical roles in plant adaptation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their formation in wheat (Triticum aestivum) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified a wheat basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein, TabHLH123, that interacts with the essential regulator of crown root initiation, MORE ROOT in wheat (TaMOR). TabHLH123 is expressed highly in shoot bases and roots. Ectopic expression of TabHLH123 in rice resulted in more roots compared with the wild type. TabHLH123 regulates the expression of genes controlling crown-root development and auxin metabolism, responses, and transport. In addition, we analysed the nucleotide sequence polymorphisms of TabHLH123s in the wheat genome and identified a superior haplotype, TabHLH123-6B, that is associated with high root dry weight and 1000-grain weight, and short plant height. Our study reveals the role of TabHLH123 in controlling the formation of crown roots and provides beneficial insights for molecular marker-assisted breeding in wheat.
PMID: 36749713
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2023 Apr , V74 (8) : P2448-2461 doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad048
Just enough fruit: understanding feedback mechanisms during sexual reproductive development.
Department of Fruit Tree Sciences, Institute of Plant Sciences, ARO, The Volcani Institute, Rishon Le'Zion 7528809, Israel.; School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.; The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
The fruit and seed produced by a small number of crop plants provide the majority of food eaten across the world. Given the growing global population, there is a pressing need to increase yields of these crops without using more land or more chemical inputs. Many of these crops display prominent 'fruit-flowering feedbacks', in which fruit produced early in sexual reproductive development can inhibit the production of further fruit by a range of mechanisms. Understanding and overcoming these feedbacks thus presents a plausible route to increasing crop yields 'for free'. In this review, we define three key types of fruit-flowering feedback, and examine how frequent they are and their effects on reproduction in a wide range of both wild and cultivated species. We then assess how these phenomenologically distinct phenomena might arise from conserved phytohormonal signalling events, particularly the export of auxin from growing organs. Finally, we offer some thoughts on the evolutionary basis for these self-limiting sexual reproductive patterns, and whether they are also present in the cereal crops that fundamentally underpin global diets.
PMID: 36724082
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 May , V237 : P124061 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124061
Small Auxin Up RNA (SAUR) gene family identification and functional genes exploration during the floral organ and fruit developmental stages in pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) and its response to salinity and drought stresses.
College of Life Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.; Fishery Multiplication Management Station of Lijiang River Water Supply Hub Project, Guilin 541001, China.; College of Life Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Pingtan Science and Technology Research Institute of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Pingtan 350400, China. Electronic address: yuanqin@fafu.edu.cn.; College of Life Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: xpniu0613@126.com.
In plants, sexual reproduction relies on the proper development of floral organs that facilitate the successful development of fruits and seeds. Auxin responsive small auxin-up RNA (SAUR) genes play essential roles in floral organ formation and fruit development. However, little is known about the role of SAUR genes in pineapple floral organ formation and fruit development as well as stress responses. In this study, based on genome information and transcriptome datasets, 52 AcoSAUR genes were identified and grouped into 12 groups. The gene structure analysis revealed that most AcoSAUR genes did not have introns, although auxin-acting elements were abundant in the promoter region of AcoSAUR members. The expression analysis across the multiple flower and fruit development stages revealed differential expression of AcoSAUR genes, indicating a tissue and stage-specific function of AcoSAURs. Correlation analysis and pairwise comparisons between gene expression and tissue specificity identified stamen-, petal-, ovule-, and fruit-specific AcoSAURs involved in pineapple floral organs (AcoSAUR4/5/15/17/19) and fruit development (AcoSAUR6/11/36/50). RT-qPCR analysis revealed that AcoSAUR12/24/50 played positive roles in response to the salinity and drought treatment. This work provides an abundant genomic resource for functional analysis of AcoSAUR genes during the pineapple floral organs and fruit development stages. It also highlights the role of auxin signaling involved in pineapple reproductive organ growth.
PMID: 36933586
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 Apr , V234 : P123671 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123671
Phylogeny, transcriptional profile, and auxin-induced phosphorylation modification characteristics of conserved PIN proteins in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis).
Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, China.; Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, China. Electronic address: gaojianicbr@163.com.
Auxin polar transport is an important way for auxin to exercise its function, and auxin plays an irreplaceable role in the rapid growth of Moso bamboo. We identified and performed the structural analysis of PIN-FORMED auxin efflux carriers in Moso bamboo and obtained a total of 23 PhePIN genes from five gene subfamilies. We also performed chromosome localization and intra- and inter-species synthesis analysis. Phylogenetic analyses of 216 PIN genes showed that PIN genes are relatively conserved in the evolution of the Bambusoideae and have undergone intra-family segment replication in Moso bamboo. The PIN genes' transcriptional patterns showed that the PIN1 subfamily plays a major regulatory role. PIN genes and auxin biosynthesis maintain a high degree of consistency in spatial and temporal distribution. Phosphoproteomics analysis identified many phosphorylated protein kinases that respond to auxin regulation through autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of PIN proteins. The protein interaction network showed that there is a plant hormone interaction regulatory network with PIN protein as the core. We provide a comprehensive PIN protein analysis that complements the auxin regulatory pathway in Moso bamboo and paves the way for further auxin regulatory studies in bamboo.
PMID: 36801226
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 Mar , V230 : P123165 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123165
Gnawing pressure led to the expansion of JAZ genes in angiosperms.
Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Water Resource, Yangling 712100, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.; Tasly R&D Institute, Tasly Holding Group Co. Ltd, Tianjin 300410, China; Tasly R&D Institute, State Key Laboratory of Core Technology in Innovative Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300410, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China. Electronic address: xpg_xpg@zstu.edu.cn.; Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Water Resource, Yangling 712100, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: liangzs@zstu.edu.cn.
A long-standing problem in evolutionary biology is why some populations differentiate into many species while the majority do not. Angiosperms is an excellent group for investigating this problem because their diversity is unevenly distributed in space and phylogeny. Plant hormone participates in growth, development and defense. However, jasmonic acid (JA) was the only hormone response to bites. We first searched jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ), AUXIN/INDOLE ACETIC ACID (IAA / aux), PYR/PYL/RCAR (PYL), DELLA, and SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-like (SMAX) in 272 plant species. We found the gene number change trends were consistent with origination rates and species numbers of angiosperms. So, 26 representative species were selected as an example for further analysis. The results showed JAZ had experienced two lineage-specific gene expansion events in angiosperms, which coincided with increases in mammalian body size and dental diversity. The proliferation of large herbivores as a results of mammalian prosperity after dinosaur extinction may be related to angiosperm evolution and bursting. The proliferation of large herbivores as the result of mammalian prosperity after the extinction of the dinosaurs was related to angiosperm evolution and bursting. Overall, our study uncovered a previously unknown co-evolution mechanism in terrestrial plants exposed to extreme environmental conditions.
PMID: 36623623
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 Mar , V232 : P123081 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.300
Genome wide analysis of BREVIS RADIX gene family from wheat (Triticum aestivum): A conserved gene family differentially regulated by hormones and abiotic stresses.
ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110012, India; Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301, India.; ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695017, India.; Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301, India.; ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110012, India. Electronic address: Monika.Dalal@icar.gov.in.
BREVIS RADIX is a plant specific gene family with unique protein-protein interaction domain. It regulates developmental processes viz. root elongation and tiller angle which are pertinent for crop improvement. In the present study, five BRX family genes were identified in wheat genome and clustered into five sub-groups. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses revealed evolutionary conservation among BRX proteins from monocot species. Expression analyses showed abundance of TaBRXL1 transcripts in vegetative and reproductive tissues except flag leaf. TaBRXL2, TaBRXL3 and TaBRXL4 showed differential, tissue specific and lower level expression as compared to TaBRXL1. TaBRXL5-A expressed exclusively in stamens. TaBRXL1 was upregulated under biotic stresses while TaBRXL2 expression was enhanced under abiotic stresses. TaBRXL2 and TaBRXL3 were upregulated by ABA and IAA in roots. In shoot, TaBRXL2 was upregulated by ABA while TaBRXL3 and TaBRXL4 were upregulated by IAA. Expression levels, tissue specificity and response time under different conditions suggest distinct as well as overlapping functions of TaBRX genes. This was also evident from global co-expression network of these genes. Further, TaBRX proteins exhibited homotypic and heterotypic interactions which corroborated with the role of BRX domain in protein-protein interaction. This study provides leads for functional characterization of TaBRX genes.
PMID: 36592856
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 Feb , V229 : P791-802 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.230
Genome-wide identification and characterization of PIN-FORMED (PIN) and PIN-LIKES (PILS) gene family reveals their role in adventitious root development in tea nodal cutting (Camellia Sinensis).
International Institute of Tea Industry Innovation for "the Belt and Road", Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, PR China.; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, PR China.; Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore 14, Tamilnadu, India.; International Institute of Tea Industry Innovation for "the Belt and Road", Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, PR China. Electronic address: lxh@njau.edu.cn.
Auxin affects all aspects of plant growth and development, including morphogenesis and adaptive responses. Auxin transmembrane transport is promoted by PIN formation (PIN) and a structurally similar PIN-like (PILS) gene family, which jointly controls the directional transport of the auxin between plant cells, and the accumulation of intracellular auxin. At present, there is no study investigating the roles of CslPIN and CslPILS gene family in root development in the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). In this study, 8 CslPIN and 10 CslPILS genes were identified in the tea plant, and their evolutionary relationships, physical and chemical properties, conserved motifs, cis-acting elements, chromosome location, collinearity, and expression characteristics were analyzed. The mechanism of CslPIN and CslPILS in the formation of tea adventitious roots (ARs) was studied by the AR induction system. Through functional verification, the regulation of CslPIN3 gene on root growth and development of tea plant was studied by over-expression of CslPIN3 in Arabidopsis thaliana and in situ hybridization in Camellia sinensis. The results confirmed CslPIN3 was involved in the regulation of root growth and development as well as auxin accumulation. This study provides a better insight into the regulatory mechanism of CslPIN and CslPILS gene family on the formation of AR in tea plant.
PMID: 36572081
Development , IF:6.868 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1242/dev.201485
Microbial Pattern Recognition suppresses de novo organogenesis.
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens 30602, USA.
De novo root regeneration (DNRR) is a developmental process to regenerate adventitious roots from wounded tissues. Phytohormone signaling pathways involved in microbial resistance are mobilized after cutting and influence de novo root regeneration. Microbes may positively or negatively influence the development and stress responses of a plant. However, most studies on the molecular mechanisms of de novo organogenesis are performed in aseptic conditions. Thus, the potential crosstalk between organ regeneration and biotic stresses is underexplored. Here, we report the development of a versatile experimental system to study the impact of microbes on DNRR. Using this system, we found that bacteria inhibited root regeneration by activating, but is not limited to, the Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP)-trigged immunity. Sensing bacterial derived flagellin 22 peptide (flg22) inhibited root regeneration by interfering with the formation of an auxin maximum at wound site. Such inhibition relied on the receptor complex recognizing microbial patterns but may bypass the requirement of salicylic acid (SA) signaling.
PMID: 37073949
Development , IF:6.868 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1242/dev.201635
A cornichon protein controls polar localization of the PINA auxin transporter in Physcomitrium patens.
Departamento de Biologia Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico, USA.; Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA.
Newly synthesized membrane proteins pass through the secretory pathway, starting at the endoplasmic reticulum and packaged into COPII vesicles, to continue to the Golgi apparatus before reaching their membrane of residence. It is known that cargo receptor proteins form part of the COPII complex and play a role in the recruitment of cargo proteins for their subsequent transport through the secretory pathway. The role of cornichon proteins is conserved from yeast to vertebrates, but it is poorly characterized in plants. Here, we studied the role of the two cornichon homologs in the secretory pathway of the moss Physcomitrium patens. Mutant analyzes revealed that cornichon genes regulate different growth processes during the moss life cycle by controlling auxin transport, with CNIH2 functioning as a specific cargo receptor for the auxin efflux carrier PINA, with the C-terminus of the receptor regulating the interaction, trafficking, and membrane localization of PINA.
PMID: 37052186
Development , IF:6.868 , 2023 Mar , V150 (6) doi: 10.1242/dev.201209
Diverse branching forms regulated by a core auxin transport mechanism in plants.
School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
Diverse branching forms have evolved multiple times across the tree of life to facilitate resource acquisition and exchange with the environment. In the vascular plant group, the ancestral pattern of branching involves dichotomy of a parent shoot apex to form two new daughter apices. The molecular basis of axillary branching in Arabidopsis is well understood, but few regulators of dichotomous branching are known. Through analyses of dichotomous branching in the lycophyte, Selaginella kraussiana, we identify PIN-mediated auxin transport as an ancestral branch regulator of vascular plants. We show that short-range auxin transport out of the apices promotes dichotomy and that branch dominance is globally coordinated by long-range auxin transport. Uniquely in Selaginella, angle meristems initiate at each dichotomy, and these can develop into rhizophores or branching angle shoots. We show that long-range auxin transport and a transitory drop in PIN expression are involved in angle shoot development. We conclude that PIN-mediated auxin transport is an ancestral mechanism for vascular plant branching that was independently recruited into Selaginella angle shoot development and seed plant axillary branching during evolution.
PMID: 36919845
Development , IF:6.868 , 2023 Mar , V150 (5) doi: 10.1242/dev.200879
Developmental trajectory of pluripotent stem cell establishment in Arabidopsis callus guided by a quiescent center-related gene network.
National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
In plant tissue culture, callus formation is induced by a high auxin concentration. Among the three cell layers (the outer, middle and inner cell layers) of the callus, pluripotency acquisition in the middle cell layer is required for the potential ability of the callus to regenerate organs. Here, we reveal the developmental trajectory of middle cell layer initiation and maintenance in callus tissue originating from Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyls. The S phase of the cell cycle is essential for the expression of quiescent center-related SCARECROW (SCR), PLETHORA1 (PLT1) and WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX5 (WOX5) genes during the division of callus founder cells to initiate the callus primordium. After callus initiation, SHOOT-ROOT (SHR) proteins move from the inner to the middle cell layer and act together with SCR to promote the expression of PLT1 and WOX5. WOX5 represses the expression of VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN (VND) genes, thereby preventing callus tissue from differentiating into xylem cells. PLT1 and PLT2 directly activate JACKDAW (JKD), which is necessary for pluripotency acquisition in the middle cell layer. We hypothesize that the middle cell layer could have pluripotent stem cell activity and its establishment requires the quiescent center-related SCR-SHR-WOX5-PLT1/2-JKD gene network.
PMID: 36762604
J Environ Manage , IF:6.789 , 2023 Jul , V337 : P117723 doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117723
Integrated biochemical and transcriptomic analysis reveals the effects of Burkholderia sp. SRB-1 on cadmium accumulating in Chrysopogon zizanioides L. under Cd stress.
Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, PR China.; College of Pharmacy, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.; Soil and Fertilizer Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610066, China.; Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment Protection, Soil Ecological Protection and Pollution Control, Sichuan University & Department of Ecology and Environment of Sichuan, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address: xuheng64@sina.com.
Application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria plays a vital role in enhancing phytoremediation efficiency. In this study, multiple approaches were employed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of Burkholderia sp. SRB-1 (SRB-1) on elevating Cd uptake and accumulation. Inoculation experiment indicated that SRB-1 could facilitate plant growth and Cd tolerance, as evidenced by the enhanced plant biomass and antioxidative enzymes activities. Cd content in plant shoots and roots increased about 36.56%-39.66% and 25.97%-130.47% assisted with SRB-1 when compared with control. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that SRB-1 upregulated expression of amiE, AAO1-2 and GA2-ox related to auxin and gibberellin biosynthesis in roots. Auxin and gibberellin, as hormone signals, regulated plant Cd tolerance and growth through activating hormone signal transduction pathways, which might also contribute to 67.94% increase of dry weight. The higher expression levels of ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamilies (ABCB, ABCC, ABCD and ABCG) in Chrysopogon zizanioides roots contributed to higher Cd uptake in Cd15 B (323.83 mg kg(-1)) than Cd15 (136.28 mg kg(-1)). Further, SRB-1 facilitated Cd migration from roots to shoots via upregulating the expression of Nramp, ZIP and HMA families. Our integrative analysis provided a molecular-scale perspective on Burkholderia sp. SRB-1 contributing to C. zizanioides performance.
PMID: 36958280
Cells , IF:6.6 , 2023 Mar , V12 (7) doi: 10.3390/cells12071015
Systematic Investigation of TCP Gene Family: Genome-Wide Identification and Light-Regulated Gene Expression Analysis in Pepino (Solanum Muricatum).
Laboratory for Research and Utilization of Germplasm Resources in Qinghai Tibet Plateau, Agriculture and Forestry Sciences Institute of Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.; College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
Plant-specific transcription factors such as the TCP family play crucial roles in light responses and lateral branching. The commercial development of S. muricatum has been influenced by the ease with which its lateral branches can be germinated, especially under greenhouse cultivation during the winter with supplemented LED light. The present study examined the TCP family genes in S. muricatum using bioinformatics analysis (whole-genome sequencing and RNA-seq) to explore the response of this family to different light treatments. Forty-one TCP genes were identified through a genome-wide search; phylogenetic analysis revealed that the CYC/TB1, CIN and Class I subclusters contained 16 SmTCP, 11 SmTCP and 14 SmTCP proteins, respectively. Structural and conserved sequence analysis of SmTCPs indicated that the motifs in the same subcluster were highly similar in structure and the gene structure of SmTCPs was simpler than that in Arabidopsis thaliana; 40 of the 41 SmTCPs were localized to 12 chromosomes. In S. muricatum, 17 tandem repeat sequences and 17 pairs of SmTCP genes were found. We identified eight TCPs that were significantly differentially expressed (DETCPs) under blue light (B) and red light (R), using RNA-seq. The regulatory network of eight DETCPs was preliminarily constructed. All three subclusters responded to red and blue light treatment. To explore the implications of regulatory TCPs in different light treatments for each species, the TCP regulatory gene networks and GO annotations for A. thaliana and S. muricatum were compared. The regulatory mechanisms suggest that the signaling pathways downstream of the TCPs may be partially conserved between the two species. In addition to the response to light, functional regulation was mostly enriched with auxin response, hypocotyl elongation, and lateral branch genesis. In summary, our findings provide a basis for further analysis of the TCP gene family in other crops and broaden the functional insights into TCP genes regarding light responses.
PMID: 37048089
Anal Chim Acta , IF:6.558 , 2023 May , V1256 : P341158 doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341158
Vibration for enhancement of electrochemical analysis of biomolecules in a droplet on the rough surface of a disposable working electrode.
School of Public Health, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Rd., Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, China.; National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.; National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. Electronic address: liuwu@cemps.ac.cn.; School of Public Health, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Rd., Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, China. Electronic address: zhugexk@ntu.edu.cn.; School of Public Health, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Rd., Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, China. Electronic address: hxl362349@ntu.edu.cn.; School of Public Health, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Rd., Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, China. Electronic address: ningbao@ntu.edu.cn.
Although electrochemical detection of microliters-level solutions is attractive for analysis of low-amount biological samples, its performance could be weakened by limited mass transfer due to low Reynolds number and laminar flow. Herein we designed a 3D-printed electroanalytical device to apply vibration for improvement of mass transfer during electrochemical detection. In our approach, the droplet-size sample solution containing Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, as a model) was directly applied on the effective surface of a disposable working electrode. We demonstrated that vibration could enhance electrochemical responses of IAA more on the rough surface than on the smooth surface of the working electrodes. After optimization, the sensitivity for electrochemical detection of a 20-muL droplet under vibration with the voltage of 7 V increased more than 100% compared with the static condition. The enhanced electrochemical responses brought by vibration could be achieved reproducibly, which could be ascribed to improved mass transfer. Our strategy could be practically applied for differentiation of IAA in different tissues of Marchantia polymorpha with enhanced responses. This study suggested that vibration might become a simple and effective method to improve mass transfer in analysis of microliter-volume solutions, which might be extended for more biochemical assays.
PMID: 37037634
Environ Res , IF:6.498 , 2023 Apr , V229 : P115966 doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115966
Strigolactones can be a potential tool to fight environmental stresses in arid lands.
Xinjiang Key Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration Laboratory, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China. Electronic address: akash.malik786@mails.ucas.ac.cn.; Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola Del Valles, 08193, Catalonia, Spain.; Instituto de Fisiologia Vegetal, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.; Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.; Xinjiang Key Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration Laboratory, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China.; Xinjiang Key Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration Laboratory, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China. Electronic address: zengfj@ms.xjb.ac.cn.; Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Process, Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China; Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China.; Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China.; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
BACKGROUND: Environmental stresses pose a significant threat to plant growth and ecosystem productivity, particularly in arid lands that are more susceptible to climate change. Strigolactones (SLs), carotenoid-derived plant hormones, have emerged as a potential tool for mitigating environmental stresses. METHODS: This review aimed to gather information on SLs' role in enhancing plant tolerance to ecological stresses and their possible use in improving the resistance mechanisms of arid land plant species to intense aridity in the face of climate change. RESULTS: Roots exude SLs under different environmental stresses, including macronutrient deficiency, especially phosphorus (P), which facilitates a symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF). SLs, in association with AMF, improve root system architecture, nutrient acquisition, water uptake, stomatal conductance, antioxidant mechanisms, morphological traits, and overall stress tolerance in plants. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that SL-mediated acclimatization to abiotic stresses involves multiple hormonal pathways, including abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins (CK), gibberellic acid (GA), and auxin. However, most of the experiments have been conducted on crops, and little attention has been paid to the dominant vegetation in arid lands that plays a crucial role in reducing soil erosion, desertification, and land degradation. All the environmental gradients (nutrient starvation, drought, salinity, and temperature) that trigger SL biosynthesis/exudation prevail in arid regions. The above-mentioned functions of SLs can potentially be used to improve vegetation restoration and sustainable agriculture. CONCLUSIONS: Present review concluded that knowledge on SL-mediated tolerance in plants is developed, but still in-depth research is needed on downstream signaling components in plants, SL molecular mechanisms and physiological interactions, efficient methods of synthetic SLs production, and their effective application in field conditions. This review also invites researchers to explore the possible application of SLs in improving the survival rate of indigenous vegetation in arid lands, which can potentially help combat land degradation problems.
PMID: 37100368
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1111/tpj.16218
Salicylic acid inhibits rice endocytic protein trafficking mediated by OsPIN3t and clathrin to affect root growth.
College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.; Key Laboratory of Agro-Biodiversity and Pest Management of Education Ministry of China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.; CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China.; National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.; Shanxi Agricultural University/Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, The Industrial Crop Institute, Fenyang, 032200, China.; Key Lab of Agricultural Biotechnology of Yunnan Province, Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650205, Yunnan, China.; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.; Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria.; Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China.; The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China.
Salicylic acid (SA) plays important roles in different aspects of plant development, including root growth, where auxin is also a major player by means of its asymmetric distribution. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of SA on the development of rice roots remains poorly understood. Here, we show that SA inhibits rice root growth by interfering with auxin transport associated with the OsPIN3t- and clathrin-mediated gene regulatory network (GRN). SA inhibits root growth as well as Brefeldin A-sensitive trafficking through a non-canonical SA signaling mechanism. Transcriptome analysis of rice seedlings treated with SA revealed that the OsPIN3t auxin transporter is at the center of a GRN involving the coat protein clathrin. The root growth and endocytic trafficking in both the pin3t and clathrin heavy chain mutants were SA insensitivity. SA inhibitory effect on the endocytosis of OsPIN3t was dependent on clathrin; however, the root growth and endocytic trafficking mediated by tyrphostin A23 (TyrA23) were independent of the pin3t mutant under SA treatment. These data reveal that SA affects rice root growth through the convergence of transcriptional and non-SA signaling mechanisms involving OsPIN3t-mediated auxin transport and clathrin-mediated trafficking as key components.
PMID: 37025008
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1111/tpj.16198
Hydrogen sulfide alleviates osmotic stress-induced root growth inhibition by promoting auxin homeostasis.
State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
Hydrogen sulfide (H(2) S) promotes plant tolerance against various environmental cues, and d-cysteine desulfhydrase (DCD) is an enzymatic source of H(2) S to enhance abiotic stress resistance. However, the role of DCD-mediated H(2) S production in root growth under abiotic stress remains to be further elucidated. Here, we report that DCD-mediated H(2) S production alleviates osmotic stress-mediated root growth inhibition by promoting auxin homeostasis. Osmotic stress up-regulated DCD gene transcript and DCD protein levels and thus H(2) S production in roots. When subjected to osmotic stress, a dcd mutant showed more severe root growth inhibition, whereas the transgenic lines DCDox overexpressing DCD exhibited less sensitivity to osmotic stress in terms of longer root compared to the wild-type. Moreover, osmotic stress inhibited root growth through repressing auxin signaling, whereas H(2) S treatment significantly alleviated osmotic stress-mediated inhibition of auxin. Under osmotic stress, auxin accumulation was increased in DCDox but decreased in dcd mutant. H(2) S promoted auxin biosynthesis gene expression and auxin efflux carrier PIN-FORMED 1 (PIN1) protein level under osmotic stress. Taken together, our results reveal that mannitol-induced DCD and H(2) S in roots promote auxin homeostasis, contributing to alleviating the inhibition of root growth under osmotic stress.
PMID: 36948886
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1111/tpj.16196
The AtERF19 gene regulates meristem activity and flower organ size in plants.
Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan.; Advanced Plant and Food Crop Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan.
Ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) have diverse functions in the regulation of various plant developmental processes. Here, we demonstrate the dual role of an Arabidopsis ERF gene, AtERF19, in regulating reproductive meristem activity and flower organ size through the regulation of genes involved in CLAVATA-WUSCHEL (CLV-WUS) and auxin signaling, respectively. We found that AtERF19 stimulated the formation of flower primordia and controlled the number of flowers produced by activating WUS and was negatively regulated by CLV3. 35S::AtERF19 expression resulted in significantly more flowers, whereas 35S::AtERF19 + SRDX dominant-negative mutants produced fewer flowers. In addition, AtERF19 also functioned to control flower organ size by promoting the division/expansion of the cells through activating Small Auxin Up RNA Gene 32 (SAUR32), which positively regulated MYB21/24 in the auxin signaling pathway. 35S::AtERF19 and 35S::SAUR32 resulted in similarly larger flowers, whereas 35S::AtERF19 + SRDX and 35S::SAUR32-RNAi mutants produced smaller flowers than the wild type. The functions of AtERF19 were confirmed by the production of similarly more and larger flowers in 35S::AtERF19 transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) and in transgenic Arabidopsis which ectopically expressed the orchid gene (Nicotiana benthamiana) PaERF19 than in wild-type plants. The finding that AtERF19 regulates genes involved in both CLV-WUS and auxin signaling during flower development significantly expands the current knowledge of the multifunctional evolution of ERF genes in plants. The results presented in this work indicate a dual role for the transcription factor AtERF19 in controlling the number of flowers produced and flower organ size through the regulation of genes involved in CLV-WUS and auxin signaling, respectively. Our findings expand the knowledge of the roles of ERF genes in the regulation of reproductive development.
PMID: 36932949
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 May , V114 (3) : P683-698 doi: 10.1111/tpj.16166
FaMYB123 interacts with FabHLH3 to regulate the late steps of anthocyanin and flavonol biosynthesis during ripening.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, Edificio Severo Ochoa, Campus de Rabanales, E-14014, Cordoba, Spain.; Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muhlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany.; Department of Agricultural Chemistry, University of Cordoba, Edificio Marie Curie, Campus de Rabanales, E-14014, Cordoba, Spain.; Department of Plant Biology, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterranea La Mayora, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos, E-29071, Malaga, Spain.; Department of Plant Biochemistry, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), Eberhard Karls University, Tubingen, Germany.; Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, Ruski Blvd. 139, Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria.
In this work, we identified and functionally characterized the strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) R2R3 MYB transcription factor FaMYB123. As in most genes associated with organoleptic properties of ripe fruit, FaMYB123 expression is ripening-related, receptacle-specific, and antagonistically regulated by ABA and auxin. Knockdown of FaMYB123 expression by RNAi in ripe strawberry fruit receptacles downregulated the expression of enzymes involved in the late steps of anthocyanin/flavonoid biosynthesis. Transgenic fruits showed a parallel decrease in the contents of total anthocyanin and flavonoid, especially malonyl derivatives of pelargonidin and cyanidins. The decrease was concomitant with accumulation of proanthocyanin, propelargonidins, and other condensed tannins associated mainly with green receptacles. Potential coregulation between FaMYB123 and FaMYB10, which may act on different sets of genes for the enzymes involved in anthocyanin production, was explored. FaMYB123 and FabHLH3 were found to interact and to be involved in the transcriptional activation of FaMT1, a gene responsible for the malonylation of anthocyanin components during ripening. Taken together, these results demonstrate that FaMYB123 regulates the late steps of the flavonoid pathway in a specific manner. In this study, a new function for an R2R3 MYB transcription factor, regulating the expression of a gene that encodes a malonyltransferase, has been elucidated.
PMID: 36840368
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Apr , V114 (1) : P176-192 doi: 10.1111/tpj.16129
Boron supply restores aluminum-blocked auxin transport by the modulation of PIN2 trafficking in the root apical transition zone.
National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.; International Research Center for Environmental Membrane Biology and Department of Horticulture, Foshan University, Foshan, 528000, China.; Microelement Research Center/Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.; Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany, University of Bonn, D-53115, Bonn, Germany.; State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing, 210008, China.; Tasmanian Institute for Agriculture, College of Science and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia.; School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia.
The supply of boron (B) alleviates the toxic effects of aluminum (Al) on root growth; however, the mechanistic basis of this process remains elusive. This study filled this knowledge gap, demonstrating that boron modifies auxin distribution and transport in Al-exposed Arabidopsis roots. In B-deprived roots, treatment with Al induced an increase in auxin content in the root apical meristem zone (MZ) and transition zone (TZ), whereas in the elongation zone (EZ) the auxin content was decreased beyond the level required for adequate growth. These distribution patterns are explained by the fact that basipetal auxin transport from the TZ to the EZ was disrupted by Al-inhibited PIN-FORMED 2 (PIN2) endocytosis. Experiments involving the modulation of protein biosynthesis by cycloheximide (CHX) and transcriptional regulation by cordycepin (COR) demonstrated that the Al-induced increase of PIN2 membrane proteins was dependent upon the inhibition of PIN2 endocytosis, rather than on the transcriptional regulation of the PIN2 gene. Experiments reporting on the profiling of Al(3+) and PIN2 proteins revealed that the inhibition of endocytosis of PIN2 proteins was the result of Al-induced limitation of the fluidity of the plasma membrane. The supply of B mediated the turnover of PIN2 endosomes conjugated with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and thus restored the Al-induced inhibition of IAA transport through the TZ to the EZ. Overall, the reported results demonstrate that boron supply mediates PIN2 endosome-based auxin transport to alleviate Al toxicity in plant roots.
PMID: 36721978
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Apr , V114 (1) : P83-95 doi: 10.1111/tpj.16118
Role of reactive oxygen species in the modulation of auxin flux and root development in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biology II/Molecular Plant Physiology, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.; Instituto de Bioingenieria, Universidad Miguel Hernandez, 03202, Elche, Spain.; Centre for BioSystems Analysis, BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Daizong Street 61, Tai'an, 271018, China.; ScreenSYS GmbH, Engesserstr. 4, Freiburg, 79108, Germany.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a dual role in plant biology, acting as important signal transduction molecules and as toxic byproducts of aerobic metabolism that accumulate in cells upon exposure to different stressors and lead to cell death. In plants, root architecture is regulated by the distribution and intercellular flow of the phytohormone auxin. In this study, we identified ROS as an important modulator of auxin distribution and response in the root. ROS production is necessary for root growth, proper tissue patterning, cell growth, and lateral root (LR) induction. Alterations in ROS balance led to altered auxin distribution and response in SOD and RHD2 loss-of-function mutants. Treatment of Arabidopsis seedlings with additional sources of ROS (hydrogen peroxide) or an ROS production inhibitor (diphenylene iodonium) induced phenocopies of the mutants studied. Simultaneous application of auxin and ROS increased LR primordia induction, and PIN-FORMED protein immunolocalization further demonstrated the existing link between auxin and ROS in orchestrating cell division and auxin flux during root development. In Arabidopsis roots, genetic alterations in ROS balance led to defective auxin distribution and growth-related responses in roots. Exogenous hydrogen peroxide alters the establishment of the endogenous auxin gradient in the root meristem through regulation of PIN-FORMED polarity, while the simultaneous application of hydrogen peroxide and auxin enhanced LR induction in a dose- and position-dependent manner through activation of cell division.
PMID: 36700340
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Mar , V113 (6) : P1259-1277 doi: 10.1111/tpj.16109
Biosynthesis- and transport-mediated dynamic auxin distribution during seed development controls seed size in Arabidopsis.
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
Auxin is indispensable to the fertilization-induced coordinated development of the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. However, little attention has been given to the distribution pattern, maintenance mechanism, and function of auxin throughout the process of seed development. In the present study, we found that auxin response signals display a dynamic distribution pattern during Arabidopsis seed development. Shortly after fertilization, strong auxin response signals were observed at the funiculus, chalaza, and micropylar integument where the embryo attaches. Later, additional signals appeared at the middle layer of the inner integument (ii1') above the chalaza and the whole inner layer of the outer integument (oi1). These signals peaked when the seed was mature, then declined upon desiccation and disappeared in the dried seed. Auxin biosynthesis genes, including ASB1, TAA1, YUC1, YUC4, YUC8, and YUC9, contributed to the accumulation of auxin in the funiculus and seed coat. Auxin efflux carrier PIN3 and influx carrier AUX1 also contributed to the polar auxin distribution in the seed coat. PIN3 was expressed in the ii1 (innermost layer of the inner integument) and oi1 layers of the integument and showed polar localization. AUX1 was expressed in both layers of the outer integument and the endosperm and displayed a uniform localization. Further research demonstrated that the accumulation of auxin in the seed coat regulates seed size. Transgenic plants that specifically express the YUC8 gene in the oi2 or ii1 seed coat produced larger seeds. These results provide useful tools for cultivating high-yielding crops.
PMID: 36648165
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Mar , V113 (6) : P1176-1191 doi: 10.1111/tpj.16103
CLE3 and its homologs share overlapping functions in the modulation of lateral root formation through CLV1 and BAM1 in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan.; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.; International Research Organization for Advanced Science and Technology (IROAST), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan.; International Research Center for Agriculture and Environmental Biology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan.
Lateral roots are important for a wide range of processes, including uptake of water and nutrients. The CLAVATA3 (CLV3)/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED (CLE) 1 ~ 7 peptide family and their cognate receptor CLV1 have been shown to negatively regulate lateral root formation under low-nitrate conditions. However, little is known about how CLE signaling regulates lateral root formation. A persistent obstacle in CLE peptide research is their functional redundancies, which makes functional analyses difficult. To address this problem, we generate the cle1 ~ 7 septuple mutant (cle1 ~ 7-cr1, cr stands for mutant allele generated with CRISPR/Cas9). cle1 ~ 7-cr1 exhibits longer lateral roots under normal conditions. Specifically, in cle1 ~ 7-cr1, the lateral root density is increased, and lateral root primordia initiation is found to be accelerated. Further analysis shows that cle3 single mutant exhibits slightly longer lateral roots. On the other hand, plants that overexpress CLE2 and CLE3 exhibit decreased lateral root lengths. To explore cognate receptor(s) of CLE2 and CLE3, we analyze lateral root lengths in clv1 barely any meristem 1(bam1) double mutant. Mutating both the CLV1 and BAM1 causes longer lateral roots, but not in each single mutant. In addition, genetic analysis reveals that CLV1 and BAM1 are epistatic to CLE2 and CLE3. Furthermore, gene expression analysis shows that the LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN/ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKE (LBD/ASL) genes, which promote lateral root formation, are upregulated in cle1 ~ 7-cr1 and clv1 bam1. We therefore propose that CLE2 and CLE3 peptides are perceived by CLV1 and BAM1 to mediate lateral root formation through LBDs regulation.
PMID: 36628476
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Mar , V113 (5) : P986-1003 doi: 10.1111/tpj.16095
The Arabidopsis D27-LIKE1 is a cis/cis/trans-beta-carotene isomerase that contributes to Strigolactone biosynthesis and negatively impacts ABA level.
The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955, Saudi Arabia.; Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955, Saudi Arabia.; Department of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, 8XH2+XVP, Mecca, 24382, Saudi Arabia.; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville Research and Development Centre, 32 Main Street, Kentville, NS, B4N 1J5, Canada.; The Laboratory of Plant Cell and Developmental Biology, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
The enzyme DWARF27 (D27) catalyzes the reversible isomerization of all-trans- into 9-cis-beta-carotene, initiating strigolactone (SL) biosynthesis. Genomes of higher plants encode two D27-homologs, D27-like1 and -like2, with unknown functions. Here, we investigated the enzymatic activity and biological function of the Arabidopsis D27-like1. In vitro enzymatic assays and expression in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 revealed an unreported 13-cis/15-cis/9-cis- and a 9-cis/all-trans-beta-carotene isomerization. Although disruption of AtD27-like1 did not cause SL deficiency phenotypes, overexpression of AtD27-like1 in the d27 mutant restored the more-branching phenotype, indicating a contribution of AtD27-like1 to SL biosynthesis. Accordingly, generated d27 d27like1 double mutants showed a more pronounced branching phenotype compared to d27. The contribution of AtD27-like1 to SL biosynthesis is likely a result of its formation of 9-cis-beta-carotene that was present at higher levels in AtD27-like1 overexpressing lines. By contrast, AtD27-like1 expression correlated negatively with the content of 9-cis-violaxanthin, a precursor of ABA, in shoots. Consistently, ABA levels were higher in shoots and also in dry seeds of the d27like1 and d27 d27like1 mutants. Transgenic lines expressing GUS driven by the AtD27LIKE1 promoter and transcript analysis of hormone-treated Arabidopsis seedlings revealed that AtD27LIKE1 is expressed in different tissues and affects ABA and auxin. Taken together, our work reports a cis/cis-beta-carotene isomerase that affects the content of both cis-carotenoid-derived plant hormones, ABA and SLs.
PMID: 36602437
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Mar , V113 (5) : P969-985 doi: 10.1111/tpj.16093
Folate shapes plant root architecture by affecting auxin distribution.
Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, MOE, and Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (Central Region), MOA, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.; College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450002, China.; Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.; College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.
Folate (vitamin B9) is important for plant root development, but the mechanism is largely unknown. Here we characterized a root defective mutant, folb2, in Arabidopsis, which has severe developmental defects in the primary root. The root apical meristem of the folb2 mutant is impaired, and adventitious roots are frequently found at the root-hypocotyl junction. Positional cloning revealed that a 61-bp deletion is present in the predicted junction region of the promoter and the 5' untranslated region of AtFolB2, a gene encoding a dihydroneopterin aldolase that functions in folate biosynthesis. This mutation leads to a significant reduction in the transcript level of AtFolB2. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the contents of the selected folate compounds were decreased in folb2. Arabidopsis AtFolB2 knockdown lines phenocopy the folb2 mutant. On the other hand, the application of exogenous 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid could rescue the root phenotype of folb2, indicating that the root phenotype is indeed related to the folate level. Further analysis revealed that folate could promote rootward auxin transport through auxin transporters and that folate may affect particular auxin/indole-3-acetic acid proteins and auxin response factors. Our findings provide new insights into the important role of folic acid in shaping root structure.
PMID: 36587293
Antioxidants (Basel) , IF:6.312 , 2023 Feb , V12 (3) doi: 10.3390/antiox12030600
Bacterial Volatiles (mVOC) Emitted by the Phytopathogen Erwinia amylovora Promote Arabidopsis thaliana Growth and Oxidative Stress.
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Quarello 15/a, 10135 Turin, Italy.; Research and Innovation Centre, Edmund Mach Foundation, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.; Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
Phytopathogens are well known for their devastating activity that causes worldwide significant crop losses. However, their exploitation for crop welfare is relatively unknown. Here, we show that the microbial volatile organic compound (mVOC) profile of the bacterial phytopathogen, Erwinia amylovora, enhances Arabidopsis thaliana shoot and root growth. GC-MS head-space analyses revealed the presence of typical microbial volatiles, including 1-nonanol and 1-dodecanol. E. amylovora mVOCs triggered early signaling events including plasma transmembrane potential Vm depolarization, cytosolic Ca(2+) fluctuation, K(+)-gated channel activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) burst from few minutes to 16 h upon exposure. These early events were followed by the modulation of the expression of genes involved in plant growth and defense responses and responsive to phytohormones, including abscisic acid, gibberellin, and auxin (including the efflux carriers PIN1 and PIN3). When tested, synthetic 1-nonanol and 1-dodecanol induced root growth and modulated genes coding for ROS. Our results show that E. amylovora mVOCs affect A. thaliana growth through a cascade of early and late signaling events that involve phytohormones and ROS.
PMID: 36978848
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf , IF:6.291 , 2023 Apr , V255 : P114777 doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114777
Galactoglucomannan oligosaccharides alleviate cadmium toxicity by improving physiological processes in maize.
Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 38 Bratislava, Slovakia.; Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Safarik University, Manesova 23, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia.; Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 38 Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: karin.kollarova@savba.sk.
Phosphate fertilisers and past mining activity are significant source of cadmium (Cd) pollution; thus, the concentration of Cd in agricultural soils has been substantially rising. Various substances have been tested for their potential to alleviate the toxicity of Cd and stimulate the accumulation of Cd in plant organs. This study brought new insight of the impact of galactoglucomannan oligosaccharides (GGMOs) on the maize plants grown under/in Cd stress. The application of GGMOs reduced concentration of Cd in the maize leaves and thus GGMOs increased their growth (by 24%), concentration of photosynthetic pigments (up to 39.4%), effective quantum yield of photosystem II (up to 29.6%), and net photosynthetic rate (up to 19.6%). The concentrations of stress markers increased in the Cd and Cd + GGMOs treatment; however, significantly lower concentration was detected in the Cd + GGMOs treatment (malondialdehyde by 21.7%, hydrogen peroxide by 13%). The concentration of auxin increased almost by two-fold in the Cd + GGMOs treatment compared to the Cd treatment. The recovered auxin level and enhanced nutrient uptake are proposed mechanisms of GGMOs' action during stress. GGMOs are molecules with biostimulant potential that could support vitality of maize plants in Cd stress.
PMID: 36931090
Commun Biol , IF:6.268 , 2023 Apr , V6 (1) : P457 doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-04835-w
Initiation of scutellum-derived callus is regulated by an embryo-like developmental pathway in rice.
Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Biology, Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Sanya, 572025, China.; Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Yazhou District, Sanya, 572025, China.; National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.; Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.; Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Korea.; Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Korea.; National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. xulin@cemps.ac.cn.; Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Biology, Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China. hwbian@zju.edu.cn.
In rice (Oryza sativa) tissue culture, callus can be induced from the scutellum in embryo or from the vasculature of non-embryonic organs such as leaves, nodes, or roots. Here we show that the auxin signaling pathway triggers cell division in the epidermis of the scutellum to form an embryo-like structure, which leads to callus formation. Our transcriptome data show that embryo-, stem cell-, and auxin-related genes are upregulated during scutellum-derived callus initiation. Among those genes, the embryo-specific gene OsLEC1 is activated by auxin and involved in scutellum-derived callus initiation. However, OsLEC1 is not required for vasculature-derived callus initiation from roots. In addition, OsIAA11 and OsCRL1, which are involved in root development, are required for vasculature-derived callus formation but not for scutellum-derived callus formation. Overall, our data indicate that scutellum-derived callus initiation is regulated by an embryo-like development program, and this is different from vasculature-derived callus initiation which borrows a root development program.
PMID: 37100819
Commun Biol , IF:6.268 , 2023 Apr , V6 (1) : P372 doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-04731-3
LkARF7 and LkARF19 overexpression promote adventitious root formation in a heterologous poplar model by positively regulating LkBBM1.
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China.; Guangxi Forestry Research Institute, Guangxi, 530009, China.; College of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Gansu, 741000, China.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China. xmsun@caf.ac.cn.
Cuttage propagation involves adventitious root formation induced by auxin. In our previous study, Larix kaempferi BABY BOOM 1 (LkBBM1), which is known to regulate adventitious root formation, was affected by auxin. However, the relationship between LkBBM1 and auxin remains unclear. Auxin response factors (ARFs) are a class of important transcription factors in the auxin signaling pathway and modulate the expression of early auxin-responsive genes by binding to auxin response elements. In the present study, we identified 14 L. kaempferi ARFs (LkARFs), and found LkARF7 and LkARF19 bound to LkBBM1 promoter and enhanced its transcription using yeast one-hybrid, ChIP-qPCR, and dual-luciferase assays. In addition, the treatment with naphthalene acetic acid promoted the expression of LkARF7 and LkARF19. We also found that overexpression of these two genes in poplar promoted adventitious root formation. Furthermore, LkARF19 interacted with the DEAD-box ATP-dependent RNA helicase 53-like protein to form a heterodimer to regulate adventitious root formation. Altogether, our results reveal an additional regulatory mechanism underlying the control of adventitious root formation by auxin.
PMID: 37020138
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Apr , V24 (8) doi: 10.3390/ijms24087590
Comparative Physiological and Transcriptomic Mechanisms of Defoliation in Cotton in Response to Thidiazuron versus Ethephon.
Engineering Research Center of Plant Growth Regulator, Ministry of Education & College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Thidiazuron (TDZ) is a widely used chemical defoliant in cotton and can stimulate the production of ethylene in leaves, which is believed to be the key factor in inducing leaf abscission. Ethephon (Eth) can also stimulate ethylene production in leaves, but it is less effective in promoting leaf shedding. In this study, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and RNA-seq were used to determine specific changes at hormonal levels as well as transcriptomic mechanisms induced by TDZ compared with Eth. The TDZ significantly reduced the levels of auxin and cytokinin in cotton leaves, but no considerable changes were observed for Eth. In addition, TDZ specifically increased the levels of brassinosteroids and jasmonic acid in the leaves. A total of 13 764 differentially expressed genes that specifically responded to TDZ were identified by RNA-seq. The analysis of KEGG functional categories suggested that the synthesis, metabolism, and signal transduction of auxin, cytokinin, and brassinosteroid were all involved in the TDZ-induced abscission of cotton leaves. Eight auxin transport genes (GhPIN1-c_D, GhPIN3_D, GhPIN8_A, GhABCB19-b_A, GhABCB19-b_D, GhABCB2-b_D, GhLAX6_A, and GhLAX7_D) specifically responded to TDZ. The pro35S::GhPIN3a::YFP transgenic plants showed lower defoliation than the wild type treated with TDZ, and YFP fluorescence in leaves was almost extinguished after treatment with TDZ rather than Eth. This provides direct evidence that GhPIN3a is involved in the leaf abscission induced by TDZ. We found that 959 transcription factors (TFs) specifically responded to TDZ, and a co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed five hub TFs (GhNAC72, GhWRKY51, GhWRKY70, GhWRKY50, and GhHSF24) during chemical defoliation with TDZ. Our work sheds light on the molecular basis of TDZ-induced leaf abscission in cotton.
PMID: 37108752
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Apr , V24 (8) doi: 10.3390/ijms24087290
Integration of mRNA and miRNA Analysis Reveals the Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Salt Stress Response in Hemerocallis fulva.
Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.; College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.; Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of MOE, Institute of Genetics & Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China.; Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to non-coding small RNAs which have been shown to take a regulatory function at the posttranscriptional level in plant growth development and response to abiotic stress. Hemerocallis fulva is an herbaceous perennial plant with fleshy roots, wide distribution, and strong adaptability. However, salt stress is one of the most serious abiotic stresses to limit the growth and production of Hemerocallis fulva. To identify the miRNAs and their targets involved in the salt stress resistance, the salt-tolerant H. fulva with and without NaCl treatment were used as materials, and the expression differences of miRNAs-mRNAs related to salt-tolerance were explored and the cleavage sites between miRNAs and targets were also identified by using degradome sequencing technology. In this study, twenty and three significantly differential expression miRNAs (p-value < 0.05) were identified in the roots and leaves of H. fulva separately. Additionally, 12,691 and 1538 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were also obtained, respectively, in roots and leaves. Moreover, 222 target genes of 61 family miRNAs were validated by degradome sequencing. Among the DE miRNAs, 29 pairs of miRNA targets displayed negatively correlated expression profiles. The qRT-PCR results also showed that the trends of miRNA and DEG expression were consistent with those of RNA-seq. A gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of these targets revealed that the calcium ion pathway, oxidative defense response, microtubule cytoskeleton organization, and DNA binding transcription factor responded to NaCl stress. Five miRNAs, miR156, miR160, miR393, miR166, and miR396, and several hub genes, squamosa promoter-binding-like protein (SPL), auxin response factor 12 (ARF), transport inhibitor response 1-like protein (TIR1), calmodulin-like proteins (CML), and growth-regulating factor 4 (GRF4), might play central roles in the regulation of NaCl-responsive genes. These results indicate that non-coding small RNAs and their target genes that are related to phytohormone signaling, Ca(2+) signaling, and oxidative defense signaling pathways are involved in H. fulva's response to NaCl stress.
PMID: 37108448
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Apr , V24 (8) doi: 10.3390/ijms24087172
Prenyl Transferases Regulate Secretory Protein Sorting and Parasite Morphology in Toxoplasma gondii.
National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, School of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.; Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, College of Sciences and Health Professions, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA.
Protein prenylation is an important protein modification that is responsible for diverse physiological activities in eukaryotic cells. This modification is generally catalyzed by three types of prenyl transferases, which include farnesyl transferase (FT), geranylgeranyl transferase (GGT-1) and Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (GGT-2). Studies in malaria parasites showed that these parasites contain prenylated proteins, which are proposed to play multiple functions in parasites. However, the prenyl transferases have not been functionally characterized in parasites of subphylum Apicomplexa. Here, we functionally dissected functions of three of the prenyl transferases in the Apicomplexa model organism Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) using a plant auxin-inducible degron system. The homologous genes of the beta subunit of FT, GGT-1 and GGT-2 were endogenously tagged with AID at the C-terminus in the TIR1 parental line using a CRISPR-Cas9 approach. Upon depletion of these prenyl transferases, GGT-1 and GGT-2 had a strong defect on parasite replication. Fluorescent assay using diverse protein markers showed that the protein markers ROP5 and GRA7 were diffused in the parasites depleted with GGT-1 and GGT-2, while the mitochondrion was strongly affected in parasites depleted with GGT-1. Importantly, depletion of GGT-2 caused the stronger defect to the sorting of rhoptry protein and the parasite morphology. Furthermore, parasite motility was observed to be affected in parasites depleted with GGT-2. Taken together, this study functionally characterized the prenyl transferases, which contributed to an overall understanding of protein prenylation in T. gondii and potentially in other related parasites.
PMID: 37108334
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Apr , V24 (8) doi: 10.3390/ijms24087081
KNOX Genes Were Involved in Regulating Axillary Bud Formation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, Beijing 100083, China.; National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing 100083, China.; Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, Beijing 100083, China.; Engineering Research Center of Landscape Environment of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China.; Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China.; School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Branching is an important agronomic and economic trait in cut chrysanthemums. The axillary meristem (AM) formation of the axillary buds of cut chrysanthemums has a decisive role in its branching characteristics. However, little is known about the regulation mechanism of axillary meristem formation in chrysanthemums at the molecular level. Members of the Homeobox gene family especially genes belonging to the class I KNOX branch play a key role in regulating the axillary bud growth and development processes of plants. In this study, three genes belonging to the class I KNOX branch, CmKNAT1, CmKNAT6, and CmSTM were cloned from chrysanthemums, and their functions in regulating axillary bud formation were examined. The subcellular localization test showed that these three KNOX genes were expressed in the nucleus, so all of them might function as transcription factors. The results of the expression profile analysis showed that these three KNOX genes were highly expressed in the AM formation stage of axillary buds. Overexpression of KNOX genes result in a wrinkled leaf phenotype in tobacco and Arabidopsis, which may be related to the excessive division of leaf cells, resulting in the proliferation of leaf tissue. Furthermore, overexpression of these three KNOX genes enhances the regeneration ability of tobacco leaves, indicating that these three KNOX genes may participate in the regulation of cell meristematic ability, thus promoting the formation of buds. In addition, the results of fluorescence quantitative testing showed that these three KNOX genes may promote the formation of chrysanthemum axillary buds by promoting the cytokinin pathway while inhibiting the auxin and gibberellin pathways. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that CmKNAT1, CmKNAT6, and CmSTM genes were involved in regulating axillary bud formation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium and preliminarily revealed the molecular mechanism of their regulation of AM formation. These findings may provide a theoretical basis and candidate gene resources for genetic engineering breeding of new varieties of cut chrysanthemums without lateral branches.
PMID: 37108245
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Apr , V24 (7) doi: 10.3390/ijms24076647
Salinity-Triggered Responses in Plant Apical Meristems for Developmental Plasticity.
Department of Biotechnology, Duksung Women's University, Seoul 03169, Republic of Korea.
Salt stress severely affects plant growth and development. The plant growth and development of a sessile organism are continuously regulated and reformed in response to surrounding environmental stress stimuli, including salinity. In plants, postembryonic development is derived mainly from primary apical meristems of shoots and roots. Therefore, to understand plant tolerance and adaptation under salt stress conditions, it is essential to determine the stress response mechanisms related to growth and development based on the primary apical meristems. This paper reports that the biological roles of microRNAs, redox status, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and phytohormones, such as auxin and cytokinin, are important for salt tolerance, and are associated with growth and development in apical meristems. Moreover, the mutual relationship between the salt stress response and signaling associated with stem cell homeostasis in meristems is also considered.
PMID: 37047619
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (7) doi: 10.3390/ijms24076570
Transcriptomic Analysis of Hormone Signal Transduction, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Heat Shock Proteins, and SCF Complexes before and after Fertilization of Korean Pine Ovules.
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.; Jilin Provincial Academy of Forestry Sciences, Changchun 130033, China.; State Forestry and Grassland Administration Engineering Technology Research Center of Korean Pine, Harbin 150040, China.
The fertilization process is a critical step in plant reproduction. However, the mechanism of action and mode of regulation of the fertilization process in gymnosperms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the molecular regulatory networks involved in the fertilization process in Korean pine ovules through anatomical observation, physiological and biochemical assays, and transcriptome sequencing technology. The morphological and physiological results indicated that fertilization proceeds through the demise of the proteinaceous vacuole, egg cell division, and pollen tube elongation. Auxin, cytokinin, soluble sugar, and soluble starch contents begin to decline upon fertilization. Transcriptomic data analysis revealed a large number of differentially expressed genes at different times before and after fertilization. These genes were primarily involved in pathways associated with plant hormone signal transduction, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, fructose metabolism, and mannose metabolism. The expression levels of several key genes were further confirmed by qRT-PCR. These findings represent an important step towards understanding the mechanisms underlying morphological changes in the Korean pine ovule during fertilization, and the physiological and transcriptional analyses lay a foundation for in-depth studies of the molecular regulatory network of the Korean pine fertilization process.
PMID: 37047551
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (7) doi: 10.3390/ijms24076429
Transcriptomic Analysis of Heat Stress Response in Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis with Improved Thermotolerance through Exogenous Glycine Betaine.
Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China.; Department of Biotechnology, University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, TX 77058-1098, USA.; Institute of Crop Science, Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) is sensitive to high temperature, which will cause the B. rapa to remain in a semi-dormancy state. Foliar spray of GB prior to heat stress was proven to enhance B. rapa thermotolerance. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms of GB-primed resistance or adaptation towards heat stress, we investigated the transcriptomes of GB-primed and non-primed heat-sensitive B. rapa 'Beijing No. 3' variety by RNA-Seq analysis. A total of 582 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from GB-primed plants exposed to heat stress relative to non-primed plants under heat stress and were assigned to 350 gene ontology (GO) pathways and 69 KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways. The analysis of the KEGG enrichment pathways revealed that the most abundantly up-regulated pathways were protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum (14 genes), followed by plant hormone signal transduction (12 genes), ribosome (8 genes), MAPK signaling pathway (8 genes), homologous recombination (7 genes), nucleotide excision repair metabolism (5 genes), glutathione metabolism (4 genes), and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism (4 genes). The most abundantly down-regulated pathways were plant-pathogen interaction (14 genes), followed by phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (7 genes); arginine and proline metabolism (6 genes); cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis (4 genes); and tryptophan metabolism (4 genes). Several calcium sensing/transducing proteins, as well as transcription factors associated with abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), auxin, and cytokinin hormones were either up- or down-regulated in GB-primed B. rapa plants under heat stress. In particular, expression of the genes for antioxidant defense, heat shock response, and DNA damage repair systems were highly increased by GB priming. On the other hand, many of the genes involved in the calcium sensors and cell surface receptors involved in plant innate immunity and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were down-regulated in the absence of pathogen elicitors in GB-primed B. rapa seedlings. Overall GB priming activated ABA and SA signaling pathways but deactivated auxin and cytokinin signaling pathways while suppressing the innate immunity in B. rapa seedlings exposed to heat stress. The present study provides a preliminary understanding of the thermotolerance mechanisms in GB-primed plants and is of great importance in developing thermotolerant B. rapa cultivars by using the identified DEGs through genetic modification.
PMID: 37047402
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (7) doi: 10.3390/ijms24076202
Integrated Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Revealed Improved Cold Tolerance in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) by Exogenous Chitosan Oligosaccharide.
College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road Shenhe District, Shenyang 110866, China.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), sensitive to cold stress, is one of the most economically important vegetables. Here, we systematically investigated the roles of exogenous glycine betaine, chitosan, and chitosan oligosaccharide in alleviating cold stress in cucumber seedlings. The results showed that 50 mg.L(-1) chitosan oligosaccharide had the best activity. It effectively increases plant growth, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic capacity, osmotic regulatory substance content, and antioxidant enzyme activities while reducing relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde levels in cucumber seedlings under cold stress. To reveal the protective effects of chitosan oligosaccharide in cold stress, cucumber seedlings pretreated with 50 mg.L(-1) chitosan oligosaccharide were sampled after 0, 3, 12, and 24 h of cold stress for transcriptome analysis, with distilled water as a control. The numbers of differentially expressed genes in the four comparison groups were 656, 1274, 1122, and 957, respectively. GO functional annotation suggested that these genes were mainly involved in "voltage-gated calcium channel activity", "carbohydrate metabolic process", "jasmonic acid biosynthetic", and "auxin response" biological processes. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that these genes performed important functions in "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis", "MAPK signaling pathway-plant", "phenylalanine metabolism", and "plant hormone signal transduction." These findings provide a theoretical basis for the use of COS to alleviate the damage caused by cold stress in plant growth and development.
PMID: 37047175
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065940
Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Analysis of the Roles of SAUR Gene Family Members in the Promotion of Cucumber Root Expansion.
Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
Auxin serves as an essential regulator of the expression of many different genes in plants, thereby regulating growth and development. The specific functional roles of members of the SAUR (small auxin-up RNA) auxin early response gene family in the development of cucumber plants, however, remain to be fully clarified. Here, 62 SAUR family genes were identified, followed by their classification into 7 groups that included several functionally associated cis-regulatory elements. Phylogenetic tree and chromosomal location-based analyses revealed a high degree of homology between two cucumber gene clusters and other plants in the Cucurbitaceae family. These findings, together with the results of an RNA-seq analysis, revealed high levels of CsSAUR31 expression within the root and male flower tissues. Plants overexpressing CsSAUR31 exhibited longer roots and hypocotyls. Together, these results provide a basis for further efforts to explore the roles that SAUR genes play in cucumber plants, while also expanding the pool of available genetic resources to guide research focused on plant growth and development.
PMID: 36983023
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065760
Genome-Wide Investigation and Co-Expression Network Analysis of SBT Family Gene in Gossypium.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Subtilases (SBTs), which belong to the serine peptidases, control plant development by regulating cell wall properties and the activity of extracellular signaling molecules, and affect all stages of the life cycle, such as seed development and germination, and responses to biotic and abiotic environments. In this study, 146 Gossypium hirsutum, 138 Gossypium barbadense, 89 Gossypium arboreum and 84 Gossypium raimondii SBTs were identified and divided into six subfamilies. Cotton SBTs are unevenly distributed on chromosomes. Synteny analysis showed that the members of SBT1 and SBT4 were expanded in cotton compared to Arabidopsis thaliana. Co-expression network analysis showed that six Gossypium arboreum SBT gene family members were in a network, among which five SBT1 genes and their Gossypium hirsutum and Arabidopsis thaliana direct homologues were down-regulated by salt treatment, indicating that the co-expression network might share conserved functions. Through co-expression network and annotation analysis, these SBTs may be involved in the biological processes of auxin transport, ABA signal transduction, cell wall repair and root tissue development. In summary, this study provides valuable information for the study of SBT genes in cotton and excavates SBT genes in response to salt stress, which provides ideas for cotton breeding for salinity resistance.
PMID: 36982835
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065732
Transcriptome and Low-Affinity Sodium Transport Analysis Reveals Salt Tolerance Variations between Two Poplar Trees.
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China.; Department of Crop and Forest Sciences & Agrotecnio Center, Universitat de Lleida, 25003 Leida, Spain.
Salinity stress severely hampers plant growth and productivity. How to improve plants' salt tolerance is an urgent issue. However, the molecular basis of plant resistance to salinity still remains unclear. In this study, we used two poplar species with different salt sensitivities to conduct RNA-sequencing and physiological and pharmacological analyses; the aim is to study the transcriptional profiles and ionic transport characteristics in the roots of the two Populus subjected to salt stress under hydroponic culture conditions. Our results show that numerous genes related to energy metabolism were highly expressed in Populus alba relative to Populus russkii, which activates vigorous metabolic processes and energy reserves for initiating a set of defense responses when suffering from salinity stress. Moreover, we found the capacity of Na(+) transportation by the P. alba high-affinity K+ transporter1;2 (HKT1;2) was superior to that of P. russkii under salt stress, which enables P. alba to efficiently recycle xylem-loaded Na(+) and to maintain shoot K(+)/Na(+) homeostasis. Furthermore, the genes involved in the synthesis of ethylene and abscisic acid were up-regulated in P. alba but downregulated in P. russkii under salt stress. In P. alba, the gibberellin inactivation and auxin signaling genes with steady high transcriptions, several antioxidant enzymes activities (such as peroxidase [POD], ascorbate peroxidase [APX], and glutathione reductase [GR]), and glycine-betaine content were significantly increased under salt stress. These factors altogether confer P. alba a higher resistance to salinity, achieving a more efficient coordination between growth modulation and defense response. Our research provides significant evidence to improve the salt tolerance of crops or woody plants.
PMID: 36982804
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065681
Light Quality and Sucrose-Regulated Detached Ripening of Strawberry with Possible Involvement of Abscisic Acid and Auxin Signaling.
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.; Mianyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mianyang 621000, China.; Institute of Pomology and Olericulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
The regulation of detached ripening is significant for prolonging fruit shelf life. Although light quality and sucrose affecting strawberry fruit ripening have been widely reported, little information is available about how they co-regulate the strawberry detached ripening process. In this study, different light qualities (red light-RL, blue light-BL, and white light-WL) and 100 mM sucrose were applied to regulate the ripening of initial red fruits detached from the plant. The results showed RL-treated samples (RL + H(2)O, RL + 100 mM sucrose) had brighter and purer skin color with a higher L*, b*, and C* value, and promoted the ascorbic acid. Almost all light treatments significantly decreased TSS/TA (total soluble solid/titratable acid) and soluble sugar/TA ratio, which is exacerbated by the addition of sucrose. Blue or red light in combination with sucrose notably increased total phenolic content and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. In addition, blue or red light combined with sucrose increased abscisic acid (ABA) content and promoted ABA signaling by inducing ABA-INSENSITIVE 4 (ABI4) expression and inhibiting SUCROSE NONFERMENTING1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 2.6 (SnRK2.6) expression. The strawberries exposed to blue and red light significantly improved auxin (IAA) content compared to the control (0 d), whereas the addition of sucrose inhibited IAA accumulation. Moreover, sucrose treatment suppressed the AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID 11 (AUX/IAA11) and AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 6 (ARF6) expression under different light qualities. Overall, these results indicated that RL/BL + 100 mM sucrose might promote the detached ripening of strawberries by regulating abscisic acid and auxin signaling.
PMID: 36982763
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065605
Insights into Adaptive Regulation of the Leaf-Petiole System: Strategies for Survival of Water Lily Plants under Salt Stress.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China.; Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Plant Resources and Water Environment Remediation, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
The water lily (Nymphaea tetragona) is an ancient angiosperm that belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family. As a rooted floating-leaf plant, water lilies are generally cultivated in fresh water, therefore, little is known about their survival strategies under salt stress. Long-term salt stress causes morphological changes, such as the rapid regeneration of floating leaves and a significant decrease in leaf number and surface area. We demonstrate that salt stress induces toxicity soon after treatment, but plants can adapt by regenerating floating leaves that are photosynthetically active. Transcriptome profiling revealed that ion binding was one of the most-enriched GO terms in leaf-petiole systems under salt stress. Sodium-transporter-related genes were downregulated, whereas K(+) transporter genes were both up- and downregulated. These results suggest that restricting intracellular Na(+) importing while maintaining balanced K(+) homeostasis is an adaptive strategy for tolerating long-term salt stress. ICP-MS analysis identified the petioles and leaves as Na-hyperaccumulators, with a maximum content of over 80 g kg(-1) DW under salt stress. Mapping of the Na-hyperaccumulation trait onto the phylogenetic relationships revealed that water lily plants might have a long evolutionary history from ancient marine plants, or may have undergone historical ecological events from salt to fresh water. Ammonium transporter genes involved in nitrogen metabolism were downregulated, whereas NO(3)(-)-related transporters were upregulated in both the leaves and petioles, suggesting a selective bias toward NO(3)(-) uptake under salt stress. The morphological changes we observed may be due to the reduced expression of genes related to auxin signal transduction. In conclusion, the floating leaves and submerged petioles of the water lily use a series of adaptive strategies to survive salt stress. These include the absorption and transport of ions and nutrients from the surrounding environments, and the ability to hyperaccumulate Na(+). These adaptations may serve as the physiological basis for salt tolerance in water lily plants.
PMID: 36982679
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065590
Combining Metabolomics and Transcriptomics to Reveal the Regulatory Mechanism of Taproot Enlargement in Panax ginseng.
Co-Constructing Key Laboratory by Province and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Ecological Restoration and Ecosystem Management, College of Chinese Medicinal Material, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
Ginseng is regarded as the "king of herbs" in China, with its roots and rhizomes used as medicine, and it has a high medicinal value. In order to meet the market demand, the artificial cultivation of ginseng emerged, but different growth environments significantly affect the root morphology of garden ginseng. In this study, we used ginseng cultivated in deforested land (CF-CG) and ginseng cultivated in farmland (F-CG) as experimental materials. These two phenotypes were explored at the transcriptomic and metabolomic levels so as to understand the regulatory mechanism of taproot enlargement in garden ginseng. The results show that, compared with those of F-CG, the thickness of the main roots in CF-CG was increased by 70.5%, and the fresh weight of the taproots was increased by 305.4%. Sucrose, fructose and ginsenoside were significantly accumulated in CF-CG. During the enlargement of the taproots of CF-CG, genes related to starch and sucrose metabolism were significantly up-regulated, while genes related to lignin biosynthesis were significantly down-regulated. Auxin, gibberellin and abscisic acid synergistically regulated the enlargement of the taproots of the garden ginseng. In addition, as a sugar signaling molecule, T6P might act on the auxin synthesis gene ALDH2 to promote the synthesis of auxin and, thus, participate in the growth and development of garden ginseng roots. In summary, our study is conducive to clarifying the molecular regulation mechanism of taproot enlargement in garden ginseng, and it provides new insights for the further exploration of the morphogenesis of ginseng roots.
PMID: 36982666
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065563
Far-Red-Light-Induced Morphology Changes, Phytohormone, and Transcriptome Reprogramming of Chinese Kale (Brassica alboglabra Bailey).
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
With far-red-light supplementation (3 W.m(-2), and 6 W.m(-2)), the flower budding rate, plant height, internode length, plant display, and stem diameter of Chinese kale were largely elevated, as well as the leaf morphology such as leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, and leaf area. Consequently, the fresh weight and dry weight of the edible parts of Chinese kale were markedly increased. The photosynthetic traits were enhanced, and the mineral elements were accumulated. To further explore the mechanism that far-red light simultaneously promoted the vegetative growth and reproductive growth of Chinese kale, this study used RNA sequencing to gain a global perspective on the transcriptional regulation, combining it with an analysis of composition and content of phytohormones. A total of 1409 differentially expressed genes were identified, involved mainly in pathways related to photosynthesis, plant circadian rhythm, plant hormone biosynthesis, and signal transduction. The gibberellins GA(9), GA(19), and GA(20) and the auxin ME-IAA were strongly accumulated under far-red light. However, the contents of the gibberellins GA(4) and GA(24), the cytokinins IP and cZ, and the jasmonate JA were significantly reduced by far-red light. The results indicated that the supplementary far-red light can be a useful tool to regulate the vegetative architecture, elevate the density of cultivation, enhance the photosynthesis, increase the mineral accumulation, accelerate the growth, and obtain a significantly higher yield of Chinese kale.
PMID: 36982639
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065311
Construction of ceRNA Networks at Different Stages of Somatic Embryogenesis in Garlic.
College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in East China, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China.; Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
LncRNA (long non-coding RNA) and mRNA form a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network by competitively binding to common miRNAs. This network regulates various processes of plant growth and development at the post-transcriptional level. Somatic embryogenesis is an effective means of plant virus-free rapid propagation, germplasm conservation, and genetic improvement, which is also a typical process to study the ceRNA regulatory network during cell development. Garlic is a typical asexual reproductive vegetable. Somatic cell culture is an effective means of virus-free rapid propagation in garlic. However, the ceRNA regulatory network of somatic embryogenesis remains unclear in garlic. In order to clarify the regulatory role of the ceRNA network in garlic somatic embryogenesis, we constructed lncRNA and miRNA libraries of four important stages (explant stage: EX; callus stage: AC; embryogenic callus stage: EC; globular embryo stage: GE) in the somatic embryogenesis of garlic. It was found that 44 lncRNAs could be used as precursors of 34 miRNAs, 1511 lncRNAs were predicted to be potential targets of 144 miRNAs, and 45 lncRNAs could be used as eTMs of 29 miRNAs. By constructing a ceRNA network with miRNA as the core, 144 miRNAs may bind to 1511 lncRNAs and 12,208 mRNAs. In the DE lncRNA-DE miRNA-DE mRNA network of adjacent stages of somatic embryo development (EX-VS-CA, CA-VS-EC, EC-VS-GE), by KEGG enrichment of adjacent stage DE mRNA, plant hormone signal transduction, butyric acid metabolism, and C5-branched dibasic acid metabolism were significantly enriched during somatic embryogenesis. Since plant hormones play an important role in somatic embryogenesis, further analysis of plant hormone signal transduction pathways revealed that the auxin pathway-related ceRNA network (lncRNAs-miR393s-TIR) may play a role in the whole stage of somatic embryogenesis. Further verification by RT-qPCR revealed that the lncRNA125175-miR393h-TIR2 network plays a major role in the network and may affect the occurrence of somatic embryos by regulating the auxin signaling pathway and changing the sensitivity of cells to auxin. Our results lay the foundation for studying the role of the ceRNA network in the somatic embryogenesis of garlic.
PMID: 36982386
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065253
The Role of Light-Regulated Auxin Signaling in Root Development.
College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, 1 Yingmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou 730070, China.
The root is an important organ for obtaining nutrients and absorbing water and carbohydrates, and it depends on various endogenous and external environmental stimulations such as light, temperature, water, plant hormones, and metabolic constituents. Auxin, as an essential plant hormone, can mediate rooting under different light treatments. Therefore, this review focuses on summarizing the functions and mechanisms of light-regulated auxin signaling in root development. Some light-response components such as phytochromes (PHYs), cryptochromes (CRYs), phototropins (PHOTs), phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) and constitutive photo-morphorgenic 1 (COP1) regulate root development. Moreover, light mediates the primary root, lateral root, adventitious root, root hair, rhizoid, and seminal and crown root development via the auxin signaling transduction pathway. Additionally, the effect of light through the auxin signal on root negative phototropism, gravitropism, root greening and the root branching of plants is also illustrated. The review also summarizes diverse light target genes in response to auxin signaling during rooting. We conclude that the mechanism of light-mediated root development via auxin signaling is complex, and it mainly concerns in the differences in plant species, such as barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), changes of transcript levels and endogenous IAA content. Hence, the effect of light-involved auxin signaling on root growth and development is definitely a hot issue to explore in the horticultural studies now and in the future.
PMID: 36982350
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Mar , V24 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms24065103
Data-Independent Acquisition Proteomics Reveals the Effects of Red and Blue Light on the Growth and Development of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) Seedlings.
Basic Forestry and Proteomics Research Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.; Jilin Province Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
Moso bamboo is a rapidly growing species with significant economic, social, and cultural value. Transplanting moso bamboo container seedlings for afforestation has become a cost-effective method. The growth and development of the seedlings is greatly affected by the quality of light, including light morphogenesis, photosynthesis, and secondary metabolite production. Therefore, studies on the effects of specific light wavelengths on the physiology and proteome of moso bamboo seedlings are crucial. In this study, moso bamboo seedlings were germinated in darkness and then exposed to blue and red light conditions for 14 days. The effects of these light treatments on seedling growth and development were observed and compared through proteomics analysis. Results showed that moso bamboo has higher chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency under blue light, while it displays longer internode and root length, more dry weight, and higher cellulose content under red light. Proteomics analysis reveals that these changes under red light are likely caused by the increased content of cellulase CSEA, specifically expressed cell wall synthetic proteins, and up-regulated auxin transporter ABCB19 in red light. Additionally, blue light is found to promote the expression of proteins constituting photosystem II, such as PsbP and PsbQ, more than red light. These findings provide new insights into the growth and development of moso bamboo seedlings regulated by different light qualities.
PMID: 36982175
PLoS Genet , IF:5.917 , 2023 Mar , V19 (3) : Pe1010636 doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010636
Endogenous salicylic acid suppresses de novo root regeneration from leaf explants.
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.; Department of Biology, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.; Department of Genetics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.; Department of Plant Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.; Department of Animal and Diary Sciences, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Georgia, United States of America.
Plants can regenerate new organs from damaged or detached tissues. In the process of de novo root regeneration (DNRR), adventitious roots are frequently formed from the wound site on a detached leaf. Salicylic acid (SA) is a key phytohormone regulating plant defenses and stress responses. The role of SA and its acting mechanisms during de novo organogenesis is still unclear. Here, we found that endogenous SA inhibited the adventitious root formation after cutting. Free SA rapidly accumulated at the wound site, which was accompanied by an activation of SA response. SA receptors NPR3 and NPR4, but not NPR1, were required for DNRR. Wounding-elevated SA compromised the expression of AUX1, and subsequent transport of auxin to the wound site. A mutation in AUX1 abolished the enhanced DNRR in low SA mutants. Our work elucidates a role of SA in regulating DNRR and suggests a potential link between biotic stress and tissue regeneration.
PMID: 36857386
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1136563 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1136563
Understanding the mode of action of AgroGain((R)), a biostimulant derived from the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in the stimulation of cotyledon expansion and growth of Cucumis sativa (cucumber).
Research and Development Division, Sea6 Energy Private Limited, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, National Centre for Biological Sciences-Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.; Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment, Sydney, NS, Canada.
Seaweed-based biostimulants are sustainable agriculture inputs that are known to have a multitude of beneficial effects on plant growth and productivity. This study demonstrates that Agrogain((R)) (Product code: LBS6), a Kappaphycus alvarezii-derived biostimulant induced the expansion of cucumber cotyledons. Seven days treatment of LBS6-supplementation showed a 29.2% increase in area of expanded cotyledons, as compared to the control. LBS6-treated cotyledons also showed higher amylase activity, suggesting starch to sucrose conversion was used efficiently as an energy source during expansion. To understand the mechanisms of LBS6-induced expansion, real time gene expression analysis was carried out. This revealed that LBS6-treated cotyledons differentially modulated the expression of genes involved in cell division, cell number, cell expansion and cell size. LBS6 treatment also differentially regulated the expression of those genes involved in auxin and cytokinin metabolism. Further, foliar application of LBS6 on cucumber plants being grown under hydroponic conditions showed improved plant growth as compared to the control. The total leaf area of LBS6-sprayed plants increased by 19.1%, as compared to control. LBS6-sprayed plants efficiently regulated photosynthetic quenching by reducing loss via non-photochemical and non-regulatory quenching. LBS6 applications also modulated changes in the steady-state photosynthetic parameters of the cucumber leaves. It was demonstrated that LBS6 treatment modulated the electron and proton transport related pathways which help plants to efficiently utilize the photosynthetic radiation for optimal growth. These results provide clear evidence that bioactive compounds present in LBS6 improved the growth of cucumber plants by regulating the physiological as well as developmental pathways.
PMID: 37089639
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1118895 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1118895
Integrating omics reveals insights into tomato abaxial/adaxial leafy supplemental lighting.
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.; Laboratory of Crop Immune Gene Editing Technology, Chengdu NewSun Crop Science Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China.; Research Institute of Crop Germplasm Resources, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China.
Research revealed that the abaxial leafy supplemental lighting (AB) can significantly improve the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in the leaves of tomato plants compare to the adaxial leafy supplemental lighting (AD) method. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here, we conducted AB and AD on tomato and assessed transcriptomic, and proteomic changes in leaves. The result showed that under the two supplemental lighting methods, a total of 7352 genes and 152 proteins were differentially expressed. Significant differences were observed in genes expression levels and proteins abundances across multiple pathways, mainly including cell process, metabolism process, biological regulation, environment information processing, genetic information processing, metabolism, and organismal systems. Additionally, we also found that some key genes that plant hormone signaling, light perception, photosynthesis, plant fitness, and promoting fruit ripening, have increased significantly, which can explain the effect of AB on plant growth and development. Finally, through the qPCR, we determined that AB mainly up-regulate a series of auxin-responsive genes or factors, auxin polarity transport genes, gibberellin synthesis genes, cell cycle regulator genes, sugar transporters, and fleshy fruit ripening genes. These results help us to understand plant light response mechanism and discover genes which contribute to efficient light energy utilization.
PMID: 37089633
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1121259 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1121259
Changes and transcriptome regulation of endogenous hormones during somatic embryogenesis in Ormosia henryi Prain.
College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.; College of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
INTRODUCTION: Ormosia henryi is a rare and endangered plant growing in southern China. Somatic embryo culture is an effective measure for the rapid propagation of O. henryi. It has not been reported how regulatory genes induce somatic embryogenesis by regulating endogenous hormone changes during the process of somatic embryogenesis in O. henryi. METHODS: In this study, we analysed the endogenous hormone levels and transcriptome data of nonembryogenic callus (NEC), embryogenic callus (EC), globular embryo (GE) and cotyledon embryo (CE) in O. henryi. RESULTS: The results showed that the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content was higher and the cytokinins (CKs) content was lower in EC than in NEC, and the gibberellins (GAs) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents were significantly higher in NEC than in EC. The contents of IAA, CKs, GAs and ABA increased significantly with EC development. The expression patterns of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the biosynthesis and signal transduction of auxin (AUX) (YUCCA and SAUR), CKs (B-ARR), GAs (GA3ox, GA20ox, GID1 and DELLA) and ABA (ZEP, ABA2, AAO3, CYP97A3, PYL and ABF) were consistent with the levels of endogenous hormones during somatic embryogenesis (SE). In this study, 316 different transcription factors (TFs) regulating phytohormones were detected during SE. AUX/IAA were downregulated in the process of EC formation and GE differentiation into CE, but other TFs were upregulated and downregulated. CONCLUSION: Therefore, we believe that relatively high IAA content and low CKs, GAs and ABA contents contribute to EC formation. The differential expression of AUX, CKs, GAs and ABA biosynthesis and signal transduction genes affected the endogenous hormone levels at different stages of SE in O. henryi. The downregulated expression of AUX/IAA inhibited NEC induction, promoted EC formation and GE differentiation into CE.
PMID: 37077643
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1123856 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1123856
Heterologous overexpression of Apocynum venetum flavonoids synthetase genes improves Arabidopsis thaliana salt tolerance by activating the IAA and JA biosynthesis pathways.
College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China.; Marine Agriculture Research Center, Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China.; Department of Plant Production Sciences and Technologies, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.; Service Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land in Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Zone of the Yellow River Delta, Dongying, China.; Industry Promotion Service Center of Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Zone in the Yellow River Delta, Dongying, China.
Salt stress is a serious abiotic stress that primarily inhibits plant growth, resulting in severe yield losses. Our previous research found that flavonoids play important roles in A. venetum salt stress tolerance. In response to salt stress, we noted that the flavonoid content was depleted in A. venetum. However, the detailed mechanism is still not clear. In this study, the expression patterns of three flavonoids synthetase genes, AvF3H, AvF3'H, and AvFLS were systemically analyzed under salt stress in A. venetum seedlings. The salt tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis plants was improved by heterologous overexpression of these synthetase genes. The NBT and DAB staining results as well as H(2)O(2) and O(2)*(-) content analysis revealed that under salt stress, ROS molecules were reduced in transgenic plants compared to WT plants, which corresponded to the activation of the antioxidant enzyme system and an increase in total flavonoid content, particularly rutin, eriodictyol, and naringerin in transgenic plants. External application of flavonoids reduced ROS damage in WT plants just like what we observed in the transgenic plants (without the external application). Additionally, our transcriptome analysis demonstrated that auxin and jasmonic acid biosynthesis genes, as well as signaling transduction genes, were primarily activated in transgenic plants under salt stress, leading to activation of the cell wall biosynthesis or modification genes that promote plant growth. As a result, we investigated the mechanism through flavonoids enhance the salt tolerance, offering a theoretical foundation for enhancing salt tolerance in plants.
PMID: 37051078
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1152196 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1152196
The identification and characterization of a plant height and grain length related gene hfr131 in rice.
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.; Institute of Crop Breeding and Cultivation, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.
Plant height and grain size are important agronomic traits affecting rice yield. Various plant hormones participate in the regulation of plant height and grain size in rice. However, how these hormones cooperate to regulate plant height and grain size is poorly understood. In this study, we identified a brassinosteroid-related gene, hfr131, from an introgression line constructed using Oryza longistaminata, that caused brassinosteroid insensitivity and reduced plant height and grain length in rice. Further study showed that hfr131 is a new allele of OsBRI1 with a single-nucleotide polymorphism (G to A) in the coding region, leading to a T988I conversion at a conserved site of the kinase domain. By combining yeast one-hybrid assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR and gene expression quantification, we demonstrated that OsARF17, an auxin response factor, could bind to the promoter region of HFR131 and positively regulated HFR131 expression, thereby regulating the plant height and grain length, and influencing brassinosteroid sensitivity. Haplotype analysis showed that the consociation of OsAFR17(Hap1) /HFR131(Hap6) conferred an increase in grain length. Overall, this study identified hfr131 as a new allele of OsBRI1 that regulates plant height and grain length in rice, revealed that brassinosteroid and auxin might coordinate through OsARF17-HFR131 interaction, and provided a potential breeding target for improvement of rice yield.
PMID: 37035088
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1149182 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1149182
The biosynthesis of EGCG, theanine and caffeine in response to temperature is mediated by hormone signal transduction factors in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.).
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.; College of Life and Environmental Science, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde, China.; Institute of Photobiological Industry, Fujian Sanan Sino-Science Photobiotech Co., Ltd, Xiamen, China.; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.; College of Tea and Food Sciences, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, China.
As the main flavor components of tea, the contents of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), theanine and caffeine are regulated by ambient temperature. However, whether the biosynthesis of EGCG, theanine and caffeine in response to temperature is regulated by endogenous hormones and its mechanism is still unclear. In this study, tea cuttings cultivated in the phytotron which treated at different temperatures 15℃, 20℃, 25℃ and 30℃, respectively. The UPLC and ESI-HPLC-MS/MS were used to determine the contents of EGCG, theanine, caffeine and the contents of phytohormones in one leaf and a bud. The results showed that indoleacetic acid (IAA), gibberellin 1(GA1) and gibberellin 3 (GA3) were significantly correlated with the content of EGCG; Jasmonic acid (JA), jasmonate-isoleucine (JA-Ile) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were strongly correlated with theanine content; IAA, GA1 and gibberellin 4 (GA4) were significantly correlated with caffeine content at different temperatures. In order to explore the internal intricate relationships between the biosynthesis of these three main taste components, endogenous hormones, and structural genes in tea plants, we used multi-omics and multidimensional correlation analysis to speculate the regulatory mechanisms: IAA, GA1 and GA3 up-regulated the expressions of chalcone synthase (CsCHS) and trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase (CsC4H) mediated by the signal transduction factors auxin-responsive protein IAA (CsIAA) and DELLA protein (CsDELLA), respectively, which promoted the biosynthesis of EGCG; IAA, GA3 and GA1 up-regulated the expression of CsCHS and anthocyanidin synthase (CsANS) mediated by CsIAA and CsDELLA, respectively, via the transcription factor WRKY DNA-binding protein (CsWRKY), and promoted the biosynthesis of EGCG; JA, JA-Ile and MeJA jointly up-regulated the expression of carbonic anhydrase (CsCA) and down-regulated the expression of glutamate decarboxylase (CsgadB) mediated by the signal transduction factors jasmonate ZIM domain-containing protein (CsJAZ), and promoted the biosynthesis of theanine; JA, JA-Ile and MeJA also jointly inhibited the expression of CsgadB mediated by CsJAZ via the transcription factor CsWRKY and AP2 family protein (CsAP2), which promoted the biosynthesis of theanine; IAA inhibited the expression of adenylosuccinate synthase (CspurA) mediated by CsIAA via the transcription factor CsWRKY; GA1 and gibberellin 4 (GA4) inhibited the expression of CspurA mediated by CsDELLA through the transcription factor CsWRKY, which promoted the biosynthesis of caffeine. In conclusion, we revealed the underlying mechanism of the biosynthesis of the main taste components in tea plant in response to temperature was mediated by hormone signal transduction factors, which provided novel insights into improving the quality of tea.
PMID: 37035086
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1141697 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1141697
Progress in rice sheath blight resistance research.
College of Biology and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Wanzhou, China.; College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Rice sheath blight (ShB) disease poses a major threat to rice yield throughout the world. However, the defense mechanisms against ShB in rice remain largely unknown. ShB resistance is a typical quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. With the rapid development of molecular methods, many quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to agronomic traits, biotic and abiotic stresses, and yield have been identified by genome-wide association studies. The interactions between plants and pathogens are controlled by various plant hormone signaling pathways, and the pathways synergistically or antagonistically interact with each other, regulating plant growth and development as well as the defense response. This review summarizes the regulatory effects of hormones including auxin, ethylene, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, brassinosteroids, gibberellin, abscisic acid, strigolactone, and cytokinin on ShB and the crosstalk between the various hormones. Furthermore, the effects of sugar and nitrogen on rice ShB resistance, as well as information on genes related to ShB resistance in rice and their effects on ShB are also discussed. In summary, this review is a comprehensive description of the QTLs, hormones, nutrition, and other defense-related genes related to ShB in rice. The prospects of targeting the resistance mechanism as a strategy for controlling ShB in rice are also discussed.
PMID: 37035075
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1154169 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1154169
Comparative transcriptome analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying adventitious root developments in Huangshan Bitter tea (Camellia gymnogyna Chang) under red light quality.
Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.; Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land, Chongqing, China.; Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, United States.; Chongqing Institute of Ancient Tea Plant and Product, Chongqing, China.
As the formation of adventitious roots (AR) is an important component of in vitro regeneration of tea plants, the propagation and preservation of Huangshan Bitter tea (Camellia gymnogyna Chang) cuttings have been hindered due to its lower rooting rate. As light is a crucial environmental factor that affects AR formation, this study aimed to investigate the special role of red light (RL) in the formation of AR in Huangshan Bitter tea plants, which has not been well understood. Huangshan Bitter tea plants were induced with white light (control, WL) and red light (660 nm, RL) qualities 36 days after induced treatment (DAI) to investigate dynamic AR formation and development, anatomical observation, hormones content change, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of the transcriptome. Results showed that RL promoted the rooting rate and root characteristics compared to WL. Anatomical observations demonstrated that root primordium was induced earlier by RL at the 4 DAI. RL positively affected IAA, ZT and GA(3) content and negatively influenced ABA from the 4 to 16 DAI. RNA-seq and analysis of differential expression genes (DEGs) exhibited extensive variation in gene expression profiles between RL and WL. Meanwhile, the results of WGCNA and correlation analysis identified three highly correlated modules and hub genes mainly participated in 'response to hormone', 'cellular glucan metabolic progress', and 'response to auxin'. Furthermore, the proportion of transcription factors (TFs) such as ethylene response factor (ERF), myeloblastosis (MYB), basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), and WRKYGQK (WRKY) were the top four in DEGs. These results suggested that the AR-promoting potential of red light was due to complex hormone interactions in tea plants by regulating the expression of related genes. This study provided an important reference to shorten breeding cycles and accelerate superiority in tea plant propagation and preservation.
PMID: 37025148
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1154088 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1154088
Recent insights into metabolic and signalling events of directional root growth regulation and its implications for sustainable crop production systems.
Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia.; Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Molecular Systems Biology (MoSys), University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.; Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
Roots are sensors evolved to simultaneously respond to manifold signals, which allow the plant to survive. Root growth responses, including the modulation of directional root growth, were shown to be differently regulated when the root is exposed to a combination of exogenous stimuli compared to an individual stress trigger. Several studies pointed especially to the impact of the negative phototropic response of roots, which interferes with the adaptation of directional root growth upon additional gravitropic, halotropic or mechanical triggers. This review will provide a general overview of known cellular, molecular and signalling mechanisms involved in directional root growth regulation upon exogenous stimuli. Furthermore, we summarise recent experimental approaches to dissect which root growth responses are regulated upon which individual trigger. Finally, we provide a general overview of how to implement the knowledge gained to improve plant breeding.
PMID: 37008498
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1146182 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1146182
Serendipita indica promotes P acquisition and growth in tea seedlings under P deficit conditions by increasing cytokinins and indoleacetic acid and phosphate transporter gene expression.
College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China.; State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China.; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czechia.; ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.; Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.; Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The culturable endophytic fungus Serendipita indica has many beneficial effects on plants, but whether and how it affects physiological activities and phosphorus (P) acquisition of tea seedlings at low P levels is unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of inoculation with S. indica on growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, auxins, cytokinins, P levels, and expressions of two phosphate transporter (PT) genes in leaves of tea (Camellia sinensis L. cv. Fudingdabaicha) seedlings grown at 0.5 muM (P(0.5)) and 50 muM (P(50)) P levels. Sixteen weeks after the inoculation, S. indica colonized roots of tea seedlings, with root fungal colonization rates reaching 62.18% and 81.34% at P(0.5) and P(50) levels, respectively. Although plant growth behavior, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll values, nitrogen balance index, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of tea seedlings were suppressed at P(0.5) versus P(50) levels, inoculation of S. indica mitigated the negative effects to some extent, along with more prominent promotion at P(0.5) levels. S. indica inoculation significantly increased leaf P and indoleacetic acid concentrations at P(0.5) and P(50) levels and leaf isopentenyladenine, dihydrozeatin, and transzeatin concentrations at P(0.5) levels, coupled with the reduction of indolebutyric acid at P(50) levels. Inoculation of S. indica up-regulated the relative expression of leaf CsPT1 at P(0.5) and P(50) levels and CsPT4 at P(0.5) levels. It is concluded that S. indica promoted P acquisition and growth in tea seedlings under P deficit conditions by increasing cytokinins and indoleacetic acid and CsPT1 and CsPT4 expression.
PMID: 37008477
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1143525 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1143525
Significant increases in Donghong kiwifruit yield by a novel umbrella-shaped trellis system and identification of associated molecular mechanisms.
Institute of Pomology and Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.; Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China.
China is the largest kiwifruit producer in the world, accounting for more than half of the total. However, in terms of yield per unit area, China is much lower than the global average and lags behind that of other countries. Yield improvement is of critical importance for the current kiwifruit industry in China. In this study, an improved overhead pergolas trellis (OPT) system, namely, the umbrella-shaped trellis (UST) system, was developed for Donghong kiwifruit, which is now the second most popular and widely cultivated red-fleshed kiwifruit in China. Surprisingly, the estimated yield on the UST system was more than two times higher than that with a traditional OPT, while the external fruit quality was maintained and the internal fruit quality was improved. One of the mechanisms contributing to the yield improvement was the significant promotion of the vegetative growth of canes at 6 ~ 10 mm in diameter by the UST system. The upper canopy of the UST treatment served as a natural shading condition for the lower fruiting canopy and thus had positive effects on the accumulation of chlorophylls and total carotenoids in the fruiting canopy. The most productive zones on the fruiting canes (6 ~ 10 mm in diameter) contained significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of zeatin riboside (ZR) and auxin (IAA) and ratios of ZR/gibberellin (GA), ZR/abscisic acid (ABA), and ABA/GA. A relatively high carbon/nitrogen ratio may promote the flower bud differentiation process of Donghong kiwifruit. The outcomes of this study provide a scientific basis for manifold increase in production of kiwifruit and contribute to the sustainability of the kiwifruit industry.
PMID: 36993843
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1099587 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1099587
Identification of a pluripotency-inducing small compound, PLU, that induces callus formation via Heat Shock Protein 90-mediated activation of auxin signaling.
Center for Gene Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.; Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.; School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.; Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.; Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.; Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan.; Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.; Department of Industrial Life Sciences, Faculty of Life Science, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan.; Center for Plant Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan.; Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.
Plants retain the ability to generate a pluripotent tissue called callus by dedifferentiating somatic cells. A pluripotent callus can also be artificially induced by culturing explants with hormone mixtures of auxin and cytokinin, and an entire body can then be regenerated from the callus. Here we identified a pluripotency-inducing small compound, PLU, that induces the formation of callus with tissue regeneration potency without the external application of either auxin or cytokinin. The PLU-induced callus expressed several marker genes related to pluripotency acquisition via lateral root initiation processes. PLU-induced callus formation required activation of the auxin signaling pathway though the amount of active auxin was reduced by PLU treatment. RNA-seq analysis and subsequent experiments revealed that Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) mediates a significant part of the PLU-initiated early events. We also showed that HSP90-dependent induction of TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1, an auxin receptor gene, is required for the callus formation by PLU. Collectively, this study provides a new tool for manipulating and investigating the induction of plant pluripotency from a different angle from the conventional method with the external application of hormone mixtures.
PMID: 36968385
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1071648 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1071648
Molecular mapping of genomic regions and identification of possible candidate genes associated with gynoecious sex expression in bitter gourd.
Division of Vegetable Science, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.; Gene Research Centre, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano, Japan.; Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.; Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.; Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India.; Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India.; ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Bitter gourd is an important vegetable crop grown throughout the tropics mainly because of its high nutritional value. Sex expression and identification of gynoecious trait in cucurbitaceous vegetable crops has facilitated the hybrid breeding programme in a great way to improve productivity. In bitter gourd, gynoecious sex expression is poorly reported and detailed molecular pathways involve yet to be studied. The present experiment was conducted to study the inheritance, identify the genomic regions associated with gynoecious sex expression and to reveal possible candidate genes through QTL-seq. Segregation for the gynoecious and monoecious sex forms in the F(2) progenies indicated single recessive gene controlling gynoecious sex expression in the genotype, PVGy-201. Gynoecious parent, PVGy-201, Monoecious parent, Pusa Do Mausami (PDM), and two contrasting bulks were constituted for deep-sequencing. A total of 10.56, 23.11, 15.07, and 19.38 Gb of clean reads from PVGy-201, PDM, gynoecious bulk and monoecious bulks were generated. Based on the DeltaSNP index, 1.31 Mb regions on the chromosome 1 was identified to be associated with gynoecious sex expression in bitter gourd. In the QTL region 293,467 PVGy-201 unique variants, including SNPs and indels, were identified. In the identified QTL region, a total of 1019 homozygous variants were identified between PVGy1 and PDM genomes and 71 among them were non-synonymous variants (SNPS and INDELs), out of which 11 variants (7 INDELs, 4 SNPs) were classified as high impact variants with frame shift/stop gain effect. In total twelve genes associated with male and female gametophyte development were identified in the QTL-region. Ethylene-responsive transcription factor 12, Auxin response factor 6, Copper-transporting ATPase RAN1, CBL-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 23, ABC transporter C family member 2, DEAD-box ATP-dependent RNA helicase 1 isoform X2, Polygalacturonase QRT3-like isoform X2, Protein CHROMATIN REMODELING 4 were identified with possible role in gynoecious sex expression. Promoter region variation in 8 among the 12 genes indicated their role in determining gynoecious sex expression in bitter gourd genotype, DBGy-1. The findings in the study provides insight about sex expression in bitter gourd and will facilitate fine mapping and more precise identification of candidate genes through their functional validation.
PMID: 36938036
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1090774 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1090774
Parthenocarpic tomato mutants, iaa9-3 and iaa9-5, show plant adaptability and fruiting ability under heat-stress conditions.
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia.; Department of Biology, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, Indonesia.; Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.; Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia.; Plantation Seed Supervision and Certification Center, Bandung, Indonesia.; Master Graduate Program of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia.; Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.; Tsukuba Plant Innovation Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Fruit set is one of the main problems that arise in tomato plants under heat-stress conditions, which disrupt pollen development, resulting in decreased pollen fertility. Parthenocarpic tomatoes can be used to increase plant productivity during failure of the fertilisation process under heat-stress conditions. The aim of this study were to identify the plant adaptability and fruiting capability of ?iaa9-3 and iaa9-5 tomato mutants under heat-stress conditions. The iaa9-3 and iaa9-5 and wild-type Micro-Tom (WT-MT) plants were cultivated under two temperature conditions: normal and heat-stress conditions during plant growth. The results showed that under the heat-stress condition, iaa9-3 and iaa9-5 showed delayed flowering time, increased number of flowers, and increased fruit set and produced normal-sized fruit. However, WT-MT cannot produce fruits under heat stress. The mutants can grow under heat-stress conditions, as indicated by the lower electrolyte leakage and H(2)O(2) concentration and higher antioxidant activities compared with WT-MT under heat-stress conditions. These results suggest that iaa9-3 and iaa9-5 can be valuable genetic resources for the development of tomatoes in high-temperature environmental conditions.
PMID: 36938002
Theor Appl Genet , IF:5.699 , 2023 Apr , V136 (5) : P112 doi: 10.1007/s00122-023-04350-w
Epistatic interaction between CsCEN and CsSHBY in regulating indeterminate/determinate growth of lateral branch in cucumber.
National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.; Department of Plant Science, Chuka University, P.O. Box 109-60400, Chuka, Kenya.; College of Horticulture and Landscape, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453000, China. junguo1020@163.com.; National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China. liji1981@njau.edu.cn.; National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China. jfchen@njau.edu.cn.
Two genetic loci, det-ma (CsCEN) and det-lb, showed epistatic interaction on indeterminate/determinate growth of LB in cucumber. CsSHBY was identified as the candidate gene for det-lb locus. Plant architecture depends on the spatial regulation of meristems from both main axis (MA) and lateral branches (LBs). Fate (indeterminate or determinate) of these meristems is a crucial source of architectural diversity determining crop productivity and management. CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER 1/SELF-PRUNING (CETS) gene family have been well known as pivotal regulators for indeterminate/determinate growth of MA. Nevertheless, genes that regulate LB indeterminacy/determinacy remained unclear. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) has typical monopodial growth and multiple lateral branches. Both MA and LBs had indeterminate or determinate growth, and indeterminate/determinate growth of LB was controlled by two distinct loci, det-ma (CsCEN) and det-lb. In our study, based on bulked segregant analysis (BSA) method, the det-lb locus was mapped on a 60.6 kb region on chromosome 1 harboring only one gene CsaV3_1G044330, which encoded a putative vacuolar-sorting protein (designated as CsSHBY). Multipoint mutations in CsSHBY were identified in D082 and D226, compared with CCMC, including nonsynonymous SNP mutations and a 6-bp deletion in exons. Further, qPCR showed that CsSHBY was highly expressed in lateral bud of CCMC, suggesting that CsSHBY might play an active role in regulating indeterminate/determinate growth of LB. Genetic analyses showed that det-ma (CsCEN) had an epistatic effect on det-lb (CsSHBY), and CsCEN could activate CsSHBY promoter by Dual luciferase and GUS activity assays. Meanwhile, Cscen or Csshby was found to influence auxin contents and CsYUCs and CsPINs expression levels. These findings provided new insights into precisely optimizing plant architecture for yield improvements.
PMID: 37052719
Theor Appl Genet , IF:5.699 , 2023 Mar , V136 (3) : P29 doi: 10.1007/s00122-023-04325-x
BnaC01.BIN2, a GSK3-like kinase, modulates plant height and yield potential in Brassica napus.
Crop Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China.; Hunan Hybrid Rapeseed Engineering and Technology Research Center, Changsha, 410125, China.; Crop Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China. limei1230@126.com.; Hunan Hybrid Rapeseed Engineering and Technology Research Center, Changsha, 410125, China. limei1230@126.com.; Crop Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China. wangtonghua2014@163.com.; Hunan Hybrid Rapeseed Engineering and Technology Research Center, Changsha, 410125, China. wangtonghua2014@163.com.
Using map-based cloning and transgenic transformation, we revealed that glycogen kinase synthase 3-like kinase, BnaC01.BIN2, modulates plant height and yield in rapeseed. The modification of plant height is one of the most important goals in rapeseed breeding. Although several genes that regulate rapeseed plant height have been identified, the genetics mechanisms underlying rapeseed plant height regulation remain poorly understood, and desirable genetic resources for rapeseed ideotype breeding are scarce. Here, we map-based cloned and functionally verified that the rapeseed semi-dominant gene, BnDF4, greatly affects rapeseed plant height. Specifically, BnDF4 encodes brassinosteroid (BR)-insensitive 2, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 primarily expressed in the lower internodes to modulate rapeseed plant height by blocking basal internode-cell elongation. Transcriptome data showed that several cell expansion-related genes involving auxin and BRs pathways were significantly downregulated in the semi-dwarf mutant. Heterozygosity in the BnDF4 allele results in small stature with no marked differences in other agronomic traits. Using BnDF4 in the heterozygous condition, the hybrid displayed strong yield heterosis through optimum intermediate plant height. Our results provide a desirable genetic resource for breeding semi-dwarf rapeseed phenotypes and support an effective strategy for breeding rapeseed hybrid varieties with strong yield heterosis.
PMID: 36867248
Front Microbiol , IF:5.64 , 2023 , V14 : P1131212 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1131212
Transcriptome analysis of auxin transcription factor OsARF17-mediated rice stripe mosaic virus response in rice.
State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
INTRODUCTION: Plant auxin response factors (ARFs) play an irreplaceable role in regulating the expression of auxin response genes. Our previous studies have indicated that auxin response factor OsARF17 plays a crucial role in plant defense against diverse rice viruses. METHODS: Utilizing a comparative transcriptome analysis of Rice stripe mosaic virus (RSMV)-inoculated OsARF17 mutant rice plants, to further elucidate the molecular mechanism of OsARF17 in antiviral defense pathway. RESULTS: KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) belonged to plant-pathogen interaction and plant hormone signal transduction pathways were markedly enriched in OsARF17 mutants under RSMV inoculation. Furthermore, Gene ontology (GO) analyses revealed that these genes were enriched in a variety of hormone biosynthetic process, including jasmonic acid (JA), auxin, and abscisic acid (ABA). RT-qPCR assays showed that the induction of plant defense-related genes, such as WRKY transcription factors, OsAHT2 and OsDR8, and JA-related genes, were significantly suppressed in OsARF17 mutants in response to RSMV. DISCUSSION: Our study reveals that OsARF17-mediated antiviral immunity may be achieved through affecting the interaction between different phytohormones and regulating defense gene expression in rice. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of auxin signaling in the rice-virus interaction.
PMID: 36970706
Front Microbiol , IF:5.64 , 2023 , V14 : P1022248 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1022248
Optimization of the growth conditions through response surface methodology and metabolomics for maximizing the auxin production by Pantoea agglomerans C1.
Department for Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.; CREA Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy.; OloBion-OMICS LIFE LAB, Barcelona, Spain.
INTRODUCTION: The fermentative production of auxin/indole 3-acetate (IAA) using selected Pantoea agglomerans strains can be a promising approach to developing novel plant biostimulants for agriculture use. METHODS: By integrating metabolomics and fermentation technologies, this study aimed to define the optimal culture conditions to obtain auxin/IAA-enriched plant postbiotics using P. agglomerans strain C1. Metabolomics analysis allowed us to demonstrate that the production of a selected. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Array of compounds with plant growth-promoting- (IAA and hypoxanthine) and biocontrol activity (NS-5, cyclohexanone, homo-L-arginine, methyl hexadecenoic acid, and indole-3-carbinol) can be stimulated by cultivating this strain on minimal saline medium amended with sucrose as a carbon source. We applied a three-level-two-factor central composite design (CCD) based response surface methodology (RSM) to explore the impact of the independent variables (rotation speed and medium liquid-to-flask volume ratio) on the production of IAA and IAA precursors. The ANOVA component of the CCD indicated that all the process-independent variables investigated significantly impacted the auxin/IAA production by P. agglomerans strain C1. The optimum values of variables were a rotation speed of 180 rpm and a medium liquid-to-flask volume ratio of 1:10. Using the CCD-RSM method, we obtained a maximum indole auxin production of 208.3 +/- 0.4 mg IAA(equ)/L, which was a 40% increase compared to the growth conditions used in previous studies. Targeted metabolomics allowed us to demonstrate that the IAA product selectivity and the accumulation of the IAA precursor indole-3-pyruvic acid were significantly affected by the increase in the rotation speed and the aeration efficiency.
PMID: 36970660
Front Microbiol , IF:5.64 , 2023 , V14 : P1142966 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1142966
Biopriming of seed with plant growth-promoting bacteria for improved germination and seedling growth.
Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Several seed priming methods can be used to improve seed germination, seedling vigor, and to overcome abiotic stress. In addition to these benefits, only the biopriming method provides the additional benefit of biotic stress management, earning it special attention. Seed biopriming is useful in almost all crops around the world and is an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fungicides. Biopriming usually refers to use of beneficial microorganisms, in particular plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) able to survive under various harsh environmental conditions. In this study, various bacterial strains were isolated from samples of different origins, i.e., rhizospheric soil, desert sand, and sea mud. Preliminary screening of 156 bacterial isolates was conducted on the basis of their potassium (K), phosphorus (P) solubilization ability, and production of plant growth hormone, i.e., indole acetic acid (IAA). The most efficient bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences and further examined for their ACC deaminase activity, ammonia production, and biocontrol activity (defined via chitinolytic activity, HCN, and siderophores production). Finally, carrot seed germination assay was conducted with 10 shortlisted most potent isolates. 68.6, 58.3, and 66.7% of tested bacterial isolates were capable of P, K, and Zn solubilization, respectively. Klebsiella aerogenes AF3II1 showed the highest P and K solubilization, while isolate AF4II5, AF7II3, and PC3 showed the highest IAA synthesis ability. Serratia plymuthica EDC15 and Pseudomonas putida AF1I1 showed the strongest chitinolytic and siderophore production activity, respectively. Seven isolates demonstrated strong HCN production ability. Five isolates improved carrot seed germination. Only selected isolates with plant growth-promoting properties can improve carrot germination. The results of this study demonstrate that mainly auxins are involved in seed germination. Furthermore, the data suggest that phosphate solubilization ability may play an additional role in seed germination.
PMID: 36925481
Plant Methods , IF:4.993 , 2023 Mar , V19 (1) : P31 doi: 10.1186/s13007-023-01005-1
Fast-track transformation and genome editing in Brachypodium distachyon.
Universite Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000, Versailles, France.; Universite Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000, Versailles, France. oumaya.bouchabke@inrae.fr.
BACKGROUND: Even for easy-to-transform species or genotypes, the creation of transgenic or edited plant lines remains a significant bottleneck. Thus, any technical advance that accelerates the regeneration and transformation process is welcome. So far, methods to produce Brachypodium distachyon (Bd) transgenics span at least 14 weeks from the start of tissue culture to the recovery of regenerated plantlets. RESULTS: We have previously shown that embryogenic somatic tissues grow in the scutellum of immature zygotic Bd embryos within 3 days of in vitro induction with exogenous auxin and that the development of secondary embryos can be initiated immediately thereafter. Here, we further demonstrate that such pluripotent reactive tissues can be genetically transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens right after the onset of somatic embryogenesis. In brief, immature zygotic embryos are induced for callogenesis for one week, co-cultured with Agrobacterium for three days, then incubated on callogenesis selective medium for three weeks, and finally transferred on selective regeneration medium for up to three weeks to obtain plantlets ready for rooting. This 7-to-8-week procedure requires only three subcultures. Its validation includes the molecular and phenotype characterization of Bd lines carrying transgenic cassettes and novel CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutations in two independent loci coding for nitrate reductase enzymes (BdNR1 and BdNR2). CONCLUSIONS: With a short callogenesis stage and streamlined in vitro regeneration following co-cultivation with Agrobacterium, transgenic and edited T0 Bd plantlets can be produced in about 8 weeks, a gain of one to two months compared to previously published methods, with no reduction in transformation efficiency and at lower costs.
PMID: 36991448
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2023 Mar , V64 (2) : P191-203 doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcac157
Photosynthetic-Product-Dependent Activation of Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase and Nitrate Uptake in Arabidopsis Leaves.
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan.; Department of Biological Chemistry, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, Kasugai, 487-8501 Japan.; Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan.; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan.
Plasma membrane (PM) proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatase (H+-ATPase) is a pivotal enzyme for plant growth and development that acts as a primary transporter and is activated by phosphorylation of the penultimate residue, threonine, at the C-terminus. Small Auxin-Up RNA family proteins maintain the phosphorylation level via inhibiting dephosphorylation of the residue by protein phosphatase 2C-D clade. Photosynthetically active radiation activates PM H+-ATPase via phosphorylation in mesophyll cells of Arabidopsis thaliana, and phosphorylation of PM H+-ATPase depends on photosynthesis and photosynthesis-related sugar supplementation, such as sucrose, fructose and glucose. However, the molecular mechanism and physiological role of photosynthesis-dependent PM H+-ATPase activation are still unknown. Analysis using sugar analogs, such as palatinose, turanose and 2-deoxy glucose, revealed that sucrose metabolites and products of glycolysis such as pyruvate induce phosphorylation of PM H+-ATPase. Transcriptome analysis showed that the novel isoform of the Small Auxin-Up RNA genes, SAUR30, is upregulated in a light- and sucrose-dependent manner. Time-course analyses of sucrose supplementation showed that the phosphorylation level of PM H+-ATPase increased within 10 min, but the expression level of SAUR30 increased later than 10 min. The results suggest that two temporal regulations may participate in the regulation of PM H+-ATPase. Interestingly, a 15NO3- uptake assay in leaves showed that light increases 15NO3- uptake and that increment of 15NO3- uptake depends on PM H+-ATPase activity. The results opened the possibility of the physiological role of photosynthesis-dependent PM H+-ATPase activation in the uptake of NO3-. We speculate that PM H+-ATPase may connect photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism in leaves.
PMID: 36705265
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2023 Mar , V64 (2) : P149-151 doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcad007
Wound-Induced Rooting in Plants-A big BIG ROle Emerges for Calcium and Auxin.
Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan.
PMID: 36688580
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2023 Mar , V64 (2) : P152-164 doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcac163
Mapping of the Classical Mutation rosette Highlights a Role for Calcium in Wound-Induced Rooting.
The Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.; Instituto de Bioingenieria, Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Elche 03202, Spain.; Departamento de Nutricion Vegetal, CEBAS-CSIC, Murcia 30100, Spain.; Departamento de Biologia Vegetal (Fisiologia Vegetal), Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain.
Removal of the root system induces the formation of new roots from the remaining shoot. This process is primarily controlled by the phytohormone auxin, which interacts with other signals in a yet unresolved manner. Here, we study the classical tomato mutation rosette (ro), which lacks shoot-borne roots. ro mutants were severely inhibited in formation of wound-induced roots (WiRs) and had reduced auxin transport rates. We mapped ro to the tomato ortholog of the Arabidopsis thaliana BIG and the mammalians UBR4/p600. RO/BIG is a large protein of unknown biochemical function. In A. thaliana, BIG was implicated in regulating auxin transport and calcium homeostasis. We show that exogenous calcium inhibits WiR formation in tomato and A. thaliana ro/big mutants. Exogenous calcium antagonized the root-promoting effects of the auxin indole-3-acetic-acid but not of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, an auxin analog that is not recognized by the polar transport machinery, and accumulation of the auxin transporter PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1) was sensitive to calcium levels in the ro/big mutants. Consistent with a role for calcium in mediating auxin transport, both ro/big mutants and calcium-treated wild-type plants were hypersensitive to treatment with polar auxin transport inhibitors. Subcellular localization of BIG suggests that, like its mammalian ortholog, it is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. Analysis of subcellular morphology revealed that ro/big mutants exhibited disruption in cytoplasmic streaming. We suggest that RO/BIG maintains auxin flow by stabilizing PIN membrane localization, possibly by attenuating the inhibitory effect of Ca2+ on cytoplasmic streaming.
PMID: 36398993
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2023 Mar , V64 (3) : P284-290 doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcac155
Arrest, Senescence and Death of Shoot Apical Stem Cells in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China.; Henry Fok School of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China.; Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma 630-0192 Japan.
Shoot stem cells act as the source of the aboveground parts of flowering plants. A precise regulatory basis is required to ensure that plant stem cells show the right status during the stages of proliferation, senescence and cell death. Over the past few decades, the genetic circuits controlling stem cell fate, including the regulatory pathways of establishment, maintenance and differentiation, have been largely revealed. However, the morphological changes and molecular mechanisms of the final stages of stem cells, which are represented by senescence and cell death, have been less studied. The senescence and death of shoot stem cells are under the control of a complex series of pathways that integrate multiple internal and external signals. Given the crucial roles of shoot stem cells in influencing plant longevity and crop yields, researchers have attempted to uncover details of stem cell senescence and death. Recent studies indicate that stem cell activity arrest is controlled by the FRUITFULL-APETALA2 pathway and the plant hormones auxin and cytokinin, while the features of senescent and dead shoot apical stem cells have also been described, with dynamic changes in reactive oxygen species implicated in stem cell death. In this review, we highlight the recent breakthroughs that have enriched our understanding of senescence and cell death processes in plant stem cells.
PMID: 36331512
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2023 Mar , V64 (2) : P165-175 doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcac153
High Expression of ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE 2 in Latent Axillary Buds Suggests Its Key Role in Quiescence Maintenance in Rosebush.
Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QUASAV, University of Angers, 42 Rue Georges Morel, Angers 49000, France.
Most vegetative axes remain quiescent as dormant axillary buds until metabolic and hormonal signals, driven by environmental changes, trigger bud outgrowth. While the resumption of growth activity is well documented, the establishment and maintenance of quiescence is comparatively poorly understood, despite its major importance in the adaptation of plants to the seasonal cycle or in the establishment of their shape. Here, using the rosebush Rosa hybrida 'Radrazz' as a plant model, we highlighted that the quiescent state was the consequence of an internal and active energy control of buds, under the influence of hormonal factors previously identified in the bud outgrowth process. We found that the quiescent state in the non-growing vegetative axis of dormant axillary buds displayed a low energy state along with a high expression of the ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE 2 (AOX2) and the accumulation of the corresponding protein. Conversely, AOX2 expression and protein amount strongly decreased during bud burst as energy status shifted to a high state, allowing growth. Since AOX2 can deviate electrons from the cytochrome pathway in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, it could drastically reduce the formation of ATP, which would result in a low energy status unfavorable for growth activities. We provide evidence that the presence/absence of AOX2 in quiescent/growing vegetative axes of buds was under hormonal control and thus may constitute the mechanistic basis of both quiescence and sink strength manifestation, two important aspects of budbreak.
PMID: 36287074
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2023 Mar , V64 (3) : P305-316 doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcac146
Auxin-Induced WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX13 Mediates Asymmetric Activity of Callus Formation upon Cutting.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi 2-no-cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata, 950-2181 Japan.; Advanced Instrumental Analysis Center, Teikyo University, 1-1 Toyosatodai, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 320-8551 Japan.; Department of Biosciences, Teikyo University, 1-1 Toyosatodai, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 320-8551 Japan.; Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192 Japan.; Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, 641-12 Maioka, Yokohama, 244-0813 Japan.; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045 Japan.; Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 119-0033 Japan.
Plants have the regenerative ability to reconnect cut organs, which is physiologically important to survive severe tissue damage. The ability to reconnect organs is utilized as grafting to combine two different individuals. Callus formation at the graft junction facilitates organ attachment and vascular reconnection. While it is well documented that local wounding signals provoke callus formation, how callus formation is differentially regulated at each cut end remains elusive. Here, we report that callus formation activity is asymmetrical between the top and bottom cut ends and is regulated by differential auxin accumulation. Gene expression analyses revealed that cellular auxin response is preferentially upregulated in the top part of the graft. Disruption of polar auxin transport inhibited callus formation from the top, while external application of auxin was sufficient to induce callus formation from the bottom, suggesting that asymmetric auxin accumulation is responsible for active callus formation from the top end. We further found that the expression of a key regulator of callus formation, WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 13 (WOX13), is induced by auxin. The ectopic callus formation from the bottom end, which is triggered by locally supplemented auxin, requires WOX13 function, demonstrating that WOX13 plays a pivotal role in auxin-dependent callus formation. The asymmetric WOX13 expression is observed both in grafted petioles and incised inflorescence stems, underscoring the generality of our findings. We propose that efficient organ reconnection is achieved by a combination of local wounding stimuli and disrupted long-distance signaling.
PMID: 36263676
Pest Manag Sci , IF:4.845 , 2023 Apr , V79 (4) : P1305-1315 doi: 10.1002/ps.7294
The differential binding and biological efficacy of auxin herbicides.
School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.; Corteva Agriscience, Crop Protection Discovery & Development, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
BACKGROUND: Auxin herbicides have been used for selective weed control for 75 years and they continue to be amongst the most widely used weed control agents globally. The auxin herbicides fall into five chemical classes, with two herbicides not classified, and in all cases it is anticipated that recognition in the plant starts with binding to the Transport Inhibitor Response 1 (TIR1) family of auxin receptors. There is evidence that some classes of auxins act selectively with certain clades of receptors, although a comprehensive structure-activity relationship has not been available. RESULTS: Using purified receptor proteins to measure binding efficacy we have conducted quantitative structure activity relationship (qSAR) assays using representative members of the three receptor clades in Arabidopsis, TIR1, AFB2 and AFB5. Complementary qSAR data for biological efficacy at the whole-plant level using root growth inhibition and foliar phytotoxicity assays have also been analyzed for each family of auxin herbicides, including for the afb5-1 receptor mutant line. CONCLUSIONS: Comparisons of all these assays highlight differences in receptor selectivity and some systematic differences between results for binding in vitro and activity in vivo. The results could provide insights into weed spectrum differences between the different classes of auxin herbicides, as well as the potential resistance and cross-resistance implications for this herbicide class. (c) 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
PMID: 36458868
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2023 Apr : P111718 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111718
Indole-3-acetaldoxime delays root iron-deficiency responses and modify auxin homeostasis in Medicago truncatula.
Department of Pomology, Aula Dei Experimental Station, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC); Avda. de Montanana 1005, E-50059 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: aroman@eead.csic.es.; Department of Pomology, Aula Dei Experimental Station, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC); Avda. de Montanana 1005, E-50059 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: jmontenegro@eead.csic.es.; Department of Pomology, Aula Dei Experimental Station, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC); Avda. de Montanana 1005, E-50059 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: lfraile@eead.csic.es.; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology (IMAB), Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarre (UPNA); Avda. de Pamplona 123, E-31192 Mutilva, Spain. Electronic address: marina.urra@unavarra.es.; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology (IMAB), Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarre (UPNA); Avda. de Pamplona 123, E-31192 Mutilva, Spain. Electronic address: javier.buezo@unavarra.es.; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics (INAMAT2), Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarre (UPNA); Campus de Arrosadia, E-31006 Pamplona, Spain. Electronic address: alfonso.cornejo@unavarra.es.; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology (IMAB), Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarre (UPNA); Avda. de Pamplona 123, E-31192 Mutilva, Spain. Electronic address: jose.moran@unavarra.es.; Department of Pomology, Aula Dei Experimental Station, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC); Avda. de Montanana 1005, E-50059 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: aoiz@eead.csic.es.
Iron (Fe) is an essential plant micronutrient, being a major limiting growth factor in calcareous soils. To increase Fe uptake, plants induce lateral roots growth, the expression of a Fe(III)-chelate reductase (FCR), a Fe(II)-transporter and a H(+)-ATPase and the secretion of flavins. Furthermore, auxin hormone family is involved in the Fe-deficiency responses but the action mechanism remains elusive. In this work, we evaluated the effect of the auxin-precursor indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx) on hydroponically grown Medicago truncatula plants under different Fe conditions. Upon 4-days of Fe starvation, the pH of the nutrient solution decreased, while both the FCR activity and the presence of flavins increased. Exogenous IAOx increased lateral roots growth contributing to superroot phenotype, decreased chlorosis, and delayed up to 3-days the pH-decrease, the FCR-activity increase, and the presence of flavins, compared to Fe-deficient plants. Gene expression levels were in concordance with the physiological responses. RESULTS: showed that IAOx was immediately transformed to IAN in roots and shoots to maintain auxin homeostasis. IAOx plays an active role in iron homeostasis delaying symptoms and responses in Fe-deficient plants. We may speculate that IAOx or its derivatives remobilize Fe from root cells to alleviate Fe-deficiency. Overall, these results pointed out that the IAOx-derived phenotype may have advantages to overcome nutritional stresses.
PMID: 37105378
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2023 Apr , V332 : P111699 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111699
Role of EIN2-mediated ethylene signaling in regulating petal senescence, abscission, reproductive development, and hormonal crosstalk in tobacco.
Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 W. University Dr, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: manohar.chakrabarti@utrgv.edu.; Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 W. University Dr, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA.
Ethylene plays a pivotal role in a wide range of developmental, physiological, and defense processes in plants. EIN2 (ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE2) is a key player in the ethylene signaling pathway. To characterize the role of EIN2 in processes, such as petal senescence, where it has been found to play important roles along with various other developmental and physiological processes, the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) ortholog of EIN2 (NtEIN2) was isolated and NtEIN2 silenced transgenic lines were generated using RNA interference (RNAi). Silencing of NtEIN2 compromised plant defense against pathogens. NtEIN2 silenced lines displayed significant delays in petal senescence, and pod maturation, and adversely affected pod and seed development. This study further dissected the petal senescence in ethylene insensitive lines, that displayed alteration in the pattern of petal senescence and floral organ abscission. Delay in petal senescence was possibly because of delayed aging processes within petal tissues. Possible crosstalk between EIN2 and AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 (ARF2) in regulating the petal senescence process was also investigated. Overall, these experiments indicated a crucial role for NtEIN2 in controlling diverse developmental and physiological processes, especially in petal senescence.
PMID: 37028457
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2023 Jun , V331 : P111686 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111686
Conservation and divergence of flg22, pep1 and nlp20 in activation of immune response and inhibition of root development.
College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.; College of Horticulture, FAFU-UCR Joint Center and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, PR China.; Lusyno Biotech Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.; College of Horticulture, FAFU-UCR Joint Center and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, PR China. Electronic address: wus@fafu.edu.cn.; College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address: yicai@sicau.edu.cn.
Many pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) and their corresponding ligands have been identified. However, it is largely unknown how similar and different these ligands are in inducing plant innate immunity and affecting plant development. In this study, we examined three well characterized ligands in Arabidopsis thaliana, namely flagellin 22 (flg22), plant elicitor peptide 1 (pep1) and a conserved 20-amino-acid fragment found in most necrosis and ethylene-inducing peptide 1-like proteins (nlp20). Our quantitative analyses detected the differences in amplitude in the early immune responses of these ligands, with nlp20-induced responses typically being slower than those mediated by flg22 and pep1. RNA sequencing showed the shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was mostly enriched in defense response, whereas nlp20-regulated genes represent only a fraction of those genes differentially regulated by flg22 and pep1. The three elicitors all inhibited primary root growth, especially pep1, which inhibited both auxin transport and signaling pathway. In addition, pep1 significantly inhibited the cell division and genes involved in cell cycle. Compared with flg22 and nlp20, pep1 induced much stronger expression of its receptor in roots, suggesting a potential positive feedback regulation in the activation of immune response. Despite PRRs and their co-receptor BAK1 were necessary for both PAMP induced immune response and root growth inhibition, bik1 mutant only showed impaired defense response but relatively normal root growth inhibition, suggesting BIK1 acts differently in these two biological processes.
PMID: 36963637
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2023 Jun , V331 : P111677 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111677
Dysfunction of GmVPS8a causes compact plant architecture in soybean.
Soybean Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean, National Center for Soybean Improvement (Ministry of Agriculture), National Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; National Soybean Improvement Center Shijiazhuang Sub-Center, North China Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean, Ministry of Agriculture, Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Breeding of Hebei, Cereal & Oil Crop Institute, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China.; The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: liubin05@caas.cn.; Soybean Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean, National Center for Soybean Improvement (Ministry of Agriculture), National Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: tjzhao@njau.edu.cn.
Vacuolar Protein Sorting 8 (Vps8) protein is a specific subunit of the class C core vacuole/endosome tethering (CORVET) complex that plays a key role in endosomal trafficking in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). However, its functions remain largely unclear in plant vegetative growth. Here, we identified a soybean (Glycine max) T4219 mutant characterized with compact plant architecture. Map-based cloning targeted to a candidate gene GmVPS8a (Glyma.07g049700) and further found that two nucleotides deletion in the first exon of GmVPS8a causes a premature termination of the encoded protein in the T4219 mutant. Its functions were validated by CRISPR/Cas9-engineered mutation in the GmVPS8a gene that recapitulated the T4219 mutant phenotypes. Furthermore, NbVPS8a-silenced tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) plants exhibited similar phenotypes to the T4219 mutant, suggesting its conserved roles in plant growth. The GmVPS8a is widely expressed in multiple organs and its protein interacts with GmAra6a and GmRab5a. Combined analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data revealed that dysfunction of GmVPS8a mainly affects pathways on auxin signal transduction, sugar transport and metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Collectively, our work reveals the function of GmVPS8a in plant architecture, which may extend a new way for genetic improvement of ideal plant-architecture breeding in soybean and other crops.
PMID: 36931563
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2023 May , V330 : P111666 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111666
Genome-wide identification and characterization of long non-coding RNA in barley roots in response to Piriformospora indica colonization.
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China. Electronic address: liangli@hebut.edu.cn.; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China. Electronic address: jackeikee@hebut.edu.cn.
Currently, there is very limited information about long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) found in barley. It remains unclear whether barley lncRNAs are responsive to Piriformospora indica (P. indica) colonization.We found that barley roots exhibited fast development and that large roots branched after P. indica colonization. Genome-wide high-throughput RNA-seq and bioinformatic analysis showed that 4356 and 5154 differentially expressed LncRNAs (DELs) were found in response to P. indica at 3 and 7 days after colonization (dai), respectively, and 2456 DELs were found at 7 dai compared to 3 dai. Based on the coexpression correlation of lncRNAmRNA, we found that 98.6% of lncRNAs were positively correlated with 3430 mRNAs at 3 dai and 7 dai. Further GO analysis showed that 30 lncRNAs might be involved in the regulation of gene transcription; 23 lncRNAs might participate in cell cycle regulation. Moreover, the metabolite analysis indicated that chlorophyll a, sucrose, protein, gibberellin, and auxin were in accordance with the results of the transcriptome, and the respective lncRNAs were positively correlated with these target RNAs. Gene silencing suggested that lncRNA TCONS_00262342 is probably a key regulator of GA(3) synthesis pathway, which participates in P. indica and barley interactions. We concluded that acting as a molecular material basis and resource, lncRNAs respond to P. indica colonization by regulating metabolite content in barley and coordinate the complex regulatory process of higher life by constructing highly positive correlations with their target mRNAs.
PMID: 36858207
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2023 May , V330 : P111638 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111638
SlGH3.15, a member of the GH3 gene family, regulates lateral root development and gravitropism response by modulating auxin homeostasis in tomato.
National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.; Vegetable Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, China.; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.; National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China. Electronic address: zhangjunhng@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
Multiple Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) genes have been implicated in a range of processes in plant growth and development through their roles in maintaining hormonal homeostasis. However, there has only been limited study on the functions of GH3 genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). In this work, we investigated the important function of SlGH3.15, a member of the GH3 gene family in tomato. Overexpression of SlGH3.15 led to severe dwarfism in both the above- and below-ground sections of the plant, accompanied by a substantial decrease in free IAA content and reduction in the expression of SlGH3.9, a paralog of SlGH3.15. Exogenous supply of IAA negatively affected the elongation of the primary root and partially restored the gravitropism defects in SlGH3.15-overexpression lines. While no phenotypic change was observed in the SlGH3.15 RNAi lines, double knockout lines of SlGH3.15 and SlGH3.9 were less sensitive to treatments with the auxin polar transport inhibitor. Overall, these findings revealed important roles of SlGH3.15 in IAA homeostasis and as a negative regulator of free IAA accumulation and lateral root formation in tomato.
PMID: 36796648
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2023 Apr , V329 : P111625 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111625
A mutation in CsABCB19 encoding an ATP-binding cassette auxin transporter leads to erect and compact leaf architecture in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: 2018204029@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: 2017204016@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: 2019204035@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: 2020104064@stu.njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: 2020104065@stu.njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: chunyancheng@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: jfchen@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: qflou@njau.edu.cn.
Leaf architecture, including leaf position and leaf morphology, is a critical component of plant architecture that directly determines plant appearance, photosynthetic utilization, and ultimate productivity. The mechanisms regulating leaf petiole angle and leaf flatness in cucumber remain unclear. In this study, we identified an erect and compact leaf architecture mutant (ecla) from an EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate) -mutagenized cucumber population, which exhibited erect petioles and crinkled leaves. Histological examination revealed significant phenotypic variation in ecla was associated with asymmetric cell expansion. MutMap sequencing combined with genetic mapping revealed that CsaV3_5G037960 is the causative gene for the ecla mutant phenotype. Through protein sequence alignment and Arabidopsis genetic complementation, we identified this gene as a functional direct homolog encoding the ATP-binding cassette transporter AtABCB19, hence named CsABCB19. A nonsynonymous mutation in the eleventh exon of CsABCB19 leads to premature termination of translation. The expression level of CsABCB19 in the ecla mutant was significantly reduced in all tissues compared to the wild type (WT). Transcriptome analysis revealed that auxin and polarity-related genes were significantly differentially expressed in mutant petioles and leaves, compared with those in WT. Auxin assay and exogenous treatment further demonstrated that CsABCB19 regulates leaf architecture by mediating auxin accumulation and transport. Our research is the first report describing the role of the ABCB19 transporter protein in auxin transport controlling cucumber leaf development. Furthermore, this study provides recent insights into the genetic mechanisms conferring morphological diversity and regulation of petiole angle and leaf flattening. DATA AVAILABILITY: The RNA-seq data in this study have been deposited in the NCBI SRA under BioProject accession number PRJNA874548.
PMID: 36758728
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2023 Apr , V329 : P111606 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111606
pin2 mutant agravitropic root phenotype is conditional and nutrient-sensitive.
IPSiM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France.; Univ New Hampshire, Durham, USA.; IPSiM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France. Electronic address: benjamin.peret@cnrs.fr.
Plants have the capacity to sense and adapt to environmental factors using the phytohormone auxin as a major regulator of tropism and development. Among these responses, gravitropism is essential for plant roots to grow downward in the search for nutrients and water. We discovered a new mutant allele of the auxin efflux transporter PIN2 that revealed that pin2 agravitropic root mutants are conditional and nutrient-sensitive. We describe that nutrient composition of the medium, rather than osmolarity, can revert the agravitropic root phenotype of pin2. Indeed, on phosphorus- and nitrogen-deprived media, the agravitropic root defect was restored independently of primary root growth levels. Slow and fast auxin responses were evaluated using DR5 and R2D2 probes, respectively, and revealed a strong modulation by nutrient composition of the culture medium. We evaluated the role of PIN and AUX auxin transporters and demonstrated that neither PIN3 nor AUX1 are involved in this process. However, we observed the ectopic expression of PIN1 in the epidermis in the pin2 mutant background associated with permissive, but not restrictive, conditions. This ectopic expression was associated with a restoration of the asymmetric accumulation of auxin necessary for the reorientation of the root according to gravity. These observations suggest a strong regulation of auxin distribution by nutrients availability, directly impacting root's ability to drive their gravitropic response.
PMID: 36706868
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1007/s00299-023-03019-4
A methane-cGMP module positively influences adventitious rooting.
College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.; Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China.; College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China. wbshenh@njau.edu.cn.
Endogenous cGMP operates downstream of CH(4) control of adventitious rooting, following by the regulation in the expression of cell cycle regulatory and auxin signaling-related genes. Methane (CH(4)) is a natural product from plants and microorganisms. Although exogenously applied CH(4) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are separately confirmed to be involved in the control of adventitious root (AR) formation, the possible interaction still remains elusive. Here, we observed that exogenous CH(4) not only rapidly promoted cGMP synthesis through increasing the activity of guanosine cyclase (GC), but also induced cucumber AR development. These responses were obviously impaired by the removal of endogenous cGMP with two GC inhibitors. Anatomical evidence showed that the emerged stage (V) among AR primordia development might be the main target of CH(4)-cGMP module. Genetic evidence revealed that the transgenic Arabidopsis that overexpressed the methyl-coenzyme M reductase gene (MtMCR) from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum not only increased-cGMP production, but also resulted in a pronounced AR development compared to wild-type (WT), especially with the addition of CH(4) or the cell-permeable cGMP derivative 8-Br-cGMP. qPCR analysis confirmed that some marker genes associated with cell cycle regulatory and auxin signaling were closely related to the brand-new CH(4)-cGMP module in AR development. Overall, our results clearly revealed an important function of cGMP in CH(4) governing AR formation by modulating auxin-dependent pathway and cell cycle regulation.
PMID: 37084115
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1007/s00299-023-03013-w
Abscisic acid in plants under abiotic stress: crosstalk with major phytohormones.
Department of Biotechnology, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), 30 Mother Teresa Sarani, Kolkata, 700016, West Bengal, India.; Discipline of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, 110068, India. aryadeep.rc@gmail.com.
Extensive crosstalk exists among ABA and different phytohormones that modulate plant tolerance against different abiotic stress. Being sessile, plants are exposed to a wide range of abiotic stress (drought, heat, cold, salinity and metal toxicity) that exert unwarranted threat to plant life and drastically affect growth, development, metabolism, and yield of crops. To cope with such harsh conditions, plants have developed a wide range of protective phytohormones of which abscisic acid plays a pivotal role. It controls various physiological processes of plants such as leaf senescence, seed dormancy, stomatal closure, fruit ripening, and other stress-related functions. Under challenging situations, physiological responses of ABA manifested in the form of morphological, cytological, and anatomical alterations arise as a result of synergistic or antagonistic interaction with multiple phytohormones. This review provides new insight into ABA homeostasis and its perception and signaling crosstalk with other phytohormones at both molecular and physiological level under critical conditions including drought, salinity, heavy metal toxicity, and extreme temperature. The review also reveals the role of ABA in the regulation of various physiological processes via its positive or negative crosstalk with phytohormones, viz., gibberellin, melatonin, cytokinin, auxin, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, brassinosteroids, and strigolactone in response to alteration of environmental conditions. This review forms a basis for designing of plants that will have an enhanced tolerance capability against different abiotic stress.
PMID: 37079058
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1007/s00299-023-03001-0
Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the function of SlPRE2 in multiple phytohormones biosynthesis, signal transduction and stomatal development in tomato.
Institute of Jiangxi Oil-Tea Camellia, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, 332000, Jiangxi, China. zhuzhiguo@jju.edu.cn.; College of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, 332000, Jiangxi, China. zhuzhiguo@jju.edu.cn.; Institute of Jiangxi Oil-Tea Camellia, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, 332000, Jiangxi, China.; College of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, 332000, Jiangxi, China.; College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun, 558000, Guizhou, China.
Transcriptomic, physiological, and qRT-PCR analysis revealed the potential mechanism by which SlPRE2 regulates plant growth and stomatal size via multiple phytohormone pathways in tomato. Paclobutrazol resistance proteins (PREs) are atypical members of the basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor family that regulate plant morphology, cell size, pigment metabolism and abiotic stress in response to different phytohormones. However, little is known about the network regulatory mechanisms of PREs in plant growth and development in tomato. In this study, the function and mechanism of SlPRE2 in tomato plant growth and development were investigated. The quantitative RT-PCR results showed that the expression of SlPRE2 was regulated by multiple phytohormones and abiotic stresses. It showed light-repressed expression during the photoperiod. The RNA-seq results revealed that SlPRE2 regulated many genes involved in photosynthesis, chlorophyll metabolism, phytohormone metabolism and signaling, and carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting the role of SlPRE2 in gibberellin, brassinosteroid, auxin, cytokinin, abscisic acid and salicylic acid regulated plant development processes. Moreover, SlPRE2 overexpression plants showed widely opened stomata in young leaves, and four genes involved in stomatal development showed altered expression. Overall, the results demonstrated the mechanism by which SlPRE2 regulates phytohormone and stress responses and revealed the function of SlPRE2 in stomatal development in tomato. These findings provide useful clues for understanding the molecular mechanisms of SlPRE2-regulated plant growth and development in tomato.
PMID: 37010556
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1007/s00299-023-03002-z
Fusion gene 4CL-CCR promotes lignification in tobacco suspension cells.
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.; The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, 100083, China.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China. gaiying@bjfu.edu.cn.; The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, 100083, China. gaiying@bjfu.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China. jiangxn@bjfu.edu.cn.; The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, 100083, China. jiangxn@bjfu.edu.cn.
The fusion gene 4CL-CCR promotes lignification and activates lignin-related MYB expression in tobacco but inhibits auxin-related gene expression and hinders the auxin absorption of cells. Given the importance of lignin polymers in plant growth and their industrial value, it is necessary to investigate how plants synthesize monolignols and regulate the level of lignin in cell walls. In our previous study, expression of the Populus tomentosa fusion gene 4CL-CCR significantly promoted the production of 4-hydroxycinnamyl alcohols. However, the function of 4CL-CCR in organisms remains poorly understood. In this study, the fusion gene 4CL-CCR was heterologously expressed in tobacco suspension cells. We found that the transgenic suspension cells exhibited lignification earlier. Furthermore, 4CL-CCR significantly reduced the content of phenolic acids and increased the content of aldehydes in the medium, which led to an increase in lignin deposition. Moreover, transcriptome results showed that the genes related to lignin synthesis, such as PAL, 4CL, CCoAOMT and CAD, were significantly upregulated in the 4CL-CCR group. The expression of genes related to auxin, such as ARF3, ARF5 and ARF6, was significantly downregulated. The downregulation of auxin affected the expression of transcription factor MYBs. We hypothesize that the upregulated genes MYB306 and MYB315 are involved in the regulation of cell morphogenesis and lignin biosynthesis and eventually enhance lignification in tobacco suspension cells. Our findings provide insight into the function of 4CL-CCR in lignification and how secondary cell walls are formed in plants.
PMID: 36964306
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2023 Apr , V42 (4) : P749-761 doi: 10.1007/s00299-023-02990-2
An EMS-induced allele of the brachytic2 gene can reduce plant height in maize.
National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.; Key Laboratory of Breeding Engineering of Anhui Province, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.; National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China. mqqmmq@126.com.; Key Laboratory of Breeding Engineering of Anhui Province, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China. mqqmmq@126.com.
D129 is an EMS-induced mutant with dwarf phenotype, which has important breeding potential to cultivate new varieties suitable for high-density planting in maize Plant height is one of the important agronomic traits that affecting maize planting density, identification of superior dwarf mutants can provide important genetic materials for breeding new varieties suitable for high-density planting. In this study, we identified a dwarf mutant, d129, from maize EMS-induced mutant population. Gene mapping indicated that a G-to-A transition in the second exon of the br2 gene was responsible for the dwarf phenotype of the d129 mutant using MutMap method, which was further validated through allelism testing. Compared with WT plants, the average plant height and ear height of d129 were reduced by 26.67% and 39.43%, respectively, mainly due to a decrease in internode length. Furthermore, the d129 mutant exhibited increased internode diameter, which is important for increasing planting density due to the lodging resistance may be enhanced. Endogenous hormone measurement demonstrated that the contents of IAA and GA3 in the internode of the mutant were significantly lower than that of WT plants. RNA-seq analysis indicated that at least fifteen auxin-responsive and signaling-related genes exhibited differential expression, and some genes involved in cell development and other types of hormone signaling pathways, were also identified from the differential expressed genes. These genes may be related to the reduced hormone contents and decreased elongation of internode cells of the d129 mutant. Our study provided a novel dwarf mutant which can be applied in maize breeding to cultivate new varieties suitable for high-density planting.
PMID: 36754893
Physiol Plant , IF:4.5 , 2023 Mar , V175 (2) : Pe13908 doi: 10.1111/ppl.13908
Auxin participates in regulating the leaf curl development of Wucai (Brassica campestris L.).
College of Horticulture, Vegetable Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China.; Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Breeding of Anhui, Hefei, China.; Wanjiang Vegetable Industrial Technology Institute, Maanshan, China.
Wucai (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. rosularis Tsen) belongs to the Brassica genus of the Cruciferae family, and its leaf curl is a typical feature that distinguishes Wucai from other nonheading cabbage subspecies. Our previous research found that plant hormones were involved in the development of the leaf curl in Wucai. However, the molecular mechanisms and the hormones regulating the formation of leaf curl in Wucai have not yet been reported. This study aimed to understand the molecular functions related to hormone metabolism during the formation of leaf curl in Wucai. A total of 386 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome sequencing of two different morphological parts of the same leaf of Wucai germplasm W7-2, and 50 DEGs were found to be related to plant hormones, which were mainly involved in the auxin signal transduction pathway. Then, we measured the content of endogenous hormones in two different forms of the same leaf of Wucai germplasm W7-2. A total of 17 hormones with differential content were identified, including auxin, cytokinins, jasmonic acids, salicylic acids, and abscisic acid. And we found that treatment with auxin transport inhibitor N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid can affect the leaf curl phenotype of Wucai and pak choi (Brassica rapa L. subsp. Chinensis). These results indicated that plant hormones, especially auxin, are involved in developing the leaf curl of Wucai. Our findings provide a potentially valuable reference for future research on the development of leaf curls.
PMID: 37022777
Physiol Plant , IF:4.5 , 2023 Mar , V175 (2) : Pe13900 doi: 10.1111/ppl.13900
Silicon ameliorates clubroot responses in canola (Brassica napus): A "multi-omics"-based investigation into possible mechanisms.
Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.; Biology Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
Clubroot disease, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin, results in severe yield losses in Brassica crops, including canola. Silicon (Si) mitigates several stresses and enhances plant resistance to phytopathogens. We investigated the effects of Si on clubroot disease symptoms in canola at two concentrations of Si, Si: soil in 1: 100 w/w (Si1.0) and Si: soil in 1:200 w/w (Si0.5) under greenhouse conditions. In addition, the effects of Si on P. brassicae-induced gene expression, endogenous levels of phytohormones and metabolites were studied using "omics" approaches. Si application reduced clubroot symptoms and improved plant growth parameters. Gene expression analysis revealed increased transcript-level responses in Si1.0 compared to Si0.5 plants at 7-, 14-, and 21-days post-inoculation (dpi). Pathogen-induced transcript-level changes were affected by Si treatment, with genes related to antioxidant activity (e.g., POD, CAT), phytohormone biosynthesis and signalling (e.g., PDF1.2, NPR1, JAZ, IPT, TAA), nitrogen metabolism (e.g., NRT, AAT), and secondary metabolism (e.g., PAL, BCAT4) exhibiting differential expression. Endogenous levels of phytohormones (e.g., auxin, cytokinin), a majority of the amino acids and secondary metabolites (e.g., glucosinolates) were increased at 7 dpi, followed by a decrease at 14- and 21-dpi due to Si-treatment. Stress hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA) also decreased at the later time points in Si0.5, and Si1.0 treated plants. Si appears to improve clubroot symptoms while enhancing plant growth and associated metabolic processes, including nitrogen metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis.
PMID: 36992551
Physiol Plant , IF:4.5 , 2023 Mar , V175 (2) : Pe13878 doi: 10.1111/ppl.13878
Insights into the environmental factors shaping lateral root development.
School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
Roots are important organs of plants. Plants rely on roots for water, nutrients, and organic salts. In the whole root system, lateral roots (LRs) account for a large proportion and are critical to the development of the plant. Many environmental factors affect LR development. Therefore, a systematic understanding of these factors can provide a theoretical basis for creating optimal growth conditions for plants. In this paper, the factors affecting LR development are systematically and comprehensively summarized, and the molecular mechanism and regulatory network of LR development are described. Changes in the external environment not only lead to hormone homeostasis in plants but also affect the composition and activity of rhizosphere microbial communities, which in turn affect plants' nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and growth dynamics. LR development is influenced by hormone levels and external environment. In particular, auxin and abscisic acid coordinate with each other to maintain normal LR development. Of course, changes in the external environment are also important for root development, and they affect the intrinsic hormone levels of plants by affecting the accumulation and transport of hormones. For example, nitrogen, phosphorus, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, water, drought, light, and rhizosphere microorganisms affect LR development and plant tolerance in a variety of ways, including regulating hormone levels. This review summarizes the factors affecting LR development and the regulatory network and points out the direction for future research.
PMID: 36808102
Molecules , IF:4.411 , 2023 Mar , V28 (6) doi: 10.3390/molecules28062714
Mechanical Stimulation Decreases Auxin and Gibberellic Acid Synthesis but Does Not Affect Auxin Transport in Axillary Buds; It Also Stimulates Peroxidase Activity in Petunia x atkinsiana.
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Department of Environmental Protection and Dendrology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.; Institute of Information Technology, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.; Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Horticulture Production Systems, Floriculture, Leibniz University of Hannover, Herrenhauser 2, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
Thigmomorphogenesis (or mechanical stimulation-MS) is a term created by Jaffe and means plant response to natural stimuli such as the blow of the wind, strong rain, or touch, resulting in a decrease in length and an increase of branching as well as an increase in the activity of axillary buds. MS is very well known in plant morphology, but physiological processes controlling plant growth are not well discovered yet. In the current study, we tried to find an answer to the question if MS truly may affect auxin synthesis or transport in the early stage of plant growth, and which physiological factors may be responsible for growth arrest in petunia. According to the results of current research, we noticed that MS affects plant growth but does not block auxin transport from the apical bud. MS arrests IAA and GA(3) synthesis in MS-treated plants over the longer term. The main factor responsible for the thickening of cell walls and the same strengthening of vascular tissues and growth arrestment, in this case, is peroxidase (POX) activity, but special attention should be also paid to AGPs as signaling molecules which also are directly involved in growth regulation as well as in cell wall modifications.
PMID: 36985685
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2023 Apr , V13 (1) : P6661 doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33913-6
Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide ameliorates tolerance to high-temperature by adjusting the biosynthesis of pigments, enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and diosgenin content in fenugreek.
Department of Agriculture and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrood University of Technology, Semnan, Iran.; Department of Agriculture and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrood University of Technology, Semnan, Iran. Aminebrahimi@shahroodut.ac.ir.; Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. Ha.alipour@urmia.ac.ir.
High-temperature stress is widely considered a main plant-growth-limiting factor. The positive effects of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) as analogs of brassinosteroids (BRs) in modulating abiotic stresses have led this hormone to be referred to as a growth regulator in plants. The current study highlights the influence of EBR on enhancing tolerance to high-temperature and altering the diosgenin content in fenugreek. Different amounts of EBR (4, 8, and 16 muM), harvesting times (6, and 24 h), as well as temperature regimes (23 degrees C, and 42 degrees C) were, used as treatments. EBR application under normal temperature and high-temperature stress resulted in decreased malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage percentage, while the activity of antioxidant enzymes improved significantly. Exogenous EBR application possibly contributes to activating the nitric oxide, H(2)O(2), and ABA-dependent pathways, enhancing the biosynthesis of abscisic acid and auxin, and regulating the signal transduction pathways, which raises fenugreek tolerance to high-temperature. The SQS (eightfold), SEP (2.8-fold), CAS (11-fold), SMT (17-fold), and SQS (sixfold) expression, considerably increased following EBR application (8 muM) compared to the control. Compared to the control, when the short-term (6 h) high-temperature stress was accompanied by EBR (8 muM), a sixfold increase in diosgenin content was achieved. Our findings highlight the potential role of exogenous 24-epibrassinolide in mitigating the high-temperature stress in fenugreek by stimulating the biosynthesis processes of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, chlorophylls, and diosgenin. In conclusion, the current results could be of utmost importance in breeding or biotechnology-based programs of fenugreek and also in the researches related to the engineering of the biosynthesis pathway of diosgenin in this valuable plant.
PMID: 37095206
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2023 Mar , V13 (1) : P5173 doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-32063-z
Design and synthesis of strong root gravitropism inhibitors with no concomitant growth inhibition.
Division of Plant Environmental Responses, National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan.; Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, 816-8580, Japan.; Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, 816-8580, Japan.; Department of Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.; International Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8, Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan.; Institute of Biological Control, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.; Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, 816-8580, Japan. shindo@cm.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
Herein, we describe a highly potent gravitropic bending inhibitor with no concomitant growth inhibition. Previously, we reported that (2Z,4E)-5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid (ku-76) selectively inhibits root gravitropic bending of lettuce radicles at 5 muM. Based on the structure-activity relationship study of ku-76 as a lead compound, we designed and synthesized various C4-substituted analogs of ku-76. Among the analogs, 4-phenylethynyl analog exhibited the highest potency for gravitropic bending inhibition, which was effective at only 0.01 muM. Remarkably, 4-phenylethynyl analog is much more potent than the known inhibitor, NPA. Substitution in the para position on the aromatic ring of 4-phenylethynyl group was tolerated without diminished activity. In addition, evaluation using Arabidopsis indicated that 4-phenylethynyl analog inhibits gravitropism by affecting auxin distribution in the root tips. Based on the effects on Arabidopsis phenotypes, 4-phenylethynyl analog may be a novel inhibitor that differs in action from the previously reported auxin transport inhibitors.
PMID: 36997582
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2023 Mar , V13 (1) : P5002 doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31278-4
Long term nitrogen deficiency alters expression of miRNAs and alters nitrogen metabolism and root architecture in Indian dwarf wheat (Triticum sphaerococcum Perc.) genotypes.
Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, India.; Division of Genetics, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, India.; Division of Germplasm Evaluation, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, India.; Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, India. lekshmyrnair@gmail.com.
The important roles of plant microRNAs (miRNAs) in adaptation to nitrogen (N) deficiency in different crop species especially cereals (rice, wheat, maize) have been under discussion since last decade with little focus on potential wild relatives and landraces. Indian dwarf wheat (Triticum sphaerococcum Percival) is an important landrace native to the Indian subcontinent. Several unique features, especially high protein content and resistance to drought and yellow rust, make it a very potent landrace for breeding. Our aim in this study is to identify the contrasting Indian dwarf wheat genotypes based on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen deficiency tolerance (NDT) traits and the associated miRNAs differentially expressed under N deficiency in selected genotypes. Eleven Indian dwarf wheat genotypes and a high NUE bread wheat genotype (for comparison) were evaluated for NUE under control and N deficit field conditions. Based on NUE, selected genotypes were further evaluated under hydroponics and miRNome was compared by miRNAseq under control and N deficit conditions. Among the identified, differentially expressed miRNAs in control and N starved seedlings, the target gene functions were associated with N metabolism, root development, secondary metabolism and cell-cycle associated pathways. The key findings on miRNA expression, changes in root architecture, root auxin abundance and changes in N metabolism reveal new information on the N deficiency response of Indian dwarf wheat and targets for genetic improvement of NUE.
PMID: 36973317
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2023 Mar , V13 (1) : P4574 doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31804-4
Transcriptome and physiological analyses reveal new insights into delayed incompatibility formed by interspecific grafting.
College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China.; Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.; Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.; College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China. xrwang@gzu.edu.cn.
Pinus elliottii used as rootstock instead of homologous rootstock, have been proved to accelerate early growth of the scion (Pinus massoniana), for cultivation of large diameter wood. However, the basal diameter of scions in heterologous grafts was significantly smaller than self-graft 10 years later, according to field investigation, which was opposed to cultivation objectives. Although advantage of heterologous grafts has been reported, less is known about the long term effect of heterologous rootstock on scions of P. massoniana. The aim of present study was to investigate the mechanism of the above difference. Toward this aim, the growth traits and physiological characteristics of scions in the two graft groups were studied, and the underlying mechanism was preliminarily explored through transcriptome sequencing technology. Results showed that scions of heterologous grafts had less TSCA compared to self-grafts, while no significant difference of plant height, number of branches and canopy volume between two graft groups. Besides, scion leaves of heterologous grafts displayed higher antioxidant enzyme activity and lower chlorophyll content. And interactions between rootstocks and scions had also changed the mineral element composition of scion leaves. Compared with homologous grafts, scion leaves of heterologous grafts accumulated more K(+), Mg(2+) and Zn(2+), but less Ca(2+),which have been proved to be conducive to the growth of stem diameter of P. massoniana. Moreover, a comparative transcriptome analysis of two graft groups showed that DEGs between them were mainly caused by the specificity of rootstock. GO and KEGG analysis found that heterologous rootstock had different gene expression preferences, and the gene expression level between rootstocks and scions were significantly different, such as auxin auxin-related genes and stress responsive genes. That may imply that auxin pathway played an important role not only in grafting healing process, but also in maintaining the growth between scion and stock. Summary of all above results, we concluded that the long term effect of heterologous rootstock on scions may be unsatisfactory with the later rapidly growth of scion, probably due to delayed graft incompatibility between scion and stock of heterologous grafts. This study may remind us that the long-term growth of the scion deserves attention as well as the healing process, which could also provide a basis for delayed graft incompatibility.
PMID: 36941326
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2023 Mar , V13 (1) : P4289 doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31466-2
Effect of redroot pigweed interference on antioxidant enzyme and light response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) depends on cultivars and growth stages.
Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.; Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran. z.tahmasebi@ilam.ac.ir.; Agricultural Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) is an important weed that is highly competitive with common bean. Photosynthetic pigments, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the relative expression of a number of antioxidant enzyme and light response genes, were studied in three of common bean cultivars and in V4 and R7 stages under Redroot Pigweed free and infested. The presence of weeds reduced the content of chlorophyll, relative chlorophyll and anthocyanin of common bean leaves. With the increase of weed competition, the expression of antioxidant genes and enzymes increased, which indicates the increase of their activity in order to reduce the amount of reactive oxygen species. Among the studied antioxidant enzymes, the activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase produced in the leaves was higher than that of superoxide dismutase. With the increase of weed interference, the expression of phytochrome interacting factor 3 (PIF3) gene as a positive regulator of light signals is increased and the expression of phytochrome rapidly regulated1 (PAR1) gene as a negative regulator is decreased. Chlorophyll a/b-binding protein (CAB1) and auxin-responsive protein IAA8 (IAA8) genes also down-regulated with increasing competition. Along with the decrease of CAB expression in the conditions of competition with weeds, the chlorophyll a, b content also decreased. Correlation between gene expression and physiological traits related to them highlights the prominent role of CWCP in maintaining yield potential.
PMID: 36922550
Ann Bot , IF:4.357 , 2023 Apr , V131 (3) : P475-490 doi: 10.1093/aob/mcac161
Specificity in root domain accumulation of Phytoglobin1 and nitric oxide (NO) determines meristematic viability in water-stressed Brassica napus roots.
Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada.; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Drought reduces plant productivity, especially in the susceptible species Brassica napus. Water stress, mimicked by applications of 10 % polyethylene glycol (PEG), elevates nitric oxide (NO) in root cells after a few hours, contributing to degradation of the root apical meristems (RAMs), the function of which relies on auxin and brassinosteroids (BRs). Phytoglobins (Pgbs) are effective NO scavengers induced by this stress. This study examines the effects of BnPgb1 dysregulation in dehydrating B. napus roots, and the spatiotemporal relationship between Pgb1 and activities of auxin and BRs in the regulation of the RAM. METHODS: Brassica napus lines over-expressing [BnPgb1(S)] or down-regulating [BnPgb1(RNAi)] BnPgb1 were exposed to PEG-induced water stress. The localization of BnPgb1, NO, auxin and PIN1 were analysed during the first 48 h, while the expression level of biosynthetic auxin and BR genes was measured during the first 24 h. Pharmacological treatments were conducted to assess the requirement of auxin and BR in dehydrating roots. KEY RESULTS: During PEG stress, BnPgb1 protein accumulated preferentially in the peripheral domains of the root elongation zone, exposing the meristem to NO, which inhibits polar auxin transport (PAT), probably by interfering with PIN1 localization and the synthesis of auxin. Diminished auxin at the root tip depressed the synthesis of BR and caused the degradation of the RAMs. The strength of BnPgb1 signal in the elongation zone was increased in BnPgb1(S) roots, where NO was confined to the most apical cells. Consequently, PAT and auxin synthesis were retained, and the definition of RAMs was maintained. Auxin preservation of the RAM required BRs, although BRs alone was not sufficient to fully rescue drought-damaged RAMs in auxin-depleted environments. CONCLUSIONS: The tissue-specific localization of BnPgb1 and NO determine B. napus root responses to water stress. A model is proposed in which auxin and BRs act as downstream components of BnPgb1 signalling in the preservation of RAMs in dehydrating roots.
PMID: 36571296
Foods , IF:4.35 , 2023 Apr , V12 (8) doi: 10.3390/foods12081648
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Genes Associated with the Regulation of Peach Fruit Softening and Senescence during Storage.
Institute of Pomology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China.; College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) is a highly desirable fruit that is consumed around the world. However, the peach fruit is highly perishable after harvest, a characteristic that limits the distribution and supply to the market and causes heavy economic losses. Thus, peach fruit softening and senescence after harvest urgently need to be addressed. In the current study, transcriptomic analysis was performed to identify candidate genes associated with peach fruit softening and senescence, comparing peach fruit from cultivars with different flesh textures, namely melting and stony hard (SH) flesh textures during storage at room temperature. The mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway-plant and plant hormone signal transduction pathways were associated with peach fruit softening and senescence according to the Venn diagram analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. The expression levels of seven genes, including Prupe.1G034300, Prupe.2G176900, Prupe.3G024700, Prupe.3G098100, Prupe.6G226100, Prupe.7G234800, and Prupe.7G247500, were higher in melting peach fruit than in SH peach fruit during storage. Furthermore, the SH peach fruit softened rapidly after 1-naphthylacetic acid treatment, during which the levels of expression of these seven genes, determined by a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, were strongly induced and upregulated. Thus, these seven genes may play essential roles in regulating peach fruit softening and senescence.
PMID: 37107443
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2023 Apr , V198 : P107683 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107683
Cytokinins act synergistically with heat acclimation to enhance rice thermotolerance affecting hormonal dynamics, gene expression and volatile emission.
Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 263, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: prerostova@ueb.cas.cz.; Laboratory of Plant Biotechnologies, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 313, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: rezek@ueb.cas.cz.; Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 263, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: jarosova@ueb.cas.cz.; Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 263, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: lacek@ueb.cas.cz.; Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 263, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: dobrev@ueb.cas.cz.; Laboratory of Plant Biotechnologies, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 313, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: marsik@ueb.cas.cz.; Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 263, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: gaudinova@ueb.cas.cz.; Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 263, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: knirsch@ueb.cas.cz.; Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic; Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic. Electronic address: karel.dolezal@upol.cz.; Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic; Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic. Electronic address: lucie.plihalova@upol.cz.; Laboratory of Plant Biotechnologies, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 313, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: vanek@ueb.cas.cz.; Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. Electronic address: jkieber@bio.unc.edu.; Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 263, 165 02, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: vankova@ueb.cas.cz.
Heat stress is a frequent environmental constraint. Phytohormones can significantly affect plant thermotolerance. This study compares the effects of exogenous cytokinin meta-topolin-9-(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)purine (mT9THP) on rice (Oryza sativa) under control conditions, after acclimation by moderate temperature (A; 37 degrees C, 2h), heat stress (HS; 45 degrees C, 6h) and their combination (AHS). mT9THP is a stable cytokinin derivative that releases active meta-topolin gradually, preventing the rapid deactivation reported after exogenous cytokinin application. Under control conditions, mT9THP negatively affected jasmonic acid in leaves and abscisic and salicylic acids in crowns (meristematic tissue crucial for tillering). Exogenous cytokinin stimulated the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC), especially 2,3-butanediol. Acclimation upregulated trans-zeatin, expression of stress- and hormone-related genes, and VOC emission. The combination of acclimation and mT9THP promoted the expression of stress markers and antioxidant enzymes and moderately increased VOC emission, including 2-ethylhexyl salicylate or furanones. AHS and HS responses shared some common features, namely, increase of ethylene precursor aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), cis-zeatin and cytokinin methylthio derivatives, as well as the expression of heat shock proteins, alternative oxidases, and superoxide dismutases. AHS specifically induced jasmonic acid and auxin indole-3-acetic acid levels, diacylglycerolipids with fewer double bonds, and VOC emissions [e.g., acetamide, lipoxygenase (LOX)-derived volatiles]. Under direct HS, exogenous cytokinin mimicked some positive acclimation effects. The combination of mT9THP and AHS had the strongest thermo-protective effect, including a strong stimulation of VOC emissions (including LOX-derived ones). These results demonstrate for the first time the crucial contribution of volatiles to the beneficial effects of cytokinin and AHS on rice thermotolerance.
PMID: 37062127
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int , IF:4.223 , 2023 Apr , V30 (17) : P49290-49300 doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-25777-0
Nicosulfuron stress on the glyoxalase system and endogenous hormone content in sweet maize seedlings.
Institute of Maize and Featured Upland Crops, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dongyang, 322100, China.; College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology, Hebei Normal University of Science &Technology, Qinhuangdao, 066000, China.; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Specialty Maize, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 201106, China.; Institute of Maize and Featured Upland Crops, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dongyang, 322100, China. lvgh@zaas.ac.cn.
To reduce the harmful effects of nicosulfuron on sweet corn, the physiological regulation mechanism of sweet corn detoxification was studied. This study analyzed the effects of nicosulfuron stress on the glyoxalase system, hormone content, and key gene expression of nicosulfuron-tolerant "HK301" and nicosulfuron-sensitive "HK320" sweet corn seedling sister lines. After spraying nicosulfuron, the methylglyoxal (MG) content in HK301 increased first and then decreased. Glyoxalase I (GlyI) and glyoxalase II (GlyII) activities, non-enzymatic glutathione (GSH), and the glutathione redox state glutathione/(glutathione + glutathione disulfide) (GSH/(GSH + GSSG)) showed a similar trend as the MG content. Abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), and zeatin nucleoside (ZR) also increased first and then decreased, whereas the auxin (IAA) increased continuously. In HK301, all indices after spraying nicosulfuron were significantly greater than those of the control. In HK320, MG accumulation continued to increase after nicosulfuron spraying and GlyI and GlyII activities, and GSH first increased and then decreased after 1 day of stress. The indicators above were significantly greater than the control. The GSH/(GSH + GSSG) ratio showed a decreasing trend and was significantly smaller than the control. Furthermore, ABA and IAA continued to increase, and the GA and ZR first increased and then decreased. Compared with HK320, HK301 significantly upregulated the transcription levels of GlyI and GlyII genes in roots, stems, and leaves. Comprehensive analysis showed that sweet maize seedlings improved their herbicide resistance by changing the glyoxalase system and regulating endogenous hormones. The results provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the response mechanism of the glyoxalase system and the regulation characteristics of endogenous hormones in maize under nicosulfuron stress.
PMID: 36773263
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2023 Apr , V23 (1) : P176 doi: 10.1186/s12870-023-04168-0
Uncovering early transcriptional regulation during adventitious root formation in Medicago sativa.
School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.; Beijing Tide Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Beijing, 100176, China.; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6001, Australia.; School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China. chaoyuehui@bjfu.edu.cn.; College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources (IMAU), Ministry of Education, Hohhot, 010021, China. zhaoyannmg@163.com.
BACKGROUND: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) as an important legume plant can quickly produce adventitious roots (ARs) to form new plants by cutting. But the regulatory mechanism of AR formation in alfalfa remains unclear. RESULTS: To better understand the rooting process of alfalfa cuttings, plant materials from four stages, including initial separation stage (C stage), induction stage (Y stage), AR primordium formation stage (P stage) and AR maturation stage (S stage) were collected and used for RNA-Seq. Meanwhile, three candidate genes (SAUR, VAN3 and EGLC) were selected to explore their roles in AR formation. The numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of Y-vs-C (9,724) and P-vs-Y groups (6,836) were larger than that of S-vs-P group (150), indicating highly active in the early AR formation during the complicated development process. Pathways related to cell wall and sugar metabolism, root development, cell cycle, stem cell, and protease were identified, indicating that these genes were involved in AR production. A large number of hormone-related genes associated with the formation of alfalfa ARs have also been identified, in which auxin, ABA and brassinosteroids are thought to play key regulatory roles. Comparing with TF database, it was found that AP2/ERF-ERF, bHLH, WRKY, NAC, MYB, C2H2, bZIP, GRAS played a major regulatory role in the production of ARs of alfalfa. Furthermore, three identified genes showed significant promotion effect on AR formation. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulation of stem basal cells in alfalfa by cutting induced AR production through the regulation of various hormones, transcription factors and kinases. This study provides new insights of AR formation in alfalfa and enriches gene resources in crop planting and cultivation.
PMID: 37016323
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2023 Mar , V23 (1) : P128 doi: 10.1186/s12870-023-04142-w
Lateral metabolome study reveals the molecular mechanism of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in Chinese cabbage.
Lijiang Teachers College, Lijiang, 674199, China.; Institute of Horticultural Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650205, China.; Institute of Horticultural Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650205, China. yyshjm@126.com.
BACKGROUND: Chinese cabbage is one of the most widely grown leafy vegetables in China. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited trait that produces abnormal pollen during anther development, which is commonly seen in cruciferous vegetables. However, the molecular mechanism of Chinese cabbage CMS is not clear. In this study, the metabolome and hormone profiles of Chinese cabbage male sterile line (CCR20000) and sterile maintainer line (CCR20001) were analyzed in flower buds during normal stamen development and abnormal stamen development, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 556 metabolites were detected based on UPLC-MS/MS detection platform and database search, and the changes of hormones such as auxin, cytokinins, abscisic acid, jasmonates, salicylic acid, gibberellin acid and ethylene were analyzed. The results showed that compared with the male fertile line (MF), the male sterile line (MS) significantly decreased the content of flavonoids and phenolamides metabolites in the stamen dysplasia stage, accompanied by a large accumulation of glucosinolate metabolites. Meanwhile, the contents of GA9, GA20, IBA, tZ and other hormones in MS were significantly lower than those in MF strains. Further, by comparing the metabolome changes of MF and MS during stamen dysplasia, it was found that flavonoid metabolites and amino acid metabolites were distinctly different. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that flavonoids, phenolamides and glucosinolate metabolites may be closely related to the sterility of MS strains. This study provides an effective basis for further research on the molecular mechanism of CMS in Chinese cabbage.
PMID: 36882696
Anal Bioanal Chem , IF:4.142 , 2023 Mar , V415 (7) : P1385-1393 doi: 10.1007/s00216-023-04529-6
A 3D-printed analytical device seamlessly integrating sample treatment for electrochemical detection of IAA in Marchantia polymorpha.
School of Public Health, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Rd., Nantong, 226019, Jiangsu, China.; National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. liuwu@cemps.ac.cn.; School of Public Health, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Rd., Nantong, 226019, Jiangsu, China. hxl362349@ntu.edu.cn.; School of Public Health, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Rd., Nantong, 226019, Jiangsu, China. ningbao@ntu.edu.cn.
Because of the pivotal point of Marchantia polymorpha (M. polymorpha) in plant evolution, its auxin (mainly indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) levels could provide useful evidence for the study of the evolution of IAA. However, M. polymorpha could not be easily pretreated for electrochemical detection because they are at the entry level of land plants. Herein, we designed a three-dimensional (3D)-printed analytical device for seamless integration of sample treatment and electrochemical detection. Specifically, the electrochemical cell could be used as a mortar in which a tiny plant sample could be ground with a 3D-printed pestle, followed by mixing with the buffer solution under vibration for electrochemical detection of IAA with a disposable working electrode at the bottom of the cell. Using our strategy, the limits of quantification could reach 0.05 mumol L(-1) after optimization of parameters. We were able to demonstrate that IAA in different tissues of wild-type and mutant M. polymorpha could be successfully differentiated after they were treated with the 3D-printed analytical device. The obtained results were comparable to the samples blended with zirconium beads while the differences of IAA levels in different tissues of M. polymorpha agreed well with previous reports. This study suggested the potential of sample treatment integrated with electrochemical detection for analysis of IAA using the 3D printing techniques and their possible applications in the research of plants and other fields.
PMID: 36705731
Microorganisms , IF:4.128 , 2023 Mar , V11 (3) doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11030764
Strain Streptomyces sp. P-56 Produces Nonactin and Possesses Insecticidal, Acaricidal, Antimicrobial and Plant Growth-Promoting Traits.
All-Russia Institute of Plant Protection, Podbelskogo Sh. 3, Pushkin, Saint-Petersburg 196608, Russia.; All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Podbelskogo Sh. 3, Pushkin, Saint-Petersburg 196608, Russia.; Alferov Federal State Budgetary Institution of Higher Education and Science Saint Petersburg National Research Academic University of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Khlopin Str., 8/3-A, Saint-Petersburg 194021, Russia.; Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University, Polytechnicheskaya, 29, Saint-Petersburg 195251, Russia.
Streptomycetes produce a huge variety of bioactive metabolites, including antibiotics, enzyme inhibitors, pesticides and herbicides, which offer promise for applications in agriculture as plant protection and plant growth-promoting products. The aim of this report was to characterize the biological activities of strain Streptomyces sp. P-56, previously isolated from soil as an insecticidal bacterium. The metabolic complex was obtained from liquid culture of Streptomyces sp. P-56 as dried ethanol extract (DEE) and possessed insecticidal activity against vetch aphid (Medoura viciae Buckt.), cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glov.), green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sulz.), pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harr.) and crescent-marked lily aphid (Neomyzus circumflexus Buckt.), as well as two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Insecticidal activity was associated with production of nonactin, which was purified and identified using HPLC-MS and crystallographic techniques. Strain Streptomyces sp. P-56 also showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against various phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi (mostly for Clavibacfer michiganense, Alternaria solani and Sclerotinia libertiana), and possessed a set of plant growth-promoting traits, such as auxin production, ACC deaminase and phosphate solubilization. The possibilities for using this strain as a biopesticide producer and/or biocontrol and a plant growth-promoting microorganism are discussed.
PMID: 36985337
Planta , IF:4.116 , 2023 Apr , V257 (5) : P94 doi: 10.1007/s00425-023-04126-y
Novel insights into maize (Zea mays) development and organogenesis for agricultural optimization.
Crop Genesis and Novel Agronomy Center, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China. zhiyinzl@163.com.; Shandong ZhongnongTiantai Seed Co., Ltd, Pingyi, 273300, Shandong, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China. clwu@sdau.edu.cn.; College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China. clwu@sdau.edu.cn.
In maize, intrinsic hormone activities and sap fluxes facilitate organogenesis patterning and plant holistic development; these hormone movements should be a primary focus of developmental biology and agricultural optimization strategies. Maize (Zea mays) is an important crop plant with distinctive life history characteristics and structural features. Genetic studies have extended our knowledge of maize developmental processes, genetics, and molecular ecophysiology. In this review, the classical life cycle and life history strategies of maize are analyzed to identify spatiotemporal organogenesis properties and develop a definitive understanding of maize development. The actions of genes and hormones involved in maize organogenesis and sex determination, along with potential molecular mechanisms, are investigated, with findings suggesting central roles of auxin and cytokinins in regulating maize holistic development. Furthermore, investigation of morphological and structural characteristics of maize, particularly node ubiquity and the alternate attachment pattern of lateral organs, yields a novel regulatory model suggesting that maize organ initiation and subsequent development are derived from the stimulation and interaction of auxin and cytokinin fluxes. Propositions that hormone activities and sap flow pathways control organogenesis are thoroughly explored, and initiation and development processes of distinctive maize organs are discussed. Analysis of physiological factors driving hormone and sap movement implicates cues of whole-plant activity for hormone and sap fluxes to stimulate maize inflorescence initiation and organ identity determination. The physiological origins and biogenetic mechanisms underlying maize floral sex determination occurring at the tassel and ear spikelet are thoroughly investigated. The comprehensive outline of maize development and morphogenetic physiology developed in this review will enable farmers to optimize field management and will provide a reference for de novo crop domestication and germplasm improvement using genome editing biotechnologies, promoting agricultural optimization.
PMID: 37031436
Planta , IF:4.116 , 2023 Mar , V257 (5) : P88 doi: 10.1007/s00425-023-04121-3
The Arabidopsis Phytoglobin 2 mediates phytochrome B (phyB) light signaling responses during somatic embryogenesis.
Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.; Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada. stasolla@ms.umanitoba.ca.
During the light induction of somatic embryogenesis, phyB-Pfr suppresses Phytoglobin 2, known to elevate nitric oxide (NO). NO depresses Phytochrome Interacting Factor 4 (PIF4) relieving its inhibition on embryogenesis through auxin. An obligatory step of many in vitro embryogenic systems is the somatic-embryogenic transition culminating with the formation of the embryogenic tissue. In Arabidopsis, this transition requires light and is facilitated by high levels of nitric oxide (NO) generated by either suppression of the NO scavenger Phytoglobin 2 (Pgb2), or its removal from the nucleus. Using a previously characterized induction system regulating the cellular localization of Pgb2, we demonstrated the interplay between phytochrome B (phyB) and Pgb2 during the formation of embryogenic tissue. The deactivation of phyB in the dark coincides with the induction of Pgb2 known to reduce the level of NO; consequently, embryogenesis is inhibited. Under light conditions, the active form of phyB depresses the levels of Pgb2 transcripts, thus expecting an increase in cellular NO. Induction of Pgb2 increases Phytochrome Interacting Factor 4 (PIF4) suggesting that high levels of NO repress PIF4. The PIF4 inhibition is sufficient to induce several auxin biosynthetic (CYP79B2, AMI1, and YUCCA 1, 2, and 6) and response (ARF5, 8, and 16) genes, conducive to the formation of the embryonic tissue and production of somatic embryos. Auxin responses mediated by ARF10 and 17 appear to be regulated by Pgb2, possibly through NO, in a PIF4-independent fashion. Overall, this work provides a new and preliminary model integrating Pgb2 (and NO) with phyB in the light regulation of in vitro embryogenesis.
PMID: 36976396
Membranes (Basel) , IF:4.106 , 2023 Apr , V13 (4) doi: 10.3390/membranes13040406
Multifractal Analysis of the Influence of Indole-3-Acetic Acid on Fast-Activating Vacuolar (FV) Channels of Beta vulgaris L. Taproot Cells.
Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Wroclaw, 50-204 Wroclaw, Poland.; Physics and Biophysics Department, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.; Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-032 Katowice, Poland.
In this paper, the multifractal properties of the ion current time series in the fast-activating vacuolar (FV) channels of Beta vulgaris L. taproot cells were investigated. These channels are permeable for only monovalent cations and mediate K(+) at very low concentrations of cytosolic Ca(2+) and large voltages of either polarity. Using the patch clamp technique, the currents of the FV channels in red beet taproot vacuoles were recorded and analysed by using the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) method. The activity of the FV channels depended on the external potential and was sensitive to the auxin. It was also shown that the singularity spectrum of the ion current in the FV channels is non-singular, and the multifractal parameters, i.e., the generalised Hurst exponent and the singularity spectrum, were modified in the presence of IAA. Taking into account the obtained results, it can be suggested that the multifractal properties of fast-activating vacuolar (FV) K(+) channels, indicating the existence of long-term memory, should be taken into account in the molecular mechanism of the auxin-induced growth of plant cells.
PMID: 37103833
Genes (Basel) , IF:4.096 , 2023 Mar , V14 (4) doi: 10.3390/genes14040794
Genetic Diversity in Natural Populations of Rhodiola Species of Different Adaptation Strategies.
Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan.; Institute of Genetic and Physiology, Al-Farabi Avenue 93, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan.; National Center for Biotechnology, Qorghalzhyn Hwy 13, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.; Astana International University, Kabanbai Batyr 8, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.; Astana Botanical Garden, Orunbur 16, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.; National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave., Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Representatives of the Crassulaceae family's genus Rhodiola are succulents, making them distinctive in a changing environment. One of the most significant tools for analyzing plant resources, including numerous genetic processes in wild populations, is the analysis of molecular genetic polymorphism. This work aimed to look at the polymorphisms of allelic variations of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and auxin response factor (ARF) gene families, as well as the genetic diversity of five Rhodiola species, using the retrotransposons-based fingerprinting approach. The multi-locus exon-primed intron-crossing (EPIC-PCR) profiling approach was used to examine allelic variations in the SOD and ARF gene families. We implemented the inter-primer binding site (iPBS) PCR amplification technique for genome profiling, which demonstrated a significant level of polymorphism in the Rhodiola samples studied. Natural populations of Rhodiola species have a great capacity for adaptation to unfavorable environmental influences. The genetic variety of wild populations of Rhodiola species leads to their improved tolerance of opposing environmental circumstances and species evolutionary divergence based on the diversity of reproductive systems.
PMID: 37107552
Genes (Basel) , IF:4.096 , 2023 Mar , V14 (3) doi: 10.3390/genes14030766
Floral Development Stage-Specific Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Formation Mechanism of Different Shapes of Ray Florets in Chrysanthemum.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Education Ministry, School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
The formation mechanism of different ray floret shapes of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) remains elusive due to its complex genetic background. C. vestitum, with the basic ray floret shapes of the flat, spoon, and tubular types, is considered a model material for studying ray floret morphogenesis. In this study, the flat and tubular type lines of C. vestitum at specific stages were used to investigate the key genes that regulate morphological differences in ray florets. We found that the expression levels of genes related to auxin synthesis, transport, and response were generally higher in the tubular type than in the flat type. CvARF3 was highly expressed in the flat type, while CvARF5 and CvARF6 were highly expressed in the tubular type. Additionally, the transcription levels of Class B and E genes closely related to petal development, including CvPI, CvAP3, Cvdefh21, CvSEP3, and CvCDM77, were expressed at higher levels in the tubular type than the flat type. Based on the results, it is proposed that auxin plays a key role in the development of ray florets, and auxin-related genes, especially CvARFs, may be key genes to control the morphological difference of ray florets. Simultaneously, MADS-box genes are involved in the co-regulation of ray floret morphogenesis. The results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of different petal type formation and lay a theoretical foundation for the directional breeding of petal type in chrysanthemums.
PMID: 36981036
Plant Mol Biol , IF:4.076 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1007/s11103-023-01354-4
Identification and transcriptome data analysis of ARF family genes in five Orchidaceae species.
International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.; Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.; Pingxiang Bamboo Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Pingxiang, Guangxi, China.; International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. hutao@icbr.ac.cn.; Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. hutao@icbr.ac.cn.; Pingxiang Bamboo Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Pingxiang, Guangxi, China. hutao@icbr.ac.cn.
The Orchidaceae is a large family of perennial herbs especially noted for the exceptional diversity of specialized flowers. Elucidating the genetic regulation of flowering and seed development of orchids is an important research goal with potential utility in orchid breeding programs. Auxin Response Factor (ARF) genes encode auxin-responsive transcription factors, which are involved in the regulation of diverse morphogenetic processes, including flowering and seed development. However, limited information on the ARF gene family in the Orchidaceae is available. In this study, 112 ARF genes were identified in the genomes of 5 orchid species (Apostasia shenzhenica, Dendrobium catenatum, Phalaenopsis aphrodite, Phalaenopsis equestris and Vanilla planifolia,). These genes were grouped into 7 subfamilies based on their phylogenetic relationships. Compared with the ARF family in model plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, one group of ARF genes involved in pollen wall synthesis has been lost during evolution of the Orchidaceae. This loss corresponds with absence of the exine in the pollinia. Through mining of the published genomic and transcriptomic data for the 5 orchid species: the ARF genes of subfamily 4 may play an important role in flower formation and plant growth, whereas those of subfamily 3 are potentially involved in pollen wall development. the study results provide novel insights into the genetic regulation of unique morphogenetic phenomena of orchids, which lay a foundation for further analysis of the regulatory mechanisms and functions of sexual reproduction-related genes in orchids.
PMID: 37103774
Plant Mol Biol , IF:4.076 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1007/s11103-023-01341-9
Coordination of floral and fiber development in cotton (Gossypium) by hormone- and flavonoid-signalling associated regulatory miRNAs.
School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201312, India.; Center for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, India.; School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201312, India. bhupendra@gbu.ac.in.
Various plant development activities and stress responses are tightly regulated by various microRNAs (miRNA) and their target genes, or transcription factors in a spatiotemporal manner. Here, to exemplify how flowering-associated regulatory miRNAs synchronize their expression dynamics during floral and fiber development in cotton, constitutive expression diminution transgenic lines of auxin-signaling regulatory Gh-miR167 (35S-MIM167) were developed through target mimicry approach. 'Moderate' (58% to 80%)- and 'high' (> 80%)-Gh-miR167 diminution mimic lines showed dosage-dependent developmental deformities in anther development, pollen maturation, and fruit (= boll) formation. Cross pollination of 'moderate' 35S-MIM167 mimic lines with wild type (WT) plant partially restored boll formation and emergence of fiber initials on the ovule surface. Gh-miR167 diminution favored organ-specific transcription biases in miR159, miR166 as well as miR160, miR164, and miR172 along with their target genes during anther and petal development, respectively. Similarly, accumulative effect of percent Gh-miR167 diminution, cross regulation of its target ARF6/8 genes, and temporal mis-expression of hormone signaling- and flavonoid biosynthesis-associated regulatory miRNAs at early fiber initiation stage caused irregular fiber formation. Spatial and temporal transcription proportions of regulatory miRNAs were also found crucial for the execution of hormone- and flavonoid-dependent progression of floral and fiber development. These observations discover how assorted regulatory genetic circuits get organized in response to Gh-miR167 diminution and converge upon ensuing episodes of floral and fiber development in cotton.
PMID: 37067671
Phytopathology , IF:4.025 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-08-22-0305-R
Molecular characterisation of defence of Brassica napus (Oilseed rape) to Rhizoctonia solani AG2-1 confirmed by functional analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
University of Nottingham, 6123, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; isabelle.sims@nottingham.ac.uk.; University of Nottingham, 6123, Sutton Bonington campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, LE12 5RD; dasuni.jayaweera@nottingham.ac.uk.; University of Nottingham, 6123, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; kamal.swarup@nottingham.ac.uk.; University of Nottingham, 6123, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Rumiana.Ray@nottingham.ac.uk.
Rhizoctonia solani is a necrotrophic, soil-borne fungal pathogen associated with significant establishment losses in Brassica napus (Oilseed Rape; OSR). The Anastomosis Group (AG) 2-1 of R. solani is most virulent to OSR, causing damping-off, root and hypocotyl rot, and seedling death. Resistance to R. solani AG2-1 in OSR has not been identified, and the regulation of OSR defence to its adapted pathogen, AG2-1, has not been investigated. In this work, we used confocal microscopy to visualise the progress of infection by sclerotia of AG2-1 on B. napus varieties with contrasting disease phenotypes. We defined their defence response using gene expression studies and functional analysis with Arabidopsis thaliana mutants. Our results showed existing variation in susceptibility to AG2-1 and plant growth between OSR varieties, and differential expression of genes of hormonal and defence pathways related to auxin, ethylene, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and reactive oxygen species regulation. Auxin, abscisic acid signalling, and the MYC2 branch of jasmonate signalling contributed to susceptibility to AG2-1, whilst induced systemic resistance was enhanced by NAPDH RBOHD, ethylene signalling and the ERF/PDF branch of jasmonate signalling. These results pave the way for future research, which will lead to the development of Brassica crops that are more resistant to AG2-1 of R. solani and reduce dependence on chemical control options.
PMID: 36935378
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2023 Apr , V24 (1) : P199 doi: 10.1186/s12864-023-09263-y
Genome-wide identification of Aux/IAA and ARF gene families reveal their potential roles in flower opening of Dendrobium officinale.
Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China.; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China.; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.; , Miki-Cho, Kagawa-Ken, Japan.; Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences & Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding & Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510640, China. baisong@gdaas.cn.; Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China. hechunmei2012@scbg.ac.cn.; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China. hechunmei2012@scbg.ac.cn.
BACKGROUND: The auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is a vital phytohormone that influences plant growth and development. Our previous work showed that IAA content decreased during flower development in the medicinally important orchid Dendrobium officinale, while Aux/IAA genes were downregulated. However, little information about auxin-responsive genes and their roles in D. officinale flower development exists. RESULTS: This study validated 14 DoIAA and 26 DoARF early auxin-responsive genes in the D. officinale genome. A phylogenetic analysis classified the DoIAA genes into two subgroups. An analysis of cis-regulatory elements indicated that they were related by phytohormones and abiotic stresses. Gene expression profiles were tissue-specific. Most DoIAA genes (except for DoIAA7) were sensitive to IAA (10 mumol/L) and were downregulated during flower development. Four DoIAA proteins (DoIAA1, DoIAA6, DoIAA10 and DoIAA13) were mainly localized in the nucleus. A yeast two-hybrid assay showed that these four DoIAA proteins interacted with three DoARF proteins (DoARF2, DoARF17, DoARF23). CONCLUSIONS: The structure and molecular functions of early auxin-responsive genes in D. officinale were investigated. The DoIAA-DoARF interaction may play an important role in flower development via the auxin signaling pathway.
PMID: 37055721
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Apr , V12 (8) doi: 10.3390/plants12081687
Comparative Coexpression Analysis of Indole Synthase and Tryptophan Synthase A Reveals the Independent Production of Auxin via the Cytosolic Free Indole.
Department of Biology, Faculty of science, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Maan 71111, Jordan.; Department of Agricultural Sciences, AL-Shouback University College, Al-Balqa Applied University, Maan 71911, Jordan.; Department of Applied Biology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan.
Indole synthase (INS), a homologous cytosolic enzyme of the plastidal tryptophan synthase A (TSA), has been reported as the first enzyme in the tryptophan-independent pathway of auxin synthesis. This suggestion was challenged as INS or its free indole product may interact with tryptophan synthase B (TSB) and, therefore, with the tryptophan-dependent pathway. Thus, the main aim of this research was to find out whether INS is involved in the tryptophan-dependent or independent pathway. The gene coexpression approach is widely recognized as an efficient tool to uncover functionally related genes. Coexpression data presented here were supported by both RNAseq and microarray platforms and, hence, considered reliable. Coexpression meta-analyses of Arabidopsis genome was implemented to compare between the coexpression of TSA and INS with all genes involved in the production of tryptophan via the chorismate pathway. Tryptophan synthase A was found to be coexpressed strongly with TSB1/2, anthranilate synthase A1/B1, phosphoribosyl anthranilate transferase1, as well as indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase1. However, INS was not found to be coexpressed with any target genes suggesting that it may exclusively and independently be involved in the tryptophan-independent pathway. Additionally, annotation of examined genes as ubiquitous or differentially expressed were described and subunits-encoded genes available for the assembly of tryptophan and anthranilate synthase complex were suggested. The most probable TSB subunits expected to interact with TSA is TSB1 then TSB2. Whereas TSB3 is only used under limited hormone conditions to assemble tryptophan synthase complex, putative TSB4 is not expected to be involved in the plastidial synthesis of tryptophan in Arabidopsis.
PMID: 37111910
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Apr , V12 (8) doi: 10.3390/plants12081664
Investigation of the Effect of the Auxin Antagonist PEO-IAA on Cannabinoid Gene Expression and Content in Cannabis sativa L. Plants under In Vitro Conditions.
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic.; Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic.; Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Department of Genetic Resources for Vegetables, Medicinal and Special Plants, Crop Research Institute, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic.; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
The in vitro shoot propagation of Cannabis sativa L. is an emerging research area for large-scale plant material production. However, how in vitro conditions influence the genetic stability of maintained material, as well as whether changes in the concentration and composition of secondary metabolites can be expected are aspects that need to be better understood. These features are essential for the standardised production of medicinal cannabis. This work aimed to find out whether the presence of the auxin antagonist alpha-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-1H-indole-3-acetic acid (PEO-IAA) in the culture media influenced the relative gene expression (RGE) of the genes of interest (OAC, CBCA, CBDA, THCA) and the concentrations of studied cannabinoids (CBCA, CBDA, CBC, ∆(9)-THCA, and ∆(9)-THC). Two C. sativa cultivars, 'USO-31' and 'Tatanka Pure CBD', were cultivated by in vitro conditions with PEO-IAA presence and then analysed. The RT-qPCR results indicated that even though some changes in the RGE profiles could be observed, no differences were statistically significant compared with the control variant. The results of the phytochemical analyses demonstrate that although there were some differences from the control variant, only the cultivar 'Tatanka Pure CBD' showed a statistically significant increase (at a statistical significance level alpha = 0.05) in the concentration of the cannabinoid CBDA. In conclusion, it would appear that using PEO-IAA in the culture medium is a suitable approach to improve in vitro cannabis multiplication.
PMID: 37111886
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Apr , V12 (8) doi: 10.3390/plants12081624
Exogenous Auxin and Gibberellin on Fluoride Phytoremediation by Eichhornia crassipes.
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Vicosa, Vicosa 36570-900, Brazil.; Department of Plant Biology, Federal University of Vicosa, Vicosa 36570-900, Brazil.
High rates of fluorosis were reported worldwide as a result of human consumption of water with fluoride contents. Adjusting fluoride concentration in water as recommended by the World Health Organization (<1.5 mg L(-1)) is a concern and it needs to be conducted through inexpensive, but efficient techniques, such as phytoremediation. The application of phytohormones was investigated as a strategy to improve this process. Thus, the main goal of this research was to evaluate the effect of exogenous auxin and gibberellin on the tropical duckweed Eichhornia crassipes performance for fluoride phytoremediation. Definitive screening and central composite rotatable designs were used for experiments where fluoride concentration (5~15 mg L(-1)), phosphorus concentration (1~10 mg L(-1)), and pH (5~9) were assessed as well throughout 10 days. Fluoride contents were determined in solution and plant tissues by potentiometry. Higher concentrations of fluoride reflected on greater absorptions by plants, though in relative terms removal efficiencies were quite similar for all treatments (~60%). Auxin and acidic conditions favored fluoride removals per mass of plant. Fluoride accumulated mostly in leaves and auxin probably alleviated toxic effects on E. crassipes while gibberellin showed no effect. Therefore, E. crassipes could be employed as a fluoride accumulator plant for water treatment and exogenous auxin may be used to improve the process.
PMID: 37111848
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Apr , V12 (8) doi: 10.3390/plants12081594
Dissection of Developmental Programs and Regulatory Modules Directing Endosperm Transfer Cell and Aleurone Identity in the Syncytial Endosperm of Barley.
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), D-06466 Seeland, Germany.; Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), D-06466 Seeland, Germany.
Endosperm development in barley starts with the formation of a multinucleate syncytium, followed by cellularization in the ventral part of the syncytium generating endosperm transfer cells (ETCs) as first differentiating subdomain, whereas aleurone (AL) cells will originate from the periphery of the enclosing syncytium. Positional signaling in the syncytial stage determines cell identity in the cereal endosperm. Here, we performed a morphological analysis and employed laser capture microdissection (LCM)-based RNA-seq of the ETC region and the peripheral syncytium at the onset of cellularization to dissect developmental and regulatory programs directing cell specification in the early endosperm. Transcriptome data revealed domain-specific characteristics and identified two-component signaling (TCS) and hormone activities (auxin, ABA, ethylene) with associated transcription factors (TFs) as the main regulatory links for ETC specification. On the contrary, differential hormone signaling (canonical auxin, gibberellins, cytokinin) and interacting TFs control the duration of the syncytial phase and timing of cellularization of AL initials. Domain-specific expression of candidate genes was validated by in situ hybridization and putative protein-protein interactions were confirmed by split-YFP assays. This is the first transcriptome analysis dissecting syncytial subdomains of cereal seeds and provides an essential framework for initial endosperm differentiation in barley, which is likely also valuable for comparative studies with other cereal crops.
PMID: 37111818
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Apr , V12 (7) doi: 10.3390/plants12071542
Dynamics of Endogenous Auxin and Its Role in Somatic Embryogenesis Induction and Progression in Cork Oak.
Pollen Biotechnology of Crop Plants Group, Biological Research Center Margarita Salas, CIB-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.; Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Physiology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a feasible in vitro regeneration system with biotechnological applications in breeding programs, although, in many forest species, SE is highly inefficient, mainly due to their recalcitrance. On the other hand, SE represents a valuable model system for studies on cell reprogramming, totipotency acquisition, and embryogenic development. The molecular mechanisms that govern the transition of plant somatic cells to embryogenic cells are largely unknown. There is increasing evidence that auxins mediate this transition and play a key role in somatic embryo development, although data on woody species are very limited. In this study, we analyzed the dynamics and possible role of endogenous auxin during SE in cork oak (Quercus suber L.). The auxin content was low in somatic cells before cell reprogramming, while it increased after induction of embryogenesis, as revealed by immunofluorescence assays. Cellular accumulation of endogenous auxin was also detected at the later stages of somatic embryo development. These changes in auxin levels correlated with the expression patterns of the auxin biosynthesis (QsTAR2) and signaling (QsARF5) genes, which were upregulated after SE induction. Treatments with the inhibitor of auxin biosynthesis, kynurenine, reduced the proliferation of proembryogenic masses and impaired further embryo development. QsTAR2 and QsARF5 were downregulated after kynurenine treatment. Our findings indicate a key role of endogenous auxin biosynthesis and signaling in SE induction and multiplication, as well as somatic embryo development of cork oak.
PMID: 37050168
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Apr , V12 (7) doi: 10.3390/plants12071534
An Efficient Method of Pennisetum x advena 'Rubrum' Plantlets Production Using the Temporary Immersion Bioreactor Systems and Agar Cultures.
Section of Horticultural Economics, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.; Department of Biometry, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.; Department of Environmental Protection and Dendrology, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.
The aim of this study is to develop an efficient method for micropropagation of Pennisetum x advena 'Rubrum'. Agar cultures containing Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzyl-amino-purine (BAP) in various concentrations (0.5 mg/L to 2 mg/L) and a temporary immersion bioreactor system (TIS) using liquid medium MS with an addition of 1 mg/L BAP were tested. Rooting was performed using (1/2) MS medium supplemented with different auxin combinations (indole-3-butyric acid IBA and alpha-naphthalene acetic acid NAA) and activated charcoal. The TIS method was found to be the most efficient, producing 36.9 new plants within four weeks. The resulting plantlets were thin and bright green in color, with no signs of hyperhydricity. The most suitable agar medium yielded 19.5 new plants within eight weeks. For rooting, (1/2) MS supplemented with 0.5 mg/L IBA and 0.5 mg/L NAA exhibited an 84% rooting rate, whereas the addition of activated charcoal inhibited rooting.
PMID: 37050161
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Mar , V12 (7) doi: 10.3390/plants12071480
Physiological and Morphological Responses of Blackberry Seedlings to Different Nitrogen Forms.
Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.; Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-sen), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Nanjing 210014, China.
Blackberries are an emerging third-generation fruit that are popular in Europe, and specific nitrogen (N) supply is an important factor affecting their growth and development. To study the optimal N fertilizer for blackberry seedlings, no N (CK), nitrate (NO(3)(-))-N, ammonium (NH(4)(+))-N and urea were applied to one-year-old 'Ningzhi 4' blackberry plants at a key growth period (from May to August) to explore the effects of different N forms on the physiological characteristics. Correlation and principal component analysis were used to determine the relationships between various indexes. Ammonium (NH(4)(+)) or urea-fed plants had a better growth state, showed a greater plant height, biomass, SPAD values and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and photosynthesis. In addition, NH(4)(+) was beneficial to the accumulation of sugars and amino acids in leaves and roots, and promoted the transport of auxin and cytokinin to leaves. NO(3)(-) significantly inhibited root growth and increased the contents of active oxygen, malondialdehyde and antioxidants in roots. Correlation and principal component analysis showed that growth and dry matter accumulation were closely related to the antioxidant system, photosynthetic characteristics, amino acids and hormone content. Our study provides a new idea for N regulation mechanism of blackberry and proposes a scientific fertilization strategy.
PMID: 37050106
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Mar , V12 (6) doi: 10.3390/plants12061384
The Chromatin Remodeling Factor BrCHR39 Targets DNA Methylation to Positively Regulate Apical Dominance in Brassica rapa.
Henan International Joint Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource and Improvements, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.; Institute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Graduate T&R Base of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
The SHPRH (SNF2, histone linker, PHD, RING, helicase) subfamily belonging to ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor is the effective tumor-suppressor, which can polyubiquitinate PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and participate in post-replication repair in human. However, little is known about the functions of SHPRH proteins in plants. In this study, we identified a novel SHPRH member BrCHR39 and obtained BrCHR39-silenced transgenic Brassica rapa. In contrast to wild-type plants, transgenic Brassica plants exhibited a released apical dominance phenotype with semi-dwarfism and multiple lateral branches. Furthermore, a global alteration of DNA methylation in the main stem and bud appeared after silencing of BrCHR39. Based on the GO (gene ontology) functional annotation and KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) pathway analysis, the plant hormone signal transduction pathway was clearly enriched. In particular, we found a significant increase in the methylation level of auxin-related genes in the stem, whereas auxin- and cytokinin-related genes were hypomethylated in the bud of transgenic plants. In addition, further qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time PCR) analysis revealed that DNA methylation level always had an opposite trend with gene expression level. Considered together, our findings indicated that suppression of BrCHR39 expression triggered the methylation divergence of hormone-related genes and subsequently affected transcription levels to regulate the apical dominance in Brassica rapa.
PMID: 36987072
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Mar , V12 (6) doi: 10.3390/plants12061382
Evolutionary Analysis of the Melon (Cucumis melo L.) GH3 Gene Family and Identification of GH3 Genes Related to Fruit Growth and Development.
Agricultural Bioresources Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China.; Fuzhou Institute of Vegetable Science, Fuzhou 350018, China.; College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.; Crops Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, China.
The indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) auxin is an important endogenous hormone that plays a key role in the regulation of plant growth and development. In recent years, with the progression of auxin-related research, the function of the Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) gene has become a prominent research topic. However, studies focusing on the characteristics and functions of melon GH3 family genes are still lacking. This study presents a systematic identification of melon GH3 gene family members based on genomic data. The evolution of melon GH3 family genes was systematically analyzed by means of bioinformatics, and the expression patterns of the GH3 family genes in different melon tissues during different fruit developmental stages and with various levels of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) induction were analyzed with transcriptomics and RT-qPCR. The melon genome contains 10 GH3 genes distributed across seven chromosomes, and most of these genes are expressed in the plasma membrane. According to evolutionary analysis and the number of GH3 family genes, these genes can be divided into three subgroups, and they have been conserved throughout the evolution of melon. The melon GH3 gene has a wide range of expression patterns across distinct tissue types, with expression generally being higher in flowers and fruit. Through promoter analysis, we found that most cis-acting elements contained light- and IAA-responsive elements. Based on the RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses, it can be speculated that CmGH3-5, CmGH3-6 and CmGH3-7 may be involved in the process of melon fruit development. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the GH3 gene family plays an important role in the development of melon fruit. This study provides an important theoretical basis for further research on the function of the GH3 gene family and the molecular mechanism underlying the development of melon fruit.
PMID: 36987071
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Mar , V12 (6) doi: 10.3390/plants12061359
An Insight into the Biology of the Rare and Peculiar Moss Pterygoneurum sibiricum (Pottiaceae): A Conservation Physiology Approach.
Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden Jevremovac, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.; Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory Str. 1-12, 119234 Moscow, Russia.; Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Str. 4, 127276 Moscow, Russia.; Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Manesova 23, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia.
The biological features of the recently described peculiar and rare pottioid moss species Pterygoneurum sibiricum have been studied. A conservation physiology approach through in vitro axenic establishment and laboratory-controlled tests was applied to learn more about its development, physiology, and ecology. Additionally, ex situ collection for this species was established, and a micropropagation methodology was developed. The results obtained clearly document its reaction to salt stress in contrast to its sibling bryo-halophyte species P. kozlovii. The reaction to exogenously applied plant growth regulators, auxin and cytokinin, can be used in the different moss propagation phases of this species or for target structure production and development. Inference to the poorly known ecology of this species should also help in recent species records, and thus improve knowledge about its distribution and conservation.
PMID: 36987048
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Mar , V12 (6) doi: 10.3390/plants12061353
AT-Hook Transcription Factors Show Functions in Liriodendron chinense under Drought Stress and Somatic Embryogenesis.
Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.; National Germplasm Bank of Chinese fir at Fujian Yangkou Forest Farm, Shunchang 353211, China.; Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
AT-hook motif nuclear localized (AHL) is a transcription factor that can directly induce plant somatic embryogenesis without adding exogenous hormones. One of its functional domains, the AT-hook motif, has a chromatin-modifying function and participates in various cellular processes, including DNA replication and repair and gene transcription leading to cell growth. Liriodendron chinense (Hemsl.) Sargent is an important ornamental and timber tree in China. However, its low drought-resistant ability further leads to a low natural growth rate of its population. Based on bioinformatics analysis, this study identified a total of 21 LcAHLs in L. chinense. To explore the expression pattern of the AHL gene family under drought and somatic embryogenesis, we performed a systematic analysis including basic characteristics, gene structure, chromosome localization, replication event, cis-acting elements and phylogenetic analyses. According to the phylogenetic tree, the 21 LcAHL genes are divided into three separate clades (Clade I, II, and III). Cis-acting element analysis indicated the involvement of the LcAHL genes in drought, cold, light, and auxin regulation. In the generated drought stress transcriptome, a total of eight LcAHL genes showed increased expression levels, with their expression peaking at 3 h and leveling off after 1 d. Nearly all LcAHL genes were highly expressed in the process of somatic embryogenesis. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the LcAHL gene family and found that LcAHLs take part in resistance to drought stress and the development of somatic embryos. These findings will provide an important theoretical basis for understanding of the LcAHL gene function.
PMID: 36987041
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Mar , V12 (6) doi: 10.3390/plants12061328
Mycobiota of Mexican Maize Landraces with Auxin-Producing Yeasts That Improve Plant Growth and Root Development.
Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Campus Coyoacan, Universidad del Valle de Mexico, Calzada de Tlalpan 3016/3058, Coapa, Ex Hacienda Coapa, Coyoacan 04910, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.; Programa de Ecologia Genomica, Centro de Ciencias Genomicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Av. Universidad s/n, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico.; Laboratorio de Recursos Geneticos Microbianos, Centro Nacional de Recursos Geneticos-INIFAP, Boulevard de la Biodiversidad No. 400, Tepatitlan de Morelos 47600, Jalisco, Mexico.
Compared to agrochemicals, bioinoculants based on plant microbiomes are a sustainable option for increasing crop yields and soil fertility. From the Mexican maize landrace "Raza conico" (red and blue varieties), we identified yeasts and evaluated in vitro their ability to promote plant growth. Auxin production was detected from yeast isolates and confirmed using Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Inoculation tests were performed on maize, and morphological parameters were measured. Eighty-seven yeast strains were obtained (50 from blue corn and 37 from red corn). These were associated with three families of Ascomycota (Dothideaceae, Debaryomycetaceae, and Metschnikowiaceae) and five families of Basidiomycota (Sporidiobolaceae, Filobasidiaceae, Piskurozymaceae, Tremellaceae, and Rhynchogastremataceae), and, in turn, distributed in 10 genera (Clavispora, Rhodotorula, Papiliotrema, Candida, Suhomyces, Soliccocozyma, Saitozyma Holtermaniella, Naganishia, and Aeurobasidium). We identified strains that solubilized phosphate and produced siderophores, proteases, pectinases, and cellulases but did not produce amylases. Solicoccozyma sp. RY31, C. lusitaniae Y11, R. glutinis Y23, and Naganishia sp. Y52 produced auxins from L-Trp (11.9-52 microg/mL) and root exudates (1.3-22.5 microg/mL). Furthermore, they stimulated the root development of A. thaliana. Inoculation of auxin-producing yeasts caused a 1.5-fold increase in maize plant height, fresh weight, and root length compared to uninoculated controls. Overall, maize landraces harbor plant growth-promoting yeasts and have the potential for use as agricultural biofertilizers.
PMID: 36987016
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Mar , V12 (6) doi: 10.3390/plants12061243
The Roles of Gibberellins in Regulating Leaf Development.
Shandong Branch of National Vegetable Improvement Center, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan 250100, China.; Graduate School, Padjadjaran University, Bandung 40132, West Java, Indonesia.; College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250100, China.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
Plant growth and development are correlated with many aspects, including phytohormones, which have specific functions. However, the mechanism underlying the process has not been well elucidated. Gibberellins (GAs) play fundamental roles in almost every aspect of plant growth and development, including cell elongation, leaf expansion, leaf senescence, seed germination, and leafy head formation. The central genes involved in GA biosynthesis include GA20 oxidase genes (GA20oxs), GA3oxs, and GA2oxs, which correlate with bioactive GAs. The GA content and GA biosynthesis genes are affected by light, carbon availability, stresses, phytohormone crosstalk, and transcription factors (TFs) as well. However, GA is the main hormone associated with BR, ABA, SA, JA, cytokinin, and auxin, regulating a wide range of growth and developmental processes. DELLA proteins act as plant growth suppressors by inhibiting the elongation and proliferation of cells. GAs induce DELLA repressor protein degradation during the GA biosynthesis process to control several critical developmental processes by interacting with F-box, PIFS, ROS, SCLl3, and other proteins. Bioactive GA levels are inversely related to DELLA proteins, and a lack of DELLA function consequently activates GA responses. In this review, we summarized the diverse roles of GAs in plant development stages, with a focus on GA biosynthesis and signal transduction, to develop new insight and an understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant development.
PMID: 36986931
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Mar , V12 (5) doi: 10.3390/plants12051176
Growth Developmental Defects of Mitochondrial Iron Transporter 1 and 2 Mutants in Arabidopsis in Iron Sufficient Conditions.
Departamento de Genetica Molecular y Microbiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile.; ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program-Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago 8331150, Chile.; Centro de Genomica y Bioinformatica, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingenieria y Tecnologia, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile.; Escuela de Biotecnologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingenieria y Tecnologia, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile.; ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building M316, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
Iron is the most abundant micronutrient in plant mitochondria, and it has a crucial role in biochemical reactions involving electron transfer. It has been described in Oryza sativa that Mitochondrial Iron Transporter (MIT) is an essential gene and that knockdown mutant rice plants have a decreased amount of iron in their mitochondria, strongly suggesting that OsMIT is involved in mitochondrial iron uptake. In Arabidopsis thaliana, two genes encode MIT homologues. In this study, we analyzed different AtMIT1 and AtMIT2 mutant alleles, and no phenotypic defects were observed in individual mutant plants grown in normal conditions, confirming that neither AtMIT1 nor AtMIT2 are individually essential. When we generated crosses between the Atmit1 and Atmit2 alleles, we were able to isolate homozygous double mutant plants. Interestingly, homozygous double mutant plants were obtained only when mutant alleles of Atmit2 with the T-DNA insertion in the intron region were used for crossings, and in these cases, a correctly spliced AtMIT2 mRNA was generated, although at a low level. Atmit1 Atmit2 double homozygous mutant plants, knockout for AtMIT1 and knockdown for AtMIT2, were grown and characterized in iron-sufficient conditions. Pleiotropic developmental defects were observed, including abnormal seeds, an increased number of cotyledons, a slow growth rate, pinoid stems, defects in flower structures, and reduced seed set. A RNA-Seq study was performed, and we could identify more than 760 genes differentially expressed in Atmit1 Atmit2. Our results show that Atmit1 Atmit2 double homozygous mutant plants misregulate genes involved in iron transport, coumarin metabolism, hormone metabolism, root development, and stress-related response. The phenotypes observed, such as pinoid stems and fused cotyledons, in Atmit1 Atmit2 double homozygous mutant plants may suggest defects in auxin homeostasis. Unexpectedly, we observed a possible phenomenon of T-DNA suppression in the next generation of Atmit1 Atmit2 double homozygous mutant plants, correlating with increased splicing of the AtMIT2 intron containing the T-DNA and the suppression of the phenotypes observed in the first generation of the double mutant plants. In these plants with a suppressed phenotype, no differences were observed in the oxygen consumption rate of isolated mitochondria; however, the molecular analysis of gene expression markers, AOX1a, UPOX, and MSM1, for mitochondrial and oxidative stress showed that these plants express a degree of mitochondrial perturbation. Finally, we could establish by a targeted proteomic analysis that a protein level of 30% of MIT2, in the absence of MIT1, is enough for normal plant growth under iron-sufficient conditions.
PMID: 36904036
Gene , IF:3.688 , 2023 Apr , V871 : P147434 doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147434
Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals hormone, transcriptional and epigenetic regulation involved in prickle formation in Zanthoxylum armatum.
Chongqing Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Biotechnology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China. Electronic address: sabrina-0810@hotmail.com.; College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China. Electronic address: Caozhengyan1998@163.com.; College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China. Electronic address: wupeiyin718@163.com.; College of Biology and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Georges University, Chongqing 404100, China. Electronic address: liuyn9523@163.com.; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Biotechnology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China. Electronic address: loujuan1981@163.com.; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Biotechnology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China. Electronic address: 18580561843@163.com.; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Biotechnology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China. Electronic address: sunxiaofan2022@163.com.; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Biotechnology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China. Electronic address: ztmysishuo@163.com.; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Biotechnology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China. Electronic address: chenzexiong1979@163.com.
Zanthoxylum armatum is an evergreen plant with high economical and medicinal values. The presence of prickles on stems and leaves is undesirable for them make picking difficult. To date, little is known of prickle formation in Z. armatum. Herein, the morphological and molecular features of prickle initiation in prickless (WC) and three types of prickly Z. armatum were characterized. Compared to WC, the levels of cytokinin and auxin were increased, while GA and JA declined in prickly Z. armatum. Transcriptome analysis identified 6258 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between prickless and prickly Z. armatum. Among them, several DEGs related to hormone metabolism and signaling, including LOG7, CKX3, AHK1, three DELLAs, six JAZs and TIR1, were candidate genes involved in prickle formation. Transcription factors associated with prickle formation were screened, including MYB6-1/MYB6-2, WER, GL3-2, SPL4/5, SOC1, and SCL32. Of them, MYB6-1 and WER might negatively regulate prickles initiation via interacting with GL3-2. Additionally, the histone acetylation and DNA methylation levels, the transcripts of histone acetyltransferase/deacetylase and DNA methyltransferases showed significant differences between prickless and prickly plants, indicating their involvements in prickle initiation. These findings illustrate the regulation of prickle formation might be mediated by phytohormones (especially cytokinin), transcription factors and epigenetic modifications in Z. armatum.
PMID: 37068692
J Plant Physiol , IF:3.549 , 2023 Apr , V283 : P153947 doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.153947
Overexpression of cotton Trihelix transcription factor GhGT-3b_A04 enhances resistance to Verticillium dahliae and affects plant growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: mhaoming666@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: zhangwenqing45@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: ljyuan0426@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: yangjiaxiang9803@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: yangsx0721@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: jiabing1814@126.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: sjkow513@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: wuman2004@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: peiwenfeng1988@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: mjj1699@126.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: 1551016063@qq.com.; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, 880033, USA. Electronic address: jinzhang@nmsu.edu.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: wangli07-2@163.com.; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China. Electronic address: yujw666@hotmail.com.
Verticillium wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that severely affects cotton fiber yield and quality. Herein, a cotton Trihelix family gene, GhGT-3b_A04, was strongly induced by the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Overexpression of the gene in Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced the plant's resistance to Verticillium wilt but inhibited the growth of rosette leaves. In addition, the primary root length, root hair number, and root hair length increased in GhGT-3b_A04-overexpressing plants. The density and length of trichomes on the rosette leaves also increased. GhGT-3b_A04 localized to the nucleus, and transcriptome analysis revealed that it induced gene expression for salicylic acid synthesis and signal transduction and activated gene expression for disease resistance. The gene expression for auxin signal transduction and trichome development was reduced in GhGT-3b_A04-overexpressing plants. Our results highlight important regulatory genes for Verticillium wilt resistance and cotton fiber quality improvement. The identification of GhGT-3b_A04 and other important regulatory genes can provide crucial reference information for future research on transgenic cotton breeding.
PMID: 36898190
J Plant Physiol , IF:3.549 , 2023 Mar , V282 : P153924 doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.153924
'Yunnan' quince rootstock promoted flower bud formation of 'Abbe Fetel' pear by altering hormone levels and PbAGL9 expression.
College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China. Electronic address: imcongliu@163.com.; College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China. Electronic address: 17835697357@139.com.; College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China. Electronic address: liushanshan215@yeah.net.; College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China. Electronic address: wangazheng0322@163.com.; College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China. Electronic address: zhongdishaonian@sina.com.; College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China. Electronic address: cqyang@nwsuaf.edu.cn.; College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China. Electronic address: wzhg001@163.com.; College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China. Electronic address: lingfxu2013@sina.com.
Flower busd formation is an important plant growth process. It has been reported that dwarfing rootstocks can significantly affect the flower bud formation of scions. In this study, we found the dwarfing rootstock 'Yunnan' quince could significantly increase the flowering rate of 'Abbe Fetel' pear scions. The RNA-sequencing data revealed significant changes in the expression of genes related to hormone pathways. Furthermore, hormone analyses indicated that 'Yunnan' quince significantly decreased the GA(3) content and increased the cytokinin/auxin ratio in 'Abbe Fetel' pear apical buds. The hormone contents were consistent with the RNA-sequencing data. Moreover, we found the flower development-related genes PbAGL9 and PbCAL-A1 were significantly upregulated and PbTFL1 was significantly downregulated in 'Abbe Fetel'/'Yunnan' quince apical buds. To further clarify the relationship between hormones and flowering-related genes, a hormone response assay was carried out. We found the expression levels of PbCAl-A1, PbTFL1 and PbAGL9 were regulated by hormones including GA(3), CPPU and NAA. Y1H and dual-luciferase assays indicated that PbAGL9 significantly decreased the promoter activity of PbTFL1. In summary, 'Yunnan' quince upregulated PbCAL-A1 and PbAGL9, and downregulated PbTFL1 expression by decreasing the GA(3) content and increasing the cytokinin/auxin ratio in 'Abbe Fetel' pear apical buds. Additionally, 'Yunnan' quince down-regulate PbTFL1 by upregulating the expression of PbAGL9, and eventually promoted floral induction in 'Abbe Fetel' pear.
PMID: 36805518
J Plant Physiol , IF:3.549 , 2023 Mar , V282 : P153929 doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.153929
PLDdelta, auxin, and H(2)O(2) mediated the allelopathic effect of cycloastragenol on root growth in Arabidopsis.
College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.; College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China. Electronic address: xbsd-yn@163.com.
Cycloastragenol (CAG) is a tetra-cyclic triterpenoid allelochemical. It has been widely studied in animals but rarely in plants. Here, we reported that a model allelochemical CAG inhibited primary root elongation of Arabidopsis by reducing the sizes of both the meristem and elongation zones. Phospholipase Ddelta(PLDdelta), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and auxin affected this process. After treatment with CAG, the expression of PLDdelta and the activity of the Phospholipase D(PLD) enzyme increased in WT. Mutants analysis demonstrated that PLDdelta negatively regulated the primary root elongation by CAG treatment. CAG treatment stimulated the accumulation of H(2)O(2) in roots. The production of H(2)O(2) was derived from cell wall peroxidase. Mutants analysis showed that PLDdelta positively regulated the production of H(2)O(2) by CAG treatment. CAG also decreased auxin content in the root tip by affecting the expression of auxin synthesis-related genes. PLDdelta was involved in the auxin reduction mediated by CAG, but H(2)O(2) did not participate in this process. In conclusion, PLDdelta, auxin, and H(2)O(2) mediated the inhibition of primary root growth by CAG in Arabidopsis.
PMID: 36724592
J Plant Physiol , IF:3.549 , 2023 Mar , V282 : P153919 doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.153919
Auxin alleviates cadmium toxicity by increasing vacuolar compartmentalization and decreasing long-distance translocation of cadmium in Poa pratensis.
College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Pratacultural Engineering Laboratory of Gansu Province, Sino-U.S. Center for Grazingland Ecosystem Sustainability, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China.; College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Pratacultural Engineering Laboratory of Gansu Province, Sino-U.S. Center for Grazingland Ecosystem Sustainability, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China. Electronic address: mahl@gsau.edu.cn.
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) hyperaccumulates cadmium (Cd) and exhibits a hypertolerance. Thus, it has potential for the phytoremediation of Cd-containing soil. Auxin signaling is involved in the response to Cd stress. However, the mechanisms of auxin-mediated detoxification and Cd translocation in plants remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of exogenous application of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on the Cd translocation, subcellular Cd distribution, chemical forms of Cd, and transcriptional regulation of Kentucky bluegrass. The results showed that the exogenous application of IAA increased the amount of organelle-bound Cd and vacuole-compartmentalized Cd in root cells, reduced the Cd concentration in the leaf tissues (epidermis, mesophyll, and vascular bundle) and root tissues (rhizodermis and cortex) but increased in the stele, and alleviate Cd-induced leaf chlorosis and growth inhibition. The expression of genes associated with Cd transporters (ABCs, ZIPs, NASs, OPTs, and YSLs), phosphatases, oxalate decarboxylases and lignin biosynthesis were significantly regulated by exogenous IAA under Cd stress. A positive regulation of phosphatases and oxalate decarboxylases genes related to an increase in phosphate- and oxalate-bound Cd, as well as a decrease in pectate- and protein-bound Cd and inorganic Cd, thereby contributing to a decrease in Cd phytotoxicity. The significant regulation of Cd transporters associated with decreasing the long-distance translocation of Cd, and the activation of lignin biosynthesis may contribute to the development of root endodermal barriers and increase the deposition of undissolved Cd phosphates and oxalate-bound Cd in the stele. These results revealed the important role of auxin in Cd detoxification and translocation in Kentucky bluegrass and they provide a theoretical basis for the phytoremediation of Cd-containing soil.
PMID: 36706576
Protoplasma , IF:3.356 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1007/s00709-023-01855-5
Genome-wide investigation of ARF transcription factor gene family and its responses to abiotic stress in Coix (Coix lacryma-jobi L.).
Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism Regulation in Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China.; Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China.; Songyang Institute of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Lishui, 323400, China.; State Key Laboratory of Dao-Di Herbs, Beijng, 100700, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism Regulation in Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China. wangdk@zstu.edu.cn.
Auxin response factor (ARF) is an important transcription factor that regulates the expression of auxin-responsive genes by direct binding to their promoters, which play a central role in plant growth, development, and response to abiotic stresses. The availability of the entire Coix (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) genome sequence provides an opportunity to investigate the characteristics and evolutionary history of the ARF gene family in this medicine and food homology plant for the first time. In this study, a total of 27 ClARF genes were identified based on the genome-wide sequence of Coix. Twenty-four of the 27 ClARF genes were unevenly distributed on 8 chromosomes except Chr 4 and 10, and the remaining three genes (ClARF25-27) were not assigned to any chromosome. Most of the ClARF proteins were predicted to be localized to the nucleus, except ClARF24, which was localized to both the plasma membrane and nucleus. Twenty-seven ClARFs were clustered into six subgroups based on the phylogenetic analysis. Duplication analysis showed that segmental duplication, rather than tandem duplications promoting the expansion of the ClARF gene family. Synteny analysis showed that purifying selection might have been a primary driving force in the development of the ARF gene family in Coix and other investigated cereal plants. The prediction of the cis element of the promoter showed that 27 ClARF genes contain several stress response elements, suggesting that ClARFs might be involved in the abiotic stress response. Expression profile analysis shows that 27 ClARF genes were all expressed in the root, shoot, leaf, kernel, glume, and male flower of Coix with varying expression levels. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analyses revealed that the majority of ClARFs members were upregulated or downregulated in response to hormone treatment and abiotic stress. The current study expands our understanding of the functional roles of ClARFs in stress responses and provides basic information for the ClARF genes.
PMID: 37041371
Protoplasma , IF:3.356 , 2023 May , V260 (3) : P955-966 doi: 10.1007/s00709-022-01826-2
Phytotoxicity and the molecular response in yttrium oxide nanoparticle-treated Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.
Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China.; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China.; Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China. jinlin_feng@163.com.; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China. jinlin_feng@163.com.; Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China. hhwrsl@163.com.; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, 030000, Shanxi, China. hhwrsl@163.com.
Due to the widespread application of rare earth oxide nanoparticles in various fields, their release into the environment is inevitable, and their potential toxicity and ecological impact have become a concern. Yttrium oxide nanoparticles are important rare earth oxide nanoparticles; however, their impact on plants and the molecular mechanism underlying their influence on plant growth and development are unclear. In this study, we found that yttrium oxide nanoparticles at concentrations exceeding 2 mM significantly inhibited the growth of Arabidopsis seedlings. Using Arabidopsis marker lines for auxin signaling, we found that the application of yttrium oxide nanoparticles resulted in disordered auxin signaling in root cells. Auxin signaling in the cells of the quiescent center and columella stem cells decreased, while auxin signaling in the cells of the stele was enhanced. In addition, trypan blue staining showed that yttrium oxide nanoparticles induced root cell death. Transcriptome analysis showed that the nanoparticles specifically inhibited the expression of lignin synthesis-related genes, activated the MAPK signaling pathway, and enhanced the ethylene and abscisic acid signaling pathways in plants. This study demonstrates the phytotoxicity of yttrium oxide nanoparticles at the molecular level in Arabidopsis, and it provides a new perspective on how plants respond to rare earth oxide stress.
PMID: 36445485
Protoplasma , IF:3.356 , 2023 May , V260 (3) : P723-739 doi: 10.1007/s00709-022-01808-4
Insights of auxin signaling F-box genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and their dynamic expression during the leaf rust infection.
Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, 835215, Jharkhand, India.; Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.; Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, 835215, Jharkhand, India. kmukhopadhyay@bitmesra.ac.in.
The TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1/AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (TIR1/AFB) protein serves as auxin receptor and links with Aux/IAA repressor protein leading to its degradation via SKP-Cullin-F box (SCF(TIR1/AFB)) complex in the auxin signaling pathway. Present study revealed 11 TIR1/AFB genes in wheat by genome-wide search using AFB HMM profile. Phylogenetic analysis clustered these genes in two classes. Several phytohormone, abiotic, and biotic stress responsive cis-elements were detected in promoter regions of TIR1/AFB genes. These genes were localized on homoeologous chromosome groups 2, 3, and 5 showing orthologous relation with other monocot plants. Most genes were interrupted by introns and the gene products were localized in cytoplasm, nucleus, and cell organelles. TaAFB3, TaAFB5, and TaAFB8 had nuclear localization signals. The evolutionary constraint suggested paralogous sister pairs and orthologous genes went through strong purifying selection process and are slowly evolving at protein level. Functional annotation revealed all TaAFB genes participated in auxin activated signaling pathway and SCF-mediated ubiquitination process. Furthermore, in silico expression study revealed their diverse expression profiles during various developmental stages in different tissues and organs as well as during biotic and abiotic stress. QRT-PCR based studies suggested distinct expression pattern of TIR1-1, TIR1-3, TaAFB1, TaAFB2, TaAFB3, TaAFB4, TaAFB5, TaAFB7, and TaAFB8 displaying maximum expression at 24 and 48 h post inoculation in both susceptible and resistant near isogenic wheat lines infected with leaf rust pathogen. Importantly, this also reflects coordinated responses in expression patterns of wheat TIR1/AFB genes during progression stages of leaf rust infection.
PMID: 36100728
Plant Biol (Stuttg) , IF:3.081 , 2023 Apr , V25 (3) : P411-419 doi: 10.1111/plb.13511
Nitric oxide, calmodulin and calcium protein kinase interactions in the response of Brassica napus to salinity stress.
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in plant metabolism and its connection with phytohormones has not been fully described, thus information about the role of this molecule in signalling pathways remains fragmented. In this study, the effects of NO on calmodulin (CAM), calcium protein kinase (CPK), content of phytohormones and secondary metabolites in canola plants under salinity stress were investigated. We applied 100 muM sodium nitroprusside as an NO source to canola plants grown under saline (100 mM NaCl) and non-saline conditions at the vegetative stage. Plant growth was negatively affected by salinity, but exogenous NO treatment improved growth. NO caused a significant increase in activity of CAT, SOD and POX through their enhanced gene expression in stressed canola. Salinity-responsive genes, namely CAM and CPK, were induced by NO in plants grown under salinity. NO application enhanced phenolic compounds, such as gallic acid and coumaric acid and flavonoid compound,s catechin, diadzein and kaempferol, in plants subjected to salinity. NO treatment enhanced abscisic acid and brassinosteroids but decreased auxin and gibberellin in stressed canola plants. The impacts of NO in improving stress tolerance in canola required CAM and CPK. Also, NO signalling re-established the phytohormone balance and resulted in enhanced tolerance to salt stress. Furthermore, NO improved salinity tolerance in canola by increasing enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant content.
PMID: 36779525
Plant Biol (Stuttg) , IF:3.081 , 2023 Mar , V25 (2) : P308-321 doi: 10.1111/plb.13489
Cold stress triggers freezing tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) via hormone regulation and transcription of related genes.
College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.
Low temperatures limit the geographic distribution and yield of plants. Hormones play an important role in coordinating the growth and development of plants and their tolerance to low temperatures. However, the mechanisms by which hormones affect plant resistance to extreme cold stress in the natural environment are still unclear. In this study, two winter wheat varieties with different cold resistances, Dn1 and J22, were used to conduct targeted plant hormone metabolome analysis on the tillering nodes of winter wheat at 5 degrees C, -10 degrees C and -25 degrees C using an LC-ESI-MS/MS system. We screened 39 hormones from 88 plant hormone metabolites and constructed a partial regulatory network of auxin, jasmonic acid and cytokinin. GO analysis and enrichment of KEGG pathways in different metabolites showed that the 'plant hormone signal transduction' pathway was the most common. Our study showed that extreme low temperature increased the most levels of auxin, cytokinin and salicylic acid, and decreased levels of jasmonic acid and abscisic acid, and that levels of auxin, jasmonic acid and cytokinin in Dn1 were higher than those in J22. These changes in hormone levels were associated with changes in gene expression in synthesis, catabolism, transport and signal transduction pathways. These results differ from the previous hormone regulation mechanisms, which were mostly obtained at 4 degrees C. Our results provide a basis for further understanding the molecular mechanisms by which plant endogenous hormones regulate plant freezing stress tolerance.
PMID: 36385725
Plant Direct , IF:3.038 , 2023 Mar , V7 (3) : Pe486 doi: 10.1002/pld3.486
Identification of new potential downstream transcriptional targets of the strigolactone pathway including glucosinolate biosynthesis.
School of Biological Sciences University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia.; ARC Centre for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia.; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Brisbane Queensland Australia.; Institute for Plant Biochemistry Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf Germany.; School of Agriculture, Food and Wine The University of Adelaide Glen Osmond South Australia Australia.
Strigolactones regulate shoot branching and many aspects of plant growth, development, and allelopathy. Strigolactones are often discussed alongside auxin because they work together to inhibit shoot branching. However, the roles and mechanisms of strigolactones and how they act independently of auxin are still elusive. Additionally, there is still much in general to be discovered about the network of molecular regulators and their interactions in response to strigolactones. Here, we conducted an experiment in Arabidopsis with physiological treatments and strigolactone mutants to determine transcriptional pathways associated with strigolactones. The three physiological treatments included shoot tip removal with and without auxin treatment and treatment of intact plants with the auxin transport inhibitor, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA). We identified the glucosinolate biosynthesis pathway as being upregulated across strigolactone mutants indicating strigolactone-glucosinolate crosstalk. Additionally, strigolactone application cannot restore the highly branched phenotype observed in glucosinolate biosynthesis mutants, placing glucosinolate biosynthesis downstream of strigolactone biosynthesis. Oxidative stress genes were enriched across the experiment suggesting that this process is mediated through multiple hormones. Here, we also provide evidence supporting non-auxin-mediated, negative feedback on strigolactone biosynthesis. Increases in strigolactone biosynthesis gene expression seen in strigolactone mutants could not be fully restored by auxin. By contrast, auxin could fully restore auxin-responsive gene expression increases, but not sugar signaling-related gene expression. Our data also point to alternative roles of the strigolactone biosynthesis genes and potential new signaling functions of strigolactone precursors. In this study, we identify a strigolactone-specific regulation of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes indicating that the two are linked and may work together in regulating stress and shoot ranching responses in Arabidopsis. Additionally, we provide evidence for non-auxinmediated feedback on strigolactone biosynthesis and discuss this in the context of sugar signaling.
PMID: 36945724
PeerJ , IF:2.984 , 2023 , V11 : Pe15212 doi: 10.7717/peerj.15212
Genome-wide identification and co-expression network analysis of Aux/IAA gene family in Salvia miltiorrhiza.
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Synthetic Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, Hunan, China.
The auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) gene family serves as a principal group of genes responsible for modulating plant growth and development through the auxin signaling pathway. Despite the significance of this gene family, the identification and characterization of members within the well-known Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza (S. miltiorrhiza) have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we employed bioinformatics methods to identify 23 Aux/IAA genes within the genome of S. miltiorrhiza. These genes were classified into typical IAA and atypical IAA based on their domain structure. Our analysis of the promoter regions revealed that the expression of these genes is regulated not only by auxins, but also by other hormones and environmental factors. Furthermore, we found that the expression patterns of these genes varied across various tissues of S. miltiorrhiza. While our initial hypothesis suggested that the primary function of these genes was the interaction between SmIAA and ARF, gene co-expression network analysis revealed that they are also influenced by various other transcription factors, such as WRKY and ERF. The findings establish a sturdy basis for future investigations into the function of the Aux/IAA gene family and exhibit promising prospects for enhancing the genetics of this medicinal flora and its associated species.
PMID: 37090108
PeerJ , IF:2.984 , 2023 , V11 : Pe15150 doi: 10.7717/peerj.15150
Effects of plant age on antioxidant activity and endogenous hormones in Alpine Elymus sibiricus of the Tibetan Plateau.
Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem of Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China.; Gansu Grassland Technical Extension Station, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China.
Elymus sibiricus L. is a perennial forage species that has potential to serve as a forage source in livestock grazing systems. However, E. sibiricus has been shown to have a rapid and substantial reduction of aboveground biomass and seed yield after 3 or 4 years and an accelerated aging process. To determine possible aging mechanisms, we planted E. sibiricus seeds in triplicate blocks in 2012, 2015, and 2016, respectively, and harvested samples of leaves and roots at the jointing and heading stages in 2018 and 2019 to determine oxidative indices and endogenous hormones. The fresh aboveground biomass of 4- and 5-year old plants declined by 34.2% and 52.4% respectively compared with 3-year old plants, and the seed yield declined by 12.7% and 34.1%, respectively. The water content in leaves was 51.7%, 43.3%, and 35.6%, and net photosynthesis was 7.73, 6.35, and 2.08 micromol/m(2).s in 3-, 4-, and 5-year old plants, respectively. The superoxide anion radical generation rate in leaves and roots did not show any aging pattern. There was a non-significant increase in malondialdehyde concentration with plant age, particularly in leaves and roots at the heading stage in 2019. The superoxide dismutase activity showed a declining trend with age of plant roots at the jointing stage in both 2018 and 2019. The peroxidase activity declined with plant age in both leaves and roots, for example, and the catalase activity in roots 4- and 7-year old plants declined by 13.8% and 0.85%, respectively, compared to 3-year old plants at the heading stage in 2018. Therefore, the reduced capacity of the antioxidant system may lead to oxidative stress during plant aging process. Overall, the concentrations of plant hormones, auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA), zeatin (ZT), and abscisic acid (ABA) were significantly lower in roots than in leaves. The IAA concentration in leaves and roots exhibited different patterns with plant age. The ZT concentrations in leaves of 3-year old plants was 2.39- and 2.62-fold of those in 4- and 7-year old plants, respectively at the jointing stage, and in roots, the concentration declined with plant age. The changes in the GA concentration with plant age varied between the physiological stages and between years. The ABA concentrations appeared to increase with plant age, particularly in leaves. In conclusion, the aging process of E. sibiricus was apparently associated with an increase in oxidative stress, a decrease of ZT and an increase of ABA, particularly in roots. These findings highlight the effects of plant age on the antioxidant and endogenous hormone activity of E. sibiricus. However, these plant age-related trends showed variations between plant physiological stages and between harvest years that needs to be researched in the future to develop strategies to manage this forage species.
PMID: 37065700
Transgenic Res , IF:2.788 , 2023 Apr , V32 (1-2) : P77-93 doi: 10.1007/s11248-023-00337-x
Functional characterization of transcriptional activator gene SIARRI in tomato reveals its role in fruit growth and ripening.
College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Sivas University of Science and Technology, 58140, Sivas, Turkey.; Department of Horticulture, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan.; Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.; Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.; Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Cukurova University, 01330, Adana, Turkey.; North Florida Research and Education Centre (NFREC), University of Florida, 155 Research Road, Quincy, FL, 32351, USA.; Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.; Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11341, Egypt. hebaibrahim79@gmail.com.
Auxins regulate several characteristics of plant development and growth. Here, we characterized a new transcriptional activator SIARRI which binds specific DNA sequences and was revealed in Arabidopsis (ARR1). SIARRI acts as a two-component response regulator and its Arabidopsis homologous gene is AT3G16857. It belongs to the subfamily of type-B response regulators in the cytokinin signaling pathway. The study aimed to characterize the transgenic Micro-Tom plants by the overexpression of Solanum lycopersicum two-component response regulator ARR1. Overexpression of SIARRI results in a pleiotropic phenotype during fruit development and ripening. This study indicates that SIARRI is a primary regulator of leaf morphology and fruit development. Moreover, overexpressed plants showed variations in growth related to auxin as well as shorter hypocotyl elongation, enlarged leaf vascularization, and decreased apical dominance. The qRT-PCR investigation revealed that expression was downregulated at the breaker stage and high at Br+6 at various stages of fruit growth and ripening. In contrast to the fruit color, lycopene and beta-carotene concentrations in red-yellow overexpression line fruits were reduced significantly, and also slightly reduced in some red fruits. The quantity of beta-carotene in the transgenic fruits was lower than that of lycopene. This study showed that this gene might be a new transcriptional activator in fruit development and ripening. Furthermore, this study will provide new insights into tomato fruit ripening.
PMID: 36806962
Braz J Microbiol , IF:2.476 , 2023 Mar , V54 (1) : P397-406 doi: 10.1007/s42770-022-00874-3
Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis promote tomato growth.
Departamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG, 37200-900, Brazil.; Chr-Hansen Industria E Comercio Ltda, Valinhos, SP, 13278-327, Brazil.; Embrapa Meio Ambiente, Rod. SP-340 Km 1275, 13.918-110, Jaguariuna, SP, Brazil. wagner.bettiol@embrapa.br.
Bacillus spp. are widely marketed and used in agricultural systems as antagonists to various phytopathogens, but it can also benefit the plant as plant growth promoters. Therefore, the longer presence of the bacterium in the rhizosphere would result in a prolonged growth-promoting benefit, but little is yet known about its persistence in the rhizosphere after seed coating. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the tomato growth promotion mediated by Bacillus licheniformis FMCH001 and Bacillus subtilis FMCH002 and the survival rate of these bacteria both in shoots and in the rhizosphere. The Bacillus strains used throughout this study were obtained from Quartzo(R) produced by Chr. Hansen. The application of a mixture of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis (Quartzo(R)) at concentrations 1 x 10(8), 1 x 10(9), and 1 x 10(10) CFU mL(-1), as well as the application of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis individually at concentration 1 x 10(8) CFU mL(-1), increased fresh and dry masses of shoot and root system, volume of root system, and length of roots of tomato plants when compared to control. Both Bacillus strains produced IAA after 48 h of in vitro. Bacillus colonies obtained from plant sap were morphologically similar to colonies of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis strains and were detected in inoculated on plants and not detected in control ones. A similar pattern was obtained through DNA-based detection (qPCR). Therefore, B. subtilis and B. licheniformis were able to produce auxin, promote tomato growth, and colonize and persist in the rhizosphere.
PMID: 36422850
Chem Biodivers , IF:2.408 , 2023 Apr : Pe202201243 doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202201243
22-OXOCHOLESTANES SPGP4 AND SPGP8: IN SILICO AND IN VITRO STUDY AS ACTIVATORS OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTION.
BUAP: Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Laboratorio de Elucidacion y Sintesis en Quimica Organica, Avenida San Claudio S/N, 72530, Puebla, MEXICO.; CIBA: Centro de Ingenieria Genetica y Biotecnologia, Centro de Investigacion en Biotecnologia Aplicada-IPN, N/A, Tlaxcala, MEXICO.; BUAP: Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Avenida San Claudio S/N, 72530, Puebla, MEXICO.; Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Instituto de Ciencias, PRIV 37 ORIENTE 610 302, 72530, PUEBLA, MEXICO.; BUAP: Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Av San Claudio, 72530, PUEBLA, MEXICO.
The 22-oxocholestanes compounds have shown an outstanding plant growth promoting activity; they have similar bioactivity as brassinosteroids, so they are normally named as brassinosteroid analogues thinking that they also impact on the known receptor BRI1. However, in silico studies allow us to predict interactions with other receptors and thus it's possible to evaluate them, through receptors of gibberellins, auxins, jasmonates, strigolactones and the protein associated with the BRI1 gene. This paper describes the bioactivity of structures SPGP4 and SPGP8 as plant growth-promoting compounds. Both structures present coupling energies and interactions at the same level as epibrassinolide in the protein associated with BRI1 gene. Additionally, interactions through the auxin pathway and to strigolactone receptor were found using selected tests. In the rice lamina tilt, a higher effect was obtained when SPGP4 and SPGP8 were compared to epibrassinolide, although in a lesser level vis a vis to homobrassinolide. In the same way, when SPGP4 and SPGP8 were tested in the Growth Root Model an activity as strigonolactones was observed, enhancing the relationship between the main and secondary roots. However, the growth of coleptiles, when applying auxins, compounds SPGP4 and SPGP8 did not reach the same level as controls.
PMID: 37062704
3 Biotech , IF:2.406 , 2023 May , V13 (5) : P132 doi: 10.1007/s13205-023-03546-7
Regulatory networks of hormone-involved transcription factors and their downstream pathways during somatic embryogenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana.
Department of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. GRID: grid.411301.6. ISNI: 0000 0001 0666 1211
Somatic embryogenesis (SE) depends on a variety of developmental pathways that are influenced by several environmental factors. Therefore, it is important to understand the relationship between environmental and genetic factors by identifying the gene networks involved in SE through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). For determination of SE effective transcription factors, upstream sequences of core-enriched genes were analyzed. The results indicated that response to hormones is one of the biological pathways activated by the enriched TFs at all stages of somatic embryogenesis and about half of the hormonal pathways were enriched. On the fifth day after 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) treatment, the activity of hormone-affecting genes reached its maximum. At this time, more transcription factors regulated the enriched genes compared to the other stages of somatic embryogenesis. MYBs, AT-HOOKs, and HSFs are the main families of transcription factors which affect core-enriched genes during SE. CCA1, PRR7, and TOC1 and their related genes at the center of protein-protein interaction of SE-key transcription factors, involved in the regulation of the circadian clock. Gene expression analysis of CCA1, PRR7, and TOC1 revealed that the genes involved in circadian clock reached their maximum activity when embryonic cells formed. Also, auxin response elements were identified at the upstream of SE-circadian clock transcription factors, indicating that they might mediate between auxin signaling and SE-related hormonal pathways as well as SE marker genes such as AGL15, BBM, and LECs. Based on these results, it is possible that the cellular circadian rhythm activates various developmental pathways under the influence of auxin signal transduction and their interactions determine the induction of somatic embryogenesis. According to the results of this study, modifying pathways affected by SE-related transcription factors such as circadian rhythm may result in cell reprogramming and increase somatic embryogenesis efficiency. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03546-7.
PMID: 37091499
Mol Biol Rep , IF:2.316 , 2023 Apr , V50 (4) : P3617-3632 doi: 10.1007/s11033-022-08123-4
Physiological and iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics analyses reveal the similarities and differences in stress responses between short-term boron deficiency and toxicity in wheat roots.
College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China.; College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China. hdy001@126.com.
BACKGROUND: Boron (B) is a trace element that is essential for normal wheat development, such as root growth. In wheat, roots are important organs that absorb nutrients and water. However, at present, there is insufficient research on the molecular mechanism underlying how short-term B stress affects wheat root growth. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, the optimal concentration of B for wheat root growth was determined, and the proteomic profiles of roots under short-term B deficiency and toxicity were analyzed and compared by the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technique. A total of 270 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) that accumulated in response to B deficiency and 263 DAPs that accumulated in response to B toxicity were identified. Global expression analysis revealed that ethylene, auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), and Ca(2+) signals were involved in the responses to these two stresses. Under B deficiency, DAPs related to auxin synthesis or signaling and DAPs involved in calcium signaling increased in abundance. In striking contrast, auxin and calcium signals were repressed under B toxicity. Twenty-one DAPs were detected under both conditions, including RAN1 that played a core role in the auxin and calcium signals. Overexpression of RAN1 was shown to confer plant resistance to B toxicity by activating auxin response genes, including TIR and those identified by iTRAQ in this research. Moreover, growth of the primary roots of tir mutant was significantly inhibited under B toxicity. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results indicate that some connections were present between RAN1 and the auxin signaling pathway under B toxicity. Therefore, this research provides data for improving the understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the response to B stress.
PMID: 36795283
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek , IF:2.271 , 2023 Mar , V116 (3) : P231-242 doi: 10.1007/s10482-022-01800-1
Devosia oryzisoli sp. nov., a novel moderately halotolerant bacterium isolated from the roots of rice plants and genome mining revealed the biosynthesis potential as plant growth promoter.
Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, 10326, Goyang, South Korea.; Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, 10326, Goyang, South Korea. tseo@dongguk.edu.
A Gram-stain-negative, halotolerant bacterium designated as PTR5(T) was isolated from the roots of rice plants, collected in Ilsan, South Korea. Cells were, aerobic, asporogenous, motile, rod-shaped, white in color, and grew at 5-38 degrees C (optimum 30 degrees C), at pH 5.0-0-8.0 (optimum, 7.0) and tolerates up to 10% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0% NaCl). According to the EZbioCloud server the most closely related Devosia species to strain PTR5(T) based on 16 S rRNA gene sequence comparison are Devosia crocina (97.4%), followed by D. soli (97.2%), D. lucknowensis (96.9%) and D. marina (96.5%). The respiratory quinone was identified as Q-10. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. C(16:0), C(18:1) omega7c 11-methyl and summed feature 8 (comprising C(18:1) omega7c/C(18:1) omega6c) constituted the main cellular fatty acids. The draft genome sequence of strain PTR5(T) was 3,689,283 bp in size. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and amino acid identity (AAI) values between strain PTR5(T) and its close relative were 72.8-76.8%, 19-20.7% and 70.3-75%, respectively. The G + C content was 63.7%. Strain PTR5(T) was able to produce siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) in the presence of L-tryptophan. Genes for siderophore production, auxin responsive and tryptophan biosynthesis were present in the genome of novel strain. Also, gene clusters involved in detoxification of various metal pollutants and antibiotics were also revealed in the genome of novel strain PTR5(T), this suggest that novel strain can facilitate bioremediation of heavy metals and antibiotics in contaminated areas. This study aimed to determine the detailed taxonomic position of the strain PTR5(T) using the modern polyphasic approach. On the basis of evidence presented in this study, strain PTR5(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the name Devosia oryzisoli sp. nov. (type strain PTR5(T) (KCTC 82691(T) = TBRC 15163(T)) is proposed.
PMID: 36525157
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2023 Dec , V18 (1) : P2163342 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2022.2163342
Cloning and expression study of a high-affinity nitrate transporter gene from Zea mays L.
Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.; Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.; Aulin College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
A nitrate transporter gene, named B46NRT2.1, from salt-tolerant Zea mays L. B46 has been cloned. B46NRT2.1 contained the same domain belonging to the major facilitator superfamily (PLN00028). The results of the phylogenetic tree indicated that B46NRT2.1 exhibits sequence similarity and the closest relationship with those known nitrate transporters of the NRT2 family. Through RT-qPCR, we found that the expression of B46NRT2.1 mainly happens in the root and leaf. Moreover, the treatment with NaCl, Na(2)CO(3), and NaHCO(3) could significantly increase the expression of B46NRT2.1. B46NRT2.1 was located in the plasma membrane. Through the study of yeast and plant salt response brought by B46NRT2.1 overexpression, we have preliminary knowledge that the expression of B46NRT2.1 makes yeast and plants respond to salt shock. There are 10 different kinds of cis-acting regulatory elements (CRES) in the promotor sequences of B46NRT2.1 gene using the PlantCARE web server to analyze. It mainly includes hormone response, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, gibberellin, methyl jasmonate, and auxin. The B46NRT2.1 gene's co-expression network showed that it was co-expressed with a number of other genes in several biological pathways, including regulation of NO(3) long-distance transit, modulation of nitrate sensing and metabolism, nitrate assimilation, and transduction of Jasmonic acid-independent wound signal. The results of this work should serve as a good scientific foundation for further research on the functions of the NRT2 gene family in plants (inbred line B46), and this research adds to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms under salt tolerance.
PMID: 36645908
Genome , IF:2.166 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1139/gen-2022-0072
Paenibacillus terrae NK3-4 regulates the transcription of growth-related and stress resistance-related genes in rice.
College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao, Jiangxi 334001, China.; Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Haerbin, Heilongjiang 150038, China.
Paenibacillus terrae NK3-4 is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium. In this study, the effects of NK3-4 on rice growth and gene transcription were determined. The results indicated that a seed soaking treatment and a pre-germination seed treatment using NK3-4 promoted rice growth, especially spraying rice seedlings with NK3-4 increased the root number and root length by 34.2% and 34.1%, respectively. Moreover, NK3-4 induced the differential transcription of genes annotated with gene ontology (GO) terms; the number of up-regulated genes was 4.38-times higher than the number of down-regulated genes. The NK3-4 treatment induced the differential transcription of genes in 1794 GO functional groups, with 1531 functional groups containing up-regulated genes. Specific growth-related genes up-regulated by NK3-4 are involved in biological processes, including responses to auxin, hormone biosynthesis, cellular component biogenesis, root system development, and other functions. Furthermore, stress resistance-related genes were up-regulated, some of which encode WRKYs, NPK1-related protein kinase, NPR1-like 4, CaM-like proteins, MYBs, ERFs, TIFYs, NACs, EL5s, PR1s, PR2, PR8, PODs, and PAD4. Considered together, these findings imply that NK3-4 may promote plant growth and enhance stress resistance by regulating gene expression, making it a potentially useful microbe for regulating rice growth and stress resistance.
PMID: 36927123
Folia Microbiol (Praha) , IF:2.099 , 2023 Apr doi: 10.1007/s12223-023-01051-1
Evaluation of drought-tolerant endophytic fungus Talaromyces purpureogenus as a bioinoculant for wheat seedlings under normal and drought-stressed circumstances.
Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, 147004, Punjab, India.; Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, 147004, Punjab, India. ssaxena@thapar.edu.
The present work is aimed to hypothesize that fungal endophytes associated with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants can play a variety of roles in biotechnology including plant growth. Out of 67 fungal isolates, five maximum drought-tolerant isolates were used to check their various plant growth-promoting traits, antioxidants, and antifungal activities under secondary screening. Fungal isolate #8TAKS-3a exhibited the maximum drought tolerance capacity and potential to produce auxin, gibberellic acid, ACC deaminase, phosphate, zinc solubilization, ammonia, siderophore, and extracellular enzyme activities followed by #6TAKR-1a isolate. In terms of antioxidant activities, #8TAKS-3a culture also showed maximum DPPH scavenging, total antioxidant, and NO-scavenging activities. However, #6TAKR-1a exhibited maximum total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, and Fe-reducing power and also the highest growth inhibition of Aspergillus niger (ITCC 6152) and Colletotrichum sp. (ITCC 6152). Based on morphological characters and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), beta-tubulin (TUB 2), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes, potent fungal isolate #8TAKS-3a was identified as Talaromyces purpureogenus. Under the in vitro conditions, T. purpureogenus (#8TAKS-3a) was used as a bioinoculant that displayed a significant increase in various physio-biochemical growth parameters under normal and stressed conditions (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that drought stress-tolerant T. purpureogenus can be further used for field testing as a growth promoter.
PMID: 37076748
Curr Issues Mol Biol , IF:2.081 , 2023 Mar , V45 (3) : P2372-2380 doi: 10.3390/cimb45030153
Early Fruit Development Regulation-Related Genes Concordantly Expressed with TCP Transcription Factors in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.; Princess Al-Jawhara Al-Brahim Centre of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders (PACER-HD), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt.; R&D Department, Al Borg Diagnostics, Jeddah 23514, Saudi Arabia.; Biological Sciences Department, College of Science & Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia.; National Research Centre, Department of Microbial Genetics, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division, Giza 12622, Egypt.; Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is considered one of the most important vegetable crops globally, both agronomically and economically; however, its fruit development regulation network is still unclear. The transcription factors serve as master regulators, activating many genes and/or metabolic pathways throughout the entire plant life cycle. In this study, we identified the transcription factors that are coordinated with TCP gene family regulation in early fruit development by making use of the high-throughput sequencing of RNA (RNAseq) technique. A total of 23 TCP-encoding genes were found to be regulated at various stages during the growth of the fruit. The expression patterns of five TCPs were consistent with those of other transcription factors and genes. There are two unique subgroups of this larger family: class I and class II TCPs. Others were directly associated with the growth and/or ripening of fruit, while others were involved in the production of the hormone auxin. Moreover, it was discovered that TCP18 had an expression pattern that was similar to that of the ethylene-responsive transcription factor 4 (ERF4). Tomato fruit set and overall development are under the direction of a gene called auxin response factor 5 (ARF5). TCP15 revealed an expression that was in sync with this gene. This study provides insight into the potential processes that help in acquiring superior fruit qualities by accelerating fruit growth and ripening.
PMID: 36975523
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem , IF:2.043 , 2023 Mar doi: 10.1093/bbb/zbad029
Analysis of the effect of each plant hormone on the maturation of woodland strawberry fruit in auxin-induced parthenocarpic fruit.
Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa, Japan.; Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.; Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, Japan.
Evaluation of individual roles of plant hormones in fruit development is difficult because various plant hormones function simultaneously. In this study, to analyze the effect of plant hormones on fruit maturation one by one, plant hormones were applied to auxin-induced parthenocarpic woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) fruits. As a result, auxin, gibberellin (GA) and jasmonate but not abscisic acid and ethylene increased the proportion of ultimately mature fruits. So far, to produce comparable fruit with pollinated fruit in size, auxin with GA treatment was required in woodland strawberry. Picrolam (Pic), the most potent auxin in inducing parthenocarpic fruit, induced fruit which is comparable in size with pollinated fruit without GA. The endogenous GA level and the result of the RNA interference analysis of the main GA biosynthetic gene suggest that a basal level of endogenous GA is essential for fruit development. The effect of other plant hormones was also discussed.
PMID: 36914217
Genes Genomics , IF:1.839 , 2023 Apr , V45 (4) : P401-412 doi: 10.1007/s13258-022-01321-1
Transcriptomic profiling of the cold stress and recovery responsiveness of two contrasting Guizhou HE rice genotypes.
Guizhou Rice Research Institute, Guizhou Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550006, China.; College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.; Guizhou Rice Research Institute, Guizhou Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550006, China. 13984033281@139.com.
BACKGROUND: At the seed germination stage, rice is sensitive to cold stress, which adversely affects its growth and development. Guizhou HE rice comprises several different landraces, most of which are cold tolerant. OBJECTIVE: To identify differentially expressed genes and molecular mechanism underlying the cold tolerance of Guizhou HE. METHODS: Two Guizhou HE genotypes, AC44 (cold-sensitive) and AC96 (cold-tolerant), which exhibit opposite phenotypes in response to cold treatment at the seed germination stage were used. Comprehensive gene expressions of AC44 and AC96 under 4 degrees C cold treatment and subsequent recovery conditions were comparatively analyzed by RNA sequencing. RESULTS: Overall, 11,082 and 7749 differentially expressed genes were detected in AC44 and AC96, respectively. Comparative transcriptome analysis demonstrated that, compared with AC44, AC96 presented fewer upregulated and downregulated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses demonstrated that AC96 presented more upregulated GO terms, especially terms associated with biological processes. However, AC44 presented more terms related to cellular components, mainly chloroplasts. Moreover, DEGs related to the auxin signaling pathway (including ARF and IAA family members) and transcription factors (including members of the F-box, bZIP, basic helix-loop-helix [bHLH], and MYB-like transcription factor families) were found to be expressed specifically in AC96; thus, these DEGs may be responsible for the cold tolerance of AC96. CONCLUSIONS: These findings present information about the cold tolerance mechanism of Guizhou HE rice at the germination stage, providing valuable resources and candidate genes for breeding cold-tolerant rice genotypes.
PMID: 36469228
Plant Commun , 2023 Apr : P100604 doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100604
The miR167-OsARF12 module regulates grain filling and grain size downstream of miR159.
Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Key Laboratory of Rice Biology in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Rice, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.; Joint Center for Single Cell Biology/School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.; Department of Biotechnology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, 201306, India.; Institute of Paulownia, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450002, China.; Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.; Joint Center for Single Cell Biology/School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. Electronic address: lypengting@163.com.; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Key Laboratory of Rice Biology in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Rice, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, 550025, China. Electronic address: lypengting@163.com.; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Key Laboratory of Rice Biology in Henan Province, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan Engineering Laboratory of Rice, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China. Electronic address: lypengting@163.com.
Grain weight and quality are always determined by the grain filling. Plant miRNAs have drawn attention as key targets for regulating grain size and yield. Yet the mechanisms underlying the regulation of grain size are largely unclear due to the complex networks controlling this trait. Our earlier studies proved that the suppressed expression of miR167 (STTM/MIM167) substantially increased grain weight. In a field test, the increased yield up to 12.90%-21.94% due to the significantly enhanced grain filling rate. Biochemical and genetic analyses reveal the regulatory effects of miR159 on miR167 expression. Further analysis indicates that OsARF12 is the major mediator of miR167 in regulating rice grain filling. Expectedly, over expressing OsARF12 could resemble the phenotype of STTM/MIM167 plants with respect to grain weight and grain filling rate. Upon in-depth analysis, we found that OsARF12 activates OsCDKF;2 expressions by directly binding to the TGTCGG motif in the promoter region. Flow cytometric analysis in young panicles of plants overexpressing OsARF12 and cell number examination of cdkf;2 mutants verify that OsARF12 positively regulates grain filling and grain size by targeting OsCDKF;2. Moreover, RNA-seq result suggests that miR167-OsARF12 module is involved in the cell development process and hormone pathways. Additionally, plants overexpressing OsARF12 or cdkf;2 mutants present enhanced or reduced sensitivity to exogenous auxin and brassinosteroid (BR) treatments, confirming that OsCDKF;2 targeting by OsARF12 mediates auxin and BR signaling. Our results reveal that miR167-OsARF12 module works downstream of miR159 to regulate rice grain filling and grain size by OsCDKF;2 through controlling cell division and mediating auxin and BR signals.
PMID: 37085993
Plant Commun , 2023 Mar : P100596 doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100596
Synthetic dual hormone-responsive promoters enable engineering of plants with broad-spectrum resistance.
Chongqing Key Laboratory of Application and Safety Control of Genetically Modified Crops, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, China; Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Application and Safety Control of Genetically Modified Crops, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, China; Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, China. Electronic address: peiyan3@swu.edu.cn.
In plant immunity, the mutually antagonistic hormones salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are implicated in resistance to biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens, respectively. Promoters that can respond to both SA and JA signals are urgently needed to engineer plants with enhanced resistance to a broad spectrum of pathogens. However, few natural pathogen-inducible promoters are available for this purpose. To address this problem, we have developed a strategy to synthesize dual SA- and JA-responsive promoters by combining SA- and JA-responsive cis elements based on the interaction between their cognate trans-acting factors. The resulting promoters respond rapidly and strongly to both SA and Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA), as well as different types of phytopathogens. When such a synthetic promoter was used to control expression of an antimicrobial peptide, transgenic plants displayed enhanced resistance to a diverse range of biotrophic, necrotrophic, and hemi-biotrophic pathogens. A dual-inducible promoter responsive to the antagonistic signals auxin and cytokinin was generated in a similar manner, confirming that our strategy can be used for the design of other biotically or abiotically inducible systems.
PMID: 36998212
STAR Protoc , 2023 Mar , V4 (2) : P102184 doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102184
Protocol for real-time imaging, polar protein quantification, and targeted laser ablation of regenerating shoot progenitors in Arabidopsis.
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune 411008, India; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India. Electronic address: mabel.m.mathew@gmail.com.; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune 411008, India; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India.; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune 411008, India; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India. Electronic address: kalika.prasad@iiserpune.ac.in.
Here, we provide a protocol for real-time tracking of regenerating shoot progenitors, combined with polar protein quantification and targeted laser ablation of callus cells in Arabidopsis. Using Arabidopsis strains expressing GFP-labeled polar auxin efflux carrier, PINFORMED 1 (PIN1) protein, we detail steps to prepare the callus for time-lapse confocal imaging and track the progenitors expressing PIN1-GFP, followed by mapping and quantifying PIN1 polarity using Fiji/ImageJ. We then describe targeted laser ablation of cells and subsequent time-lapse imaging to study regeneration. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Varapparambath et al. (2022).(1).
PMID: 36952331
Plant Commun , 2023 Mar : P100590 doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100590
The TaTCP4/10-B1 cascade regulates awn elongation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).
Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.; Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: nizf@cau.edu.cn.
Awns are important morphological markers for wheat and exert a strong physiological effect on wheat yield. The awn elongation suppressor B1 has recently been cloned through association and linkage analysis in wheat. However, the mechanism of awn inhibition centered around B1 remains to be clarified. Here, we identified an allelic variant in the coding region of B1 through analysis of re-sequencing data; this variant causes an amino acid substitution and premature termination, resulting in a long-awn phenotype. Transcriptome analysis indicated that B1 inhibited awn elongation by impeding cytokinin- and auxin-promoted cell division. Moreover, B1 directly repressed the expression of TaRAE2 and TaLks2, whose orthologs have been reported to promote awn development in rice or barley. More importantly, we found that TaTCP4 and TaTCP10 synergistically inhibited the expression of B1, and a G-to-A mutation in the B1 promoter attenuated its inhibition by TaTCP4/10. Taken together, our results reveal novel mechanisms of awn development and provide genetic resources for trait improvement in wheat.
PMID: 36919240