Adv Sci (Weinh) , IF:16.806 , 2023 Nov , V10 (31) : Pe2303478 doi: 10.1002/advs.202303478
A TaSnRK1alpha Modulates TaPAP6L-Mediated Wheat Cold Tolerance through Regulating Endogenous Jasmonic Acid.
National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science / CIMMYT-China Wheat and Maize Joint Research Center /Agronomy College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
Here, a sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase alpha subunit (TaSnRK1alpha-1A) is identified as associated with cold stress through integration of genome-wide association study, bulked segregant RNA sequencing, and virus-induced gene silencing. It is confirmed that TaSnRK1alpha positively regulates cold tolerance by transgenes and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutants. A plastid-lipid-associated protein 6, chloroplastic-like (TaPAP6L-2B) strongly interacting with TaSnRK1alpha-1A is screened. Molecular chaperone DJ-1 family protein (TaDJ-1-7B) possibly bridged the interaction of TaSnRK1alpha-1A and TaPAP6L-2B. It is further revealed that TaSnRK1alpha-1A phosphorylated TaPAP6L-2B. Subsequently, a superior haplotype TaPAP6L-2B(30S) (/38S) is identified and confirmed that both R30S and G38S are important phosphorylation sites that influence TaPAP6L-2B in cold tolerance. Overexpression (OE) and EMS-mutant lines verified TaPAP6L positively modulating cold tolerance. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing revealed that TaPAP6L-2B-OE lines significantly increased jasmonic acid (JA) content, possibly by improving precursor alpha-linolenic acid contributing to JA synthesis and by repressing JAR1 degrading JA. Exogenous JA significantly improved the cold tolerance of wheat plants. In summary, TaSnRK1alpha profoundly regulated cold stress, possibly through phosphorylating TaPAP6L to increase endogenous JA content of wheat plants.
PMID: 37740426
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2024 Feb , V463 : P132802 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132802
Performance and mechanism of SMX removal by an electrolysis-integrated ecological floating bed at low temperatures: A new perspective of plant activity, iron plaque, and microbial functions.
Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.; School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.; Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China. Electronic address: lushy2000@163.com.; Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China. Electronic address: lxh7786@ouc.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
Improvements in plant activity and functional microbial communities are important to ensure the stability and efficiency of pollutant removal measures in cold regions. Although electrochemistry is known to accelerate pollutant degradation, cold stress acclimation of plants and the stability and activity of plant-microbial synergism remain poorly understood. The sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal, iron plaque morphology, plant activity, microbial community, and function responses were investigated in an electrolysis-integrated ecological floating bed (EFB) at 6 +/- 2 ℃. Electrochemistry significantly improved SMX removal and plant activity. Dense and uniform iron plaque was found on root surfaces in L-E-Fe which improved the plant adaptability at low temperatures and provided more adsorption sites for bacteria. The microbial community structure was optimized and the key functional bacteria for SMX degradation (e.g., Actinobacteriota, Pseudomonas) were enriched. Electrochemistry improves the relative abundance of enzymes related to energy metabolism, thereby increasing energy responses to SMX and low temperatures. Notably, electrochemistry improved the expression of target genes (sadB and sadC, especially sadC) involved in SMX degradation. Electrochemistry enhances hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions between SMX and sadC, thereby enhancing SMX degradation and transformation. This study provides a deeper understanding of the electrochemical stability of antibiotic degradation at low temperatures.
PMID: 37922584
J Adv Res , IF:10.479 , 2023 Nov , V53 : P99-114 doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.12.011
Mediating a host cell signaling pathway linked to overwinter mortality offers a promising therapeutic approach for improving bee health.
Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guanzhou 510260, PR China; U.S. Department of Agriculture -Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; School of Chinese Medicinal Resource, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Yunfu 527527, PR China.; U.S. Department of Agriculture -Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.; U.S. Department of Agriculture -Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; College of Animal Sciences (Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China.; U.S. Department of Agriculture -Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guanzhou 510260, PR China.; U.S. Department of Agriculture -Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100093, PR China.; Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100093, PR China.; Identification Technology Program (ITP) Molecular Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-Science & Technology (S&T), Fort Collins, CO 80526-1825, USA.; USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA.; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Animal and Plant Resources of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai Province, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810000, China.; U.S. Department of Agriculture -Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. Electronic address: judy.chen@usda.gov.
INTRODUCTION: Honey bees provides valuable pollination services for world food crops and wild flowering plants which are habitats of many animal species and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Nevertheless, the honey bee population has been declining and the majority of colony losses occur during the winter. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to understand the mechanisms underlying overwinter colony losses and develop novel therapeutic strategies for improving bee health. METHODS: First, pathogen prevalence in overwintering bees were screened between 2015 and 2018. Second, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) for transcriptional profiling of overwintering honey bees was conducted and qRT-PCR was performed to confirm the results of the differential expression of selected genes. Lastly, laboratory bioassays were conducted to measure the effects of cold challenges on bee survivorship and stress responses and to assess the effect of a novel medication for alleviating cold stress in honey bees. RESULTS: We identified that sirtuin signaling pathway is the most significantly enriched pathway among the down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in overwintering diseased bees. Moreover, we showed that the expression of SIRT1 gene, a major sirtuin that regulates energy and immune metabolism, was significantly downregulated in bees merely exposed to cold challenges, linking cold stress with altered gene expression of SIRT1. Furthermore, we demonstrated that activation of SIRT1 gene expression by SRT1720, an activator of SIRT1 expression, could improve the physiology and extend the lifespan of cold-stressed bees. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that increased energy consumption of overwintering bees for maintaining hive temperature reduces the allocation of energy toward immune functions, thus making the overwintering bees more susceptible to disease infections and leading to high winter colony losses. The novel information gained from this study provides a promising avenue for the development of therapeutic strategies for mitigating colony losses, both overwinter and annually.
PMID: 36564001
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2023 Nov doi: 10.1111/pbi.14221
Fine-tuning rice heading date through multiplex editing of the regulatory regions of key genes by CRISPR-Cas9.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.; Institute of Lianyungang Agricultural Science of Xuhuai Area/Lianyungang Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Lianyungang, China.; National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Heading date (or flowering time) is a key agronomic trait that affects seasonal and regional adaption of rice cultivars. An unoptimized heading date can either not achieve a high yield or has a high risk of encountering abiotic stresses. There is a strong demand on the mild to moderate adjusting the heading date in breeding practice. Genome editing is a promising method which allows more precise and faster changing the heading date of rice. However, direct knock out of major genes involved in regulating heading date will not always achieve a new germplasm with expected heading date. It is still challenging to quantitatively adjust the heading date of elite cultivars with best adaption for broader region. In this study, we used a CRISPR-Cas9 based genome editing strategy called high-efficiency multiplex promoter-targeting (HMP) to generate novel alleles at cis-regulatory regions of three major heading date genes: Hd1, Ghd7 and DTH8. We achieved a series of germplasm with quantitative variations of heading date by editing promoter regions and adjusting the expression levels of these genes. We performed field trials to screen for the best adapted lines for different regions. We successfully expanded an elite cultivar Ningjing8 (NJ8) to a higher latitude region by selecting a line with a mild early heading phenotype that escaped from cold stress and achieved high yield potential. Our study demonstrates that HMP is a powerful tool for quantitatively regulating rice heading date and expanding elite cultivars to broader regions.
PMID: 37932934
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2023 Dec , V21 (12) : P2420-2422 doi: 10.1111/pbi.14169
Targeted disruption of tomato chromoplast-specific lycopene beta-cyclase (CYC-B) gene promotes early accumulation of lycopene in fruits and enhanced postharvest cold tolerance.
Estacion Experimental INIA Salto Grande, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria (INIA), Salto, Uruguay.; Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular Vegetal, Instituto de Quimica Biologica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay.
PMID: 37654005
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2023 Nov , V21 (11) : P2254-2272 doi: 10.1111/pbi.14128
Histone deacetylase MdHDA6 is an antagonist in regulation of transcription factor MdTCP15 to promote cold tolerance in apple.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.; College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.
Understanding the molecular regulation of plant cold response is the basis for cold resistance germplasm improvement. Here, we revealed that the apple histone deacetylase MdHDA6 can perform histone deacetylation on cold-negative regulator genes and repress their expression, leading to the positive regulation of cold tolerance in apples. Moreover, MdHDA6 directly interacts with the transcription factor MdTCP15. Phenotypic analysis of MdTCP15 transgenic apple lines and wild types reveals that MdTCP15 negatively regulates cold tolerance in apples. Furthermore, we found that MdHDA6 can facilitate histone deacetylation of MdTCP15 and repress the expression of MdTCP15, which positively contributes to cold tolerance in apples. Additionally, the transcription factor MdTCP15 can directly bind to the promoter of the cold-negative regulator gene MdABI1 and activate its expression, and it can also directly bind to the promoter of the cold-positive regulator gene MdCOR47 and repress its expression. However, the co-expression of MdHDA6 and MdTCP15 can inhibit MdTCP15-induced activation of MdABI1 and repression of MdCOR47, suggesting that MdHDA6 suppresses the transcriptional regulation of MdTCP15 on its downstream genes. Our results demonstrate that histone deacetylase MdHDA6 plays an antagonistic role in the regulation of MdTCP15-induced transcriptional activation or repression to positively regulate cold tolerance in apples, revealing a new regulatory mechanism of plant cold response.
PMID: 37475182
Crit Rev Biotechnol , IF:8.429 , 2023 Dec , V43 (5) : P680-697 doi: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2053056
Cold stress regulates accumulation of flavonoids and terpenoids in plants by phytohormone, transcription process, functional enzyme, and epigenetics.
Wenzhou Safety (Emergency) Institute of Tianjin University, Wenzhou, China.; School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.; Tianjin Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Tianjin, China.; National Resource Center for Chinese Meteria Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Plants make different defense mechanisms in response to different environmental stresses. One common way is to produce secondary metabolites. Temperature is the main environmental factor that regulates plant secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids and terpenoids. Stress caused by temperature decreasing to 4-10 degrees C is conducive to the accumulation of flavonoids and terpenoids. However, the accumulation mechanism under cold stress still lacks a systematic explanation. In this review, we summarize three aspects of cold stress promoting the accumulation of flavonoids and terpenoids in plants, that is, by affecting (1) the content of endogenous plant hormones, especially jasmonic acid and abscisic acid; (2) the expression level and activity of important transcription factors, such as bHLH and MYB families. This aspect also includes post-translational modification of transcription factors caused by cold stress; (3) key enzyme genes expression and activity in the biosynthesis pathway, in addition, the rate-limiting enzyme and glycosyltransferases genes are responsive to cold stress. The systematic understanding of cold stress regulates flavonoids, and terpenoids will contribute to the future research of genetic engineering breeding, metabolism regulation, glycosyltransferases mining, and plant synthetic biology.
PMID: 35848841
Antioxid Redox Signal , IF:8.401 , 2023 Nov doi: 10.1089/ars.2023.0361
Meta-Analysis of Antioxidant Mutants Reveals Common Alarm Signals for Shaping Abiotic Stress-Induced Transcriptome in Plants.
Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India.; Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, India.; School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India.
Aims: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key regulators of plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. Stress-induced changes in ROS levels trigger multilevel signaling. However, the precise mechanisms by which ROS signals are translated into changes in gene expression remain poorly defined. Focusing on six key antioxidant enzymes, we performed a meta-analysis of transcriptome data available in public databases to analyze ROS-mediated control of nuclear gene expression. Results: An information-guided pipeline was developed, which identified 19 putative transcription factors (TFs), as components in a "common alarm signal cascade" pathway following perception of changes in ROS levels. Crucially, 30%-35% of the abiotic stress transcriptome signatures had binding sites for common alarm signal-transcription factors (CAS-TFs) in their promoter regions. Furthermore, Phloem Early Dof 2 (PEAR2), DNA binding with one finger 5.8 (DOF5.8), and Obf-Binding Protein 3 (OBP3) were identified as top-ranked TFs on the basis of a cumulative DAPseq (DNA-affinity purification sequencing) score on the promoters of selected genes regulating core pathways of salt, drought, heat, and cold stress tolerance. Innovation: This study identifies a set of CAS-TFs that may play a major role in shaping the transcriptome of abiotic stress-induced ROS signaling. Ranking analysis identified PEAR2, DOF5.8, and OBP3 as the top-ranked CAS-TFs that regulated known markers of abiotic stress tolerance. Conclusion: The current findings suggest a major role of ROS in the abiotic stress signaling and also identify a set of TFs that take part in the signaling. Taken together, these findings suggested that the common alarm signal cascade underpins broad-range tolerance against multistress conditions. The identification of associated ROS-responsive CAS-TFs may provide novel targets for crop improvement.
PMID: 37597205
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2023 Nov doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad578
Transcription factor SlWRKY50 enhances cold tolerance in tomato by activating the jasmonic acid signaling.
National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a cold-sensitive crop but frequently experiences low-temperature stimuli. However, tomato responses to cold stress are still poorly understood. Our previous studies have shown that using wild tomato (S. habrochaites) as rootstock can significantly enhance the cold resistance of grafted seedlings, in which a high concentration of jasmonates (JAs) in scions exerts an important role, but the mechanism of JA accumulation remains unclear. Herein, we discovered that tomato SlWRKY50, a group II WRKY transcription factor that is cold-inducible, responds to cold stimuli and plays a key role in JA biosynthesis. SlWRKY50 directly bound to the promoter of tomato allene oxide synthase gene (SlAOS), and overexpressing SlWRKY50 improved tomato chilling resistance, which led to higher levels of Fv/Fm, antioxidative enzymes, SlAOS expression, and JA accumulation. SlWRKY50-silenced plants, however, exhibited an opposite trend. Moreover, DIECA (a JA biosynthesis inhibitor) foliar treatment drastically reduced the cold tolerance of SlWRKY50-OE plants to WT levels. Importantly, SlMYC2, the key regulator of the JA signaling pathway, can control SlWRKY50 expression. Overall, our research indicates that SlWRKY50 promotes cold tolerance by controlling JA biosynthesis and that JA signaling mediates SlWRKY50 expression via transcriptional activation by SlMYC2. Thus, this contributes to the genetic knowledge necessary for developing cold-resistant tomato varieties.
PMID: 37935624
Food Chem , IF:7.514 , 2023 Nov , V438 : P138005 doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.138005
Metabolic profiling of Oryza sativa seedlings under chilling stress using nanoliter electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, PR China; School of Life Sciences, Nanchang Normal University, Nanchang, 330031, PR China; School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, PR China.; College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, PR China.; School of Life Sciences, Nanchang Normal University, Nanchang, 330031, PR China.; School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, PR China.; School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, PR China. Electronic address: lluo2@126.com.
Low temperatures significantly impact on rice (Oryza sativa) yield and quality. Traditional metabolomic techniques, often involving time-consuming chromatography-mass spectrometry procedures, are currently in use. This study investigated metabolomic responses of rice seedlings under low-temperature stress using nanoliter electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) in combination with multivariate analysis. Results revealed distinct metabolic profiles in 'Qiutianxiaoting' (japonica) and '93-11' (indica) rice seedlings. Among the 36 identified compounds in rice, seven key metabolites, comprising l-glutamic acid, asparagine, tryptophan, citric acid, alpha-linolenic acid, malic acid, and inositol, were identified as responsive to cold stress. Notably, malic acid content reached 1332.40 mug/g dry weight in Qiutianxiaoting and 1444.13 mug/g in 93-11. Both the qualitative and quantitative results of nanoESI-MS were further confirmed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry validation. The findings highlight the potential of nanoESI-MS for rapidly characterizing crucial metabolites across diverse plant species under exposure to stress.
PMID: 37983997
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2023 Dec , V46 (12) : P3839-3857 doi: 10.1111/pce.14707
ScAREB4 promotes potato constitutive and acclimated freezing tolerance associated with enhancing trehalose synthesis and oxidative stress tolerance.
National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops/Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.; Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), MARA, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.; College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
Cold is a major environmental factor that restrains potato production. Abscisic acid (ABA) can enhance freezing tolerance in many plant species, but powerful evidence of the ABA-mediated signalling pathway related to freezing tolerance is still in deficiency. In the present study, cold acclimation capacity of the potato genotypes was enhanced alongside with improved endogenous content of ABA. Further exogenous application of ABA and its inhibitor (NDGA) could enhance and reduce potato freezing tolerance, respectively. Moreover, expression pattern of downstream genes in ABA signalling pathway was analysed and only ScAREB4 was identified with specifically upregulate in S. commersonii (CMM5) after cold and ABA treatments. Transgenic assay with overexpression of ScAREB4 showed that ScAREB4 promoted freezing tolerance. Global transcriptome profiling indicated that overexpression of ScAREB4 induced expression of TPS9 (trehalose-6-phosphate synthase) and GSTU8 (glutathione transferase), in accordance with improved TPS activity, trehalose content, higher GST activity and accumulated dramatically less H(2) O(2) in the ScAREB4 overexpressed transgenic lines. Taken together, the current results indicate that increased endogenous content of ABA is related to freezing tolerance in potato. Moreover, ScAREB4 functions as a downstream transcription factor of ABA signalling to promote cold tolerance, which is associated with increased trehalose content and antioxidant capacity.
PMID: 37651608
Chemosphere , IF:7.086 , 2023 Nov , V340 : P139910 doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139910
Insights of microalgal municipal wastewater treatment at low temperatures: Performance, microbiota patterns, and cold-adaptation of tubular and aeration column photobioreactors.
CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Mianyang Teacher's College, Mianyang, 621000, China.; Institute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Mianyang Teacher's College, Mianyang, 621000, China.; Haitian Water Group Co., LTD., Chengdu, 610203, China.; CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.; CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China. Electronic address: lixin@cib.ac.cn.; CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China. Electronic address: tanzhl@cib.ac.cn.
In order to refine the treatment of microalgae consortium (MC) for municipal wastewater (MWW) during the winter, this study investigated the effectiveness of tubular and aeration column photobioreactors (TPBR and APBR) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) during winter by two start-up modes: microalgae/microalgae-activated sludge (AS). The operation results showed that under 5.7-13.1 degrees C, TPBR enhanced the assimilation of N and P pollutant by microalgal accumulation, meeting the Chinese discharge standard within 24 h (NH(4)(+)-N, TP, and COD
PMID: 37611753
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:7.061 , 2023 Nov doi: 10.1111/jipb.13585
OsNAC5 orchestrates OsABI5 to fine-tune cold tolerance in rice.
College of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China.; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya, China.; National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Advanced Seed Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China.; Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Genetic Improvement of Grain and Oil Crops (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Crop Breeding and Cultivation Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Due to its tropical origins, rice (Oryza sativa) is susceptible to cold stress, which poses severe threats to production. OsNAC5, a NAC-type transcription factor, participates in the cold stress response of rice, but the detailed mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that OsNAC5 positively regulates cold tolerance at germination and in seedlings by directly activating the expression of ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE 5 (OsABI5). Haplotype analysis indicated that single nucleotide polymorphisms in a NAC-binding site in the OsABI5 promoter are strongly associated with cold tolerance. OsNAC5 also enhanced OsABI5 stability, thus regulating the expression of cold-responsive (COR) genes, enabling fine-tuned control of OsABI5 action for rapid, precise plant responses to cold stress. DNA affinity purification sequencing coupled with transcriptome deep sequencing identified several OsABI5 target genes involved in COR expression, including DEHYDRATION-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTOR 1A (OsDREB1A), OsMYB20, and PEROXIDASE 70 (OsPRX70). In vivo and in vitro analyses suggested that OsABI5 positively regulates COR gene transcription, with marked COR upregulation in OsNAC5-overexpressing lines and downregulation in osnac5 and/or osabi5 knockout mutants. This study extends our understanding of cold tolerance regulation via OsNAC5 through the OsABI5-CORs transcription module, which may be used to ameliorate cold tolerance in rice via advanced breeding. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PMID: 37968901
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 Nov , V256 (Pt 1) : P128063 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128063
WRKY transcription factors in passion fruit analysis reveals key PeWRKYs involved in abiotic stress and flavonoid biosynthesis.
Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, CATAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Germplasm Resources Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province, National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding, Germplasm Repository of Passiflora, Haikou 571101, China; Hainan Key Laboratory for Biosafety Monitoring and Molecular Breeding in Off-Season Reproduction Regions, Sanya Research Institute, CATAS, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China.; Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, China.; Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, CATAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Germplasm Resources Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province, National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding, Germplasm Repository of Passiflora, Haikou 571101, China; Hainan Key Laboratory for Biosafety Monitoring and Molecular Breeding in Off-Season Reproduction Regions, Sanya Research Institute, CATAS, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China. Electronic address: songs@catas.cn.; Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, CATAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Germplasm Resources Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province, National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding, Germplasm Repository of Passiflora, Haikou 571101, China; Hainan Key Laboratory for Biosafety Monitoring and Molecular Breeding in Off-Season Reproduction Regions, Sanya Research Institute, CATAS, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China. Electronic address: xuyi@catas.cn.
WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are a superfamily of regulators involved in plant responses to pathogens and abiotic stress. Passion fruit is famous for its unique flavor and nutrient-rich juice, but its growth is limited by environmental factors and pathogens. In this study, 55 WRKY genes were identified from the Passiflora edulis genome. The structure and evolutionary characteristics of PeWRKYs were analyzed using a bioinformatics approach. PeWRKYs were classified into seven subgroups (I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IId, IIe, III) according to their homologs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Group IIa PeWRKY48 gene was highly up-regulated under cold stress by RNA expression analysis, and transgenic PeWRKY48 in yeast and Arabidopsis showed resistance exposure to cold, salt, and drought stress. Metabolome and transcriptome co-expression analysis of two different disease resistance genotypes of P. edulis identified PeWRKY30 as a key TF co-expressed with flavonoid accumulation in yellow fruit P. edulis, which may contribute to biotic or abiotic resistance. The qRT-PCR verified the expression of key genes in different tissues of P. edulis and in different species of Passiflora. This study provides a set of WRKY candidate genes that will facilitate the genetic improvement of disease and abiotic tolerance in passion fruit.
PMID: 37963507
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 Nov , V254 (Pt 2) : P127778 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127778
ROS scavenging enzyme-encoding genes play important roles in the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis response to extreme cold and desiccation stresses.
State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 830000 Urumqi, China.; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 830000 Urumqi, China. Electronic address: lixs@ms.xjb.ac.cn.
Abiotic stress is one of the major environmental constraints limiting plant growth. Syntrichia caninervis is one of the unique plant models that can cope with harsh environments. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a vital signaling molecule for protecting plants from oxidative stress, but research on ROS in S. caninervis is limited. Here, we identified 112 ROS genes in S. caninervis, including 40 GSTs, 51 PODs, 9 SODs, 6 CATs, 3 GPXs and 3 APXs families. GO and KEGG analyses showed that ROS genes are involved in responses to various stimuli and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. ROS genes contain many stress-responsive and hormonal cis-elements in their promoter regions. More ROS genes were induced by cold stress than desiccation stress, and both conditions changed the transcript abundances of several ROS genes. CAT and POD, H(2)O(2), MDA, and GSH were also induced under biotic stress, specifically CAT activity. The results indicated that the ScCAT genes and their activities could be strongly associated with the regulation of ROS production. This is the first systematic identification of ROS genes in S. caninervis and our findings contribute to further research into the roles of ScROS adjustment under abiotic stress while also providing excellent genetic resources for plant breeding.
PMID: 37926320
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 Dec , V253 (Pt 7) : P127442 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127442
Genome-wide analyses of calmodulin and calmodulin-like proteins in the halophyte Nitraria sibirica reveal their involvement in response to salinity, drought and cold stress.
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.; Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dengkou, Inner Mongolia, China.; College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: lulu2020@njfu.edu.cn.
The calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like (CML) proteins are major calcium sensors that play a critical role in environmental stimulus response in plants. Nevertheless, the CaM/CML proteins from the specific plants with extreme tolerance to abiotic stresses remained so far uncharacterized. In this study, 66 candidate proteins (three NsCaMs and sixty-three NsCMLs) were identified from the halophyte Nitraria sibirica, which can withstand an extreme salinity. Bioinformatic analysis of upstream cis-acting elements predicted the potential involvement of NsCaM/CMLs in abiotic stress responses and various hormone responses. Additionally, the Nitraria sibirica transcriptome revealed that 17 and 7 NsCMLs were significantly upregulated under 100 mM or 400 mM NaCl treatment. Transcription of most salt-responsive genes was similarly upregulated under cold stress, yet downregulated under drought treatment. Moreover, predictive subcellular localization analysis suggested that the stress-responsive NsCML proteins mainly localize at the cellular membrane and within the nucleus. Furthermore, transgenic overexpression of two NsCMLs (NISI03G1136 and NISI01G1645) was found to mitigate H(2)O(2) accumulation caused by salt stress. These results provide insights into the potential function of Nitraria sibirica CaM/CML proteins, which could aid the investigation of molecular mechanisms of extreme tolerance to abiotic stresses in halophytes.
PMID: 37844818
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2023 Dec , V253 (Pt 2) : P126701 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126701
Genome-wide identification of PYL/PYR-PP2C (A)-SnRK2 genes in Eutrema and their co-expression analysis in response to ABA and abiotic stresses.
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China.; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China; Research team of plant pathogen microbiology and immunology, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China.; Research team of plant pathogen microbiology and immunology, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China.; Research team of plant pathogen microbiology and immunology, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China. Electronic address: zmeng@sdnu.edu.cn.; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China; Research team of plant pathogen microbiology and immunology, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China. Electronic address: zhangquan@sdnu.edu.cn.
ABA signaling core components PYR/PYL, group A PP2C and SnRK2 play important roles in various environmental stress responses of plants. This study identified 14 PYR/PYL, 9 PP2C (A), and 10 SnRK2 genes from halophytic Eutrema. Phylogenetic analysis showed 4 EsPYR/PYL, 4 EsPP2C (A) and 3 EsSnRK2 subfamilies characterized, which was supported by their gene structures and protein motifs. Large-scale segmental duplication event was demonstrated to be a major contributor to expansion of the EsPYL-PP2C (A)-SnRK2 gene families. Synteny relationship analysis revealed more orthologous PYL-PP2C (A)-SnRK2 gene pairs located in collinear blocks between Eutrema and Brassica than that between Eutrema and Arabidopsis. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR revealed EsABI1, EsABI2 and EsHAL2 showed a significantly up-regulated expression in leaves and roots in response to ABA, NaCl or cold stress. Three markedly co-expression modules of ABA/R-brown, NaCl/L-lightsteelblue1 and Cold/R-lightgreen were uncovered to contain EsPYL-PP2C (A)-SnRK2 genes by WGCNA analysis. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that the genes of ABA/R-brown module containing EsHAB1, EsHAI2 and EsSnRK2.6 were enriched in proteasome pathway. Further, EsHAI2-OE transgenic Arabidopsis lines showed significantly enhanced seeds germination and seedlings growth. This work provides a new insight for elucidating potential molecular functions of PYL-PP2C (A)-SnRK2 responding to ABA and abiotic stresses.
PMID: 37673165
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Nov doi: 10.1111/tpj.16568
CaSnRK2.4-mediated phosphorylation of CaNAC035 regulates abscisic acid synthesis in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) responding to cold stress.
College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.; Department of Horticulture, The University of Haripur, Haripur, 22620, Pakistan.; College of Horticulture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changshai, 410125, China.; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Yangling, 712100, China.
Plant NAC transcription factors play a crucial role in enhancing cold stress tolerance, yet the precise molecular mechanisms underlying cold stress remain elusive. In this study, we identified and characterized CaNAC035, an NAC transcription factor isolated from pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves. We observed that the expression of the CaNAC035 gene is induced by both cold and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments, and we elucidated its positive regulatory role in cold stress tolerance. Overexpression of CaNAC035 resulted in enhanced cold stress tolerance, while knockdown of CaNAC035 significantly reduced resistance to cold stress. Additionally, we discovered that CaSnRK2.4, a SnRK2 protein, plays an essential role in cold tolerance. In this study, we demonstrated that CaSnRK2.4 physically interacts with and phosphorylates CaNAC035 both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the expression of two ABA biosynthesis-related genes, CaAAO3 and CaNCED3, was significantly upregulated in the CaNAC035-overexpressing transgenic pepper lines. Yeast one-hybrid, Dual Luciferase, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays provided evidence that CaNAC035 binds to the promoter regions of both CaAAO3 and CaNCED3 in vivo and in vitro. Notably, treatment of transgenic pepper with 50 mum Fluridone (Flu) enhanced cold tolerance, while the exogenous application of ABA at a concentration of 10 mum noticeably reduced cold tolerance in the virus-induced gene silencing line. Overall, our findings highlight the involvement of CaNAC035 in the cold response of pepper and provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cold tolerance. These results offer promising prospects for molecular breeding strategies aimed at improving cold tolerance in pepper and other crops.
PMID: 38017590
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2023 Nov doi: 10.1111/tpj.16562
A C2H2-type zinc finger protein ZAT12 of Poncirus trifoliata acts downstream of CBF1 to regulate cold tolerance.
National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.; Hubei Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Fruit Trees, Institute of Fruit and Tea, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, China.; College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
The Cys2/His2 (C2H2)-type zinc finger family has been reported to regulate multiple aspects of plant development and abiotic stress response. However, the role of C2H2-type zinc finger proteins in cold tolerance remains largely unclear. Through RNA-sequence analysis, a cold-responsive zinc finger protein, named as PtrZAT12, was identified and isolated from trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.), a cold-hardy plant closely related to citrus. Furthermore, we found that PtrZAT12 was markedly induced by various abiotic stresses, especially cold stress. PtrZAT12 is a nuclear protein, and physiological analysis suggests that overexpression of PtrZAT12 conferred enhanced cold tolerance in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants, while knockdown of PtrZAT12 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) increased the cold sensitivity of trifoliate orange and repressed expression of genes involved in stress tolerance. The promoter of PtrZAT12 harbors a DRE/CRT cis-acting element, which was verified to be specifically bound by PtrCBF1 (Poncirus trifoliata C-repeat BINDING FACTOR1). VIGS-mediated silencing of PtrCBF1 reduced the relative expression levels of PtrZAT12 and decreased the cold resistance of trifoliate orange. Based on these results, we propose that PtrZAT12 is a direct target of CBF1 and plays a positive role in modulation of cold stress tolerance. The knowledge gains new insight into a regulatory module composed of CBF1-ZAT12 in response to cold stress and advances our understanding of cold stress response in plants.
PMID: 38017362
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Nov , V24 (22) doi: 10.3390/ijms242216063
Characterization of the FLA Gene Family in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and the Expression Analysis of SlFLAs in Response to Hormone and Abiotic Stresses.
College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, 1 Yinmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou 730070, China.; College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs), a subclass of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), participate in mediating plant growth, development, and response to abiotic stress. However, the characterization and function of FLAs in tomato are currently unknown. In this study, members of the tomato FLA family are characterized and analyzed in relation to their response to phytohormonal and abiotic stresses. The results show that a total of 24 FLA members were characterized in tomato. The structural domain analysis showed that these members have a high protein similarity. The expression profiles of different tissues indicated that the genes of most members of the tomato FLA gene family are highly expressed in roots, but to a lower extent in fruits. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that all 24 tomato FLA genes are responsive to ABA and MeJA. SlFLAs showed a positive response to salt and cold stress. SlFLA1, SlFLA12, and SlFLA14 are significantly induced under darkness. SlFLA1 and SlFLA3 are significantly induced under drought stress. This study provides a basis for a further understanding of the role of tomato FLA homologous genes in plant response to abiotic stress and lays the foundation for further research on the function of FLAs in tomato.
PMID: 38003253
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Nov , V24 (21) doi: 10.3390/ijms242115956
Guijing2501 (Citrus unshiu) Has Stronger Cold Tolerance Due to Higher Photoprotective Capacity as Revealed by Comparative Transcriptomic and Physiological Analysis and Overexpression of Early Light-Induced Protein.
Hubei Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Fruit Trees, Institute of Fruit and Tea, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China.
Cold is one of the major limiting factors for citrus production, particularly extreme cold waves. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop cold-tolerant varieties and clarify their cold tolerance mechanisms in citrus breeding. In this study, comparative transcriptomic and physiological analyses were performed to dissect the cold tolerance mechanism of Guijing2501 (GJ2501), a new satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu) variety with about 1 degrees C lower LT50 (the median lethal temperature) relative to Guijing (GJ). The physiological analysis results revealed that GJ2501 is more cold-tolerant with less photoinhibition, PSII photodamage, and MDA accumulation, but higher POD activity than GJ under cold stress. Comparative transcriptomic analysis identified 4200 DEGs between GJ and GJ2501, as well as 4884 and 5580 up-regulated DEGs, and 5288 and 5862 down-regulated DEGs in response to cold stress in GJ and GJ2501, respectively. "Photosynthesis, light harvesting" and "photosystem" were the specific and most significantly enriched GO terms in GJ2501 in response to cold stress. Two CuELIP1 genes (encoding early light-induced proteins) related to the elimination of PSII photodamage and photoinhibition were remarkably up-regulated (by about 1000-fold) by cold stress in GJ2501 as indicated by RT-qPCR verification. Overexpression of CuELIP1 from GJ2501 in transgenic Arabidopsis protected PSII against photoinhibition under cold stress. Taken together, the cold tolerance of GJ2501 may be ascribed to its higher photoprotective capacity under cold stress.
PMID: 37958939
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Nov , V24 (21) doi: 10.3390/ijms242115942
Genome-Wide Analysis of bHLH Family Genes and Identification of Members Associated with Cold/Drought-Induced Photoinhibition in Kandelia obovata.
College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.; College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.; Forestry College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
Plant basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play pivotal roles in responding to stress, including cold and drought. However, it remains unclear how bHLH family genes respond to these stresses in Kandelia obovata. In this study, we identified 75 bHLH members in K. obovata, classified into 11 subfamilies and unevenly distributed across its 18 chromosomes. Collineation analysis revealed that segmental duplication primarily drove the expansion of KobHLH genes. The KobHLH promoters were enriched with elements associated with light response. Through RNA-seq, we identified several cold/drought-associated KobHLH genes. This correlated with decreased net photosynthetic rates (P(n)) in the leaves of cold/drought-treated plants. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) confirmed that 11 KobHLH genes were closely linked to photoinhibition in photosystem II (PS II). Among them, four Phytochrome Interacting Factors (PIFs) involved in chlorophyll metabolism were significantly down-regulated. Subcellular localization showed that KobHLH52 and KobHLH30 were located in the nucleus. Overall, we have comprehensively analyzed the KobHLH family and identified several members associated with photoinhibition under cold or drought stress, which may be helpfulfor further cold/drought-tolerance enhancement and molecular breeding through genetic engineering in K. obovata.
PMID: 37958925
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Oct , V24 (21) doi: 10.3390/ijms242115827
Involvement of the Calmodulin-like Protein Gene VaCML92 in Grapevine Abiotic Stress Response and Stilbene Production.
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia.
Calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs) are an important family of plant calcium sensor proteins that sense and decode changes in the intracellular calcium concentration in response to environmental and developmental stimuli. Nonetheless, the specific functions of individual CML family members remain largely unknown. This study aims to explore the role of the Vitis amurensis VaCML92 gene in the development of its high stress resistance and the production of stilbenes. The expression of VaCML92 was sharply induced in V. amurensis cuttings after cold stress. The VaCML92 gene was cloned and its role in the abiotic stress responses and stilbene production in grapevine was further investigated. The VaCML92-overexpressing callus cell cultures of V. amurensis and soil-grown plants of Arabidopsis thaliana exhibited enhanced tolerance to cold stress and, to a lesser extent, to the drought, while their tolerance to heat stress and high salinity was not affected. In addition, the overexpression of VaCML92 increased stilbene production in the V. amurensis cell cultures by 7.8-8.7-fold. Taken together, the data indicate that the VaCML92 gene is involved as a strong positive regulator in the rapid response to cold stress, the induction of cold stress resistance and in stilbene production in wild grapevine.
PMID: 37958810
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Oct , V24 (21) doi: 10.3390/ijms242115778
HbBIN2 Functions in Plant Cold Stress Resistance through Modulation of HbICE1 Transcriptional Activity and ROS Homeostasis in Hevea brasiliensis.
School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China.
Cold stress poses significant limitations on the growth, latex yield, and ecological distribution of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). The GSK3-like kinase plays a significant role in helping plants adapt to different biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the functions of GSK3-like kinase BR-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2) in Hevea brasiliensis remain elusive. Here, we identified HbBIN2s of Hevea brasiliensis and deciphered their roles in cold stress resistance. The transcript levels of HbBIN2s are upregulated by cold stress. In addition, HbBIN2s are present in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and have the ability to interact with the INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION1(HbICE1) transcription factor, a central component in cold signaling. HbBIN2 overexpression in Arabidopsis displays decreased tolerance to chilling stress with a lower survival rate and proline content but a higher level of electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) than wild type under cold stress. Meanwhile, HbBIN2 transgenic Arabidopsis treated with cold stress exhibits a significant increase in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Further investigation reveals that HbBIN2 inhibits the transcriptional activity of HbICE1, thereby attenuating the expression of C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR (HbCBF1). Consistent with this, overexpression of HbBIN2 represses the expression of CBF pathway cold-regulated genes under cold stress. In conclusion, our findings indicate that HbBIN2 functions as a suppressor of cold stress resistance by modulating HbICE1 transcriptional activity and ROS homeostasis.
PMID: 37958762
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Oct , V24 (21) doi: 10.3390/ijms242115776
Genome-Wide Identification, Evolution, and Expression Analysis of the WD40 Subfamily in Oryza Genus.
State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
The WD40 superfamily is widely found in eukaryotes and has essential subunits that serve as scaffolds for protein complexes. WD40 proteins play important regulatory roles in plant development and physiological processes, such as transcription regulation and signal transduction; it is also involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. In rice, only OsTTG1 was found to be associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis, and evolutionary analysis of the WD40 gene family in multiple species is less studied. Here, a genome-wide analysis of the subfamily belonging to WD40-TTG1 was performed in nine AA genome species: Oryza sativa ssp. japonica, Oryza sativa ssp. indica, Oryza rufipogon, Oryza glaberrima, Oryza meridionalis, Oryza barthii, Oryza glumaepatula, Oryza nivara, and Oryza longistaminata. In this study, 383 WD40 genes in the Oryza genus were identified, and they were classified into four groups by phylogenetic analysis, with most members in group C and group D. They were found to be unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes. A total of 39 collinear gene pairs were identified in the Oryza genus, and all were segmental duplications. WD40s had similar expansion patterns in the Oryza genus. Ka/Ks analyses indicated that they had undergone mainly purifying selection during evolution. Furthermore, WD40s in the Oryza genus have similar evolutionary patterns, so Oryza sativa ssp. indica was used as a model species for further analysis. The cis-acting elements analysis showed that many genes were related to jasmonic acid and light response. Among them, OsiWD40-26/37/42 contained elements of flavonoid synthesis, and OsiWD40-15 had MYB binding sites, indicating that they might be related to anthocyanin synthesis. The expression profile analysis at different stages revealed that most OsiWD40s were expressed in leaves, roots, and panicles. The expression of OsiWD40s was further analyzed by qRT-PCR in 9311 (indica) under various hormone treatments and abiotic stresses. OsiWD40-24 was found to be responsive to both phytohormones and abiotic stresses, suggesting that it might play an important role in plant stress resistance. And many OsiWD40s might be more involved in cold stress tolerance. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of the WD40 subfamily. The analyzed candidate genes can be used for the exploration of practical applications in rice, such as cultivar culture for colored rice, stress tolerance varieties, and morphological marker development.
PMID: 37958759
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2023 Nov , V24 (21) doi: 10.3390/ijms242115892
Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics Reveal the Mechanisms of Young Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Ears' Response to Spring Freezing.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Physiology/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops/Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, No. 88 Daxue South Road, Yangzhou 225009, China.
Late spring frost is an important meteorological factor threatening the safe production of winter wheat in China. The young ear is the most vulnerable organ of the wheat plant to spring frost. To gain an insight into the mechanisms underpinning young wheat ears' tolerance to freezing, we performed a comparative proteome analysis of wheat varieties Xumai33 (XM33, freezing-sensitive) and Jimai22 (JM22, freezing-tolerant) under normal and freezing conditions using label-free quantitative proteomic techniques during the anther connective tissue formation phase (ACFP). Under freezing stress, 392 and 103 differently expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in the young ears of XM33 and JM22, respectively, and among these, 30 proteins were common in both varieties. A functional characterization analysis revealed that these DEPs were associated with antioxidant capacity, cell wall modification, protein folding, dehydration response, and plant-pathogen interactions. The young ears of JM22 showed significantly higher expression levels of antioxidant enzymes, heat shock proteins, and dehydrin under normal conditions compared to those of XM33, which might help to prepare the young ears of JM22 for freezing stress. Our results lead to new insights into understanding the mechanisms in young wheat ears' response to freezing stress and provide pivotal potential candidate proteins required for improving young wheat ears' tolerance to spring frost.
PMID: 37958875
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1240313 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1240313
Agronomic strategies to enhance the early vigor and yield of maize part II: the role of seed applied biostimulant, hybrid, and starter fertilization on crop performance.
Department of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.; Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Maize cropping systems need to be re-designed, within a sustainable intensification context, by focusing on the application of high-use efficiency crop practices, such as those that are able to enhance an early plant vigor in the first critical growth stages; such practices could lead to significant agronomic and yield benefits. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the effects of the cultivation of hybrids with superior early vigor, of the distribution of starter fertilizers at sowing, and of the seed application of biostimulants on promoting plant growth and grain yield in full factorial experiments carried out in both a growth chamber and in open fields. The greatest benefits, in terms of plant growth enhancement (plant height, biomass, leaf area) and cold stress mitigation, were detected for the starter fertilization, followed by the use of an early vigor hybrid and a biostimulant seed treatment. The starter fertilization and the early vigor hybrid led to earlier flowering dates, that is, of 2.1 and 2.8 days, respectively, and significantly reduced grain moisture at harvest. Moreover, the early vigor hybrid, the starter NP fertilization, and the biostimulant treatment increased grain yield by 8.5%, 6.0%, and 5.1%, respectively, compared to the standard hybrid and the untreated controls. The combination of all the considered factors resulted in the maximum benefits, compared to the control cropping system, with an increase in the plant growth of 124%, a reduction of the sowing-flowering period of 5 days, and a gain in grain yield of 14%. When choosing the most suitable crop practice, the diversity of each cropping system should be considered, according to the pedo-climatic conditions, the agronomic background, the yield potential, and the supply chain requirements.
PMID: 38023856
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2023 , V14 : P1285547 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1285547
Comparative genomics profiling revealed multi-stress responsive roles of the CC-NBS-LRR genes in three mango cultivars.
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.; Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, Pakistan.; Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China.; Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China.; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) gene family is the largest group of disease resistance (R) genes in plants and is active in response to viruses, bacteria, and fungi usually involved in effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Pangenome-wide studies allow researchers to analyze the genetic diversity of multiple species or their members simultaneously, providing a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary relationships and diversity present among them. The draft pan-genome of three Mangifera indica cultivars (Alphonso, Hong Xiang Ya, and Tommy atkins) was constructed and Presence/absence variants (PAVs) were filtered through the ppsPCP pipeline. As a result, 2823 genes and 5907 PAVs from H. Xiang Ya, and 1266 genes and 2098 PAVs from T. atkins were added to the reference genome. For the identification of CC-NBS-LRR (CNL) genes in these mango cultivars, this draft pan-genome study has successfully identified 47, 27, and 36 members in Alphonso, H. Xiang Ya, and T. atkins respectively. The phylogenetic analysis divided MiCNL proteins into four distinct subgroups. All MiCNL genes are unevenly distributed on chromosomes. Both tandem and segmental duplication events played a significant role in the expansion of the CNL gene family. These genes contain cis-elements related to light, stress, hormone, and development. The analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPI) revealed that MiCNL proteins interacted with other defense-responsive proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis indicated that MiCNL genes play a role in defense mechanisms within the organism. The expression level of the identified genes in fruit peel was observed under disease and cold stress which showed that Mi_A_CNL13 and 14 were up-regulated while Mi_A_CNL15, 25, 30, 31, and 40 were down-regulated in disease stress. On the other hand, Mi_A_CNL2, 14, 41, and 45 were up-regulated and Mi_A_CNL47 is down-regulated in cold stress. Subsequently, the Random Forest (RF) classifier was used to assess the multi-stress response of MiCNLs. It was found that Mi_A_CNL14 is a gene that responds to multiple stress conditions. The CNLs have similar protein structures which show that they are involved in the same function. The above findings provide a foundation for a deeper understanding of the functional characteristics of the mango CNL gene family.
PMID: 37965009
J Agric Food Chem , IF:5.279 , 2023 Nov , V71 (47) : P18345-18358 doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07005
Integrated Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analyses Provide Insights into Qingke in Response to Cold Stress.
School of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.; Key Laboratory of Barley Biology and Genetic Improvement on QingHai-Tibet Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Lhasa 850002, China.; Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850002, China.; Hainan Yazhou Bay grain Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China.
The survival and productivity of qingke in high altitude (>4300 m, average yearly temperature <0 degrees C) of the Tibetan Plateau are significantly impacted by low-temperature stress. Uncovering the mechanisms underlying low-temperature stress response in cold-tolerant qingke varieties is crucial for qingke breeding. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis on cold-sensitive (ZQ) and cold-tolerant (XL) qingke varieties under chilling and freezing treatments and identified lipid metabolism pathways as enriched in response to freezing treatment. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between the expression of C-repeat (CRT) binding factor 10A (HvCBF10A) and Gly-Asp-Ser-Leu-motif lipase (HvGDSL) and the accumulation of multiple lipids. Functional analysis confirmed that HvCBF10A directly binds to HvGDSL, and silencing HvCBF10A resulted in a significant decrease in both HvGDSL and lipid levels, consequently impairing the cold tolerance. Overall, HvCBF10A and HvGDSL are functional units in actively regulating lipid metabolism to enhance freezing stress tolerance in qingke.
PMID: 37966343
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2023 Dec , V42 (12) : P2011-2022 doi: 10.1007/s00299-023-03079-6
A comprehensive investigation of the regulatory roles of OsERF096, an AP2/ERF transcription factor, in rice cold stress response.
Crop Stress Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, 163319, China.; Crop Stress Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, 163319, China. csmbl2016@126.com.; Crop Stress Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, 163319, China. kaik127@163.com.
OsERF096 negatively regulates rice cold tolerance and mediates IAA biosynthesis and signaling under cold stress. The APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factors play important roles in regulating plant tolerance to abiotic stress. OsERF096 was previously identified as a direct target of miR1320, and was suggested to negatively regulate rice cold tolerance. In this study, we performed RNA-sequencing and targeted metabolomics assays to reveal the regulatory roles of OsERF096 in cold stress response. GO and KEGG analysis of differentially expressed genes showed that the starch and sucrose metabolism, plant-pathogen interaction, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways were significantly enriched. Quantification analysis confirmed a significant difference in sugar contents among WT and OsERF096 transgenic lines under cold treatment. Targeted metabolomics analysis uncovered that IAA accumulation and signaling were modified by OsERF096 in response to cold stress. Expectedly, qRT-PCR assays confirmed significant OsIAAs and OsARFs expression changes in OsERF096 transgenic lines. Finally, we identified three targets of OsERF096 based on RNA-seq, qRT-PCR, and dual-LUC assays. In summary, these results revealed the multiple regulatory roles of OsERF096 in cold stress response.
PMID: 37812280
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2023 Nov , V13 (1) : P18890 doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-45722-y
Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals candidate genes for cold stress response and early flowering in pineapple.
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.; Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, 28081, USA.; Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.; Research Department of Dole, Standard Fruit de Honduras, Zona Mazapan, 31101, La Ceiba, Honduras.; Berkley LLC, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA.; Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.; Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA. miorizz@ncsu.edu.; Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, 28081, USA. miorizz@ncsu.edu.
Pineapple originates from tropical regions in South America and is therefore significantly impacted by cold stress. Periodic cold events in the equatorial regions where pineapple is grown may induce early flowering, also known as precocious flowering, resulting in monetary losses due to small fruit size and the need to make multiple passes for harvesting a single field. Currently, pineapple is one of the most important tropical fruits in the world in terms of consumption, and production losses caused by weather can have major impacts on worldwide exportation potential and economics. To further our understanding of and identify mechanisms for low-temperature tolerance in pineapple, and to identify the relationship between low-temperature stress and flowering time, we report here a transcriptomic analysis of two pineapple genotypes in response to low-temperature stress. Using meristem tissue collected from precocious flowering-susceptible MD2 and precocious flowering-tolerant Dole-17, we performed pairwise comparisons and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify cold stress, genotype, and floral organ development-specific modules. Dole-17 had a greater increase in expression of genes that confer cold tolerance. The results suggested that low temperature stress in Dole-17 plants induces transcriptional changes to adapt and maintain homeostasis. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed differences in cuticular wax biosynthesis, carbohydrate accumulation, and vernalization-related gene expression between genotypes. Cold stress induced changes in ethylene and abscisic acid-mediated pathways differentially between genotypes, suggesting that MD2 may be more susceptible to hormone-mediated early flowering. The differentially expressed genes and module hub genes identified in this study are potential candidates for engineering cold tolerance in pineapple to develop new varieties capable of maintaining normal reproduction cycles under cold stress. In addition, a total of 461 core genes involved in the development of reproductive tissues in pineapple were also identified in this study. This research provides an important genomic resource for understanding molecular networks underlying cold stress response and how cold stress affects flowering time in pineapple.
PMID: 37919298
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2023 Nov , V205 : P108164 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108164
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in plant: Master regulators for adapting to extreme temperature conditions.
Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, Kansas State University, Department of Agronomy, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208024, India. Electronic address: ucj@ksu.edu.; Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India. Electronic address: harshnayyar@hotmail.com.; Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) - The Volcani Institute, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel.; Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, Kansas State University, Department of Agronomy, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.; National Institute of Plant Genomic Research, New Delhi, 110067, India.; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia.
Unusual daily temperature fluctuations caused by climate change and climate variability adversely impact agricultural crop production. Since plants are immobile and constantly receive external environmental signals, such as extreme high (heat) and low (cold) temperatures, they have developed complex molecular regulatory mechanisms to cope with stressful situations to sustain their natural growth and development. Among these mechanisms, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), play a significant role in enhancing heat and cold stress tolerance. This review explores the pivotal findings related to miRNAs, siRNAs, and lncRNAs, elucidating how they functionally regulate plant adaptation to extreme temperatures. In addition, this review addresses the challenges associated with uncovering these non-coding RNAs and understanding their roles in orchestrating heat and cold tolerance in plants.
PMID: 38008006
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2023 Nov , V204 : P108153 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108153
Negative regulation of tobacco cold stress tolerance by NtPhyA.
College of Tobacco, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China; Key Laboratory for Tobacco Quality Research Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China.; College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China.; College of Tobacco, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China; Key Laboratory for Tobacco Quality Research Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China; College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China.; College of Tobacco, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China; Key Laboratory for Tobacco Quality Research Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China. Electronic address: rxliu@gzu.edu.cn.
Cold stress is a non-biological stressor that adversely affects tobacco yield and leaf quality. Plant photoreceptor proteins, which function as dual light-temperature sensors, play a vital role in temperature changes, making them crucial for responses to non-biological stressors. However, the regulatory mechanisms of PhyA in tobacco remain poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to clone the NtPhyA gene from tobacco and generate overexpression (OE-NtPhyA) and mutant (KO-NtPhyA) constructs of NtPhyA. By assessing the physiological and biochemical responses of the mutants under cold stress and performing transcriptome sequencing, we determined the signalling mechanism of NtPhyA under cold stress. Comparative analysis with wild-type (WT) NtPhyA revealed that KO-NtPhyA exhibited increased seed germination rates and reduced wilting under cold stress. In additional, the degree of damage to leaf cells, cell membranes, and stomatal structures was mitigated, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly decreased. Antioxidant enzyme activity, net photosynthetic rate, and Fv/Fm were significantly enhanced in KO-NtPhyA, whereas the opposite effects were observed in OE-NtPhyA. These findings indicate that KO-NtPhyA augments tobacco tolerance to cold stress, implying a negative regulatory role of NtPhyA in tobacco during cold stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that NtPhyA governs the expression of a cascade of genes involved in the response to oxygen-containing compounds, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), ROS, temperature stimuli, photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex assembly, water channel activity, calcium channel activity, and carbohydrate transport. Collectively, our findings indicate that NtPhyA activates downstream gene expression to enhance the resilience of tobacco to cold stress.
PMID: 37931558
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2023 Nov , V204 : P108150 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108150
The roles of miR156 in abiotic and biotic stresses in plants.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China. Electronic address: zhulingcheng316@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), known as a kind of non-coding RNA, can negatively regulate its target genes. To date, the roles of various miRNAs in plant development and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses have been widely explored. The present review summarized and discussed the functions of miR156 or miR156-SPL module in abiotic and biotic stresses, such as drought, salt, heat, cold stress, UV-B radiation, heavy mental hazards, nutritional starvation, as well as plant viruses, plant diseases, etc. Based on this, the regulation of miR156-involved stress tolerance was better understood, thus, it would be much easier for plant biologists to carry out suitable strategies to help plants suffer from unfavorable living environments.
PMID: 37922645
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2023 Nov , V23 (1) : P598 doi: 10.1186/s12870-023-04580-6
Genome-wide identification of bZIP gene family and expression analysis of BhbZIP58 under heat stress in wax gourd.
Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China.; College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China.; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China.; College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China. kangyunyan@scau.edu.cn.; Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China. jiangbiao@gdaas.cn.; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China. jiangbiao@gdaas.cn.
BACKGROUND: The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor family is one of the most abundant and evolutionarily conserved gene families in plants. It assumes crucial functions in the life cycle of plants, including pathogen defense, secondary metabolism, stress response, seed maturation, and flower development. Although the genome of wax gourd has been published, little is known about the functions, evolutionary background, and gene expression patterns of the bZIP gene family, which limits its utilization. RESULTS: A total of 61 bZIP genes (BhbZIPs) were identified from wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) genome and divided into 12 subgroups. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) and dispersed duplication (DSD) were the main driving forces of bZIP gene family expansion in wax gourd, and this family may have undergone intense purifying selection pressure during the evolutionary process. We selected BhbZIP58, only one in the member of subgroup B, to study its expression patterns under different stresses, including heat, salt, drought, cold stress, and ABA treatment. Surprisingly, BhbZIP58 had a dramatic response under heat stress. BhbZIP58 showed the highest expression level in the root compared with leaves, stem, stamen, pistil, and ovary. In addition, BhbZIP58 protein was located in the nucleus and had transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of BhbZIP58 in Arabidopsis enhanced their heat tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, bZIP gene family is systematically bioinformatically in wax gourd for the first time. Particularly, BhbZIP58 may have an important role in heat stress. It will facilitate further research on the bZIP gene family regarding their evolutionary history and biological functions.
PMID: 38017380
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2023 Nov , V23 (1) : P566 doi: 10.1186/s12870-023-04577-1
CsBPC2 is essential for cucumber survival under cold stress.
State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.; Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Greenhouse Vegetable, College of Life Science, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.; State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China. sunmintao@caas.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China. liyansu@caas.cn.
Cold stress affects the growth and development of cucumbers. Whether the BPC2 transcription factor participates in cold tolerance and its regulatory mechanism in plants have not been reported. Here, we used wild-type (WT) cucumber seedlings and two mutant Csbpc2 lines as materials. The underlying mechanisms were studied by determining the phenotype, physiological and biochemical indicators, and transcriptome after cold stress. The results showed that CsBPC2 knockout reduced cucumber cold tolerance by increasing the chilling injury index, relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and decreasing antioxidant enzyme activity. We then conducted RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to explore transcript-level changes in Csbpc2 mutants. A large number of differentially expressed genes (1032) were identified and found to be unique in Csbpc2 mutants. However, only 489 down-regulated genes related to the synthesis and transport of amino acids and vitamins were found to be enriched through GO analysis. Moreover, both RNA-seq and qPT-PCR techniques revealed that CsBPC2 knockout also decreased the expression of some key cold-responsive genes, such as CsICE1, CsCOR413IM2, CsBZR1 and CsBZR2. These results strongly suggested that CsBPC2 knockout not only affected cold function genes but also decreased the levels of some key metabolites under cold stress. In conclusion, this study reveals for the first time that CsBPC2 is essential for cold tolerance in cucumber and provides a reference for research on the biological function of BPC2 in other plants.
PMID: 37968586
Tree Physiol , IF:4.196 , 2023 Nov , V43 (11) : P1964-1985 doi: 10.1093/treephys/tpad095
Genome-wide identification of late embryogenesis abundant protein family and their key regulatory network in Pinus tabuliformis cold acclimation.
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, 85 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China.; Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Cold acclimation is a crucial biological process that enables conifers to overwinter safely. The late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein family plays a pivotal role in enhancing freezing tolerance during this process. Despite its importance, the identification, molecular functions and regulatory networks of the LEA protein family have not been extensively studied in conifers or gymnosperms. Pinus tabuliformis, a conifer with high ecological and economic values and with high-quality genome sequence, is an ideal candidate for such studies. Here, a total of 104 LEA genes were identified from P. tabuliformis, and we renamed them according to their subfamily group: PtLEA1-PtLEA92 (group LEA1-LEA6), PtSMP1-PtSMP6 (group seed maturation protein) and PtDHN1-PtDHN6 (group Dehydrin). While the sequence structure of P. tabuliformis LEA genes are conserved, their physicochemical properties exhibit unique characteristics within different subfamily groupings. Notably, the abundance of low-temperature responsive elements in PtLEA genes was observed. Using annual rhythm and temperature gradient transcriptome data, PtLEA22 was identified as a key gene that responds to low-temperature induction while conforming to the annual cycle of cold acclimation. Overexpression of PtLEA22 enhanced Arabidopsis freezing tolerance. Furthermore, several transcription factors potentially co-expressed with PtLEA22 were validated using yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays, revealing that PtDREB1 could directly bind PtLEA22 promoter to positively regulate its expression. These findings reveal the genome-wide characterization of P. tabuliformis LEA genes and their importance in the cold acclimation, while providing a theoretical basis for studying the molecular mechanisms of cold acclimation in conifers.
PMID: 37565812
Planta , IF:4.116 , 2023 Nov , V258 (6) : P114 doi: 10.1007/s00425-023-04276-z
External application of brassinolide enhances cold resistance of tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) by integrating calcium signals.
The Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Tea Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.; The Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Tea Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China. yczhao@gzu.edu.cn.
Exogenous brassinolide can activate the expression of key genes in the calcium signalling pathway to enhance cold resistance of tea plants. Brassinolide is an endogenous sterol phytohormone containing multiple hydroxyl groups that has the important function of improving plant cold resistance and alleviating freeze damage. To explore the molecular mechanism of how brassinolide improves the cold resistance of tea plants, "Qiancha 1" was used as the material, and the method of spraying brassinolide on the leaves was adopted to explore its effects on the tea plants under 4 degrees C low-temperature treatment. The results showed that brassinolide can significantly increase the protective enzyme activity of tea plants under cold stress and reduce cold damage. At the transcriptome level, brassinolide significantly enhanced the expression of key genes involved in calcium signal transduction, Calmodulin (CaM), Calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK), calcineurin B-like protein (CBL) and calmodulin-binding transcriptional activators (CAMTA), which then activated the downstream key genes transcriptional regulator CBF1 (CBF1) and transcription factor ICE1 (ICE1) during cold induction. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‒PCR) results showed that the expression of these genes was significantly induced after treatment with brassinolide, especially CaM and CBF1. When calcium signalling was inhibited, the upregulated expression of CBF1 and ICE1 disappeared, and when CAMTA was knocked down, the expression of other genes under cold stress was also significantly reduced. The above results indicate that brassinolide combined with the calcium signalling pathway can improve the cold resistance of tea plants. This study provides a new theoretical basis for the study of the cold resistance mechanism of brassinolide.
PMID: 37943407
Genes (Basel) , IF:4.096 , 2023 Nov , V14 (11) doi: 10.3390/genes14112098
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals CBF-Dependent and CBF-Independent Pathways under Low-Temperature Stress in Teak (Tectona grandis).
Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou 510520, China.; College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Teak is a rare tropical tree with high economic value, and it is one of the world's main afforestation trees. Low temperature is the main problem for introducing and planting this species in subtropical or temperate zones. Low-temperature acclimation can enhance the resistance of teak to low-temperature stress, but the mechanism for this is still unclear. We studied the gene expression of two-year-old teak seedlings under a rapid temperature drop from 20 degrees C to 4 degrees C using RNA-seq and WGCNA analyses. The leaves in the upper part of the plants developed chlorosis 3 h after the quick transition, and the grades of chlorosis were increased after 9 h, with the addition of water stains and necrotic spots. Meanwhile, the SOD and proline contents in teak leaves increased with the prolonged cold stress time. We also identified 36,901 differentially expressed genes, among which 1055 were novel. Notably, CBF2 and CBF4 were significantly induced by low temperatures, while CBF1 and CBF3 were not. Furthermore, WGCNA successfully identified a total of fourteen modules, which consist of three modules associated with cold stress response genes, two modules linked to CBF2 and CBF4, and one module correlated with the CBF-independent pathway gene HY5. The transformation experiments showed that TgCBF2 and TgCBF4 improved cold resistance in Arabidopsis plants.
PMID: 38003041
Plant Genome , IF:4.089 , 2023 Nov : Pe20402 doi: 10.1002/tpg2.20402
Advances and opportunities in unraveling cold-tolerance mechanisms in the world's primary staple food crops.
Division of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture (FoA), SKUAST-Kashmir, Wadura Campus, Sopore Kashmir, India.; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Florence, South Carolina, USA.; Center of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India.; Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.; Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, Western Australia, Australia.; College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agriculture University, Qingdao, China.; Department of Plant Science, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.; Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
Temperatures below or above optimal growth conditions are among the major stressors affecting productivity, end-use quality, and distribution of key staple crops including rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays L.). Among temperature stresses, cold stress induces cellular changes that cause oxidative stress and slowdown metabolism, limit growth, and ultimately reduce crop productivity. Perception of cold stress by plant cells leads to the activation of cold-responsive transcription factors and downstream genes, which ultimately impart cold tolerance. The response triggered in crops to cold stress includes gene expression/suppression, the accumulation of sugars upon chilling, and signaling molecules, among others. Much of the information on the effects of cold stress on perception, signal transduction, gene expression, and plant metabolism are available in the model plant Arabidopsis but somewhat lacking in major crops. Hence, a complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which staple crops respond to cold stress remain largely unknown. Here, we make an effort to elaborate on the molecular mechanisms employed in response to low-temperature stress. We summarize the effects of cold stress on the growth and development of these crops, the mechanism of cold perception, and the role of various sensors and transducers in cold signaling. We discuss the progress in cold tolerance research at the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome levels and highlight how these findings provide opportunities for designing cold-tolerant crops for the future.
PMID: 37957947
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Nov , V12 (21) doi: 10.3390/plants12213784
Effect of Exogenous Calcium on Tolerance of Winter Wheat to Cold Stress during Stem Elongation Stage.
National Technique Innovation Center for Regional Wheat Production, Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia.
Low-temperature stress during stem elongation is a major factor limiting wheat yield. While calcium (Ca(2+)) is known to enhance stress tolerance, it's potential as an alternative to cold priming and the underlying mechanisms in wheat remains unclear. The current study assessed the effects of exogenous Ca(2+) and calcium inhibitors on wheat growth and related physiology mechanisms under low-temperature stress. The results revealed that exogenous Ca(2+) increased photosynthesis and antioxidant capacity, lowered cell membrane damage, and ultimately enhanced tolerance to low-temperature stress during the stem elongation stage, compared with the non-exogenous Ca(2+) treatment. Moreover, exogenous Ca(2+) induced endogenous Ca(2+) content and triggered the upregulation of Ca(2+) signaling and cold-responsive related genes. This study highlights the significance of exogenous Ca(2+) in enhancing stress tolerance and contributing to wheat yield improvement under low-temperature stress.
PMID: 37960140
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2023 Oct , V12 (21) doi: 10.3390/plants12213730
Foliar Application of Melatonin Positively Affects the Physio-Biochemical Characteristics of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under the Combined Effects of Low Temperature and Salinity Stress.
College of Water Conservancy and Architecture Engineering, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China.; Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Farmland Irrigation, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China.; College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, China .; Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China.
Low temperature and soil salinization during cotton sowing and seedling adversely affect cotton productivity. Exogenous melatonin (MT) can alleviate the damage caused to plants under non-biological stress; thus, applying MT is a means to improve the growth condition of crops under stress. However, achieving this goal requires a thorough understanding of the physiological regulatory mechanisms of MT on cotton seedlings under low temperature and salinity stress. This study could bring new knowledge on physio-biochemical mechanisms that improve the tolerance of cotton seedlings to combined effects of low temperature and salt stress using an exogenous foliar application of MT. The phytotron experiment comprised two temperature levels of cold stress and control and five MT treatments of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 muM and two salinity levels of 0 and 150 mM NaCl. Compared with the control treatments (non-salinity stress under cold stress and control), the combined stress of salt and low temperature reduced cotton seedlings' biomass and net photosynthetic rate (P(n)), aggravated the membrane damage, reduced the potassium (K(+)) content, and increased the sodium (Na(+)) accumulation in the leaves and roots. Under NaCl stress, exogenously sprayed 50-150 muM MT increased the biomass and gas exchange parameters of cotton seedlings under salt and low temperature combined with salt stress, reduced the degree of membrane damage, and regulated the antioxidant enzyme, ion homeostasis, transport, and absorption of cotton seedlings. The pairwise correlation analysis of each parameter using MT shows that the parameters with higher correlation with MT at cold stress are mainly malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). The highest correlation coefficient at 25 degrees C is observed between the K(+) and Na(+) content in cotton seedlings. The conclusion indicates that under salt and low-temperature stress conditions, exogenous application of MT primarily regulates the levels of P(n), superoxide dismutase (SOD), andPOD in cotton seedlings, reduces Na(+) and MDA content, alleviates damage to cotton seedlings. Moreover, the most significant effect was observed when an exogenous application of 50-150 muM of MT was administered under these conditions. The current study's findings could serve as a scientific foundation for salinity and low-temperature stress alleviation during the seedling stage of cotton growth.
PMID: 37960086
Gene , IF:3.688 , 2024 Jan , V893 : P147908 doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147908
Identification and expression analysis of miR396 and its target genes in Jerusalem artichoke under temperature stress.
College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: zszhou@njau.edu.cn.
The highly conserved miR396 plays a pivotal role in the growth, development, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. However, research on miR396 and its targets in Jerusalem artichoke remains largely unexplored. In this study, we employed bioinformatics and experimental techniques, such as cloning and qRT-PCR, to investigate the regulatory role of miR396 on its targets, leveraging our lab's transcriptomic and degradomic data of Jerusalem artichoke. Specifically, we initially cloned and characterized the precursors (htu-MIR396a/b/c) and mature sequences (htu-miR396a/b/c) of three miR396 isoforms. Subsequently, we identified nine target genes, including seven Growth-Regulating Factors (GRFs) (HtGRF3/4/6/9/10/12/13), one WRKY transcription factor (HtWRKY40), and one Scarecrow-like (SCL) transcription factor (HtSCL33). Finally, we conducted an analysis of their expression patterns across various tissues and their responses to temperature stress. Notably, htu-MIR396s exhibited high expression in seedling stems, while htu-miR396s predominantly expressed in seedling leaves. Moreover, HtWRKY40 and HtSCL33 displayed higher expression levels than HtGRFs in most tissues, except leaves. Remarkably, HtGRF4/6/10/12/13 exhibited higher expression in leaves than in roots and stems during seedling growth. Furthermore, during tuber development, HtGRF4/6/10, HtWRKY40, and HtSCL33 were highly expressed, while HtGRF3/9/12/13 showed relatively lower expression levels. Under heat stress (42℃), htu-MIR396 expression was up-regulated, and htu-miR396 showed dynamic expression patterns in seedlings, resulting in the induction of HtGRF4/6/10/12/13 in leaves and HtSCL33 in roots, while HtWRKY40 in leaves was repressed. Conversely, under cold stress (4℃), htu-MIR396s showed fluctuating expression levels, and htu-miR396s were up-regulated in seedlings. Notably, HtGRF4/13 and HtSCL33 in seedlings were reduced, whereas HtGRF6 in roots and HtWRKY40 in leaves were enhanced. These findings offer valuable insights into the functional roles of miR396-target interactions under abiotic stress in Jerusalem artichoke.
PMID: 37858744
J Plant Physiol , IF:3.549 , 2023 Nov , V291 : P154120 doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.154120
Integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome reveals insights for low-temperature germination in hybrid rapeseeds (Brassica napus L.).
Institute of Crop and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310021, China.; Hangzhou Seed Industry Group Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310021, China.; Agricultural Extension Extending Stations, Shaoxing & Zhuji Agricultural Bureau, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, China. Electronic address: wangwenjia22@163.com.; Institute of Crop and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310021, China. Electronic address: hxfzhongfei@163.com.
Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oil-producing crop in China. However, cold stress in winter can adversely affect rapeseed germination and subsequently result in poor seed yield at the mature stage. Studies of differences in the transcriptional and metabolic levels of rapeseed under cold stress can improve our understanding of low-temperature germination (LTG). The current study aimed to identify the cold stress-responsive genes, metabolites, and metabolic pathways based on a combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis to understand the difference of LTG and tolerance mechanisms in the cold-tolerant (Yueyou1301, YY1301) and cold-normal (Fengyou737, FY737) rapeseed varieties. Compared to FY737, YY1301 had a higher germination rate, indole acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA)/(abscisic acid) ABA levels at 7.5 degrees C. A total of 951 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 86 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified in two rapeseed varieties. Conjoint analysis revealed 12 DAMs and 5 DEGs that were strongly correlated in inducing rapeseed LTG, which were mainly related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, specifically the pathway of glutathione metabolism and starch and sucrose metabolism. These results suggest that the DAMs and DEGs involved in crucial biological pathways may regulate the LTG of rapeseed. It increases the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of rapeseed to LTG.
PMID: 37935062
Mar Environ Res , IF:3.13 , 2023 Nov , V192 : P106210 doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106210
Unravelling chilling-stress resistance mechanisms in endangered Mangrove plant Lumnitzera littorea (Jack) Voigt.
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.; National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Ecological Treatment Technology for Urban Water Pollution, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China; Mangrove Institute, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, 524048, China.; Mangrove Institute, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, 524048, China. Electronic address: Zhangyingred@lingnan.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China. Electronic address: yangych68@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Lumnitzera littorea (Jack) Voigt is one of the most endangered mangrove species in China. Previous studies have showed the impact of chilling stress on L. littorea and the repsonses at physiological and biochemical levels, but few attentions have been paid at molecular level. In this study, we conducted genome-wide investigation of transcriptional and post-transcriptional dynamics in L. littorea in response to chilling stress (8 degrees C day/5 degrees C night). In the seedlings of L. littorea, chilling sensing and signal transducing, photosystem II regeneration and peroxidase-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging were substantially enhanced to combat the adverse impact induced by chilling exposure. We further revealed that alternative polyadenylation (APA) events participated in chilling stress-responsive processes, including energy metabolism and steroid biosynthesis. Furthermore, APA-mediated miRNA regulations downregulated the expression of the genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and elongation, and protein phosphorylation, reflecting the important role of post-transcriptional regulation in modulating chilling tolerance in L. littorea. Our findings present a molecular view to the adaptive characteristics of L. littorea and shed light on the conservation genomic approaches of endangered mangrove species.
PMID: 37788964
Plant Direct , IF:3.038 , 2023 Nov , V7 (11) : Pe539 doi: 10.1002/pld3.539
The rice annexin gene OsAnn5 is involved in cold stress tolerance at the seedling stage.
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Crop Growth and Development Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Resources and Environment Sciences Yichun University Yichun China.; Huaihua Polytechnic College Huaihua China.
Annexins exist widely in plants as multigene families and play critical roles in stress responses and a range of cellular processes. This study provides a comprehensive account of the cloning and functional characterization of the rice annexin gene OsAnn5. The findings reveal that a cold stress treatment at the seedling stage of rice induced OsAnn5 expression. GUS staining assay indicated that the expression of OsAnn5 was non tissue-specific and was detected in almost all rice tissues. Subcellular localization indicated that OsAnn5-GFP (green fluorescent protein) signals were found in the endoplasmic reticulum apparatus. Compared with wild type rice, knocking out OsAnn5 using the CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated proteins) mediated genome editing resulted in sensitivity to cold treatments. These results indicate that OsAnn5 is involved in cold stress tolerance at the seedling stage.
PMID: 37942234
FEBS Open Bio , IF:2.693 , 2023 Oct doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.13718
Identification and expression analysis of LEA gene family members in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).
Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, China.; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, Institute of Crop Science, Plant Precision Breeding Academy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.; Spice and Beverage Research Institute, Sanya Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/Hainan Key Laboratory for Biosafety Monitoring and Molecular Breeding in Off-Season Reproduction Regions, Sanya, China.; Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Haikou, China.
Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economically important crop containing capsaicinoids in the seed and placenta, which has various culinary, medical, and industrial applications. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are a large group of hydrophilic proteins participating in the plant stress response and seed development. However, to date there have been no genome-wide analyses of the LEA gene family in pepper. In the present study, 82 LEA genes were identified in the C. annuum genome and classified into nine subfamilies. Most CaLEA genes contain few introns (
PMID: 37907961
Mol Biol Rep , IF:2.316 , 2023 Nov , V50 (11) : P9061-9072 doi: 10.1007/s11033-023-08743-4
Genome-wide identification and gene expression analysis of GHMP kinase gene family in banana cv. Rasthali.
Plant Tissue Culture and Genetic Engineering Lab, Department of Biotechnology, S.A.S. Nagar, Ministry of Science and Technology (Government of India), National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Sector 81, Knowledge City, Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India.; Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.; Department of Botany, Goswami Tulsidas Government Post Graduate College (Bundelkhand University, Jhansi), Karwi, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, 210205, India.; Department of Botany, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, 151001, India.; Department of Bio and Nanotechnology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India.; Plant Tissue Culture and Genetic Engineering Lab, Department of Biotechnology, S.A.S. Nagar, Ministry of Science and Technology (Government of India), National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Sector 81, Knowledge City, Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India. siddharth@nabi.res.in.
BACKGROUND: The GHMP kinase gene family encompasses ATP-dependent kinases, significantly involved in the biosynthesis of isoprenes, amino acids, and metabolism of carbohydrates. Banana is a staple tropical crop that is globally consumed but known for high sensitivity to salt, cold, and drought stresses. The GHMP kinases are known to play a significant role during abiotic stresses in plants. The present study emphasizes the role of GHMP kinases in various abiotic stress conditions in banana. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 12 GHMP kinase (MaGHMP kinase) genes in the banana genome database and witnessed the presence of the conserved Pro-X-X-X-Gly-Leu-X-Ser-Ser-Ala domain in their protein sequences. All genes were found to be involved in ATP-binding and carried kinase activity confronting their biological roles in the isoprene (27%) and amino acid (20%) biosyntheses. The expression analysis of genes during cold, drought, and salt stress conditions in tissue culture grown banana cultivar Rasthali plants showed a significant involvement of MaGHMP kinase genes in these stress conditions. The highest expression of MaGHMP kinase3 (8.5 fold) was noted during cold stress, while MaGHMP kinase1 (25 fold and 40.01 fold) showed maximum expression during drought and salt stress conditions in leaf tissue of Rasthali. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that MaGHMP kinase1 (MaHSK) and MaGHMP kinase3 (MaGlcAK) could be considered promising candidates for thwarting the abiotic stresses in banana.
PMID: 37731027
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2023 Dec , V18 (1) : P2285169 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2023.2285169
Cold acclimation alleviates photosynthetic inhibition and oxidative damage induced by cold stress in citrus seedlings.
Nanchang Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Fruit and Tea, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang, P. R. China.; Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, CAAS, Beijing, P. R. China.
Cold stress seriously inhibits plant growth and development, geographical distribution, and yield stability of plants. Cold acclimation (CA) is an important strategy for modulating cold stress, but the mechanism by which CA induces plant resistance to cold stress is still not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CA treatment on the cold resistance of citrus seedlings under cold stress treatment, and to use seedlings without CA treatment as the control (NA). The results revealed that CA treatment increased the content of photosynthetic pigments under cold stress, whereas cold stress greatly reduced the value of gas exchange parameters. CA treatment also promoted the activity of Rubisco and FBPase, as well as led to an upregulation of the transcription levels of photosynthetic related genes (rbcL and rbcS)，compared to the NA group without cold stress. In addition, cold stress profoundly reduced photochemical chemistry of photosystem II (PSII), especially the maximum quantum efficiency (F(v)/F(m)) in PSII. Conversely, CA treatment improved the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, thereby improving electron transfer efficiency. Moreover, under cold stress, CA treatment alleviated oxidative stress damage to cell membranes by inhibiting the concentration of H(2)O(2) and MDA, enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbic acid peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR), accompanied by an increase in the expression level of antioxidant enzyme genes (CuZnSOD1, CAT1, APX and GR). Additionally, CA also increased the contents of abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) in plants under cold stress. Overall, we concluded that CA treatment suppressed the negative effects of cold stress by enhancing photosynthetic performance, antioxidant enzymes functions and plant hormones contents.
PMID: 38015652
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2023 Dec , V18 (1) : P2250891 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2023.2250891
Identification, expression analysis of quinoa betalain biosynthesis genes and their role in seed germination and cold stress.
College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.; College of Horticulture and Landscape, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.
Betalains provide Chenopodium quinoa bright color, and the key enzyme genes for betalain biosynthesis include CYP76AD, DODA, and GTs. In this study, 59 CqCYP76AD, CqDODA and CqGTs genes in quinoa were identified and characterized by gene structural characteristics, phylogenetic relationships and gene expression patterns. The CqCYP76AD genes were divided into a, beta and gamma types, CqDODA into a and beta types, and CqGTs into CqcDOPA5GT, CqB5GT and CqB6GT types according to phylogenetic relationships. The analysis of co-linearity identified eight pairs of duplicated genes which were subjected to purifying selection during evolution. CqCYP76AD and CqDODA, as well as CqcDOPA5GT and CqB5GT may have been evolutionarily linked in genetic inheritance, based on gene location and gene structure study. The tissue expression specificity of CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs genes in response to seed germination and cold stress was studied by RNA-Seq data. The genes CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs were involved in betalain biosynthesis and cold stress. CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, CqcDOPA5GT and CqB5GT gene sequences were consistent in the eight quinoa samples and showed significant variations in expression. In contrast, the inconsistency between changes in gene expression and betalain accumulation indicates that other factors may influence betalain biosynthesis in quinoa. This study offers the theoretical basis for the roles of the CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs genes in betalain biosynthesis and cold stress in quinoa, as well as a guide for the full utilization of betalains in quinoa plants.
PMID: 37616475
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2023 Dec , V18 (1) : P2213924 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2023.2213924
Genome-wide analysis of the CDPK gene family and their important roles response to cold stress in white clover.
Key Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics and Genetic Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.; International Agriculture Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.; Flower Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.; Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Cash Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan, Yunnan, China.
Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are an important class of calcium-sensitive response proteins that play an important regulatory role in response to abiotic stresses. To date, little is known about the CDPK genes in white clover. White clover is a high-quality forage grass with high protein content, but it is susceptible to cold stress. Therefore, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the CDPK gene family in white clover and identified 50 members of the CDPK genes. Phylogenetic analysis using CDPKs from the model plant Arabidopsis divided the TrCDPK genes into four groups based on their sequence similarities. Motif analysis showed that TrCDPKs within the same group had similar motif compositions. Gene duplication analysis revealed the evolution and expansion of TrCDPK genes in white clover. Meanwhile, a genetic regulatory network (GRN) containing TrCDPK genes was reconstructed, and gene ontology (GO) annotation analysis of these functional genes showed that they contribute to signal transduction, cellular response to stimuli, and biological regulation, all of which are important processes in response to abiotic stresses. To determine the function of TrCDPK genes, we analyzed the RNA-seq dataset and found that most TrCDPK genes were highly up-regulated under cold stress, particularly in the early stages of cold stress. These results were validated by qRT-PCR experiments, implying that TrCDPK genes are involved in various gene regulatory pathways in response to cold stress. Our study may help to further investigate the function of TrCDPK genes and their role in response to cold stress, which is important for understanding the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance in white clover and improving its cold tolerance.
PMID: 37202838
Fly (Austin) , IF:2.16 , 2023 Dec , V17 (1) : P2157161 doi: 10.1080/19336934.2022.2157161
Larval nutritional-stress and tolerance to extreme temperatures in the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Diptera: Tephritidae).
Department of Entomology, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon Letzion, Israel.; Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
Within the factors affecting insect tolerance to extreme environmental conditions, insect nutrition, particularly of immature stages, has received insufficient attention. In the present study, we address this gap by investigating the effects of larval nutrition on heat and cold tolerance of adult Bactrocera zonata - an invasive, polyphagous fruit fly pest. We manipulated the nutritional content in the larval diet by varying the amount of added yeast (2-10% by weight), while maintaining a constant sucrose content. Adults derived from the different larval diets were tested for their tolerance to extreme heat and cold stress. Restricting the amount of yeast reduced the efficacy of the larval diet (i.e. number of pupae produced per g of diet) as well as pupal and adult fresh weight, both being significantly lower for yeast-poor diets. Additionally, yeast restriction during the larval stage (2% yeast diet) significantly reduced the amount of protein but not lipid reserves of newly emerged males and females. Adults maintained after emergence on granulated sugar and water for 10 days were significantly more tolerant to extreme heat (i.e. knock-down time at 42 (o)C) when reared as larvae on yeast-rich diets (8% and 10% yeast) compared to counterparts developing on a diet containing 2% yeast. Nevertheless, the composition of the larval diet did not significantly affect adult survival following acute cold stress (exposure to -3 degrees C for 2 hrs.). These results are corroborated by previous findings on Drosophilid flies. Possible mechanisms leading to nutrition-based heat-tolerance in flies are discussed.
PMID: 36576164
Mol Hortic , 2023 Nov , V3 (1) : P24 doi: 10.1186/s43897-023-00073-0
Biochemical and molecular changes in peach fruit exposed to cold stress conditions.
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy.; Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy. damiana.spadafora@unife.it.; ENEA-Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development-Division Biotechnologies and Agroindustry, 00123, Rome, Italy.; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
Storage or transportation temperature is very important for preserving the quality of fruit. However, low temperature in sensitive fruit such as peach can induce loss of quality. Fruit exposed to a specific range of temperatures and for a longer period can show chilling injury (CI) symptoms. The susceptibility to CI at low temperature varies among cultivars and genetic backgrounds. Along with agronomic management, appropriate postharvest management can limit quality losses. The importance of correct temperature management during postharvest handling has been widely demonstrated. Nowadays, due to long-distance markets and complex logistics that require multiple actors, the management of storage/transportation conditions is crucial for the quality of products reaching the consumer.Peach fruit exposed to low temperatures activate a suite of physiological, metabolomic, and molecular changes that attempt to counteract the negative effects of chilling stress. In this review an overview of the factors involved, and plant responses is presented and critically discussed. Physiological disorders associated with CI generally only appear after the storage/transportation, hence early detection methods are needed to monitor quality and detect internal changes which will lead to CI development. CI detection tools are assessed: they need to be easy to use, and preferably non-destructive to avoid loss of products.
PMID: 37953307
Methods Mol Biol , 2024 , V2730 : P3-23 doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3503-2_1
Identifying Ice-Binding Proteins in Nature.
Department of Evolution, Behavior and Ecology, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA. adevries@illinois.edu.
Organisms inhabiting freezing terrestrial, polar, and alpine environments survive because they have evolved adaptations to tolerate sub-freezing temperatures. Among these adaptations are ice-binding proteins (IBPs) which in the case of fishes and some insects have antifreeze properties which allow them to avoid freezing even at their lowest environmental temperatures. Other organisms, including some insects, microorganisms, and plants, tolerate freezing and also contain IBPs. Unlike fish and insects, their antifreeze properties (hysteresis) are minimal, but most are potent ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs). Microbes secrete IBPs into their immediate environment where they are thought to modify ice growth in a way that ensures a liquidous habitat in the ice and also reduces ice recrystallization. With plants, IBPs are found in the small amount of apoplastic fluid associated with the extracellular spaces and show a weak hysteresis but are potent IRIs.Techniques are described for drawing blood and hemolymph from fish and insects, respectively, in order to determine whether there is a hysteresis present (separation of the freezing and melting points) indicative of an antifreeze protein. For microbes, which secrete very small amounts of IBPs into their environment, a technique is described where their spent growth media causes the pitting of the basal plane of an ice crystal at a temperature slightly below the media freezing point. In plants, IBPs are isolated from the apoplastic fluids of the leaves by vacuum infiltration of a fluid into the extracellular spaces and then recovering the fluid by centrifugation.The pitting of the basal plane again can be used to verify the presence of IBPs in the concentrated apoplastic fluid.The techniques describe how to collect fluids from a variety of organisms to determine if IBPs are present using nanoliter osmometry or using the ice basal plane pitting technique.
PMID: 37943447