Nat Genet , IF:38.33 , 2024 Mar , V56 (3) : P505-516 doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01657-2
Near-gapless and haplotype-resolved apple genomes provide insights into the genetic basis of rootstock-induced dwarfing.
Institute for Horticultural Plants, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. chong_chu@hms.harvard.edu.; Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China.; The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research), Motueka, New Zealand.; The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research), Palmerston North, New Zealand.; Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.; Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.; College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation; Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China.; College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China.; The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research), Auckland, New Zealand. cecilia.deng@plantandfood.co.nz.; Institute for Horticultural Plants, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. wangyi@cau.edu.cn.; Institute for Horticultural Plants, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. rschan@cau.edu.cn.
Dwarfing rootstocks have transformed the production of cultivated apples; however, the genetic basis of rootstock-induced dwarfing remains largely unclear. We have assembled chromosome-level, near-gapless and haplotype-resolved genomes for the popular dwarfing rootstock 'M9', the semi-vigorous rootstock 'MM106' and 'Fuji', one of the most commonly grown apple cultivars. The apple orthologue of auxin response factor 3 (MdARF3) is in the Dw1 region of 'M9', the major locus for rootstock-induced dwarfing. Comparing 'M9' and 'MM106' genomes revealed a 9,723-bp allele-specific long terminal repeat retrotransposon/gypsy insertion, DwTE, located upstream of MdARF3. DwTE is cosegregated with the dwarfing trait in two segregating populations, suggesting its prospective utility in future dwarfing rootstock breeding. In addition, our pipeline discovered mobile mRNAs that may contribute to the development of dwarfed scion architecture. Our research provides valuable genomic resources and applicable methodology, which have the potential to accelerate breeding dwarfing rootstocks for apple and other perennial woody fruit trees.
PMID: 38347217
Nat Commun , IF:14.919 , 2024 Mar , V15 (1) : P2565 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46955-9
An ARF gene mutation creates flint kernel architecture in dent maize.
National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.; Forestry and Pomology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Shanghai, 201403, China.; Institute of Molecular Breeding for Maize, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, China.; School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China. wang2021@shnu.edu.cn.; National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China. yrwu@cemps.ac.cn.
Dent and flint kernel architectures are important characteristics that affect the physical properties of maize kernels and their grain end uses. The genes controlling these traits are unknown, so it is difficult to combine the advantageous kernel traits of both. We found mutation of ARFTF17 in a dent genetic background reduces IAA content in the seed pericarp, creating a flint-like kernel phenotype. ARFTF17 is highly expressed in the pericarp and encodes a protein that interacts with and inhibits MYB40, a transcription factor with the dual functions of repressing PIN1 expression and transactivating genes for flavonoid biosynthesis. Enhanced flavonoid biosynthesis could reduce the metabolic flux responsible for auxin biosynthesis. The decreased IAA content of the dent pericarp appears to reduce cell division and expansion, creating a shorter, denser kernel. Introgression of the ARFTF17 mutation into dent inbreds and hybrids improved their kernel texture, integrity, and desiccation, without affecting yield.
PMID: 38519520
Nat Commun , IF:14.919 , 2024 Mar , V15 (1) : P2525 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46765-z
Switching action modes of miR408-5p mediates auxin signaling in rice.
National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, Hainan, 572000, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.; Institute of Genetics and Regenerative Biology, Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Center for Rice Improvement, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China.; National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China. liangwu@zju.edu.cn.; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, Hainan, 572000, China. liangwu@zju.edu.cn.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play fundamental roles in many developmental and physiological processes in eukaryotes. MiRNAs in plants generally regulate their targets via either mRNA cleavage or translation repression; however, which approach plays a major role and whether these two function modes can shift remains elusive. Here, we identify a miRNA, miR408-5p that regulates AUXIN/INDOLE ACETIC ACID 30 (IAA30), a critical repressor in the auxin pathway via switching action modes in rice. We find that miR408-5p usually inhibits IAA30 protein translation, but in a high auxin environment, it promotes the decay of IAA30 mRNA when it is overproduced. We further demonstrate that IDEAL PLANT ARCHITECTURE1 (IPA1), an SPL transcription factor regulated by miR156, mediates leaf inclination through association with miR408-5p precursor promoter. We finally show that the miR156-IPA1-miR408-5p-IAA30 module could be controlled by miR393, which silences auxin receptors. Together, our results define an alternative auxin transduction signaling pathway in rice that involves the switching of function modes by miR408-5p, which contributes to a better understanding of the action machinery as well as the cooperative network of miRNAs in plants.
PMID: 38514635
Nat Commun , IF:14.919 , 2024 Mar , V15 (1) : P2061 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46482-7
A root cap-localized NAC transcription factor controls root halotropic response to salt stress in Arabidopsis.
Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium.; VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium.; Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Biotechnology Research Center, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China.; National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistence Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.; Excellence and Innovation Center, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China.; Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China. wexua@njau.edu.cn.; National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistence Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China. yi.han@ahau.edu.cn.
Plants are capable of altering root growth direction to curtail exposure to a saline environment (termed halotropism). The root cap that surrounds root tip meristematic stem cells plays crucial roles in perceiving and responding to environmental stimuli. However, how the root cap mediates root halotropism remains undetermined. Here, we identified a root cap-localized NAC transcription factor, SOMBRERO (SMB), that is required for root halotropism. Its effect on root halotropism is attributable to the establishment of asymmetric auxin distribution in the lateral root cap (LRC) rather than to the alteration of cellular sodium equilibrium or amyloplast statoliths. Furthermore, SMB is essential for basal expression of the auxin influx carrier gene AUX1 in LRC and for auxin redistribution in a spatiotemporally-regulated manner, thereby leading to directional bending of roots away from higher salinity. Our findings uncover an SMB-AUX1-auxin module linking the role of the root cap to the activation of root halotropism.
PMID: 38448433
Mol Plant , IF:13.164 , 2024 Apr , V17 (4) : P522-524 doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.02.012
Making connections with cell surface auxin signaling.
University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. Electronic address: asmurphy@umd.edu.
PMID: 38368508
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae079
UnERFing auxin-mediated degradation in the emerging lateral root.
Assistant Features Editor, The Plant Cell, American Society of Plant Biologists, USA.; School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
PMID: 38470569
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae072
Rapid depletion of target proteins in plants by an inducible protein degradation system.
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695.
Inducible protein knockdowns are excellent tools to test the function of essential proteins in short time scales and to capture the role of proteins in dynamic events. Current approaches destroy or sequester proteins by exploiting plant biological mechanisms such as the activity of photoreceptors for optogenetics or auxin-mediated ubiquitination in auxin degrons. It follows that these are not applicable for plants as light and auxin are strong signals for plant cells. We describe here an inducible protein degradation system in plants named E3-DART for E3-targeted Degradation of Plant Proteins. The E3-DART system is based on the specific and well-characterized interaction between the Salmonella secreted protein H1 (SspH1) and its human target protein kinase N1 (PKN1). This system harnesses the E3 catalytic activity of SspH1 and the SspH1-binding activity of the Homology Region 1b (HR1b) domain from PKN1. Using Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), we show that a chimeric protein containing the Leucine-Rich Repeat (LRR) and novel E3 ligase (NEL) domains of SspH1 efficiently targets protein fusions of varying sizes containing HR1b for degradation. Target protein degradation was induced by transcriptional control of the chimeric E3 ligase using a glucocorticoid transactivation system and target protein depletion was detected as early as 3 h after induction. This system could be used to study the loss of any plant protein with high temporal resolution and may become an important tool in plant cell biology.
PMID: 38446628
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae074
ENHANCER OF SHOOT REGENERATION1 promotes de novo root organogenesis after wounding in Arabidopsis leaf explants.
Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.; Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.; Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
Plants have an astonishing ability to regenerate new organs after wounding. Here, we report that the wound-inducible transcription factor ENHANCER OF SHOOT REGENERATION1 (ESR1) has a dual mode of action in activating ANTHRANILATE SYNTHASE ALPHA SUBUNIT1 (ASA1) expression to ensure auxin-dependent de novo root organogenesis locally at wound sites of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaf explants. In the first mode, ESR1 interacts with HISTONE DEACETYLASE6 (HDA6), and the ESR1-HDA6 complex directly binds to the JASMONATE-ZIM DOMAIN5 (JAZ5) locus, inhibiting JAZ5 expression through histone H3 deacetylation. As JAZ5 interferes with the action of ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR109 (ERF109), the transcriptional repression of JAZ5 at the wound site allows ERF109 to activate ASA1 expression. In the second mode, the ESR1 transcriptional activator directly binds to the ASA1 promoter to enhance its expression. Overall, our findings indicate that the dual biochemical function of ESR1, which specifically occurs near wound sites of leaf explants, maximizes local auxin biosynthesis and de novo root organogenesis in Arabidopsis.
PMID: 38445764
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae071
Nonspecific phospholipases C3 and C4 interact with PIN-FORMED2 to regulate growth and tropic responses in Arabidopsis.
College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, P.R.China.; Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA.; Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA.; Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, P.R. China.
The dynamic changes in membrane phospholipids affect membrane biophysical properties and cell signaling, thereby influencing numerous biological processes. Nonspecific phospholipase C (NPC) enzymes hydrolyze common phospholipids to release diacylglycerol (DAG), which is converted to phosphatidic acid (PA) and other lipids. In this study, two Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) tandemly arrayed genes, NPC3 and NPC4, were identified as critical factors modulating auxin-controlled plant growth and tropic responses. Moreover, NPC3 and NPC4 were shown to interact with the auxin efflux transporter PIN-FORMED2 (PIN2). The loss of NPC3 and NPC4 enhanced the endocytosis and vacuolar degradation of PIN2, which disrupted auxin gradients and slowed gravitropic and halotropic responses. Furthermore, auxin-triggered activation of NPC3 and NPC4 is required for the asymmetric PA distribution that controls PIN2 trafficking dynamics and auxin-dependent tropic responses. Collectively, our study reveals an NPC-derived PA signaling pathway in Arabidopsis auxin fluxes that is essential for fine-tuning the balance between root growth and environmental responses.
PMID: 38442314
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 Mar , V36 (4) : P899-918 doi: 10.1093/plcell/koad317
Root branching under high salinity requires auxin-independent modulation of LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARY DOMAIN 16 function.
Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.; Plant Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China.; Molecular Plant Physiology, Philipps-Universitat Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany.; Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Salinity stress constrains lateral root (LR) growth and severely affects plant growth. Auxin signaling regulates LR formation, but the molecular mechanism by which salinity affects root auxin signaling and whether salt induces other pathways that regulate LR development remains unknown. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the auxin-regulated transcription factor LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARY DOMAIN 16 (LBD16) is an essential player in LR development under control conditions. Here, we show that under high-salt conditions, an alternative pathway regulates LBD16 expression. Salt represses auxin signaling but, in parallel, activates ZINC FINGER OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA 6 (ZAT6), a transcriptional activator of LBD16. ZAT6 activates LBD16 expression, thus contributing to downstream cell wall remodeling and promoting LR development under high-salt conditions. Our study thus shows that the integration of auxin-dependent repressive and salt-activated auxin-independent pathways converging on LBD16 modulates root branching under high-salt conditions.
PMID: 38142228
Curr Biol , IF:10.834 , 2024 Mar , V34 (5) : PR204-R206 doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.024
Plant physiology: RAF kinases claim a conserved role in rapid auxin responses.
Institute of Advanced Biotechnology and School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China. Electronic address: wangpc@sustech.edu.cn.
A recent study spotlights B-RAF kinases as central mediators of rapid auxin responses across diverse plant species. Coupled with other current studies, this discovery illuminates the essential role of B-RAF kinases in orchestrating growth, stress responses, and various other biological processes in plants.
PMID: 38471450
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2024 Mar , V469 : P133954 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133954
Integrated genome-transcriptome analysis unveiled the mechanism of Debaryomyces hansenii-mediated arsenic stress amelioration in rice.
CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, India.; CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.; CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India. Electronic address: s.srivastava@nbri.res.in.
Globally, rice is becoming more vulnerable to arsenic (As) pollution, posing a serious threat to public food safety. Previously Debaryomyces hansenii was found to reduce grain As content of rice. To better understand the underlying mechanism, we performed a genome analysis to identify the key genes in D. hansenii responsible for As tolerance and plant growth promotion. Notably, genes related to As resistance (ARR, Ycf1, and Yap) were observed in the genome of D. hansenii. The presence of auxin pathway and glutathione metabolism-related genes may explain the plant growth-promoting potential and As tolerance mechanism of this novel yeast strain. The genome annotation of D. hansenii indicated that it contains a repertoire of genes encoding antioxidants, well corroborated with the in vitro studies of GST, GR, and glutathione content. In addition, the effect of D. hansenii on gene expression profiling of rice plants under As stress was also examined. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database revealed 307 genes, annotated in D. hansenii-treated rice, related to metabolic pathways (184), photosynthesis (12), glutathione (10), tryptophan (4), and biosynthesis of secondary metabolite (117). Higher expression of regulatory elements like AUX/IAA and WRKY transcription factors (TFs), and defense-responsive genes dismutases, catalases, peroxiredoxin, and glutaredoxins during D. hansenii+As exposure was also observed. Combined analysis revealed that D. hansenii genes are contributing to stress mitigation in rice by supporting plant growth and As-tolerance. The study lays the foundation to develop yeast as a beneficial biofertilizer for As-prone areas.
PMID: 38484657
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2024 Apr , V468 : P133134 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133134
Cytokinin and indole-3-acetic acid crosstalk is indispensable for silicon mediated chromium stress tolerance in roots of wheat seedlings.
Crop Nanobiology and Molecular Stress Physiology Lab, Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida 201313, India.; Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, Prayagraj, India.; Plant Microbe Interaction Lab, Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida 201313, India.; Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, C.M.P. Degree College, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India.; Crop Nanobiology and Molecular Stress Physiology Lab, Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida 201313, India. Electronic address: dktripathiau@gmail.com.
The rising heavy metal contamination of soils imposes toxic impacts on plants as well as other life forms. One such highly toxic and carcinogenic heavy metal is hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] that has been reported to prominently retard the plant growth. The present study investigated the potential of silicon (Si, 10 microM) to alleviate the toxicity of Cr(VI) (25 microM) on roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Application of Si to Cr(VI)-stressed wheat seedlings improved their overall growth parameters. This study also reveals the involvement of two phytohormones, namely auxin and cytokinin and their crosstalk in Si-mediated mitigation of the toxic impacts of Cr(VI) in wheat seedlings. The application of cytokinin alone to wheat seedlings under Cr(VI) stress reduced the intensity of toxic effects of Cr(VI). In combination with Si, cytokinin application to Cr(VI)-stressed wheat seedlings significantly minimized the decrease induced by Cr(VI) in different parameters such as root-shoot length (10.8% and 13%, respectively), root-shoot fresh mass (11.3% and 10.1%, respectively), and total chlorophyll and carotenoids content (13.4% and 6.8%, respectively) with respect to the control. This treatment also maintained the regulation of proline metabolism (proline content, and P5CS and PDH activities), ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle and nutrient homeostasis. The protective effect of Si and cytokinin against Cr(VI) stress was minimized upon supplementation of an inhibitor of polar auxin transport- 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) which suggested a potential involvement of auxin in Si and cytokinin-mediated mitigation of Cr(VI) toxicity. The exogenous addition of a natural auxin - indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) confirmed auxin is an active member of a signaling cascade along with cytokinin that aids in Si-mediated Cr(VI) toxicity alleviation as IAA application reversed the negative impacts of TIBA on wheat roots treated with Cr(VI), cytokinin and Si. The results of this research are also confirmed by the gene expression analysis conducted for nutrient transporters (Lsi1, CCaMK, MHX, SULT1 and ZIP1) and enzymes involved in the AsA-GSH cycle (APX, GR, DHAR and MDHAR). The overall results of this research indicate towards possible induction of a crosstalk between cytokinin and IAA upon Si supplementation which in turn stimulates physiological, biochemical and molecular changes to exhibit protective effects against Cr(VI) stress. Further, the information obtained suggests probable employment of Si, cytokinin and IAA alone or combined in agriculture to maintain plant productivity under Cr(VI) stress and data regarding expression of key genes can be used to develop new crop varieties with enhanced resistance against Cr(VI) stress together with its reduced load in seedlings.
PMID: 38387171
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2024 Apr , V468 : P133701 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133701
Rare earth elements perturb root architecture and ion homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Universite de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-54000 Nancy, France. Electronic address: ngrosjean@lbl.gov.; Universite de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-54000 Nancy, France.; Universite de Franche-Comte, CNRS, Chrono-Environnement, F-25000 Montbeliard, France; Universite de Lorraine, F-54000 Nancy, France.; Universite de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-57000 Metz, France.; Universite de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-57000 Metz, France. Electronic address: marie.lejean@univ-lorraine.fr.
Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial elements for current high-technology and renewable energy advances. In addition to their increasing usage and their low recyclability leading to their release into the environment, REEs are also used as crop fertilizers. However, little is known regarding the cellular and molecular effects of REEs in plants, which is crucial for better risk assessment, crop safety and phytoremediation. Here, we analysed the ionome and transcriptomic response of Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to a light (lanthanum, La) and a heavy (ytterbium, Yb) REE. At the transcriptome level, we observed the contribution of ROS and auxin redistribution to the modified root architecture following REE exposure. We found indications for the perturbation of Fe homeostasis by REEs in both roots and leaves of Arabidopsis suggesting competition between REEs and Fe. Furthermore, we propose putative ways of entry of REEs inside cells through transporters of microelements. Finally, similar to REE accumulating species, organic acid homeostasis (e.g. malate and citrate) appears critical as a tolerance mechanism in response to REEs. By combining ionomics and transcriptomics, we elucidated essential patterns of REE uptake and toxicity response of Arabidopsis and provide new hypotheses for a better evaluation of the impact of REEs on plant homeostasis.
PMID: 38364576
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2024 Mar , V466 : P133639 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133639
Distinct toxic effects, gene expression profiles, and phytohormone responses of Polygonatum cyrtonema exposed to two different antibiotics.
Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Bio-resources and Integrated Pest Management for Higher Education in Hunan Province, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China.; Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China.; Key Laboratory of Research and Utilization of Ethnomedicinal Plant Resources of Hunan Province, College of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418099, China.; Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Bio-resources and Integrated Pest Management for Higher Education in Hunan Province, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China. Electronic address: nli@csuft.edu.cn.
The excessive usage of veterinary antibiotics has raised significant concerns regarding their environmental hazard and agricultural impact when entering surface water and soil. Animal waste serves as a primary source of organic fertilizer for intensive large-scale agricultural cultivation, including the widely utilized medicinal and edible plant, Polygonatum cyrtonem. In this study, we employed a novel plant stress tissue culture technology to investigate the toxic effects of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) on P. cyrtonema. TCH and SDZ exhibited varying degrees of influence on plant growth, photosynthesis, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging system. Flavonoid levels increased following exposure to TCH and SDZ. The biosynthesis and signaling pathways of the growth hormones auxin and gibberellic acid were suppressed by both antibiotics, while the salicylic acid-mediated plant stress response was specifically induced in the case of SDZ. Overall, the study unveiled both common and unique responses at physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels in P. cyrtonema following exposure to two distinct types of antibiotics, providing a foundational framework for comprehensively elucidating the precise toxic effects of antibiotics and the versatile adaptive mechanisms in plants.
PMID: 38309169
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2024 Mar , V465 : P133077 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133077
Mechanistic insights into auxin-enhancing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon uptake by wheat roots: Evidence from in situ intracellular pH and root-surface H(+) flux.
College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, People's Republic of China.; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: xhzhan@njau.edu.cn.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of extremely carcinogenic organic pollutants. Our previous findings have demonstrated that plant roots actively take up PAHs through co-transport with H(+) ions. Auxin serves as a pivotal regulator of plant growth and development. However, it remains unclear whether the hormone can enhance the uptake of PAHs by plant roots. Hence, the wheat root exposed to PAHs with/without auxins was set to investigate how the auxin promotes the PAHs uptake by roots. In our study, auxin could significantly enhance the uptake of PAHs after 4 h of exposure. After the addition of auxin, the root tissue cytoplasmic pH value was decreased and the H(+) influx was observed, indicating that the extracellular space was alkalinized in a short time. The increased H(+) influx rate enhanced the uptake of PAHs. In addition, the H(+)-ATPase activity was also increased, suggesting that auxin activated two distinct and antagonistic H(+) flux pathways, and the H(+) influx pathway was dominant. Our findings offer important information for exploring the mechanism underlying auxin regulation of PAHs uptake and the phytoremediation of PAH-contaminated soil and water.
PMID: 38035525
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1111/nph.19689
A WRI1-dependent module is essential for the accumulation of auxin and lipid in somatic embryogenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana.
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China.
The potential for totipotency exists in all plant cells; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Earlier findings have revealed that the overexpression of LEAFY COTYLEDON 2 (LEC2) can directly trigger the formation of somatic embryos on the cotyledons of Arabidopsis. Furthermore, cotyledon cells that overexpress LEC2 accumulate significant lipid reserves typically found in seeds. The precise mechanisms and functions governing lipid accumulation in this process remain unexplored. In this study, we demonstrate that WRINKLED1 (WRI1), the key regulator of lipid biosynthesis, is essential for somatic embryo formation, suggesting that WRI1-mediated lipid biosynthesis plays a crucial role in the transition from vegetative to embryonic development. Our findings indicate a direct interaction between WRI1 and LEC2, which enhances the enrichment of LEC2 at downstream target genes and stimulates their induction. Besides, our data suggest that WRI1 forms a complex with LEC1, LEC2, and FUSCA3 (FUS3) to facilitate the accumulation of auxin and lipid for the somatic embryo induction, through strengthening the activation of YUCCA4 (YUC4) and OLEOSIN3 (OLE3) genes. Our results uncover a regulatory module controlled by WRI1, crucial for somatic embryogenesis. These findings provide valuable insights into our understanding of plant cell totipotency.
PMID: 38515249
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2024 Apr , V242 (2) : P626-640 doi: 10.1111/nph.19623
Cell-layer specific roles for gibberellins in nodulation and root development.
Discipline of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.
Gibberellins (GA) have a profound influence on the formation of lateral root organs. However, the precise role this hormone plays in the cell-specific events during lateral root formation, rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis, including interactions with auxin and cytokinin (CK), is not clear. We performed epidermal- and endodermal-specific complementation of the severely GA-deficient na pea (Pisum sativum) mutant with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Gibberellin mutants were used to examine the spatial expression pattern of CK (TCSn)- and auxin (DR5)-responsive promoters and hormone levels. We found that GA produced in the endodermis promote lateral root and nodule organogenesis and can induce a mobile signal(s) that suppresses rhizobial infection. By contrast, epidermal-derived GA suppress infection but have little influence on root or nodule development. GA suppress the CK-responsive TCSn promoter in the cortex and are required for normal auxin activation during nodule primordia formation. Our findings indicate that GA regulate the checkpoints between infection thread (IT) penetration of the cortex and invasion of nodule primordial cells and promote the subsequent progression of nodule development. It appears that GA limit the progression and branching of IT in the cortex by restricting CK response and activate auxin response to promote nodule primordia development.
PMID: 38396236
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2024 Mar , V241 (6) : P2448-2463 doi: 10.1111/nph.19557
Auxin co-receptor IAA17/AXR3 controls cell elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana root solely by modulation of nuclear auxin pathway.
Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Charles University, Prague, 12844, Czech Republic.; Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, 16502, Czech Republic.; Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK.
The nuclear TIR1/AFB-Aux/IAA auxin pathway plays a crucial role in regulating plant growth and development. Specifically, the IAA17/AXR3 protein participates in Arabidopsis thaliana root development, response to auxin and gravitropism. However, the mechanism by which AXR3 regulates cell elongation is not fully understood. We combined genetical and cell biological tools with transcriptomics and determination of auxin levels and employed live cell imaging and image analysis to address how the auxin response pathways influence the dynamics of root growth. We revealed that manipulations of the TIR1/AFB-Aux/IAA pathway rapidly modulate root cell elongation. While inducible overexpression of the AXR3-1 transcriptional inhibitor accelerated growth, overexpression of the dominant activator form of ARF5/MONOPTEROS inhibited growth. In parallel, AXR3-1 expression caused loss of auxin sensitivity, leading to transcriptional reprogramming, phytohormone signaling imbalance and increased levels of auxin. Furthermore, we demonstrated that AXR3-1 specifically perturbs nuclear auxin signaling, while the rapid auxin response remains functional. Our results shed light on the interplay between the nuclear and cytoplasmic auxin pathways in roots, revealing their partial independence but also the dominant role of the nuclear auxin pathway during the gravitropic response of Arabidopsis thaliana roots.
PMID: 38308183
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2024 Mar , V241 (5) : P2176-2192 doi: 10.1111/nph.19503
A novel miR160a-GmARF16-GmMYC2 module determines soybean salt tolerance and adaptation.
College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China.; Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250131, China.; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Adaptation and Molecular Design, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Salt stress is a major challenge that has a negative impact on soybean growth and productivity. Therefore, it is important to understand the regulatory mechanism of salt response to ensure soybean yield under such conditions. In this study, we identified and characterized a miR160a-GmARF16-GmMYC2 module and its regulation during the salt-stress response in soybean. miR160a promotes salt tolerance by cleaving GmARF16 transcripts, members of the Auxin Response Factor (ARF) family, which negatively regulates salt tolerance. In turn, GmARF16 activates GmMYC2, encoding a bHLH transcription factor that reduces salinity tolerance by down-regulating proline biosynthesis. Genomic analysis among wild and cultivated soybean accessions identified four distinct GmARF16 haplotypes. Among them, the GmARF16(H3) haplotype is preferentially enriched in localities with relatively saline soils, suggesting GmARF16(H3) was artificially selected to improve salt tolerance. Our findings therefore provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying salt response in soybean and provide valuable genetic targets for the molecular breeding of salt tolerance.
PMID: 38135657
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1111/pbi.14339
PagARGOS promotes low-lignin wood formation in poplar.
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.; National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.; Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.; National Centre for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics and CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.
Wood formation, which occurs mainly through secondary xylem development, is important not only for supplying raw material for the 'ligno-chemical' industry but also for driving the storage of carbon. However, the complex mechanisms underlying the promotion of xylem formation remain to be elucidated. Here, we found that overexpression of Auxin-Regulated Gene involved in Organ Size (ARGOS) in hybrid poplar 84 K (Populus alba x Populus tremula var. glandulosa) enlarged organ size. In particular, PagARGOS promoted secondary growth of stems with increased xylem formation. To gain further insight into how PagARGOS regulates xylem development, we further carried out yeast two-hybrid screening and identified that the auxin transporter WALLS ARE THIN1 (WAT1) interacts with PagARGOS. Overexpression of PagARGOS up-regulated WAT1, activating a downstream auxin response promoting cambial cell division and xylem differentiation for wood formation. Moreover, overexpressing PagARGOS caused not only higher wood yield but also lower lignin content compared with wild-type controls. PagARGOS is therefore a potential candidate gene for engineering fast-growing and low-lignin trees with improved biomass production.
PMID: 38492213
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1111/pbi.14325
CaIAA2-CaARF9 module mediates the trade-off between pepper growth and immunity.
Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.; Agricultural College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.; Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
To challenge the invasion of various pathogens, plants re-direct their resources from plant growth to an innate immune defence system. However, the underlying mechanism that coordinates the induction of the host immune response and the suppression of plant growth remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that an auxin response factor, CaARF9, has dual roles in enhancing the immune resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum infection and in retarding plant growth by repressing the expression of its target genes as exemplified by Casmc4, CaLBD37, CaAPK1b and CaRROP1. The expression of these target genes not only stimulates plant growth but also negatively impacts pepper resistance to R. solanacearum. Under normal conditions, the expression of Casmc4, CaLBD37, CaAPK1b and CaRROP1 is active when promoter-bound CaARF9 is complexed with CaIAA2. Under R. solanacearum infection, however, degradation of CaIAA2 is triggered by SA and JA-mediated signalling defence by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which enables CaARF9 in the absence of CaIAA2 to repress the expression of Casmc4, CaLBD37, CaAPK1b and CaRROP1 and, in turn, impeding plant growth while facilitating plant defence to R. solanacearum infection. Our findings uncover an exquisite mechanism underlying the trade-off between plant growth and immunity mediated by the transcriptional repressor CaARF9 and its deactivation when complexed with CaIAA2.
PMID: 38450864
Cell Rep , IF:9.423 , 2024 Mar , V43 (4) : P114030 doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114030
Trichoderma-secreted anthranilic acid promotes lateral root development via auxin signaling and RBOHF-induced endodermal cell wall remodeling.
Key Lab of Organic-Based Fertilizers of China and Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Lower-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.; Institute of Wheat Research, Shanxi Agricultural University, Linfen 041000, China.; Key Lab of Organic-Based Fertilizers of China and Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: rfzhang@njau.edu.cn.
Trichoderma spp. have evolved the capacity to communicate with plants by producing various secondary metabolites (SMs). Nonhormonal SMs play important roles in plant root development, while specific SMs from rhizosphere microbes and their underlying mechanisms to control plant root branching are still largely unknown. In this study, a compound, anthranilic acid (2-AA), is identified from T. guizhouense NJAU4742 to promote lateral root development. Further studies demonstrate that 2-AA positively regulates auxin signaling and transport in the canonical auxin pathway. 2-AA also partly rescues the lateral root numbers of CASP1(pro):shy2-2, which regulates endodermal cell wall remodeling via an RBOHF-induced reactive oxygen species burst. In addition, our work reports another role for microbial 2-AA in the regulation of lateral root development, which is different from its better-known role in plant indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis. In summary, this study identifies 2-AA from T. guizhouense NJAU4742, which plays versatile roles in regulating plant root development.
PMID: 38551966
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae183
AUXIN RESISTANT 2 and SHORT HYPOCOTYL 2 regulate cotton fiber initiation and elongation.
Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.; College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.; College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China.; Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
Auxin, a pivotal regulator of diverse plant growth processes, remains central to development. The auxin-responsive genes auxin/indole-3-acetic acids (AUX/IAAs) are indispensable for auxin signal transduction, which is achieved through intricate interactions with auxin response factors (ARFs). Despite this, the potential of AUX/IAAs to govern the development of the most fundamental biological unit, the single cell, remains unclear. In this study, we harnessed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fiber, a classic model for plant single-cell investigation, to determine the complexities of AUX/IAAs. Our research identified two pivotal AUX/IAAs, auxin resistant 2 (GhAXR2) and short hypocotyl 2 (GhSHY2), which exhibit opposite control over fiber development. Notably, suppressing GhAXR2 reduced fiber elongation, while silencing GhSHY2 fostered enhanced fiber elongation. Investigating the mechanistic intricacies, we identified specific interactions between GhAXR2 and GhSHY2 with distinct ARFs. GhAXR2's interaction with GhARF6-1 and GhARF23-2 promoted fiber cell development through direct binding to the AuxRE cis-element in the constitutive triple response 1 (GhCTR1) promoter, resulting in transcriptional inhibition. In contrast, the interaction of GhSHY2 with GhARF7-1 and GhARF19-1 exerted a negative regulatory effect, inhibiting fiber cell growth by activating the transcription of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase 9 (GhXTH9) and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (GhC4H). Thus, our study reveals the intricate regulatory networks surrounding GhAXR2 and GhSHY2, elucidating the complex interplay of multiple ARFs in AUX/IAA-mediated fiber cell growth. This work enhances our understanding of single-cell development and has potential implications for advancing plant growth strategies and agricultural enhancements.
PMID: 38527791
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae162
Auxin treatments protect male reproductive development against cold stress.
Assistant Features Editor, Plant Physiology, American Society of Plant Biologists, Rockville, USA.; Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
PMID: 38501611
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae143
JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN PROTEIN 3 regulates photo- and thermo-morphogenesis through inhibiting PIF4 in Arabidopsis.
Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Light and temperature are two major environmental factors that affect growth and development of plants during their life cycle. Plants have evolved complex mechanisms to adapt to varying external environments. Here, we show that JASMONATE ZIM-domain protein 3 (JAZ3), a jasmonic acid signaling component, acts as a factor to integrate light and temperature in regulating seedling morphogenesis. JAZ3 overexpression transgenic lines display short hypocotyls under red, far-red, and blue light and warm temperature (28 degrees C) conditions compared to the wild type in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We show that JAZ3 interacts with the transcription factor PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR4 (PIF4). Interestingly, JAZ3 spontaneously undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in vitro and in vivo and promotes LLPS formation of PIF4. Moreover, transcriptomic analyses indicate that JAZ3 regulates the expression of genes involved in many biological processes, such as response to auxin, auxin-activated signaling pathway, regulation of growth, and response to red light. Finally, JAZ3 inhibits the transcriptional activation activity and binding ability of PIF4. Collectively, our study reveals a function and molecular mechanism of JAZ3 in regulating plant growth in response to environmental light and temperature.
PMID: 38487893
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae134
Ethylene regulates auxin-mediated root gravitropic machinery and controls root angle in cereal crops.
Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds/School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.; Future Food Beacon and School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK.; International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Hyderabad, India.
Root angle is a critical factor in optimising the acquisition of essential resources from different soil depths. The regulation of root angle relies on the auxin-mediated root gravitropism machinery. While the influence of ethylene on auxin levels is known, its specific role in governing root gravitropism and angle remains uncertain, particularly when Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) core ethylene signaling mutants show no gravitropic defects. Our research, focusing on rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays), clearly reveals the involvement of ethylene in root angle regulation in cereal crops through the modulation of auxin biosynthesis and the root gravitropism machinery. We elucidated the molecular components by which ethylene exerts its regulatory effect on auxin biosynthesis to control root gravitropism machinery. The ethylene-insensitive mutants ethylene insensitive2 (osein2) and ethylene insensitive like1 (oseil1), exhibited substantially shallower crown root angle compared to the wild type. Gravitropism assays revealed reduced root gravitropic response in these mutants. Hormone profiling analysis confirmed decreased auxin levels in the root tips of the osein2 mutant, and exogenous auxin (NAA) application rescued root gravitropism in both ethylene-insensitive mutants. Additionally, the auxin-biosynthetic mutant mao hu zi10 (mhz10)/tryptophan aminotransferase2 (ostar2) showed impaired gravitropic response and shallow crown root angle phenotypes. Similarly, maize ethylene-insensitive mutants (zmein2) exhibited defective gravitropism and root angle phenotypes. In conclusion, our study highlights that ethylene controls the auxin-dependent root gravitropism machinery to regulate root angle in rice and maize, revealing a functional divergence in ethylene signaling between Arabidopsis and cereal crops. These findings contribute to a better understanding of root angle regulation and have implications for improving resource acquisition in agricultural systems.
PMID: 38446735
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae132
Two auxins are better than one: BiAux joins forces with auxin to enhance lateral root formation.
Assistant Features Editor, Plant Physiology, American Society of Plant Biologists.; Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
PMID: 38445801
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae130
CALMODULIN-LIKE16 and PIN-LIKES7a cooperatively regulate rice seedling primary root elongation under chilling.
MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Low-temperature sensitivity at the germination stage is a challenge for direct seeding of rice in Asian countries. How Ca2+ and IAA signaling regulate primary root growth under chilling remains unexplored. Here, we showed that OsCML16 interacted specifically with OsPILS7a to improve primary root elongation of early rice seedlings under chilling. OsCML16, a subgroup 6c member of the OsCML family, interacted with multiple cytosolic loop regions of OsPILS7a in a Ca2+-dependent manner. OsPILS7a localized to the ER membranes and functioned as an auxin efflux carrier in a yeast growth assay. Transgenics showed that presence of OsCML16 enhanced primary root elongation under chilling, whereas the ospils7a knockout mutant lines showed the opposite phenotype. Moreover, under chilling conditions, OsCML16 and OsPILS7a mediated Ca2+ and IAA signaling and regulated the transcription of IAA signaling-associated genes (OsIAA11, OsIAA23, and OsARF16) and cell division marker genes (OsRAN1, OsRAN2, and OsLTG1) in primary roots. These results show that OsCML16 and OsPILS7a cooperatively regulate primary root elongation of early rice seedlings under chilling. These findings enhance our understanding of the crosstalk between Ca2+ and IAA signaling and reveal insights into the mechanisms underlying cold-stress response during rice germination.
PMID: 38445796
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae123
Tetrad stage transient cold stress skews auxin-mediated energy metabolism balance in Chinese cabbage pollen.
Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.; Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572024, China.; Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.; College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
Changing ambient temperature often impairs plant development and sexual reproduction, particularly pollen ontogenesis. However, mechanisms underlying cold stress-induced male sterility are not well understood. Here, we exposed Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris) to different cold conditions during flowering and demonstrated that the tetrad stage was the most sensitive. After completion of pollen development at optimal conditions, transient cold stress at the tetrad stage still impacted auxin levels, starch and lipid accumulation, and pollen germination, ultimately resulting in partial male sterility. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses and histochemical staining indicated that the reduced pollen germination rate was due to the imbalance of energy metabolism during pollen maturation. The investigation of beta-glucuronidase (GUS)-overexpressing transgenic plants driven by the promoter of DR5 (DR5::GUS report system) combined with cell tissue staining and metabolome analysis further validated that cold stress during the tetrad stage reduced auxin levels in mature pollen grains. Low-concentration auxin treatment on floral buds at the tetrad stage before cold exposure improved the cold tolerance of mature pollen grains. Artificially changing the content of endogenous auxin during pollen maturation by spraying chemical reagents and loss-of-function investigation of the auxin biosynthesis gene YUCCA6 by artificial microRNA technology showed that starch overaccumulation severely reduced the pollen germination rate. In summary, we revealed that transient cold stress at the tetrad stage of pollen development in Chinese cabbage causes auxin-mediated starch-related energy metabolism imbalance that contributes to the decline in pollen germination rate and ultimately seed set.
PMID: 38438131
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar , V194 (4) : P2472-2490 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae017
Transcription factor LBD16 targets cell wall modification/ion transport genes in peach lateral root formation.
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An 271018, China.
LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN/ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKEs (LBDs/ASLs) are plant-specific transcription factors that function downstream of auxin-regulated lateral root (LR) formation. Our previous research found that PpLBD16 positively regulates peach (Prunus persica) LR formation. However, the downstream regulatory network and target genes of PpLBD16 are still largely unknown. Here, we constructed a PpLBD16 homologous overexpression line and a PpLBD16 silenced line. We found that overexpressing PpLBD16 promoted peach root initiation, while silencing PpLBD16 inhibited peach root formation. Through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of roots from PpLBD16 overexpression and silenced lines, we discovered that genes positively regulated by PpLBD16 were closely related to cell wall synthesis and degradation, ion/substance transport, and ion binding and homeostasis. To further detect the binding motifs and potential target genes of PpLBD16, we performed DNA-affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) analysis in vitro. PpLBD16 preferentially bound to CCNGAAANNNNGG (MEME-1), [C/T]TTCT[C/T][T/C] (MEME-2), and GCGGCGG (ABR1) motifs. By combined analysis of RNA-seq and DAP-seq data, we screened candidate target genes for PpLBD16. We demonstrated that PpLBD16 bound and activated the cell wall modification-related genes EXPANSIN-B2 (PpEXPB2) and SUBTILISIN-LIKE PROTEASE 1.7 (PpSBT1.7), the ion transport-related gene CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED ION CHANNEL 1 (PpCNGC1) and the polyphenol oxidase (PPO)-encoding gene PpPPO, thereby controlling peach root organogenesis and promoting LR formation. Moreover, our results displayed that PpLBD16 and its target genes are involved in peach LR primordia development. Overall, this work reveals the downstream regulatory network and target genes of PpLBD16, providing insights into the molecular network of LBD16-mediated LR development.
PMID: 38217865
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar , V194 (4) : P2434-2448 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae013
Auxin receptor OsTIR1 mediates auxin signaling during seed filling in rice.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang 233100, China.; Key Laboratory of Herbage & Endemic Crop Biology of Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Herbage & Endemic Crop Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010000, China.; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing 210095, China.
Cereal endosperm represents the most important source of the world's food. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms behind sugar import into rice (Oryza sativa) endosperm and their relationship with auxin signaling are poorly understood. Here, we report that auxin transport inhibitor response 1 (TIR1) plays an essential role in rice grain yield and quality via modulating sugar transport into endosperm. The fluctuations of OsTIR1 transcripts parallel to the early stage of grain expansion among those of the 5 TIR1/AFB (auxin-signaling F-box) auxin co-receptor proteins. OsTIR1 is abundantly expressed in ovular vascular trace, nucellar projection, nucellar epidermis, aleurone layer cells, and endosperm, providing a potential path for sugar into the endosperm. Compared to wild-type (WT) plants, starch accumulation is repressed by mutation of OsTIR1 and improved by overexpression of the gene, ultimately leading to reduced grain yield and quality in tir1 mutants but improvement in overexpression lines. Of the rice AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) genes, only the OsARF25 transcript is repressed in tir1 mutants and enhanced by overexpression of OsTIR1; its highest transcript is recorded at 10 d after fertilization, consistent with OsTIR1 expression. Also, OsARF25 can bind the promoter of the sugar transporter OsSWEET11 (SWEET, sugars will eventually be exported transporter) in vivo and in vitro. arf25 and arf25/sweet11 mutants exhibit reduced starch content and seed size (relative to the WTs), similar to tir1 mutants. Our data reveal that OsTIR1 mediates sugar import into endosperm via the auxin signaling component OsARF25 interacting with sugar transporter OsSWEET11. The results of this study are of great significance to further clarify the regulatory mechanism of auxin signaling on grain development in rice.
PMID: 38214208
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Mar , V194 (4) : P2697-2708 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad686
Long-term root electrotropism reveals habituation and hysteresis.
Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Plant roots sense many physical and chemical cues in soil, such as gravity, humidity, light, and chemical gradients, and respond by redirecting their growth toward or away from the source of the stimulus. This process is called tropism. While gravitropism is the tendency to follow the gravitational field downwards, electrotropism is the alignment of growth with external electric fields and the induced ionic currents. Although root tropisms are at the core of their ability to explore large volumes of soil in search of water and nutrients, the molecular and physical mechanisms underlying most of them remain poorly understood. We have previously provided a quantitative characterization of root electrotropism in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) primary roots exposed for 5 h to weak electric fields, showing that auxin asymmetric distribution is not necessary for root electrotropism but that cytokinin biosynthesis is. Here, we extend that study showing that long-term electrotropism is characterized by a complex behavior. We describe overshoot and habituation as key traits of long-term root electrotropism in Arabidopsis and provide quantitative data about the role of past exposures in the response to electric fields (hysteresis). On the molecular side, we show that cytokinin, although necessary for root electrotropism, is not asymmetrically distributed during the bending. Overall, the data presented here represent a step forward toward a better understanding of the complexity of root behavior and provide a quantitative platform for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of electrotropism.
PMID: 38156361
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Feb , V194 (3) : P1527-1544 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad570
Soybean type-B response regulator GmRR1 mediates phosphorus uptake and yield by modifying root architecture.
National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; School of Agriculture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, China.; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.; School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China.; Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, China.
Phosphorus (P) plays a pivotal role in plant growth and development. Low P stress can greatly hamper plant growth. Here, we identified a QTL (named QPH-9-1), which is associated with P efficiency across multiple environments through linkage analysis and genome-wide association study. Furthermore, we successfully cloned the underlying soybean (Glycine max) gene GmRR1 (a soybean type-B Response Regulator 1) that encodes a type-B response regulator protein. Knockout of GmRR1 resulted in a substantial increase in plant height, biomass, P uptake efficiency, and yield-related traits due to the modification of root structure. In contrast, overexpression of GmRR1 in plants resulted in a decrease in these phenotypes. Further analysis revealed that knockout of GmRR1 substantially increased the levels of auxin and ethylene in roots, thereby promoting root hair formation and growth by promoting the formation of root hair primordium and lengthening the root apical meristem. Yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated an interaction between GmRR1 and Histidine-containing Phosphotransmitter protein 1. Expression analysis suggested that these proteins coparticipated in response to low P stress. Analysis of genomic sequences showed that GmRR1 underwent a selection during soybean domestication. Taken together, this study provides further insights into how plants respond to low P stress by modifying root architecture through phytohormone pathways.
PMID: 37882637
Elife , IF:8.14 , 2024 Mar , V12 doi: 10.7554/eLife.91523
Rapid translocation of NGR proteins driving polarization of PIN-activating D6 protein kinase during root gravitropism.
Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria.
Root gravitropic bending represents a fundamental aspect of terrestrial plant physiology. Gravity is perceived by sedimentation of starch-rich plastids (statoliths) to the bottom of the central root cap cells. Following gravity perception, intercellular auxin transport is redirected downwards leading to an asymmetric auxin accumulation at the lower root side causing inhibition of cell expansion, ultimately resulting in downwards bending. How gravity-induced statoliths repositioning is translated into asymmetric auxin distribution remains unclear despite PIN auxin efflux carriers and the Negative Gravitropic Response of roots (NGR) proteins polarize along statolith sedimentation, thus providing a plausible mechanism for auxin flow redirection. In this study, using a functional NGR1-GFP construct, we visualized the NGR1 localization on the statolith surface and plasma membrane (PM) domains in close proximity to the statoliths, correlating with their movements. We determined that NGR1 binding to these PM domains is indispensable for NGR1 functionality and relies on cysteine acylation and adjacent polybasic regions as well as on lipid and sterol PM composition. Detailed timing of the early events following graviperception suggested that both NGR1 repolarization and initial auxin asymmetry precede the visible PIN3 polarization. This discrepancy motivated us to unveil a rapid, NGR-dependent translocation of PIN-activating AGCVIII kinase D6PK towards lower PMs of gravity-perceiving cells, thus providing an attractive model for rapid redirection of auxin fluxes following gravistimulation.
PMID: 38441122
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:7.061 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1111/jipb.13646
The transcriptional control of LcIDL1-LcHSL2 complex by LcARF5 integrates auxin and ethylene signaling for litchi fruitlet abscission.
Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.; Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.; Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.; Dongguan Botanical Garden, Dongguan, 523128, China.; Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindernveien 31, Oslo, 0316, Norway.; College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
At the physiological level, the interplay between auxin and ethylene has long been recognized as crucial for the regulation of organ abscission in plants. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we identified transcription factors involved in indoleacetic acid (IAA) and ethylene (ET) signaling that directly regulate the expression of INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) and its receptor HAESA (HAE), which are key components initiating abscission. Specifically, litchi IDA-like 1 (LcIDL1) interacts with the receptor HAESA-like 2 (LcHSL2). Through in vitro and in vivo experiments, we determined that the auxin response factor LcARF5 directly binds and activates both LcIDL1 and LcHSL2. Furthermore, we found that the ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3-like transcription factor LcEIL3 directly binds and activates LcIDL1. The expression of IDA and HSL2 homologs was enhanced in LcARF5 and LcEIL3 transgenic Arabidopsis plants, but reduced in ein3 eil1 mutants. Consistently, the expressions of LcIDL1 and LcHSL2 were significantly decreased in LcARF5- and LcEIL3-silenced fruitlet abscission zones (FAZ), which correlated with a lower rate of fruitlet abscission. Depletion of auxin led to an increase in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (the precursor of ethylene) levels in the litchi FAZ, followed by abscission activation. Throughout this process, LcARF5 and LcEIL3 were induced in the FAZ. Collectively, our findings suggest that the molecular interactions between litchi AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 5 (LcARF5)-LcIDL1/LcHSL2 and LcEIL3-LcIDL1 signaling modules play a role in regulating fruitlet abscission in litchi and provide a long-sought mechanistic explanation for how the interplay between auxin and ethylene is translated into the molecular events that initiate abscission.
PMID: 38517216
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:7.061 , 2024 Feb doi: 10.1111/jipb.13627
SlBEL11 regulates flavonoid biosynthesis, thus fine-tuning auxin efflux to prevent premature fruit drop in tomato.
College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.; Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China.; Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Control of Subtropical Fruits and Vegetables, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China.; Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture of Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110866, China.; Crops Pathology and Genetic Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Washington, DC, 20250, USA.; Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.; ANGENOVO, Oslo, 0753, Norway.; Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China.
Auxin regulates flower and fruit abscission, but how developmental signals mediate auxin transport in abscission remains unclear. Here, we reveal the role of the transcription factor BEL1-LIKE HOMEODOMAIN11 (SlBEL11) in regulating auxin transport during abscission in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). SlBEL11 is highly expressed in the fruit abscission zone, and its expression increases during fruit development. Knockdown of SlBEL11 expression by RNA interference (RNAi) caused premature fruit drop at the breaker (Br) and 3 d post-breaker (Br+3) stages of fruit development. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis of SlBEL11-RNAi lines revealed impaired flavonoid biosynthesis and decreased levels of most flavonoids, especially quercetin, which functions as an auxin transport inhibitor. This suggested that SlBEL11 prevents premature fruit abscission by modulating auxin efflux from fruits, which is crucial for the formation of an auxin response gradient. Indeed, quercetin treatment suppressed premature fruit drop in SlBEL11-RNAi plants. DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) analysis indicated that SlBEL11 induced expression of the transcription factor gene SlMYB111 by directly binding to its promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that S. lycopersicum MYELOBLASTOSIS VIRAL ONCOGENE HOMOLOG111 (SlMYB111) induces the expression of the core flavonoid biosynthesis genes SlCHS1, SlCHI, SlF3H, and SlFLS by directly binding to their promoters. Our findings suggest that the SlBEL11-SlMYB111 module modulates flavonoid biosynthesis to fine-tune auxin efflux from fruits and thus maintain an auxin response gradient in the pedicel, thereby preventing premature fruit drop.
PMID: 38420861
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae119
A tomato B-box protein regulates plant development and fruit quality through the interaction with PIF4, HY5 and RIN transcription factors.
Departamento de Botanica, Instituto de Biociencias, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Matao 277, 05508-090, Sao Paulo, Brasil.; IFEVA, Facultad de Agronomia, Universidad de Buenos Aires y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Avenida San Martin 4453, Buenos Aires C1417DSE, Argentina.; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 71, Ghent, Belgium.; Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 71, Ghent, Belgium.; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciencias e Letras de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, 14040-901, Ribeirao Preto, Brasil.
During the last decade, the knowledge about BBX proteins has abruptly increased. Genome-wide studies identified BBX gene family in several ornamental, industry and food crops; however, the reports regarding the role of these genes as regulators of agronomically important traits are scarce. Here, by phenotyping a knockout mutant, we performed a comprehensive functional characterization of the tomato locus Solyc12g089240, hereafter called SlBBX20. The data revealed the encoded protein as a positive regulator of light signaling affecting several physiological processes during plant lifespan. By the inhibition of PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (SlPIF4)-auxin crosstalk, SlBBX20 regulates photomorphogenesis. Later, it controls the balance between cell division and expansion to guarantee the correct vegetative and reproductive development. In fruits, SlBBX20 is transcriptionally induced by the master transcription factor RIPENING INHIBITOR (SlRIN) and, together with ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (SlHY5), upregulates flavonoids biosynthetic genes. Finally, SlBBX20 promotes the accumulation of steroidal glycoalkaloids and attenuates Botrytis cinerea infection. This work clearly demonstrates that BBX proteins are multilayer regulators of plant physiology, not only because they affect multiple processes along plant development but also regulate other genes at the transcriptional and post-translational levels.
PMID: 38492237
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae102
Development of pollinated and unpollinated ovules in Ginkgo biloba: unravelling pollen's role in ovule tissue maturation.
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata of Rende (CS), Italy.; Botanical Garden, University of Padova, 25123 Padova, Italy.; Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy.; Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.; Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
In gymnosperms such as Ginkgo biloba, the pollen's arrival plays a key role in ovule development, before fertilization occurs. Accordingly, G. biloba female plants geographically isolated from male plants aborted all their ovules after the pollination drop emission, which is the event that allows the ovule to capture pollen grains. To decipher the mechanism induced by pollination required to avoid ovule senescence and then abortion, we compared the transcriptomic of pollinated and unpollinated ovules at three time points after the end of the emission of pollination drops. Transcriptomic and in situ expression analyses revealed that several key genes involved in programmed cell death such as senescence and apoptosis, DNA replication, and cell cycle were differentially expressed in unpollinated ovules compared to pollinated ones. Interestingly, we provided evidence that the pollen captured by the pollination drop affects auxin local accumulation and might cause the deregulation of key genes required for ovule's programmed cell death and activating both the cell cycle and DNA replication genes.
PMID: 38459807
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae105
Genetic and epigenetic basis of phytohormones control of floral transition in plants.
Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
The timing of the developmental transition from the vegetative to the reproductive stages is critical for angiosperm and fine-tuned by the integration of endogenous factors and external environmental cues to ensure proper and successful reproduction. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to response to diverse environmental or stress signals, which may be mediated by plant hormones which coordinate their flowering time. Endogenous and exogenous phytohormones such as gibberellin (GA), auxin, cytokinin (CK), jasmonate (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), brassinosteroids (BR) and the cross-talk among them are critical for the precise regulating of flowering time. Recent studies on the model flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that diverse transcription factors and epigenetic regulators play key roles in the phytohormones that regulate floral transition. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that underlying the phytohormone control of floral transition in Arabidopsis, offering insights into how these processes are regulated and their implications for plant biology.
PMID: 38457356
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2024 Apr , V263 (Pt 1) : P130306 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130306
Class III plant peroxidases: From classification to physiological functions.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara, Campus do Pici, Fortaleza, Ceara CEP 60451-970, Brazil. Electronic address: cleversondiniz@ufc.br.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara, Campus do Pici, Fortaleza, Ceara CEP 60451-970, Brazil.; Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven 06511, CT, USA.
Peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.7) are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, hence their broad distribution across biological systems. These proteins can be classified as haem or non-haem enzymes. According to the RedOxiBase database, haem peroxidases are approximately 84 % of all known peroxidase enzymes. Class III plant peroxidases are haem-enzymes that share similar three-dimensional structures and a common catalytic mechanism for hydrogen peroxide degradation. They exist as large multigene families and are involved in metabolizing Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), hormone synthesis and decomposition, fruit growth, defense, and cell wall synthesis and maintenance. As a result, plant peroxidases gained attention in research and became one of the most extensively studied groups of enzymes. This review provides an update on the database, classification, phylogeny, mechanism of action, structure, and physiological functions of class III plant peroxidases.
PMID: 38387641
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2024 Mar , V262 (Pt 1) : P129721 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129721
Stomatal density suppressor PagSDD1 is a "generalist" gene that promotes plant growth and improves water use efficiency.
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: xiayufei@bjfu.edu.cn.; Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou 510520, China. Electronic address: hanqiang1988@caf.ac.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: shujianghai@bjfu.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: jiangsx@bjfu.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: kangxy@bjfu.edu.cn.
The serine protease SDD1 regulates stomatal density, but its potential impact on plant vegetative growth is unclear. Our study reveals a substantial upregulation of SDD1 in triploid poplar apical buds and leaves, suggesting its possible role in their growth regulation. We cloned PagSDD1 from poplar 84 K (Populus alba x P. glandulosa) and found that overexpression in poplar, soybean, and lettuce led to decreased leaf stomatal density. Furthermore, PagSDD1 represses PagEPF1, PagEPF2, PagEPFL9, PagSPCH, PagMUTE, and PagFAMA expression. In contrast, PagSDD1 promotes the expression of its receptors, PagTMM and PagERECTA. PagSDD1-OE poplars showed stronger drought tolerance than wild-type poplars. Simultaneously, PagSDD1-OE poplar, soybean, and lettuce had vegetative growth advantages. RNA sequencing revealed a significant upregulation of genes PagLHCB2.1 and PagGRF5, correlating positively with photosynthetic rate, and PagCYCA3;4 and PagEXPA8 linked to cell division and differentiation in PagSDD1-OE poplars. This increase promoted leaf photosynthesis, boosted auxin and cytokinin accumulation, and enhanced vegetative growth. SDD1 overexpression can increase the biomass of poplar, soybean, and lettuce by approximately 70, 176, and 155 %, respectively, and increase the water use efficiency of poplar leaves by over 52 %, which is of great value for the molecular design and breeding of plants with growth and water-saving target traits.
PMID: 38296132
Hortic Res , IF:6.793 , 2024 Mar , V11 (3) : Puhae015 doi: 10.1093/hr/uhae015
The cellular and molecular basis of the spur development in Impatiens uliginosa.
College of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture Sciences, Southwest Research Center for Engineering Technology of Landscape Architecture (State Forestry and Grassland Administration), Yunnan Engineering Research Center for Functional Flower Resources and Industrialization, Research and Development Center of Landscape Plants and Horticulture Flowers, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650224, China.; School of Art and Design, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China.; Department of Biodiversity Conservation, Department of Life Science, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China.
The nectar spur is an important feature of pollination and ecological adaptation in flowering plants, and it is a key innovation to promote species diversity in certain plant lineages. The development mechanism of spurs varies among different plant taxa. As one of the largest angiosperm genera, we have little understanding of the mechanism of spur development in Impatiens. Here, we investigated the initiation and growth process of spurs of Impatiens uliginosa based on histology and hormone levels, and the roles of AUXIN BINDING PROTEIN (ABP) and extensin (EXT) in spur development were explored. Our results indicate that the spur development of I. uliginosa is composed of cell division and anisotropic cell elongation. Imbalances in spur proximal-distal cell division lead to the formation of curved structures. Endogenous hormones, such as auxin and cytokinins, were enriched at different developmental stages of spurs. IuABP knockdown led to an increase in spur curves and distortion of morphology. IuEXT knockdown resulted in reduced spur length and loss of curve and inner epidermal papillae structures. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of spur development in core eudicots.
PMID: 38544551
Hortic Res , IF:6.793 , 2024 Mar , V11 (3) : Puhae010 doi: 10.1093/hr/uhae010
DNA methylome analysis reveals novel insights into active hypomethylated regulatory mechanisms of temperature-dependent flower opening in Osmanthus fragrans.
Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, School of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China.
Short-term ambient low temperature (ALT) stimulation is necessary for Osmanthus fragrans to facilitate continued flower opening after floral bud development reaches maturity. DNA methylation, a vital epigenetic modification, regulates various biological processes in response to temperature fluctuations. However, its role in temperature-driven flower opening remains elusive. In this study, we identified the pivotal timeframe during which O. fragrans promptly detected temperature cues. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, we explored global DNA hypomethylation during this phase, with the most significant changes occurring in CHH sequence contexts. Auxin transport inhibitor (TIBA) application revealed that ALT-induced endogenous auxin accumulation promoted peduncle elongation. In our mRNA-seq analysis, we discovered that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with hypo-differentially methylated regions (hypo-DMRs) were mainly enriched in auxin and temperature response, RNA processing, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Transcripts of three DNA demethylase genes (OfROS1a, OfDML3, OfDME) showed upregulation. Furthermore, all DNA methylase genes, except OfCMT2b, also displayed increased expression, specifically with two of them, OfCMT3a and OfCMT1, being associated with hypo-DMRs. Promoter assays showed that OfROS1a, with promoters containing low-temperature- and auxin-responsive elements, were activated by ALT and exogenous IAA at low concentrations but inhibited at high concentrations. Overexpression of OfROS1 reduced endogenous auxin levels but enhanced the expression of genes related to auxin response and spliceosome in petunia. Furthermore, OfROS1 promoted sucrose synthesis in petunia corollas. Our data characterized the rapid response of active DNA hypomethylation to ALT and suggested a possible epiregulation of temperature-dependent flower opening in O. fragrans. This study revealed the pivotal role of DNA hypomethylation in O. fragrans during the ALT-responsive phase before flower opening, involving dynamic DNA demethylation, auxin signaling modulation, and a potential feedback loop between hypomethylation and methylation.
PMID: 38464472
Environ Res , IF:6.498 , 2024 Mar , V245 : P117977 doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117977
Short-term continuous monocropping reduces peanut yield mainly via altering soil enzyme activity and fungal community.
College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.; Department of Soil-Plant-Microbiome, Institute of Phytopathology, University of Kiel, Germany.; College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China. Electronic address: yadong_tracy@cau.edu.cn.
Continuous monocropping can lead to soil sickness and increase of soil-borne disease, which finally reduces crop yield. Microorganisms benefit plants by increasing nutrient availability, participating in auxin synthesis, and defending against pathogens. However, little is known about the influence of short-term successive peanuts cropping on soil properties, enzyme activities, its yield, plant-associated microbes, and their potential correlations in peanut production. Here, we examined the community structure, composition, network structure and function of microbes in the rhizosphere and bulk soils under different monocropping years. Moreover, we assessed the impact of changes in the soil micro-environment and associated soil microbes on peanut yield. Our results showed that increase of monocropping year significantly decreased most soil properties, enzyme activities and peanut yield (p < 0.05). Principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) indicated that monocropping year significantly influenced the fungal community structure in the rhizosphere and bulk soils (p < 0.01), while had no effect on the bacterial community. With the increase of continuous monocropping year, peanut selectively decreased (e.g., Candidatus_Entotheonella, Bacillus and Bryobacter) or increased (e.g., Nitrospira, Nocardioides, Ensifer, Gaiella, and Novosphingobium) the abundance of some beneficial bacterial genera in the rhizosphere. Continuous monocropping significantly increased the abundance of plant pathogens (e.g., Plectosphaerella, Colletotrichum, Lectera, Gibberella, Metarhizium, and Microdochium) in the rhizosphere and negatively affected the balance of fungal community. Besides, these species were correlated negatively with L-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activity. Network co-occurrence analysis showed that continuous monocropping simplified the interaction network of bacteria and fungi. Random forest and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis further showed that fungal community, pathogen abundance, soil pH, and LAP activity negatively affected peanut yield. In conclusion, short-term continuous monocropping decreased LAP activity and increased potential fungal pathogens abundance, leading to reduction of peanut yield.
PMID: 38141923
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1111/tpj.16723
IbNF-YA1 is a key factor in the storage root development of sweet potato.
Key Laboratory of Sweet Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement/Laboratory of Crop Heterosis & Utilization and Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
As a major worldwide root crop, the mechanism underlying storage root yield formation has always been a hot topic in sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]. Previously, we conducted the transcriptome database of differentially expressed genes between the cultivated sweet potato cultivar "Xushu18," its diploid wild relative Ipomoea triloba without storage root, and their interspecific somatic hybrid XT1 with medium-sized storage root. We selected one of these candidate genes, IbNF-YA1, for subsequent analysis. IbNF-YA1 encodes a nuclear transcription factor Y subunit alpha (NF-YA) gene, which is significantly induced by the natural auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The storage root yield of the IbNF-YA1 overexpression (OE) plant decreased by 29.15-40.22% compared with the wild type, while that of the RNAi plant increased by 10.16-21.58%. Additionally, IAA content increased significantly in OE plants. Conversely, the content of IAA decreased significantly in RNAi plants. Furthermore, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis demonstrated that the expressions of the key genes IbYUCCA2, IbYUCCA4, and IbYUCCA8 in the IAA biosynthetic pathway were significantly changed in transgenic plants. The results indicated that IbNF-YA1 could directly target IbYUCCA4 and activate IbYUCCA4 transcription. The IAA content of IbYUCCA4 OE plants increased by 71.77-98.31%. Correspondingly, the storage root yield of the IbYUCCA4 OE plant decreased by 77.91-80.52%. These findings indicate that downregulating the IbNF-YA1 gene could improve the storage root yield in sweet potato.
PMID: 38549549
J Ginseng Res , IF:6.06 , 2024 Mar , V48 (2) : P220-228 doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2023.11.002
Cytokinin signaling promotes root secondary growth and bud formation in Panax ginseng.
Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.; Department of Industrial Plant Science & Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.; Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
BACKGROUND: Panax ginseng, one of the valuable perennial medicinal plants, stores numerous pharmacological substrates in its storage roots. Given its perennial growth habit, organ regeneration occurs each year, and cambium stem cell activity is necessary for secondary growth and storage root formation. Cytokinin (CK) is a phytohormone involved in the maintenance of meristematic cells for the development of storage organs; however, its physiological role in storage-root secondary growth remains unknown. METHODS: Exogenous CK was repeatedly applied to P. ginseng, and morphological and histological changes were observed. RNA-seq analysis was used to elucidate the transcriptional network of CK that regulates P. ginseng growth and development. The HISTIDINE KINASE 3 (PgHK3) and RESPONSE REGULATOR 2 (PgRR2) genes were cloned in P. ginseng and functionally analyzed in Arabidopsis as a two-component system involved in CK signaling. RESULTS: Phenotypic and histological analyses showed that CK increased cambium activity and dormant axillary bud formation in P. ginseng, thus promoting storage-root secondary growth and bud formation. The evolutionarily conserved two-component signaling pathways in P. ginseng were sufficient to restore CK signaling in the Arabidopsis ahk2/3 double mutant and rescue its growth defects. Finally, RNA-seq analysis of CK-treated P. ginseng roots revealed that plant-type cell wall biogenesis-related genes are tightly connected with mitotic cell division, cytokinesis, and auxin signaling to regulate CK-mediated P. ginseng development. CONCLUSION: Overall, we identified the CK signaling-related two-component systems and their physiological role in P. ginseng. This scientific information has the potential to significantly improve the field-cultivation and biotechnology-based breeding of ginseng.
PMID: 38465220
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2024 Mar , V25 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms25063470
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the Aux/IAA Gene Family in Panax ginseng: Evidence for the Role of PgIAA02 in Lateral Root Development.
State Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Ginseng Breeding and Application, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Ginseng) is one of the most used traditional Chinese herbal medicines, with its roots being used as the main common medicinal parts; its therapeutic potential has garnered significant attention. AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) is a family of early auxin-responsive genes capable of regulating root development in plants through the auxin signaling pathway. In the present study, 84 Aux/IAA genes were identified from the ginseng genome and their complexity and diversity were determined through their protein domains, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and cis-acting element predictions. Phylogenetic analyses classified PgIAA into six subgroups, with members in the same group showing greater sequence similarity. Analyses of interspecific collinearity suggest that segmental duplications likely drove the evolution of PgIAA genes, followed by purifying selection. An analysis of cis-regulatory elements suggested that PgIAA family genes may be involved in the regulation of plant hormones. RNA-seq data show that the expression pattern of Aux/IAA genes in Ginseng is tissue-specific, and PgIAA02 and PgIAA36 are specifically highly expressed in lateral, fibrous, and arm roots, suggesting their potential function in root development. The PgIAA02 overexpression lines exhibited an inhibition of lateral root growth in Ginseng. In addition, yeast two-hybrid and subcellular localization experiments showed that PgIAA02 interacted with PgARF22/PgARF36 (ARF: auxin response factor) in the nucleus and participated in the biological process of root development. The above results lay the foundation for an in-depth study of Aux/IAA and provide preliminary information for further research on the role of the Aux/IAA gene family in the root development of Ginseng.
PMID: 38542445
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2024 Mar , V25 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms25063425
Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals the Mechanism of Auxin Regulation during Root Expansion in Carrot.
College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China.
Carrot is an important vegetable with roots as the edible organ. A complex regulatory network controls root growth, in which auxin is one of the key players. To clarify the molecular mechanism on auxin regulating carrot root expansion, the growth process and the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content in the roots were measured in this experiment. It was found that the rapid expansion period of the root was from 34 to 41 days after sowing and the IAA content was the highest during this period. The root growth then slowed down and the IAA levels decreased. Using the transcriptome sequencing database, we analyzed the expression of IAA-metabolism-related genes and found that the expression of most of the IAA synthesis genes, catabolism genes, and genes related to signal transduction was consistent with the changes in IAA content during root expansion. Among them, a total of 31 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 10 IAA synthesis genes, 8 degradation genes, and 13 genes related to signal transduction. Analysis of the correlations between the DEGs and IAA levels showed that the following genes were closely related to root development: three synthesis genes, YUCCA10 (DCAR_012429), TAR2 (DCAR_026162), and AMI1 (DCAR_003244); two degradation genes, LPD1 (DCAR_023341) and AACT1 (DCAR_010070); and five genes related to signal transduction, IAA22 (DCAR_012516), IAA13 (DCAR_012591), IAA27 (DCAR_023070), IAA14 (DCAR_027269), and IAA7 (DCAR_030713). These results provide a reference for future studies on the mechanism of root expansion in carrots.
PMID: 38542398
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2024 Mar , V25 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms25063366
Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Exogenous NAA Effects on Maize Seedling Root Systems under Potassium Deficiency.
College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.; National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572000, China.; Coastal Agriculture Institute, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Tangshan 063299, China.
Auxin plays a crucial role in regulating root growth and development, and its distribution pattern under environmental stimuli significantly influences root plasticity. Under K deficiency, the interaction between K(+) transporters and auxin can modulate root development. This study compared the differences in root morphology and physiological mechanisms of the low-K-tolerant maize inbred line 90-21-3 and K-sensitive maize inbred line D937 under K-deficiency (K(+) = 0.2 mM) with exogenous NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid, NAA = 0.01 mM) treatment. Root systems of 90-21-3 exhibited higher K(+) absorption efficiency. Conversely, D937 seedling roots demonstrated greater plasticity and higher K(+) content. In-depth analysis through transcriptomics and metabolomics revealed that 90-21-3 and D937 seedling roots showed differential responses to exogenous NAA under K-deficiency. In 90-21-3, upregulation of the expression of K(+) absorption and transport-related proteins (proton-exporting ATPase and potassium transporter) and the enrichment of antioxidant-related functional genes were observed. In D937, exogenous NAA promoted the responses of genes related to intercellular ethylene and cation transport to K-deficiency. Differential metabolite enrichment analysis primarily revealed significant enrichment in flavonoid biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and hormone signaling pathways. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis is a crucial pathway, with core genes (related to peroxidase enzyme) and core metabolites upregulated in 90-21-3. The findings suggest that under K-deficiency, exogenous NAA induces substantial changes in maize roots, with the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway playing a crucial role in the maize root's response to exogenous NAA regulation under K-deficiency.
PMID: 38542340
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2024 Mar , V25 (6) doi: 10.3390/ijms25063180
Phenotypic Investigation and RNA-seq of KN1 Involved in Leaf Angle Formation in Maize (Zea mays L.).
College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.; Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.; Gansu Key Laboratory of Crop Improvement & Germplasm Enhancement, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
Leaf angle (LA) is one of the core agronomic traits of maize, which controls maize yield by affecting planting density. Previous studies have shown that the KN1 gene is closely related to the formation of maize LA, but its specific mechanism has not been fully studied. In this study, phenotype investigation and transcriptomic sequencing were combined to explore the mechanism of LA changes in wild type maize B73 and mutant kn1 under exogenous auxin (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. The results showed that the effect of exogenous phytohormones had a greater impact on the LA of kn1 compared to B73. Transcriptome sequencing showed that genes involved in IAA, gibberellins (GAs) and brassinosteroids (BRs) showed different differential expression patterns in kn1 and B73. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of KN1 involved in the formation of maize LA, and provides a theoretical basis for breeding maize varieties with suitable LA.
PMID: 38542154
Microb Biotechnol , IF:5.813 , 2024 Mar , V17 (3) : Pe14435 doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.14435
Streptomyces-triggered coordination between rhizosphere microbiomes and plant transcriptome enables watermelon Fusarium wilt resistance.
State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast Ministry of Agriculture, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China.; Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, Jilin, China.; Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.; Global Centre for Land-Based Innovation, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.; Hunan Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute, Changsha, China.
The use of microbial inoculant is a promising strategy to improve plant health, but their efficiency often faces challenges due to difficulties in successful microbial colonization in soil environments. To this end, the application of biostimulation products derived from microbes is expected to resolve these barriers via direct interactions with plants or soil pathogens. However, their effectiveness and mechanisms for promoting plant growth and disease resistance remain elusive. In this study, we showed that root irrigation with the extracts of Streptomyces ahygroscopicus strain 769 (S769) solid fermentation products significantly reduced watermelon Fusarium wilt disease incidence by 30% and increased the plant biomass by 150% at a fruiting stage in a continuous cropping field. S769 treatment led to substantial changes in both bacterial and fungal community compositions, and induced a highly interconnected microbial association network in the rhizosphere. The root transcriptome analysis further suggested that S769 treatment significantly improved the expression of the MAPK signalling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction and plant-pathogen interactions, particular those genes related to PR-1 and ethylene, as well as genes associated with auxin production and reception. Together, our study provides mechanistic and empirical evidences for the biostimulation products benefiting plant health through coordinating plant and rhizosphere microbiome interaction.
PMID: 38465781
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2024 , V15 : P1313832 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1313832
Transcriptomic and physiological analyses reveal different grape varieties response to high temperature stress.
Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Construction Crops, Agricultural College, Department of Horticulture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.
High temperatures affect grape yield and quality. Grapes can develop thermotolerance under extreme temperature stress. However, little is known about the changes in transcription that occur because of high-temperature stress. The heat resistance indices and transcriptome data of five grape cultivars, 'Xinyu' (XY), 'Miguang' (MG), 'Summer Black' (XH), 'Beihong' (BH), and 'Flame seedless' (FL), were compared in this study to evaluate the similarities and differences between the regulatory genes and to understand the mechanisms of heat stress resistance differences. High temperatures caused varying degrees of damage in five grape cultivars, with substantial changes observed in gene expression patterns and enriched pathway responses between natural environmental conditions (35 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C) and extreme high temperature stress (40 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C). Genes belonging to the HSPs, HSFs, WRKYs, MYBs, and NACs transcription factor families, and those involved in auxin (IAA) signaling, abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, starch and sucrose pathways, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum pathway, were found to be differentially regulated and may play important roles in the response of grape plants to high-temperature stress. In conclusion, the comparison of transcriptional changes among the five grape cultivars revealed a significant variability in the activation of key pathways that influence grape response to high temperatures. This enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying grape response to high-temperature stress.
PMID: 38525146
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2024 , V15 : P1358312 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1358312
Aethionema arabicum dimorphic seed trait resetting during transition to seedlings.
Seed Biology and Technology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United Kingdom.; Plant Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.; Department Plant Breeding and Physiology, Institute for Mediterranean and Subtropical Horticulture "La Mayora" (IHSM-CSIC-UMA), Malaga, Spain.; Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.; Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.; Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.; Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Faculty of Science, Palacky University and Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Olomouc, Czechia.
The transition from germinating seeds to emerging seedlings is one of the most vulnerable plant life cycle stages. Heteromorphic diaspores (seed and fruit dispersal units) are an adaptive bet-hedging strategy to cope with spatiotemporally variable environments. While the roles and mechanisms of seedling traits have been studied in monomorphic species, which produce one type of diaspore, very little is known about seedlings in heteromorphic species. Using the dimorphic diaspore model Aethionema arabicum (Brassicaceae), we identified contrasting mechanisms in the germination responses to different temperatures of the mucilaginous seeds (M(+) seed morphs), the dispersed indehiscent fruits (IND fruit morphs), and the bare non-mucilaginous M(-) seeds obtained from IND fruits by pericarp (fruit coat) removal. What follows the completion of germination is the pre-emergence seedling growth phase, which we investigated by comparative growth assays of early seedlings derived from the M(+) seeds, bare M(-) seeds, and IND fruits. The dimorphic seedlings derived from M(+) and M(-) seeds did not differ in their responses to ambient temperature and water potential. The phenotype of seedlings derived from IND fruits differed in that they had bent hypocotyls and their shoot and root growth was slower, but the biomechanical hypocotyl properties of 15-day-old seedlings did not differ between seedlings derived from germinated M(+) seeds, M(-) seeds, or IND fruits. Comparison of the transcriptomes of the natural dimorphic diaspores, M(+) seeds and IND fruits, identified 2,682 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during late germination. During the subsequent 3 days of seedling pre-emergence growth, the number of DEGs was reduced 10-fold to 277 root DEGs and 16-fold to 164 shoot DEGs. Among the DEGs in early seedlings were hormonal regulators, in particular for auxin, ethylene, and gibberellins. Furthermore, DEGs were identified for water and ion transporters, nitrate transporter and assimilation enzymes, and cell wall remodeling protein genes encoding enzymes targeting xyloglucan and pectin. We conclude that the transcriptomes of seedlings derived from the dimorphic diaspores, M(+) seeds and IND fruits, undergo transcriptional resetting during the post-germination pre-emergence growth transition phase from germinated diaspores to growing seedlings.
PMID: 38525145
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2024 , V15 : P1348295 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1348295
Ambient temperature regulates root circumnutation in rice through the ethylene pathway: transcriptome analysis reveals key genes involved.
School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Hainan, China.; Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan, China.
Plant roots are constantly prepared to adjust their growth trajectories to avoid unfavorable environments, and their ability to reorient is particularly crucial for survival. Under laboratory conditions, this continuous reorientation of the root tip is manifested as coiling or waving, which we refer to as root circumnutation. However, the effect of ambient temperature (AT) on root circumnutation remains unexplored. In this study, rice seedlings were employed to assess the impact of varying ATs on root circumnutation. The role of ethylene in mediating root circumnutation under elevated AT was examined using the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) and the ethylene perception antagonist silver thiosulfate (STS). Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, and real-time quantitative PCR were utilized to analyze gene expressions in rice root tips under four distinct treatments: 25 degrees C, 35 degrees C, 35 degrees C+STS, and 35 degrees C+AOA. As a result, genes associated with ethylene synthesis and signaling (OsACOs and OsERFs), auxin synthesis and transport (OsYUCCA6, OsABCB15, and OsNPFs), cell elongation (OsEXPAs, OsXTHs, OsEGL1, and OsEXORDIUMs), as well as the inhibition of root curling (OsRMC) were identified. Notably, the expression levels of these genes increased with rising temperatures above 25 degrees C. This study is the first to demonstrate that elevated AT can induce root circumnutation in rice via the ethylene pathway and proposes a potential molecular model through the identification of key genes. These findings offer valuable insights into the growth regulation mechanism of plant roots under elevated AT conditions.
PMID: 38525142
Theor Appl Genet , IF:5.699 , 2024 Mar , V137 (4) : P84 doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04586-0
Genetic diversity of grain yield traits and identification of a grain weight gene SiTGW6 in foxtail millet.
College of Agronomy, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi Province, China.; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China. tangsha@caas.cn.; College of Agronomy, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi Province, China. fengbaili@nwsuaf.edu.cn.; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China. diaoxianmin@caas.cn.
Agronomic traits were evaluated in 1250 foxtail millet accessions, and a crucial gene SiTGW6 governing grain yield was identified. Elite haplotypes and dCAPS markers developed for SiTGW6 facilitate molecular breeding. A comprehensive evaluation of phenotypic characteristics and genetic diversity in germplasm resources are important for gene discovery and breeding improvements. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of 1250 foxtail millet varieties, assessing seven grain yield-related traits and fourteen common agronomic traits over two years. Principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between 1000-grain weight and grain width with grain yield, emphasizing their importance in foxtail millet breeding. Additionally, we found that panicle weight positively correlated with 1000-grain weight but negatively correlated with branch and tiller numbers, indicating selection factors during domestication and breeding. Using this information, we identified 27 germplasm resources suitable for high-yield foxtail millet breeding. Furthermore, through an integration of haplotype variations and phenotype association analysis, we pinpointed a crucial gene, SiTGW6, responsible for governing grain yield in foxtail millet. SiTGW6 encodes an IAA-glucose hydrolase, primarily localized in the cytoplasm and predominantly expressed in flowering panicles. Employing RNAseq analysis, we identified 1439 differentially expressed genes across various SiTGW6 haplotypes. Functional enrichment analysis indicating that SiTGW6 regulates grain yield through the orchestration of auxin and glucan metabolism, as well as plant hormone signaling pathways. Additionally, we have identified elite haplotypes and developed dCAPS markers for SiTGW6, providing valuable technical tools to facilitate molecular breeding efforts in foxtail millet.
PMID: 38493242
Theor Appl Genet , IF:5.699 , 2024 Mar , V137 (4) : P78 doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04576-2
Genetic linkage map construction and QTL analysis for plant height in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).
Institute of Millet Crops, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050035, Hebei, China.; Key Laboratory of Minor Crops in Hebei, Shijiazhuang, 050035, Hebei, China.; Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050035, Hebei, China.; Institute of Millet Crops, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050035, Hebei, China. guoqingliu@hotmail.com.; Key Laboratory of Minor Crops in Hebei, Shijiazhuang, 050035, Hebei, China. guoqingliu@hotmail.com.
A genetic linkage map representing proso millet genome was constructed with SSR markers, and a major QTL corresponding to plant height was mapped on chromosome 14 of this map. Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) has the lowest water requirements of all cultivated cereal crops. However, the lack of a genetic map and the paucity of genomic resources for this species have limited the utility of proso millet for detailed genetic studies and hampered genetic improvement programs. In this study, 97,317 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed based on the genome sequence of the proso millet landrace Longmi 4. Using some of these markers in conjunction with previously identified SSRs, an SSR-based linkage map for proso millet was successfully constructed using a large mapping population (316 F(2) offspring). In total, 186 SSR markers were assigned to 18 linkage groups corresponding to the haploid chromosomes. The constructed map had a total length of 3033.42 centimorgan (cM) covering 78.17% of the assembled reference genome. The length of the 18 linkage groups ranged from 88.89 cM (Chr. 15) to 274.82 cM (Chr. 16), with an average size of 168.17 cM. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic linkage map for proso millet based on SSR markers. Plant height is one of the most important traits in crop improvement. A major QTL was repeatedly detected in different environments, explaining 8.70-24.50% of the plant height variations. A candidate gene affecting auxin biosynthesis and transport, and ROS homeostasis regulation was predicted. Thus, the linkage map and QTL analysis provided herein will promote the development of gene mining and molecular breeding in proso millet.
PMID: 38466414
Theor Appl Genet , IF:5.699 , 2024 Mar , V137 (4) : P76 doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04570-8
Genes involved in auxin biosynthesis, transport and signalling underlie the extreme adventitious root phenotype of the tomato aer mutant.
Centre for Soil, AgriFood and Biosciences, Cranfield University, College Road, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK. z.l.kevei@cranfield.ac.uk.; Instituto de Bioingenieria, Universidad Miguel Hernandez, 03202, Elche, Spain.; Centre for Soil, AgriFood and Biosciences, Cranfield University, College Road, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK.; Syngenta Crop Protection, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell Berkshire, RG42 6EY, UK.
The use of tomato rootstocks has helped to alleviate the soaring abiotic stresses provoked by the adverse effects of climate change. Lateral and adventitious roots can improve topsoil exploration and nutrient uptake, shoot biomass and resulting overall yield. It is essential to understand the genetic basis of root structure development and how lateral and adventitious roots are produced. Existing mutant lines with specific root phenotypes are an excellent resource to analyse and comprehend the molecular basis of root developmental traits. The tomato aerial roots (aer) mutant exhibits an extreme adventitious rooting phenotype on the primary stem. It is known that this phenotype is associated with restricted polar auxin transport from the juvenile to the more mature stem, but prior to this study, the genetic loci responsible for the aer phenotype were unknown. We used genomic approaches to define the polygenic nature of the aer phenotype and provide evidence that increased expression of specific auxin biosynthesis, transport and signalling genes in different loci causes the initiation of adventitious root primordia in tomato stems. Our results allow the selection of different levels of adventitious rooting using molecular markers, potentially contributing to rootstock breeding strategies in grafted vegetable crops, especially in tomato. In crops vegetatively propagated as cuttings, such as fruit trees and cane fruits, orthologous genes may be useful for the selection of cultivars more amenable to propagation.
PMID: 38459215
Microbiol Res , IF:5.415 , 2024 May , V282 : P127639 doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127639
Mechanisms on salt tolerant of Paenibacillus polymyxa SC2 and its growth-promoting effects on maize seedlings under saline conditions.
College of Life Sciences, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Plant-Microbia Restoration for Saline-alkali Land, Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China. Electronic address: wangcq@sdau.edu.cn.; College of Life Sciences, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Plant-Microbia Restoration for Saline-alkali Land, Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.; Institute of Wetland Agriculture and Ecology, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China.; Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China. Electronic address: jjqdainty@163.com.; College of Life Sciences, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Plant-Microbia Restoration for Saline-alkali Land, Shandong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China; College of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China. Electronic address: zhaodongying4321@163.com.
Soil salinity negatively affects microbial communities, soil fertility, and agricultural productivity and has become a major agricultural problem worldwide. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with salt tolerance can benefit plant growth under saline conditions and diminish the negative effects of salt stress on plants. In this study, we aimed to understand the salt-tolerance mechanism of Paenibacillus polymyxa at the genetic and metabolic levels and elucidate the mechanism of strain SC2 in promoting maize growth under saline conditions. Under salt stress, we found that strain SC2 promoted maize seedling growth, which was accompanied by a significant upregulation of genes encoding for the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, polysaccharide, and fatty acid, the metabolism of purine and pyrimidine, and the transport of osmoprotectants such as trehalose, glycine betaine, and K(+) in strain SC2. To further enhance the salt resistance of strain SC2, three mutants (SC2-11, SC2-13, and SC2-14) with higher capacities for salt resistance and exopolysaccharide synthesis were obtained via atmospheric and room-temperature plasma mutagenesis. In saline-alkaline soil, the mutants showed better promoting effect on maize seedlings than wild-type SC2. The fresh weight of maize seedlings was increased by 68.10% after treatment with SC2-11 compared with that of the control group. The transcriptome analysis of maize roots demonstrated that SC2 and SC2-11 could induce the upregulation of genes related to the plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, reactive oxygen species scavenging, and auxin and ethylene signaling under saline-alkaline stress. In addition, various transcription factors, such as zinc finger proteins, ethylene-responsive-element-binding protein, WRKY, myeloblastosis proteins, basic helix-loop-helix proteins, and NAC proteins, were up-regulated in response to abiotic stress. Moreover, the microbial community composition of maize rhizosphere soil after inoculating with strain SC2 was varied from the one after inoculating with mutant SC2-11. Our results provide new insights into the various genes involved in the salt resistance of strain SC2 and a theoretical basis for utilizing P. polymyxa in saline-alkaline environments.
PMID: 38354626
Microbiol Res , IF:5.415 , 2024 Apr , V281 : P127630 doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127630
Molecular insights into the mutualism that induces iron deficiency tolerance in sorghum inoculated with Trichoderma harzianum.
School of Sciences, University of Louisiana at Monroe, LA 71209, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: kabir@ulm.edu.; Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: maize@uga.edu.
Iron (Fe) deficiency is a common mineral stress in plants, including sorghum. Although the soil fungus Trichoderma harzianum has been shown to mitigate Fe deficiency in some circumstances, neither the range nor mechanism(s) of this process are well understood. In this study, high pH-induced Fe deficiency in sorghum cultivated in pots with natural field soil exhibited a significant decrease in biomass, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and Fe-uptake in both the root and shoot. However, the establishment of T. harzianum colonization in roots of Fe-deprived sorghum showed significant improvements in morpho-physiological traits, Fe levels, and redox status. Molecular detection of the fungal ThAOX1 (L-aminoacid oxidase) gene showed the highest colonization of T. harzianum in the root tips of Fe-deficient sorghum, a location thus targeted for further analysis. Expression studies by RNA-seq and qPCR in sorghum root tips revealed a significant upregulation of several genes associated with Fe uptake (SbTOM2), auxin synthesis (SbSAURX15), nicotianamine synthase 3 (SbNAS3), and a phytosiderophore transporter (SbYS1). Also induced was the siderophore synthesis gene (ThSIT1) in T. harzianum, a result supported by biochemical evidence for elevated siderophore and IAA (indole acetic acid) levels in roots. Given the high affinity of fungal siderophore to chelate insoluble Fe(3+) ions, it is likely that elevated siderophore released by T. harzianum led to Fe(III)-siderophore complexes in the rhizosphere that were then transported into roots by the induced SbYS1 (yellow-stripe 1) transporter. In addition, the observed induction of several plant peroxidase genes and ABA (abscisic acid) under Fe deficiency after inoculation with T. harzianum may have helped induce tolerance to Fe-deficiency-induced oxidative stress and adaptive responses. This is the first mechanistic explanation for T. harzianum's role in helping alleviate Fe deficiency in sorghum and suggests that biofertilizers using T. harzianum will improve Fe availability to crops in high pH environments.
PMID: 38295681
Microbiol Res , IF:5.415 , 2024 Apr , V281 : P127602 doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127602
Bacterial indole-3-acetic acid: A key regulator for plant growth, plant-microbe interactions, and agricultural adaptive resilience.
Soil Science Department, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: hassanetesami@ut.ac.ir.; Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a fundamental phytohormone categorized under auxins, not only influences plant growth and development but also plays a critical role in plant-microbe interactions. This study reviews the role of IAA in bacteria-plant communication, with a focus on its biosynthesis, regulation, and the subsequent effects on host plants. Bacteria synthesize IAA through multiple pathways, which include the indole-3-acetamide (IAM), indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA), and several other routes, whose full mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. The production of bacterial IAA affects root architecture, nutrient uptake, and resistance to various abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity, enhancing plant resilience and thus offering promising routes to sustainable agriculture. Bacterial IAA synthesis is regulated through complex gene networks responsive to environmental cues, impacting plant hormonal balances and symbiotic relationships. Pathogenic bacteria have adapted mechanisms to manipulate the host's IAA dynamics, influencing disease outcomes. On the other hand, beneficial bacteria utilize IAA to promote plant growth and mitigate abiotic stresses, thereby enhancing nutrient use efficiency and reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers. Advancements in analytical methods, such as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, have improved the quantification of bacterial IAA, enabling accurate measurement and analysis. Future research focusing on molecular interactions between IAA-producing bacteria and host plants could facilitate the development of biotechnological applications that integrate beneficial bacteria to improve crop performance, which is essential for addressing the challenges posed by climate change and ensuring global food security. This integration of bacterial IAA producers into agricultural practice promises to revolutionize crop management strategies by enhancing growth, fostering resilience, and reducing environmental impact.
PMID: 38228017
Microbiol Res , IF:5.415 , 2024 Apr , V281 : P127594 doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127594
The plant growth promoting rhizobacterium Achromobacter sp. 5B1, rescues Arabidopsis seedlings from alkaline stress by enhancing root organogenesis and hormonal responses.
Instituto de Investigaciones Quimico-Biologicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Edificio B3, Ciudad Universitaria, C. P., 58030 Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico.; Facultad de Quimico Farmacobiologia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Avenida Tzintzuntzan 173; Col. Matamoros, 58240 Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico.; Catedratico CONACYT-Instituto de Investigaciones Quimico-Biologicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Edificio B3, Ciudad Universitaria, C. P., 58030 Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico.; Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecologia A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, C.P. 91070, Xalapa, Ver, Mexico; Departamento de la Conservacion de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur., Carretera Villahermosa-Reforma Km 15.5, Rancheria el Guineo, Seccion II C.P., 86280 Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico.; Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecologia A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, C.P. 91070, Xalapa, Ver, Mexico.; Instituto de Investigaciones Quimico-Biologicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Edificio B3, Ciudad Universitaria, C. P., 58030 Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. Electronic address: jbucio@umich.mx.
Soil alkalinity is a critical environmental factor for plant growth and distribution in ecosystems. An alkaline condition (pH > 7) is imposed by the rising concentration of hydroxides and cations, and prevails in semiarid and arid environments, which represent more than 25% of the total arable land of the world. Despite the great pressure exerted by alkalinity for root viability and plant survival, scarce information is available to understand how root microbes contribute to alkaline pH adaptation. Here, we assessed the effects of alkalinity on shoot and root biomass production, chlorophyll content, root growth and branching, lateral root primordia formation, and the expression of CYCB1, TOR kinase, and auxin and cytokinin-inducible trangenes in shoots and roots of Arabidopsis seedlings grown in Petri plates with agar-nutrient medium at pH values of 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0. The results showed an inverse correlation between the rise of pH and most growth, hormonal and genetic traits analyzed. Noteworthy, root inoculation with Achromobacter sp. 5B1, a beneficial rhizospheric bacterium, with plant growth promoting and salt tolerance features, increased biomass production, restored root growth and branching and enhanced auxin responses in WT seedlings and auxin-related mutants aux1-7 and eir1, indicating that stress adaptation operates independently of canonical auxin transporter proteins. Sequencing of the Achromobacter sp. 5B1 genome unveiled 5244 protein-coding genes, including genes possibly involved in auxin biosynthesis, quorum-sensing regulation and stress adaptation, which may account for its plant growth promotion attributes. These data highlight the critical role of rhizobacteria to increase plant resilience under high soil pH conditions potentially through genes for adaptation to an extreme environment and bacteria-plant communication.
PMID: 38211416
Microbiol Res , IF:5.415 , 2024 Mar , V280 : P127566 doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127566
Phenotypic, genomic and in planta characterization of Bacillus sensu lato for their phosphorus biofertilization and plant growth promotion features in soybean.
Bioinsumos, Area de Recursos Naturales, Produccion y Ambiente, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria (INIA Uruguay), Uruguay.; Unidad Mixta Pasteur+INIA, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay.; Bioinsumos, Area de Recursos Naturales, Produccion y Ambiente, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria (INIA Uruguay), Uruguay; Area Mejoramiento Genetico y Biotecnologia Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria (INIA Uruguay), Uruguay.; Bioinsumos, Area de Recursos Naturales, Produccion y Ambiente, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria (INIA Uruguay), Uruguay. Electronic address: eabreo@inia.org.uy.
Bacillus sensu lato were screened for their capacity to mineralize organic phosphorus (P) and promote plant growth, improving nitrogen (N) and P nutrition of soybean. Isolates were identified through Type Strain Genome Server (TYGS) and Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI). ILBB95, ILBB510 and ILBB592 were identified as Priestia megaterium, ILBB139 as Bacillus wiedmannii, ILBB44 as a member of a sister clade of B. pumilus, ILBB15 as Peribacillus butanolivorans and ILBB64 as Lysinibacillus sp. These strains were evaluated for their capacity to mineralize sodium phytate as organic P and solubilize inorganic P in liquid medium. These assays ranked ILBB15 and ILBB64 with the highest orthophosphate production from phytate. Rhizocompetence and plant growth promotion traits were evaluated in vitro and in silico. Finally, plant bioassays were conducted to assess the effect of the co-inoculation with rhizobial inoculants on nodulation, N and P nutrition. These bioassays showed that B. pumilus, ILBB44 and P. megaterium ILBB95 increased P-uptake in plants on the poor substrate of sand:vermiculite and also on a more fertile mix. Priestia megaterium ILBB592 increased nodulation and N content in plants on the sand:vermiculite:peat mixture. Peribacillus butanolivorans ILBB15 reduced plant growth and nutrition on both substrates. Genomes of ILBB95 and ILBB592 were characterized by genes related with plant growth and biofertilization, whereas ILBB15 was differentiated by genes related to bioremediation. Priestia megaterium ILBB592 is considered as nodule-enhancing rhizobacteria and together with ILBB95, can be envisaged as prospective PGPR with the capacity to exert positive effects on N and P nutrition of soybean plants.
PMID: 38100951
Food Chem X , IF:5.182 , 2024 Jun , V22 : P101306 doi: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101306
Exogenous silicon applied at appropriate concentrations is effective at improving tomato nutritional and flavor qualities.
College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
Silicon can mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses in various plants; however, its effects on tomato quality under normal growth conditions are remain unclear. We used a randomized design with four Si treatments, CON (0 mmol/L), T1 (0.6 mmol/L), T2 (1.2 mmol/L), and T3 (1.8 mmol/L) on tomato fruit components Chlorogenic acid and rutin, among polyphenolic components, were increased by 56.99% and 20.31%, respectively, with T2 treatment compared to CON concentrations. T2 increased the sugar-acid ratio by 19.21%, compared to that with the CON treatment, and increased fruit Ca and Mg contents, compared to those with other treatments, improving the characteristic aroma. Furthermore, silicon application reduced the abscisic acid content by 112%, promoting ripening. Endogenous gibberellin, auxin, and salicylic acid, which retard fruit ripening and softening, were increased by 34.96%, 14.56%, and 35.21%, respectively. These findings have far-reaching implications for exogenous Si applications to enrich tomato nutritional and flavor qualities.
PMID: 38550882
Plant Methods , IF:4.993 , 2024 Mar , V20 (1) : P41 doi: 10.1186/s13007-024-01165-8
Profiling of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and selected phytohormones in Arabidopsis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Institute of Experimental Botany, Palacky University, The Czech Academy of Sciences & Faculty of Science, Olomouc, CZ-783 71, Czechia. michal.karady@upol.cz.; Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Institute of Experimental Botany, Palacky University, The Czech Academy of Sciences & Faculty of Science, Olomouc, CZ-783 71, Czechia.; Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umea, SE-901 83, Sweden.; Department of Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umea University, Umea, SE-901 87, Sweden.
BACKGROUND: Gaseous phytohormone ethylene levels are directly influenced by the production of its immediate non-volatile precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). Owing to the strongly acidic character of the ACC molecule, its quantification has been difficult to perform. Here, we present a simple and straightforward validated method for accurate quantification of not only ACC levels, but also major members of other important phytohormonal classes - auxins, cytokinins, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid and salicylic acid from the same biological sample. RESULTS: The presented technique facilitates the analysis of 15 compounds by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. It was optimized and validated for 10 mg of fresh weight plant material. The extraction procedure is composed of a minimal amount of necessary steps. Accuracy and precision were the basis for evaluating the method, together with process efficiency, recovery and matrix effects as validation parameters. The examined compounds comprise important groups of phytohormones, their active forms and some of their metabolites, including six cytokinins, four auxins, two jasmonates, abscisic acid, salicylic acid and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid. The resulting method was used to examine their contents in selected Arabidopsis thaliana mutant lines. CONCLUSION: This profiling method enables a very straightforward approach for indirect ethylene study and explores how it interacts, based on content levels, with other phytohormonal groups in plants.
PMID: 38493175
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcae029
Dual regulation of cytochrome P450 gene expression by two distinct small RNAs, a novel tasiRNA and miRNA, in Marchantia polymorpha.
Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.; Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.; Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.; Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-8510, Japan.; School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.; Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.; Seed Improvement and Propagation Station, Council of Agriculture, Taichung 427, Taiwan.; NGS High Throughput Genomics Core, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.; Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.; Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.; Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan.; Center of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
The miR390-derived TAS3 trans-acting short-interfering RNAs (tasiRNAs) module represents a conserved RNA silencing pathway in the plant kingdom; however, its characterization in the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha is limited. This study elucidated that MpDCL4 processes MpTAS3 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to generate tasiRNAs, primarily from the 5'- and 3'-ends of dsRNA. Notably, we discovered a novel tasiRNA, tasi78A, can negatively regulate a cytochrome P450 gene, MpCYP78A101. Additionally, tasi78A was abundant in MpAGO1, and transient expression assays underscored the role of tasi78A in repressing MpCYP78A101. A microRNA, miR11700, also regulates MpCYP78A101 expression. This coordinate regulation suggests a role in modulating auxin signaling at apical notches of gemma, influencing the growth and sexual organ development of M. polymorpha and emphasizing the significance of RNA silencing in MpCYP78A101 regulation. However, phylogenetic analysis identified another paralog of the CYP78 family, Mp1g14150, which may have a redundant role with MpCYP78A101, explaining the absence of noticeable morphological changes in loss-of-function plants. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the combined regulatory roles of miR390/MpTAS3/miR11700 in controlling MpCYP78A101 and expand our knowledge about the biogenesis and regulation of tasiRNAs in M. polymorpha.
PMID: 38545690
Biomolecules , IF:4.879 , 2024 Mar , V14 (3) doi: 10.3390/biom14030381
Dissecting the Roles of the Cytokinin Signaling Network: The Case of De Novo Shoot Apical Meristem Formation.
Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.
Numerous biotechnological applications require a fast and efficient clonal propagation of whole plants under controlled laboratory conditions. For most plant species, the de novo regeneration of shoots from the cuttings of various plant organs can be obtained on nutrient media supplemented with plant hormones, auxin and cytokinin. While auxin is needed during the early stages of the process that include the establishment of pluripotent primordia and the subsequent acquisition of organogenic competence, cytokinin-supplemented media are required to induce these primordia to differentiate into developing shoots. The perception of cytokinin through the receptor ARABIDOPSIS HISTIDINE KINASE4 (AHK4) is crucial for the activation of the two main regulators of the establishment and maintenance of shoot apical meristems (SAMs): SHOOTMERISTEMLESS (STM) and the WUSCHEL-CLAVATA3 (WUS-CLV3) regulatory circuit. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the roles of the cytokinin signaling cascade in the perception and transduction of signals that are crucial for the de novo establishment of SAMs and lead to the desired biotechnological output-adventitious shoot multiplication. We highlight the functional differences between individual members of the multigene families involved in cytokinin signal transduction, and demonstrate how complex genetic regulation can be achieved through functional specialization of individual gene family members.
PMID: 38540799
Pest Manag Sci , IF:4.845 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1002/ps.8071
A novel mutation in IAA16 is associated with dicamba resistance in Chenopodium album.
School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.; AgResearch Grasslands Research Center, Palmerston North, New Zealand.; Department of Agronomy and Seed Industry, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.; Department of Grassland Science, Animal Science and Technology College, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.; Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.
BACKGROUND: Resistance to dicamba in Chenopodium album was first documented over a decade ago, however, the molecular basis of dicamba resistance in this species has not been elucidated. In this research, the resistance mechanism in a dicamba-resistant C. album phenotype was investigated using a transcriptomics (RNA-sequence) approach. RESULTS: The dose-response assay showed that the resistant (R) phenotype was nearly 25-fold more resistant to dicamba than a susceptible (S) phenotype of C. album. Also, dicamba treatment significantly induced transcription of the known auxin-responsive genes, Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3), small auxin-up RNAs (SAURs), and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) genes in the susceptible phenotype. Comparing the transcripts of auxin TIR/AFB receptors and auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (AUX/IAA) proteins identified from C. album transcriptomic analysis revealed that the R phenotype contained a novel mutation at the first codon of the GWPPV degron motif of IAA16, resulting in an amino acid substitution of glycine (G) with aspartic acid (D). Sequencing the IAA16 gene in other R and S individuals further confirmed that all the R individuals contained the mutation. CONCLUSION: In this research, we describe the dicamba resistance mechanism in the only case of dicamba-resistant C. album reported to date. Prior work has shown that the dicamba resistance allele confers significant growth defects to the R phenotype investigated here, suggesting that dicamba-resistant C. album carrying this novel mutation in the IAA16 gene may not persist at high frequencies upon removal of dicamba application. (c) 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
PMID: 38459963
Pest Manag Sci , IF:4.845 , 2024 Mar , V80 (3) : P1423-1434 doi: 10.1002/ps.7873
Bacillus velezensis WB induces systemic resistance in watermelon against Fusarium wilt.
College of Life Science and Agroforestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China.; Heilongjiang Provincial Technology Innovation Center of Agromicrobial Preparation Industrialization, Qiqihar, China.; Heilongjiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Agrobiological Preparation Industrialization, Qiqihar, China.
BACKGROUND: Our previous findings indicated that Bacillus velezensis WB could control Fusarium wilt by changing the structure of the microbial community in the watermelon rhizosphere. However, there are few studies on its mechanism in the pathogen resistance of watermelon. Therefore, in this study, we determined the mechanism of B. velezensis WB-induced systemic resistance in watermelon against Fusarium wilt through glasshouse pot experiments. RESULTS: The results showed that B. velezensis WB significantly reduced the incidence and disease index of Fusarium wilt in watermelon. B. velezensis WB can enhance the basal immunity of watermelon plants by: increasing the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and beta-1,3-glucanase; accumulating lignin, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA); reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations; and inducing callus deposition in watermelon plant cells. RNA-seq analysis showed that 846 watermelon genes were upregulated and 612 watermelon genes were downregulated in the WF treatment. This process led to the activation of watermelon genes associated with auxin, gibberellin, SA, ethylene and JA, and the expression of genes in the phenylalanine biosynthetic pathway was upregulated. In addition, transcription factors involved in plant resistance to pathogens, such as MYB, NAC and WRKY, were induced. Gene correlation analysis showed that Cla97C10G195840 and Cla97C02G049930 in the phenylalanine biosynthetic pathway, and Cla97C02G041360 and Cla97C10G197290 in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway showed strong correlations with other genes. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that B. velezensis WB is capable of inducing systemic resistance in watermelon against Fusarium wilt. (c) 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
PMID: 37939121
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Mar : P112064 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112064
Abolishing ARF8A activity promotes disease resistance in tomato.
Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel; School of Plant Science and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel.; Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.; Institute of Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.; School of Plant Science and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel.; Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel. Electronic address: mayabar@volcani.agri.gov.il.
Auxin response factors (ARFs) are a family of transcription factors that regulate auxin-dependent developmental processes. Class A ARFs function as activators of auxin-responsive gene expression in the presence of auxin, while acting as transcriptional repressors in its absence. Despite extensive research on the functions of ARF transcription factors in plant growth and development, the extent, and mechanisms of their involvement in plant resistance, remain unknown. We have previously reported that mutations in the tomato AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR8 (ARF8) genes SlARF8A and SlARF8B result in the decoupling of fruit development from pollination and fertilization, leading to partial or full parthenocarpy and increased yield under extreme temperatures. Here, we report that fine-tuning of SlARF8 activity results in increased resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens. This resistance is mostly preserved under fluctuating temperatures. Thus, fine-tuning SlARF8 activity may be a potent strategy for increasing overall growth and yield.
PMID: 38492890
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Mar , V343 : P112057 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112057
Partially knocking out NtPDK1a/1b/1c/1d simultaneously in Nicotiana tabacum using CRISPR/CAS9 technology results in auxin-related developmental defects.
College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, China.; College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, China; Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, China. Electronic address: jzliu@zjnu.cn.
The eukaryotic AGC protein kinase subfamily (protein kinase A/ protein kinase G/ protein kinase C-family) is involved in regulating numerous biological processes across kingdoms, including growth and development, and apoptosis. PDK1(3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1) is a conserved serine/threonine kinase in eukaryotes, which is both a member of AGC kinase and a major regulator of many other downstream AGC protein kinase family members. Although extensively investigated in model plant Arabidopsis, detailed reports for tobacco PDK1s have been limited. To better understand the functions of PDK1s in tobacco, CRISPR/CAS9 transgenic lines were generated in tetraploid N. tabacum, cv. Samsun (NN) with 5-7 of the 8 copies of 4 homologous PDK1 genes in tobacco genome (NtPDK1a/1b/1c/1d homologs) simultaneously knocked out. Numerous developmental defects were observed in these NtPDK1a/1b/1c/1d CRISPR/CAS9 lines, including cotyledon fusion leaf shrinkage, uneven distribution of leaf veins, convex veins, root growth retardation, and reduced fertility, all of which reminiscence of impaired polar auxin transport. The severity of these defects was correlated with the number of knocked out alleles of NtPDK1a/1b/1c/1d. Consistent with the observation in Arabidopsis, it was found that the polar auxin transport, and not auxin biosynthesis, was significantly compromised in these knockout lines compared with the wild type tobacco plants. The fact that no homozygous plant with all 8 NtPDK1a/1b/1c/1d alleles being knocked out suggested that knocking out 8 alleles of NtPDK1a/1b/1c/1d could be lethal. In conclusion, our results indicated that NtPDK1s are versatile AGC kinases that participate in regulation of tobacco growth and development via modulating polar auxin transport. Our results also indicated that CRISPR/CAS9 technology is a powerful tool in resolving gene redundancy in polyploidy plants.
PMID: 38460553
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 May , V342 : P112050 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112050
Plant-specific environmental and developmental signals regulate the mismatch repair protein MSH6 in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Centro de Estudios Fotosinteticos y Bioquimicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquimicas y Farmaceuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario 2000, Argentina.; Centro de Estudios Fotosinteticos y Bioquimicos (CEFOBI), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquimicas y Farmaceuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario 2000, Argentina. Electronic address: spampinato@cefobi-conicet.gov.ar.
The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is a postreplicative system that guarantees genomic stability by correcting mispaired and unpaired nucleotides. In eukaryotic nuclei, MMR is initiated by the binding of heterodimeric MutS homologue (MSH) complexes to the DNA error or lesion. Among these proteins, MSH2-MSH6 is the most abundant heterodimer. Even though the MMR mechanism and proteins are highly conserved throughout evolution, physiological differences between species can lead to different regulatory features. Here, we investigated how light, sugar, and/or hormones modulate Arabidopsis thaliana MSH6 expression pattern. We first characterized the promoter region of MSH6. Phylogenetic shadowing revealed three highly conserved regions. These regions were analyzed by the generation of deletion constructs of the MSH6 full-length promoter fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. Combined, our in silico and genetic analyses revealed that a 121-bp promoter fragment was necessary for MSH6 expression and contained potential cis-acting elements involved in light- and hormone-responsive gene expression. Accordingly, light exposure or sugar treatment of four-day old A. thaliana seedlings triggered an upregulation of MSH6 in shoot and root apical meristems. Appropriately, MSH6 was also induced by the stem cell inducer WUSCHEL. Further, the stimulatory effect of light was dependent on the presence of phyA. In addition, treatment of seedlings with auxin or cytokinin also caused an upregulation of MSH6 under darkness. Consistent with auxin signals, MSH6 expression was suppressed in the GATA23 RNAi line compared with the wild type. Our results provide evidence that endogenous factors and environmental signals controlling plant growth and development regulate the MSH6 protein in A. thaliana.
PMID: 38401766
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Apr , V341 : P112014 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112014
Overexpression of a BR inactivating enzyme gene GhPAG1 impacts eggplant fruit development and anthocyanin accumulation mainly by altering hormone homeostasis.
School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Avenue 100, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of New Germplasm Creation and Utilization for Solanaceous Vegetable Crops, Zhumadian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuqiang Road 51, Zhumadian 463000, China.; Henan Youmei Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd, Zhoukou 466100, China.; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of New Germplasm Creation and Utilization for Solanaceous Vegetable Crops, Zhumadian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuqiang Road 51, Zhumadian 463000, China. Electronic address: jiangjun2251@163.com.; School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Avenue 100, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China. Electronic address: zhangyanjie@zzu.edu.cn.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) function importantly in plant growth and development, but the roles in regulating fruit development and anthocyanin pigmentation remain unclear. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important Solanaceae vegetable crop rich in anthocyanins. The fruit size and coloration are important agronomic traits for eggplant breeding. In this study, transgenic eggplant exhibiting endogenous BRs deficiency was created by overexpressing a heterologous BRs-inactivating enzyme gene GhPAG1 driven by CaMV 35 S promoter. 35 S::GhPAG1 eggplant exhibited severe dwarfism, reduced fruit size, and less anthocyanin accumulation. Microscopic observation showed that the cell size of 35 S::GhPAG1 eggplant was significantly reduced compared to WT. Furthermore, the levels of IAA, ME-IAA, and active JAs (JA, JA-ILE, and H2JA) all decreased in 35 S::GhPAG1 eggplant fruit. RNA-Seq analyses showed a decrease in the expression of genes involved in cell elongation, auxin signaling, and JA signaling. Besides, overexpression of GhPAG1 significantly downregulated anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and associated transcription regulators. Altogether, these results strongly suggest that endogenous brassinosteroid deficiency arising from GhPAG1 overexpression impacts eggplant fruit development and anthocyanin coloration mainly by altering hormone homeostasis.
PMID: 38309473
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Apr , V341 : P112008 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112008
The Mh-miR393a-TIR1 module regulates Alternaria alternata resistance of Malus hupehensis mainly by modulating the auxin signaling.
College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China.; College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China; Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Xuhuai District, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221131, PR China.; Institute of Fruit Science, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Science, Guiyang, Guizhou 550006, PR China. Electronic address: 376258195@qq.com.; College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China. Electronic address: qscnj@njau.edu.cn.
miRNAs govern gene expression and regulate plant defense. Alternaria alternata is a destructive fungal pathogen that damages apple. The wild apple germplasm Malus hupehensis is highly resistant to leaf spot disease caused by this fungus. Herein, we elucidated the regulatory and functional role of miR393a in apple resistance against A. alternata by targeting Transport Inhibitor Response 1. Mature miR393 accumulation in infected M. hupehensis increased owing to the transcriptional activation of MIR393a, determined to be a positive regulator of A. alternata resistance to either 'Orin' calli or 'Gala' leaves. 5' RLM-RACE and co-transformation assays showed that the target of miR393a was MhTIR1, a gene encoding a putative F-box auxin receptor that compromised apple immunity. RNA-seq analysis of transgenic calli revealed that MhTIR1 upregulated auxin signaling gene transcript levels and influenced phytohormone pathways and plant-pathogen interactions. miR393a compromised the sensitivity of several auxin-signaling genes to A. alternata infection, whereas MhTIR1 had the opposite effect. Using exogenous indole-3-acetic acid or the auxin synthesis inhibitor L-AOPP, we clarified that auxin enhances apple susceptibility to this pathogen. miR393a promotes SA biosynthesis and impedes pathogen-triggered ROS bursts by repressing TIR1-mediated auxin signaling. We uncovered the mechanism underlying the miR393a-TIR1 module, which interferes with apple defense against A. alternata by modulating the auxin signaling pathway.
PMID: 38307352
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Apr , V341 : P111998 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111998
Arabidopsis HAPLESS13/AP-1micro is critical for pollen sac formation and tapetal function.
Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.; College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.; College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China. Electronic address: shali@sdau.edu.cn.; Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China. Electronic address: yzhang2020@nankai.edu.cn.
The production of excess and viable pollen grains is critical for reproductive success of flowering plants. Pollen grains are produced within anthers, the male reproductive organ whose development involves precisely controlled cell differentiation, division, and intercellular communication. In Arabidopsis thaliana, specification of an archesporial cell (AC) at four corners of a developing anther, followed by programmed cell divisions, generates four pollen sacs, walled by four cell layers among which the tapetum is in close contact with developing microspores. Tapetum secretes callose-dissolving enzymes to release microspores at early stages and undergoes programmed cell death (PCD) to deliver nutrients and signals for microspore development at later stages. Except for transcription factors, plasma membrane (PM)-associated and secretory peptides have also been demonstrated to mediate anther development. Adaptor protein complexes (AP) recruit both cargos and coat proteins during vesicle trafficking. Arabidopsis AP-1micro/HAPLESS13 (HAP13) is a core component of AP-1 for protein sorting at the trans-Golgi network/early endosomes (TGN/EE). We report here that Arabidopsis HAP13 is critical for pollen sac formation and for sporophytic control of pollen production. Functional loss of HAP13 causes a reduction in pollen sac number. It also results in the dysfunction of tapetum such that secretory function of tapetum at early stages and PCD of tapetum at later stages are both compromised. We further show that the expression of SPL, the polar distribution of auxin maximum, as well as the asymmetric distribution of PIN1 are interfered in hap13 anthers, which in combination may lead to male sterility in hap13.
PMID: 38307351
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Apr , V341 : P111997 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111997
Scaffold protein BTB/TAZ domain-containing genes (CmBTs) play a negative role in root development of chrysanthemum.
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China.; Beijing Key Laboratory of Development and Quality Control of Ornamental Crops, Department of Ornamental Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; Beijing Key Laboratory of Development and Quality Control of Ornamental Crops, Department of Ornamental Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China. Electronic address: suncuihui@163.com.
Scaffold proteins, which are known as hubs controlling information flow in cells, can function in a diverse array of biological processes in plants. The BTB/TAZ domain-containing scaffold proteins are associated with multiple signaling pathways in plants. However, there have been few studies of the roles of BT scaffold proteins in chrysanthemum to date. In this study, four CmBT genes named as CmBT1, CmBT1-LIKE1 (CmBT1L1), CmBT1-LIKE2 (CmBT1L2), and CmBT5 were cloned based our previous RNA-seq database. The four CmBT genes showed distinctive expression patterns both in different tissues and in response to different stimuli, such as light, sugar, nitrate and auxin. Knockdown of the four CmBTs facilitated the development of adventitious roots and root hair in chrysanthemum. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed thousands of differentially expressed genes after knockdown of the four CmBT genes. Moreover, functional annotation suggested that CmBTs play a tethering role as scaffold proteins. Our findings reveal that CmBTs can negatively regulate root development of chrysanthemum by mediating nitrate assimilation, amino acid biosynthesis, and auxin and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. This study provides new insights into the role of CmBTs in root development of chrysanthemum.
PMID: 38280641
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2024 Mar , V43 (4) : P99 doi: 10.1007/s00299-024-03189-9
Phytohormones-mediated strategies for mitigation of heavy metals toxicity in plants focused on sustainable production.
College of Life Sciences, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130600, China.; College of Resources and Environment, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China.; College of Life Sciences, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130600, China. 100059@cstu.edu.cn.; College of Resources and Environment, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China. shuxial86@gmail.com.; College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
In this manuscript, authors reviewed and explore the information on beneficial role of phytohormones to mitigate adverse effects of heavy metals toxicity in plants. Global farming systems are seriously threatened by heavy metals (HMs) toxicity, which can result in decreased crop yields, impaired food safety, and negative environmental effects. A rise in curiosity has been shown recently in creating sustainable methods to reduce HMs toxicity in plants and improve agricultural productivity. To accomplish this, phytohormones, which play a crucial role in controlling plant development and adaptations to stress, have emerged as intriguing possibilities. With a particular focus on environmentally friendly farming methods, the current review provides an overview of phytohormone-mediated strategies for reducing HMs toxicity in plants. Several physiological and biochemical activities, including metal uptake, translocation, detoxification, and stress tolerance, are mediated by phytohormones, such as melatonin, auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and jasmonates. The current review offers thorough explanations of the ways in which phytohormones respond to HMs to help plants detoxify and strengthen their resilience to metal stress. It is crucial to explore the potential uses of phytohormones as long-term solutions for reducing the harmful effects of HMs in plants. These include accelerating phytoextraction, decreasing metal redistribution to edible plant portions, increasing plant tolerance to HMs by hormonal manipulation, and boosting metal sequestration in roots. These methods seek to increase plant resistance to HMs stress while supporting environmentally friendly agricultural output. In conclusion, phytohormones present potential ways to reduce the toxicity of HMs in plants, thus promoting sustainable agriculture.
PMID: 38494540
Physiol Plant , IF:4.5 , 2024 Mar-Apr , V176 (2) : Pe14256 doi: 10.1111/ppl.14256
Rice ins(3)P synthase1 (RINO1) participates in embryonic development by regulating inositol-associated changes in auxin synthesis and its distribution.
Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.; Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production Co-sponsored by Province and Ministry, Nanjing, China.
The breeding of low phytic acid (LPA) crops is widely considered an effective strategy to improve crop nutrition, but the LPA crops usually have inferior seed germination performance. To clarify the reason for the suboptimal seed performance of LPA rice, this study investigated the impact of reduced seed phytic acid (InsP(6)) content in rice ins(3)P synthase1 (EC 5.5.1.4, RINO1), one of the key targets for engineering LPA rice, knockouton cellular differentiation in seed embryos and its relation to myo-inositol metabolism and auxin signalling during embryogenesis. The results indicated that the homozygotes of RINO1 knockout could initiate differentiation at the early stage of embryogenesis but failed to form normal differentiation of plumule and radicle primordia. The loss of RINO1 function disrupted vesicle trafficking and auxin signalling due to the significantly lowered phosphatidylinositides (PIs) concentration in seed embryos, thereby leading to the defects of seed embryos without the recognizable differentiation of shoot apex meristem (SAM) and radicle apex meristem (RAM) for the homozygotes of RINO1 knockout. The abnormal embryo phenotype of RINO1 homozygotes was partially rescued by exogenous spraying of inositol and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in rice panicle. Thus, RINO1 is crucial for both seed InsP(6) biosynthesis and embryonic development. The lower phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI (4,5) P(2)) concentration and the disorder auxin distribution induced by insufficient inositol supply in seed embryos were among the regulatory switch steps leading to aberrant embryogenesis and failure of seed germination in RINO1 knockout.
PMID: 38531421
Physiol Plant , IF:4.5 , 2024 Mar-Apr , V176 (2) : Pe14262 doi: 10.1111/ppl.14262
Transcriptomic investigation unveils the role of energy metabolism under low phosphorus and salt combined stress in soybean (Glycine max).
Soybean Research Institute, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Soybean (Glycine max) is economically significant, but the mechanisms underlying its adaptation to simultaneous low phosphorus and salt stresses are unclear. We employed the Shennong 94-1-8 soybean germplasm to conduct a comprehensive analysis, integrating both physiochemical and transcriptomic approaches, to unravel the response mechanisms of soybean when subjected to simultaneous low phosphorus and salt stresses. Remarkably, the combined stress exhibited the most pronounced impact on the soybean root system, which led to a substantial reduction in total soluble sugar (TSS) and total soluble protein (TSP) within the plants under this treatment. A total of 20,953 differentially expressed genes were identified through pairwise comparisons. Heatmap analysis of genes related to energy metabolism pathways demonstrated a significant down-regulation in expression under salt and low phosphorus + salt treatments, while low phosphorus treatment did not exhibit similar expression trends. Furthermore, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) indicated that the blue module had a strong positive correlation with TSS and TSP. Notably, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutase 1, FCS-Like Zinc finger 8, auxin response factor 18 isoform X2, and NADP-dependent malic enzyme emerged as hub genes associated with energy metabolism. In summary, our findings indicate that soybean roots are more adversely affected by salt and combined stress than by low phosphorus alone due to reduced activity in energy metabolism-related pathways and hub genes. These results offer novel insights into the adaptive mechanisms of soybeans when facing the combined stress of low phosphorus and salinity.
PMID: 38522857
Physiol Plant , IF:4.5 , 2024 Mar-Apr , V176 (2) : Pe14257 doi: 10.1111/ppl.14257
Jasmonic acid (JA)-mediating MYB transcription factor1, JMTF1, coordinates the balance between JA and auxin signalling in the rice defence response.
Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
The plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) is a signalling compound involved in the regulation of cellular defence and development in plants. In this study, we investigated the roles of a JA-responsive MYB transcription factor, JMTF1, in the JA-regulated defence response against rice bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). JMTF1 did not interact with any JASMONATE ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing JMTF1 showed a JA-hypersensitive phenotype and enhanced resistance against Xoo. JMTF1 upregulated the expression of a peroxidase, OsPrx26, and monoterpene synthase, OsTPS24, which are involved in the biosynthesis of lignin and antibacterial monoterpene, gamma-terpinene, respectively. OsPrx26 was mainly expressed in the vascular bundle. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsPrx26 showed enhanced resistance against Xoo. In addition to the JA-hypersensitive phenotype, the JMTF1-overexpressing rice plants showed a typical auxin-related phenotype. The leaf divergence and shoot gravitropic responses were defective, and the number of lateral roots decreased significantly in the JMTF1-overexpressing rice plants. JMTF1 downregulated the expression of auxin-responsive genes but upregulated the expression of OsIAA13, a suppressor of auxin signalling. The rice gain-of-function mutant Osiaa13 showed high resistance against Xoo. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsEXPA4, a JMTF1-downregulated auxin-responsive gene, showed increased susceptibility to Xoo. JMTF1 is selectively bound to the promoter of OsPrx26 in vivo. These results suggest that JMTF1 positively regulates disease resistance against Xoo by coordinating crosstalk between JA- and auxin-signalling in rice.
PMID: 38504376
Physiol Plant , IF:4.5 , 2024 Mar-Apr , V176 (2) : Pe14249 doi: 10.1111/ppl.14249
Fulvic acid alleviates the stress of low nitrogen on maize by promoting root development and nitrogen metabolism.
College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.; State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
The potential of fulvic acid (FA) to improve plant growth has been acknowledged, but its effect on plant growth and nutrient uptake under nutrient stress remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of different FA application rates on maize growth and nitrogen utilization under low nitrogen stress. The results showed that under low nitrogen stress, FA significantly stimulated maize growth, particularly root development, biomass, and nitrogen content. The enhanced activity levels of key enzymes in nitrogen metabolism were observed, along with differential gene expression in maize, which enriched nitrogen metabolism, amino acid metabolism and plant hormone metabolism. The application of FA regulated the hormones' level, reduced abscisic acid content in leaves and Me-JA content in roots, and increased auxin and zeatin ribose content in leaves. This study concludes that, by promoting root development, nitrogen metabolism, and hormone metabolism, an appropriate concentration of FA can enhance plant tolerance to low nitrogen conditions and improve nitrogen use efficiency.
PMID: 38472657
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2024 Mar , V14 (1) : P6778 doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-57506-z
THOUSAND-GRAIN WEIGHT 6, which is an IAA-glucose hydrolase, preferentially recognizes the structure of the indole ring.
Graduate School of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Oura, Gunma, 374-0193, Japan.; Research Center for Advanced Analysis, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8518, Japan.; Medicinal Chemistry Data Intelligence Unit, Drug Development Data Intelligence Platform Group, Medical Sciences Innovation Hub Program (MIH), RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.; Division of Physics for Life Functions, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan.; School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.; Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.; CRYO SHIP Incorporated, 1-266-3, Sakuragi-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama, Saitama, 330-0854, Japan.; Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8518, Japan.; Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Oura, Gunma, 374-0193, Japan. katoh@toyo.jp.; Graduate School of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Oura, Gunma, 374-0193, Japan. hirotsu@toyo.jp.
An indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-glucose hydrolase, THOUSAND-GRAIN WEIGHT 6 (TGW6), negatively regulates the grain weight in rice. TGW6 has been used as a target for breeding increased rice yield. Moreover, the activity of TGW6 has been thought to involve auxin homeostasis, yet the details of this putative TGW6 activity remain unclear. Here, we show the three-dimensional structure and substrate preference of TGW6 using X-ray crystallography, thermal shift assays and fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance ((19)F NMR). The crystal structure of TGW6 was determined at 2.6 A resolution and exhibited a six-bladed beta-propeller structure. Thermal shift assays revealed that TGW6 preferably interacted with indole compounds among the tested substrates, enzyme products and their analogs. Further analysis using (19)F NMR with 1,134 fluorinated fragments emphasized the importance of indole fragments in recognition by TGW6. Finally, docking simulation analyses of the substrate and related fragments in the presence of TGW6 supported the interaction specificity for indole compounds. Herein, we describe the structure and substrate preference of TGW6 for interacting with indole fragments during substrate recognition. Uncovering the molecular details of TGW6 activity will stimulate the use of this enzyme for increasing crop yields and contributes to functional studies of IAA glycoconjugate hydrolases in auxin homeostasis.
PMID: 38514802
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2024 Mar , V14 (1) : P6600 doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-55745-8
Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of russet skin formation in Niagara grapevine (Vitis vinifera x Vitis labrusca).
Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Center (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.; Department of Plant Biology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.; Advanced Fruit Research Center, Agronomic Institute (IAC), Jundiai, SP, Brazil.; Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Center (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil. anete@unicamp.br.; Department of Plant Biology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil. anete@unicamp.br.
Grape breeding programs are mostly focused on developing new varieties with high production volume, sugar contents, and phenolic compound diversity combined with resistance and tolerance to the main pathogens under culture and adverse environmental conditions. The 'Niagara' variety (Vitis labrusca x Vitis vinifera) is one of the most widely produced and commercialized table grapes in Brazil. In this work, we selected three Niagara somatic variants with contrasting berry phenotypes and performed morphological and transcriptomic analyses of their berries. Histological sections of the berries were also performed to understand anatomical and chemical composition differences of the berry skin between the genotypes. An RNA-Seq pipeline was implemented, followed by global coexpression network modeling. 'Niagara Steck', an intensified russet mutant with the most extreme phenotype, showed the largest difference in expression and showed selection of coexpressed network modules involved in the development of its russet-like characteristics. Enrichment analysis of differently expressed genes and hub network modules revealed differences in transcription regulation, auxin signaling and cell wall and plasmatic membrane biogenesis. Cutin- and suberin-related genes were also differently expressed, supporting the anatomical differences observed with microscopy.
PMID: 38504117
Sci Rep , IF:4.379 , 2024 Mar , V14 (1) : P5238 doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-55835-7
WGCNA analysis of the effect of exogenous BR on leaf angle of maize mutant lpa1.
State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.; College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.; Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China. pengyl@gsau.edu.cn.; College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China. pengyl@gsau.edu.cn.; Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China. pengyl@gsau.edu.cn.
Leaf angle, as one of the important agronomic traits of maize, can directly affect the planting density of maize, thereby affecting its yield. Here we used the ZmLPA1 gene mutant lpa1 to study maize leaf angle and found that the lpa1 leaf angle changed significantly under exogenous brassinosteroid (BR) treatment compared with WT (inbred line B73). Transcriptome sequencing of WT and lpa1 treated with different concentrations of exogenous BR showed that the differentially expressed genes were upregulated with auxin, cytokinin and brassinosteroid; Genes associated with abscisic acid are down-regulated. The differentially expressed genes in WT and lpa1 by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) yielded two gene modules associated with maize leaf angle change under exogenous BR treatment. The results provide a new theory for the regulation of maize leaf angle by lpa1 and exogenous BR.
PMID: 38433245
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Mar , V208 : P108461 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108461
Nitric oxide acts upstream of indole-3-acetic acid in ameliorating arsenate stress in tomato seedlings.
Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, C.M.P. Degree College, A Constituent Post Graduate College of University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, 211002, India.; Crop Nanobiology and Molecular Stress Physiology Lab Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida, 201313, India.; Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, C.M.P. Degree College, A Constituent Post Graduate College of University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, 211002, India. Electronic address: vijaypratap.au@gmail.com.
After their discovery, nitric oxide (NO) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) have been reported as game-changing cellular messengers for reducing abiotic stresses in plants. But, information regarding their shared signaling in regulating metal stress is still unclear. Herein, we have investigated about the joint role of NO and IAA in mitigation of arsenate [As(V)] toxicity in tomato seedlings. Arsenate being a toxic metalloid increases the NPQ level and cell death while decreasing the biomass accumulation, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a fluorescence, endogenous NO content in tomato seedlings. However, application of IAA or SNP to the As(V) stressed seedlings improved growth together with less accumulation of arsenic and thus, preventing cell death. Interestingly, addition of c-PTIO, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4, 4, 5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, a scavenger of NO and 2, 3, 5-triidobenzoic acid (TIBA, an inhibitor of polar auxin transport) further increased cell death and inhibited activity of GST, leading to As(V) toxicity. However, addition of IAA to SNP and TIBA treated seedlings reversed the effect of TIBA resulting into decreased As(V) toxicity. These findings demonstrate that IAA plays a crucial and advantageous function in NO-mediated reduction of As(V) toxicity in seedlings of tomato. Overall, this study concluded that IAA might be acting as a downstream signal for NO-mediated reduction of As(V) toxicity in tomato seedlings.
PMID: 38461754
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Mar , V208 : P108481 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108481
Dynamic changes in calcium signals during root gravitropism.
College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.; College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China. Electronic address: xianyong.sheng@cnu.edu.cn.
Gravitropism is a vital mechanism through which plants adapt to their environment. Previous studies indicated that Ca(2+) may play an important role in plant gravitropism. However, our understanding of the calcium signals in root gravitropism is still largely limited. Using a vertical stage confocal and transgenic Arabidopsis R-GECO1, our data showed that gravity stimulation enhances the occurrence of calcium spikes and increases the Ca(2+) concentration in the lower side of the root cap. Furthermore, a close correlation was observed in the asymmetry of calcium signals with the inclination angles at which the roots were oriented. The frequency of calcium spikes on the lower side of 90 degrees -rotated root decreases rapidly over time, whereas the asymmetric distribution of auxin readily strengthens for up to 3 h, indicating that the calcium spikes, promoted by gravity stimulation, may precede auxin as one of the early signals. In addition, the root gravitropism of starchless mutants is severely impaired. Correspondingly, no significant increase in calcium spike occurrence was observed in the root caps of these mutants within 15 min following a 90 degrees rotation, indicating the involvement of starch grains in the formation of calcium spikes. However, between 30 and 45 min after a 90 degrees rotation, asymmetric calcium spikes were indeed observed in the root of starchless mutants, suggesting that starch grains are not indispensable for the formation of calcium spikes. Besides, co-localization analysis suggests that the ER may function as calcium stores during the occurrence of calcium spikes. These findings provide further insights into plant gravitropism.
PMID: 38447424
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Mar , V208 : P108452 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108452
Improvement of growth and biochemical constituents of Rosmarinus officinalis by fermented Spirulina maxima biofertilizer.
National Institute of Oceanography & Fisheries (NIOF), Egypt.; Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt.; National Institute of Oceanography & Fisheries (NIOF), Egypt. Electronic address: km.barakat@niof.sci.eg.
Delayed growth period and nature of woody stems are challenges for the urgent economic needs of rosemary plant culturing in the winter season. Different concentrations of biofertilizer initiated from Spirulina maxima, marine Lactobacillus plantarum, molasses and industrial organic waste (IOW) were subjected to freshly cut cuttings of the Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) plant to study the impact of this biofertilizer on the growth performance of the plant. The present work explored the potential of this biofertilizer in concentrations of 0.5%-1% and achieved a significant impact on the growth parameters and biochemical constituents of R. officinalis, a 27-day-old plant. The development of adventitious roots was earlier within one week, particularly at 0.5% and 1%. It can be concluded that the application of this biofertilizer at the lower concentrations enhanced the production of bioactive substances such as phytohormones (auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellins), carbohydrates, and vitamins; moreover, through controlling a range of physiological and biochemical processes, it can promote the intake of nutrients. Thus, this biofertilizer (Spirulina maxima, marine Lactobacillus plantarum, molasses and IOW) at a concentration of 1% is the recommended dose for application to agriculture sustainability.
PMID: 38442624
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Mar , V208 : P108474 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108474
Papiliotrema flavescens, a plant growth-promoting fungus, alters root system architecture and induces systemic resistance through its volatile organic compounds in Arabidopsis.
Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.; Institute of Vegetables, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, 250100, China.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China. Electronic address: xiwenchen@nankai.edu.cn.; Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China; Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming, 650092, China. Electronic address: chendefu@nankai.edu.cn.
The current trend in agricultural development is the establishment of sustainable agricultural systems. This involves utilizing and implementing eco-friendly biofertilizers and biocontrol agents as alternatives to conventional fertilizers and pesticides. A plant growth-promoting fungal strain, that could alter root system architecture and promote the growth of Arabidopsis seedlings in a non-contact manner by releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was isolated in this study. 26S rDNA sequencing revealed that the strain was a yeast-like fungus, Papiliotrema flavescens. Analysis of plant growth-promoting traits revealed that the fungus could produce indole-3-acetic acid and ammonia and fix nitrogen. Transcriptome analysis in combination with inhibitor experiments revealed that P. flavescens VOCs triggered metabolic alterations, promoted auxin accumulation and distribution in the roots, and coordinated ethylene signaling, thus inhibiting primary root elongation and inducing lateral root formation in Arabidopsis. Additionally, transcriptome analysis and fungal infection experiments confirmed that pretreatment with P. flavescens stimulated the defense response of Arabidopsis to boost its resistance to the pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. Solid-phase microextraction, which was followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, identified three VOCs (acetoin, naphthalene and indole) with significant plant growth-promoting attributes. Their roles were confirmed using further pharmacological experiments and upregulated expression of auxin- and ethylene-related genes. Our study serves as an essential reference for utilizing P. flavescens as a potential biological fertilizer and biocontrol agent.
PMID: 38430787
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int , IF:4.223 , 2024 Mar , V31 (11) : P16972-16985 doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-32327-9
Role of calcium signaling in cadmium stress mitigation by indol-3-acetic acid and gibberellin in chickpea seedlings.
University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, LR18ES38 Plant Toxicology and Environmental Microbiology, 7021, Bizerte, Tunisia. lamiasakouhi@hotmail.com.; Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.; Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.; University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, LR18ES38 Plant Toxicology and Environmental Microbiology, 7021, Bizerte, Tunisia.
Given the adverse impacts of heavy metals on plant development and physiological processes, the present research investigated the protective role of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA3) against cadmium (Cd)-induced injury in chickpea seedlings. Therefore, seeds germinated for 6 days in a medium containing 200 muM Cd alone or combined with 10 muM GA3 or 10 muM IAA. Both GA3 and IAA mitigated Cd-imposed growth delays in roots and shoots (80% and 50% increase in root and shoot length, respectively). This beneficial effect was accompanied by a significant reduction in Cd(2+) accumulation in both roots (74% for IAA and 38% for GA3) and shoots (68% and 35%, respectively). Furthermore, these phytohormones restored the cellular redox state by reducing the activity of NADPH oxidase and downregulating the transcription level of RbohF and RbohD genes. Likewise, hydrogen peroxide contents were reduced by GA3 and IAA supply. Additionally, GA3 and IAA countered the Cd-induced reduction in total phenols, flavonoids, and reducing sugars in both roots and shoots. The exogenous effectors enhanced the activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and thioredoxin, as well as the corresponding gene expressions. Interestingly, adding GA3 and IAA to the Cd-contaminated germination media corrected the level of calcium (Ca(2+)) ion within seedling tissues. This effect coincided with the upregulation of key genes associated with stress sensing and signal transduction, including auxin-binding protein (ABP19a), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK2), calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK1), and calmodulin (CaM). Overall, the current results suggest that GA3 and IAA sustain the Ca(2+) signaling pathway, resulting in metal phytotoxicity relief. Amendment of agricultural soils contaminated with heavy metals with GA3 or IAA could represent an effective practice to improve crop yield.
PMID: 38329668
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Mar , V24 (1) : P218 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-04906-y
The activation of iron deficiency responses of grapevine rootstocks is dependent to the availability of the nitrogen forms.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Crop Sciences, Institute of Viticulture and Pomology, Tulln an der Donau, Austria. sarhan.khalil@boku.ac.at.; National Institute of Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, Ljubljana,, Slovenia.; Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia.; University of Udine, Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental, and Animal Sciences, Udine, Italy.; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Computational Biology, Vienna, Austria.; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Crop Sciences, Institute of Viticulture and Pomology, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.; Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department Molecular Signal Processing, Halle (Saale), Germany.; University of Nova Gorica, Faculty of Viticulture and Enology, Vipava, Slovenia.; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Crop Sciences, Institute of Viticulture and Pomology, Tulln an der Donau, Austria. Michaela.griesser@boku.ac.at.
BACKGROUND: In viticulture, iron (Fe) chlorosis is a common abiotic stress that impairs plant development and leads to yield and quality losses. Under low availability of the metal, the applied N form (nitrate and ammonium) can play a role in promoting or mitigating Fe deficiency stresses. However, the processes involved are not clear in grapevine. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the response of two grapevine rootstocks to the interaction between N forms and Fe uptake. This process was evaluated in a hydroponic experiment using two ungrafted grapevine rootstocks Fercal (Vitis berlandieri x V. vinifera) tolerant to deficiency induced Fe chlorosis and Couderc 3309 (V. riparia x V. rupestris) susceptible to deficiency induced Fe chlorosis. RESULTS: The results could differentiate Fe deficiency effects, N-forms effects, and rootstock effects. Interveinal chlorosis of young leaves appeared earlier on 3309 C from the second week of treatment with NO(3)(-)/NH(4)(+) (1:0)/-Fe, while Fercal leaves showed less severe symptoms after four weeks of treatment, corresponding to decreased chlorophyll concentrations lowered by 75% in 3309 C and 57% in Fercal. Ferric chelate reductase (FCR) activity was by trend enhanced under Fe deficiency in Fercal with both N combinations, whereas 3309 C showed an increase in FCR activity under Fe deficiency only with NO(3)(-)/NH(4)(+) (1:1) treatment. With the transcriptome analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) revealed multiple biological processes and molecular functions that were significantly regulated in grapevine rootstocks under Fe-deficient conditions, with more genes regulated in Fercal responses, especially when both forms of N were supplied. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in the auxin and abscisic acid metabolic pathways was markedly increased by the equal supply of both forms of N under Fe deficiency conditions. In addition, changes in the expression of genes related to Fe uptake, regulation, and transport reflected the different responses of the two grapevine rootstocks to different N forms. CONCLUSIONS: Results show a clear contribution of N forms to the response of the two grapevine rootstocks under Fe deficiency, highlighting the importance of providing both N forms (nitrate and ammonium) in an appropriate ratio in order to ease the rootstock responses to Fe deficiency.
PMID: 38532351
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Mar , V24 (1) : P215 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-04928-6
Analysis of the global transcriptome and miRNAome associated with seed dormancy during seed maturation in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare).
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.; Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.; Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.; Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. cshin@snu.ac.kr.; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. cshin@snu.ac.kr.; Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. cshin@snu.ac.kr.; Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. cshin@snu.ac.kr.
BACKGROUND: Seed dormancy is a biological mechanism that prevents germination until favorable conditions for the subsequent generation of plants are encountered. Therefore, this mechanism must be effectively established during seed maturation. Studies investigating the transcriptome and miRNAome of rice embryos and endosperms at various maturation stages to evaluate seed dormancy are limited. This study aimed to compare the transcriptome and miRNAome of rice seeds during seed maturation. RESULTS: Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare seeds were sampled for embryos and endosperms at three maturation stages: 30, 45, and 60 days after heading (DAH). The pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) assay was conducted to assess the level of dormancy in the seeds at each maturation stage. At 60 DAH, the PHS rate was significantly increased compared to those at 30 and 45 DAH, indicating that the dormancy is broken during the later maturation stage (45 DAH to 60 DAH). However, the largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were identified between 30 and 60 DAH in the embryo and endosperm, implying that the gradual changes in genes and miRNAs from 30 to 60 DAH may play a significant role in breaking seed dormancy. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses confirmed that DEGs related to plant hormones were most abundant in the embryo during 45 DAH to 60 DAH and 30 DAH to 60 DAH transitions. Alternatively, most of the DEGs in the endosperm were related to energy and abiotic stress. MapMan analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction identified four newly profiled auxin-related genes (OsSAUR6/12/23/25) and one ethylene-related gene (OsERF087), which may be involved in seed dormancy during maturation. Additionally, miRNA target prediction (psRNATarget) and degradome dataset (TarDB) indicated a potential association between osa-miR531b and ethylene biosynthesis gene (OsACO4), along with osa-miR390-5p and the abscisic acid (ABA) exporter-related gene (OsMATE19) as factors involved in seed dormancy. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the transcriptome and miRNAome of rice embryos and endosperms during seed maturation provided new insights into seed dormancy, particularly its relationship with plant hormones such as ABA, auxin, and ethylene.
PMID: 38532331
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Mar , V24 (1) : P169 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-04858-3
Transcriptome and metabolome profiling reveal the effects of hormones on current-year shoot growth in Chinese 'Cuiguan' pear grafted onto vigorous rootstock 'Duli' and dwarf rootstock 'Quince A'.
Institute of Forestry and Pomology,Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, , Beijing Engineering Research Center for Deciduous Fruit Trees, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100093, P.R. China.; Institute of Forestry and Pomology,Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, , Beijing Engineering Research Center for Deciduous Fruit Trees, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100093, P.R. China. szliu1978@163.com.
BACKGROUND: Dwarf rootstocks have important practical significance for high-density planting in pear orchards. The shoots of 'Cuiguan' grafted onto the dwarf rootstock were shorter than those grafted onto the vigorous rootstock. However, the mechanism of shorter shoot formation is not clear. RESULTS: In this study, the current-year shoot transcriptomes and phytohormone contents of 'CG‒QA' ('Cuiguan' was grafted onto 'Quince A', and 'Hardy' was used as interstock) and 'CG‒DL' ('Cuiguan' was grafted onto 'Duli', and 'Hardy' was used as interstock) were compared. The transcriptome results showed that a total of 452 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 248 downregulated genes and 204 upregulated genes; the plant hormone signal transduction and zeatin biosynthesis pathways were significantly enriched in the top 20 KEGG enrichment terms. Abscisic acid (ABA) was the most abundant hormone in 'CG‒QA' and 'CG‒DL'; auxin and cytokinin (CTK) were the most diverse hormones; additionally, the contents of ABA, auxin, and CTK in 'CG‒DL' were higher than those in 'CG‒QA', while the fresh shoot of 'CG‒QA' accumulated more gibberellin (GA) and salicylic acid (SA). Metabolome and transcriptome co-analysis identified three key hormone-related DEGs, of which two (Aldehyde dehydrogenase gene ALDH3F1 and YUCCA2) were upregulated and one (Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase gene CKX3) was downregulated. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis, we found that auxin and CTK mainly regulated the shoot differences of 'CG-QA' and 'CG-DL', and other hormones such as ABA, GA, and SA synergistically regulated this process. Three hormone-related genes ALDH3F1, YUCCA2, and CKX3 were the key genes contributing to the difference in shoot growth between 'CG-QA' and 'CG-DL' pear. This research provides new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying shoot shortening after grafted onto dwarf rootstocks.
PMID: 38443784
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Mar , V24 (1) : P163 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-04852-9
NnARF17 and NnARF18 from lotus promote root formation and modulate stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.
College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China. lbcheng@yzu.edu.cn.; College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China.; College of Guangling, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China. lsydbnd@163.com.
Auxin response factors (ARFs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression within the auxin signal transduction pathway, particularly during adventitious root (AR) formation. In this investigation, we identified full-length sequences for ARF17 and ARF18, encompassing 1,800 and 2,055 bp, encoding 599 and 684 amino acid residues, respectively. Despite exhibiting low sequence homology, the ARF17- and ARF18-encoded proteins displayed significant structural similarity and shared identical motifs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close relationships between NnARF17 and VvARF17, as well as NnARF18 and BvARF18. Both ARF17 and ARF18 demonstrated responsiveness to exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), ethephon, and sucrose, exhibiting organ-specific expression patterns. Beyond their role in promoting root development, these ARFs enhanced stem growth and conferred drought tolerance while mitigating waterlogging stress in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. RNA sequencing data indicated upregulation of 51 and 75 genes in ARF17 and ARF18 transgenic plants, respectively, including five and three genes associated with hormone metabolism and responses. Further analysis of transgenic plants revealed a significant decrease in IAA content, accompanied by a marked increase in abscisic acid content under normal growth conditions. Additionally, lotus seedlings treated with IAA exhibited elevated levels of polyphenol oxidase, IAA oxidase, and peroxidase. The consistent modulation of IAA content in both lotus and transgenic plants highlights the pivotal role of IAA in AR formation in lotus seedlings.
PMID: 38431568
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Mar , V24 (1) : P159 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-04869-0
Auxin and carbohydrate control flower bud development in Anthurium andraeanum during early stage of sexual reproduction.
Zhejiang Institute of Landscape Plants and Flowers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 311251, Zhejiang, China. wanxiaoww@163.com.; State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China.; Zhejiang Institute of Landscape Plants and Flowers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 311251, Zhejiang, China.; Zhejiang Institute of Landscape Plants and Flowers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 311251, Zhejiang, China. danqingtian@126.com.
BACKGROUND: Flower buds of Anthurium andraeanum frequently cease to grow and abort during the early flowering stage, resulting in prolonged planting times and increased commercialization costs. Nevertheless, limited knowledge exists of the mechanism of flower development after initiation in A. andraeanum. RESULTS: In this study, the measurement of carbohydrate flow and intensity between leaves and flowers during different growth stages showed that tender leaves are strong sinks and their concomitant flowers are weak ones. This suggested that the tender leaves compete with their concomitant flower buds for carbohydrates during the early growth stages, potentially causing the abortion of the flower buds. The analysis of transcriptomic differentially expressed genes suggested that genes related to sucrose metabolism and auxin response play an important role during flower bud development. Particularly, co-expression network analysis found that AaSPL12 is a hub gene engaged in flower development by collaborating carbohydrate and auxin signals. Yeast Two Hybrid assays revealed that AaSPL12 can interact with AaARP, a protein that serves as an indicator of dormancy. Additionally, the application of exogenous IAA and sucrose can suppress the expression of AaARP, augment the transcriptional abundance of AaSPL12, and consequently expedite flower development in Anthurium andraeanum. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings indicated that the combination of auxin and sugar signals could potentially suppress the repression of AaARP protein to AaSPL12, thus advancing the development of flower buds in Anthurium andraeanum.
PMID: 38429715
Planta , IF:4.116 , 2024 Mar , V259 (5) : P98 doi: 10.1007/s00425-024-04351-z
Development of a stable genetic transformation system in Erigeron breviscapus: a case study with EbYUC2 in relation to leaf number and flowering time.
National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center On Gemplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.; The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.; Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biology of Yunnan Province, College of Landscape and Horticulture, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China.; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center On Gemplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China. ynshbc@aliyun.com.; The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China. ynshbc@aliyun.com.; National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center On Gemplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China. simeiheynau@163.com.; The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China. simeiheynau@163.com.
A stable genetic transformation system for Erigeron breviscapus was developed. We cloned the EbYUC2 gene and genetically transformed it into Arabidopsis thaliana and E. breviscapus. The leaf number, YUC2 gene expression, and the endogenous auxin content in transgenic plants were significantly increased. Erigeron breviscapus is a prescription drug for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The rosette leaves have the highest content of the major active compound scutellarin and are an important component in the yield of E. breviscapus. However, little is known about the genes related to the leaf number and flowering time of E. breviscapus. In our previous study, we identified three candidate genes related to the leaf number and flowering of E. breviscapus by combining resequencing data and genome-wide association study (GWAS). However, their specific functions remain to be characterized. In this study, we cloned and transformed the previously identified full-length EbYUC2 gene into Arabidopsis thaliana, developed the first stable genetic transformation system for E. breviscapus, and obtained the transgenic plants overexpressing EbYUC2. Compared with wild-type plants, the transgenic plants showed a significant increase in the number of leaves, which was correlated with the increased expression of EbYUC2. Consistently, the endogenous auxin content, particularly indole-3-acetic acid, in transgenic plants was also significantly increased. These results suggest that EbYUC2 may control the leaf number by regulating auxin biosynthesis, thereby laying a foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism governing the leaf number and flowering time of E. breviscapus.
PMID: 38522041
Genes (Basel) , IF:4.096 , 2024 Mar , V15 (3) doi: 10.3390/genes15030388
Wounding-Related Signaling Is Integrated within the Auxin-Response Framework to Induce Adventitious Rooting in Chestnut.
Department of Plant Production, Mision Biologica de Galicia (CSIC), Avda de Vigo s/n, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Wounding and exogenous auxin are needed to induce adventitious roots in chestnut microshoots. However, the specific inductive role of wounding has not been characterized in this species. In the present work, two main goals were established: First, we prompted to optimize exogenous auxin treatments to improve the overall health status of the shoots at the end of the rooting cycle. Second, we developed a time-series transcriptomic analysis to compare gene expression in response to wounding alone and wounding plus auxin, focusing on the early events within the first days after treatments. Results suggest that the expression of many genes involved in the rooting process is under direct or indirect control of both stimuli. However, specific levels of expression of relevant genes are only attained when both treatments are applied simultaneously, leading to the successful development of roots. In this sense, we have identified four transcription factors upregulated by auxin (CsLBD16, CsERF113, Cs22D and CsIAA6), with some of them also being induced by wounding. The highest expression levels of these genes occurred when wounding and auxin treatments were applied simultaneously, correlating with the rooting response of the shoots. The results of this work clarify the genetic nature of the wounding response in chestnut, its relation to adventitious rooting, and might be helpful in the development of more specific protocols for the vegetative propagation of this species.
PMID: 38540447
Plant Genome , IF:4.089 , 2024 Mar , V17 (1) : Pe20432 doi: 10.1002/tpg2.20432
Genome-wide analysis of PvMADS in common bean and functional characterization of PvMADS31 in Arabidopsis thaliana as a player in abiotic stress responses.
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.; The Central Laboratory for Date Palm Research and Development, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt.
Changing climatic conditions with rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity, particularly for common bean crops. Transcription factors (TFs) are crucial regulators that can mitigate the impact of biotic and abiotic stresses on crop production. The MADS-box TFs family has been implicated in various plant physiological processes, including stress-responsive mechanisms. However, their role in common bean and their response to stressful conditions remain poorly understood. Here, we identified 35 MADS-box gene family members in common bean, with conserved MADS-box domains and other functional domains. Gene duplication events were observed, suggesting the significance of duplication in the evolutionary development of gene families. The analysis of promoter regions revealed diverse elements, including stress-responsive elements, indicating their potential involvement in stress responses. Notably, PvMADS31, a member of the PvMADS-box gene family, demonstrated rapid upregulation under various abiotic stress conditions, including NaCl, polyethylene glycol, drought, and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. Transgenic plants overexpressing PvMADS31 displayed enhanced lateral root development, root elongation, and seed germination under stress conditions. Furthermore, PvMADS31 overexpression in Arabidopsis resulted in improved drought tolerance, likely attributed to the enhanced scavenging of ROS and increased proline accumulation. These findings suggest that PvMADS31 might play a crucial role in modulating seed germination, root development, and stress responses, potentially through its involvement in auxin and ABA signaling pathways. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential roles of PvMADS-box genes in abiotic stress responses in common bean, offering prospects for crop improvement strategies to enhance resilience under changing environmental conditions.
PMID: 38327143
Plant Genome , IF:4.089 , 2024 Mar , V17 (1) : Pe20343 doi: 10.1002/tpg2.20343
Proteomic analysis of near-isogenic lines reveals key biomarkers on wheat chromosome 4B conferring drought tolerance.
UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.; Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, Western Australia, Australia.; Proteomics International, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.; Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Drought is a major constraint for wheat production that is receiving increased attention due to global climate change. This study conducted isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation proteomic analysis on near-isogenic lines to shed light on the underlying mechanism of qDSI.4B.1 quantitative trait loci (QTL) on the short arm of chromosome 4B conferring drought tolerance in wheat. Comparing tolerant with susceptible isolines, 41 differentially expressed proteins were identified to be responsible for drought tolerance with a p-value of < 0.05 and fold change >1.3 or <0.7. These proteins were mainly enriched in hydrogen peroxide metabolic activity, reactive oxygen species metabolic activity, photosynthetic activity, intracellular protein transport, cellular macromolecule localization, and response to oxidative stress. Prediction of protein interactions and pathways analysis revealed the interaction between transcription, translation, protein export, photosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism as the most important pathways responsible for drought tolerance. The five proteins, including 30S ribosomal protein S15, SRP54 domain-containing protein, auxin-repressed protein, serine hydroxymethyltransferase, and an uncharacterized protein with encoding genes on 4BS, were suggested as candidate proteins responsible for drought tolerance in qDSI.4B.1 QTL. The gene coding SRP54 protein was also one of the differentially expressed genes in our previous transcriptomic study.
PMID: 37199103
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2024 Mar , V25 (1) : P320 doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10195-4
Transcriptome disclosure of hormones inducing stigma exsertion in Nicotiana tabacum by corolla shortening.
College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, 450046, Zhengzhou, China.; Henan Provincial Branch of China National Tobacco Corporation, 450018, Zhengzhou, China.; Sanmenxia Branch of Henan Provincial Tobacco Corporation, 472000, Sanmenxia, China.; Shangluo Branch of Shanxi provincial Tobacco Company, 726000, Shangluo, China.; Shangluo Branch of Shanxi provincial Tobacco Company, 726000, Shangluo, China. 150679152@qq.com.; College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, 450046, Zhengzhou, China. xuelinzhang1998@163.com.; College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, 450046, Zhengzhou, China. zjwang@henau.edu.cn.
BACKGROUND: Stigma exsertion is an essential agricultural trait that can promote cross-pollination to improve hybrid seed production efficiency. However, the molecular mechanism controlling stigma exsertion remains unknown. RESULTS: In this study, the Nicotiana tabacum cv. K326 and its two homonuclear-heteroplasmic lines, MSK326 (male-sterile) and MSK326SE (male-sterile and stigma exserted), were used to investigate the mechanism of tobacco stigma exsertion. A comparison of the flowers between the three lines showed that the stigma exsertion of MSK326SE was mainly due to corolla shortening. Therefore, the corollas of the three lines were sampled and presented for RNA-seq analysis, which found 338 candidate genes that may cause corolla shortening. These genes were equally expressed in K326 and MSK326, but differentially expressed in MSK326SE. Among these 338 genes, 15 were involved in hormone synthesis or signal transduction pathways. Consistently, the content of auxin, dihydrozeatin, gibberellin, and jasmonic acid was significantly decreased in the MSK326SE corolla, whereas abscisic acid levels were significantly increased. Additionally, seven genes involved in cell division, cell cycle, or cell expansion were identified. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 45 nodes and 79 protein interactions, and the largest module contained 20 nodes and 52 protein interactions, mainly involved in the hormone signal transduction and pathogen defensive pathways. Furthermore, a putative hub gene coding a serine/threonine-protein kinase was identified for the network. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that hormones may play a key role in regulating tobacco stigma exsertion induced by corolla shortening.
PMID: 38549066
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2024 Mar , V25 (1) : P315 doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10227-z
A transcriptome-wide identification of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters revealed participation of ABCB subfamily in abiotic stress management of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.
Plant Biotechnology Division, Jammu, India.; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu, 180001, India.; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.; Registered from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.; Plant Biotechnology Division, Jammu, India. suphlabg@gmail.com.; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu, 180001, India. suphlabg@gmail.com.; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India. suphlabg@gmail.com.
Transcriptome-wide survey divulged a total of 181 ABC transporters in G. glabra which were phylogenetically classified into six subfamilies. Protein-Protein interactions revealed nine putative GgABCBs (-B6, -B14, -B15, -B25, -B26, -B31, -B40, -B42 &-B44) corresponding to five AtABCs orthologs (-B1, -B4, -B11, -B19, &-B21). Significant transcript accumulation of ABCB6 (31.8 folds), -B14 (147.5 folds), -B15 (17 folds), -B25 (19.7 folds), -B26 (18.31 folds), -B31 (61.89 folds), -B40 (1273 folds) and -B42 (51 folds) was observed under the influence of auxin. Auxin transport-specific inhibitor, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid, showed its effectiveness only at higher (10 microM) concentration where it down regulated the expression of ABCBs, PINs (PIN FORMED) and TWD1 (TWISTED DWARF 1) genes in shoot tissues, while their expression was seen to enhance in the root tissues. Further, qRT-PCR analysis under various growth conditions (in-vitro, field and growth chamber), and subjected to abiotic stresses revealed differential expression implicating role of ABCBs in stress management. Seven of the nine genes were shown to be involved in the stress physiology of the plant. GgABCB6, 15, 25 and ABCB31 were induced in multiple stresses, while GgABCB26, 40 & 42 were exclusively triggered under drought stress. No study pertaining to the ABC transporters from G. glabra is available till date. The present investigation will give an insight to auxin transportation which has been found to be associated with plant growth architecture; the knowledge will help to understand the association between auxin transportation and plant responses under the influence of various conditions.
PMID: 38532362
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2024 Mar , V25 (1) : P289 doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10088-6
Functional analysis and comparative genomics of Rahnella perminowiae S11P1 and Variovorax sp. S12S4, two plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria isolated from Crocus sativus L. (saffron) rhizosphere.
Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.; Biotechnology Lab (MedBiotech), Bioinova Research Center, Rabat Medical & Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.; Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco. l.sbabou@um5r.ac.ma.
BACKGROUND: Rahnella perminowiae S11P1 and Variovorax sp. S12S4 are two plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria that were previously isolated from the rhizosphere of Crocus sativus L. (saffron), and have demonstrated interesting PGP activities and promising results when used as inoculants in field trials. To further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying their beneficial effects on plant growth, comprehensive genome mining of S11P1 and S12S4 and comparative genomic analysis with closely related strains were conducted. RESULTS: Functional annotation of the two strains predicted a large number of genes involved in auxin and siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, sulfur metabolism, organic acid biosynthesis, pyrroloquinoline quinone production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, volatile organic compounds production, and polyamine biosynthesis. In addition, numerous genes implicated in plant-bacteria interactions, such as those involved in chemotaxis and quorum sensing, were predicted. Moreover, the two strains carried genes involved in bacterial fitness under abiotic stress conditions. Comparative genomic analysis revealed an open pan-genomic structure for the two strains. COG annotation showed that higher fractions of core and accessory genes were involved in the metabolism and transport of carbohydrates and amino acids, suggesting the metabolic versatility of the two strains as effective rhizosphere colonizers. Furthermore, this study reports the first comparison of Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and core-based phylogenies of the Rahnella and Variovorax genera. CONCLUSIONS: The present study unveils the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth promotion and biocontrol activity of S11P1 and S12S4, and provides a basis for their further biotechnological application in agriculture.
PMID: 38500021
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2024 Mar , V13 (5) doi: 10.3390/plants13050738
Ethylene Action Inhibition Improves Adventitious Root Induction in Adult Chestnut Tissues.
Department of Plant Production, Mision Biologica de Galicia, CSIC, Avda de Vigo s/n, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.; Centre for Functional Ecology, TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calcada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.; InnovPlantProtect CoLab, Estrada de Gil Vaz, 7350-478 Elvas, Portugal.
Phase change refers to the process of maturation and transition from the juvenile to the adult stage. In response to this shift, certain species like chestnut lose the ability to form adventitious roots, thereby hindering the successful micropropagation of adult plants. While auxin is the main hormone involved in adventitious root formation, other hormones, such as ethylene, are also thought to play a role in its induction and development. In this study, experiments were carried out to determine the effects of ethylene on the induction and growth of adventitious roots. The analysis was performed in two types of chestnut microshoots derived from the same tree, a juvenile-like line with a high rooting ability derived from basal shoots (P2BS) and a line derived from crown branches (P2CR) with low rooting responses. By means of the application of compounds to modify ethylene content or inhibit its signalling, the potential involvement of this hormone in the induction of adventitious roots was analysed. Our results show that ethylene can modify the rooting competence of mature shoots, while the response in juvenile material was barely affected. To further characterise the molecular reasons underlying this maturation-derived shift in behaviour, specific gene expression analyses were developed. The findings suggest that several mechanisms, including ethylene signalling, auxin transport and epigenetic modifications, relate to the modulation of the rooting ability of mature chestnut microshoots and their recalcitrant behaviour.
PMID: 38475584
Biochem J , IF:3.857 , 2024 Mar , V481 (5) : P363-385 doi: 10.1042/BCJ20230163
Dynamic interactions between SPX proteins, the ubiquitination machinery, and signalling molecules for stress adaptation at a whole-plant level.
Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China.; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, China.; The Provincial International Science and Technology Cooperation Base on Engineering Biology, International Campus of Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, China.; La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia.
The plant macronutrient phosphorus is a scarce resource and plant-available phosphate is limiting in most soil types. Generally, a gene regulatory module called the phosphate starvation response (PSR) enables efficient phosphate acquisition by roots and translocation to other organs. Plants growing on moderate to nutrient-rich soils need to co-ordinate availability of different nutrients and repress the highly efficient PSR to adjust phosphate acquisition to the availability of other macro- and micronutrients, and in particular nitrogen. PSR repression is mediated by a small family of single SYG1/Pho81/XPR1 (SPX) domain proteins. The SPX domain binds higher order inositol pyrophosphates that signal cellular phosphorus status and modulate SPX protein interaction with PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1 (PHR1), the central transcriptional regulator of PSR. Sequestration by SPX repressors restricts PHR1 access to PSR gene promoters. Here we focus on SPX4 that primarily acts in shoots and sequesters many transcription factors other than PHR1 in the cytosol to control processes beyond the classical PSR, such as nitrate, auxin, and jasmonic acid signalling. Unlike SPX1 and SPX2, SPX4 is subject to proteasomal degradation not only by singular E3 ligases, but also by SCF-CRL complexes. Emerging models for these different layers of control and their consequences for plant acclimation to the environment will be discussed.
PMID: 38421035
J Appl Microbiol , IF:3.772 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1093/jambio/lxae066
Peribacillus frigoritolerans T7-IITJ, a potential biofertilizer, induces plant growth-promoting genes of Arabidopsis thaliana.
Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, IIT Jodhpur, Jodhpur 342030, India.; Department of Biochemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, India.; Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Foundation, IIT Jodhpur, Jodhpur 342030, India.; Department of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Mountain Top University, Prayer City, Nigeria.; Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agriculture University Jodhpur, Jodhpur 342304, India.
AIMS: This study aimed to isolate plant growth and drought tolerance-promoting bacteria from the nutrient-poor rhizosphere soil of Thar desert plants and unravel their molecular mechanisms of plant growth promotion. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among our rhizobacterial isolates, Enterobacter cloacae C1P-IITJ, Kalamiella piersonii J4-IITJ, and Peribacillus frigoritolerans T7-IITJ, significantly enhanced root and shoot growth (4-5-fold) in Arabidopsis thaliana under PEG-induced drought stress. Whole genome sequencing and biochemical analyses of the non-pathogenic bacterium T7-IITJ revealed its plant growth-promoting traits, viz., solubilization of phosphate (40-73 microg/mL), iron (24 +/- 0.58 mm halo on chrome azurol S media), and nitrate (1.58 +/- 0.01 microg/mL nitrite), along with production of exopolysaccharides (125 +/- 20 microg/mL) and auxin-like compounds (42.6 +/- 0.05 microg/mL). Transcriptome analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana inoculated with T7-IITJ and exposure to drought revealed the induction of 445 plant genes (log2fold-change > 1, FDR < 0.05) for photosynthesis, auxin and jasmonate signaling, nutrient uptake, redox homeostasis, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways related to beneficial bacteria-plant interaction, but repression of 503 genes (log2fold-change < -1) including many stress-responsive genes. T7-IITJ enhanced proline 2.5-fold, chlorophyll 2.5-2.8-fold, iron 2-fold, phosphate 1.6-fold, and nitrogen 4-fold, and reduced reactive oxygen species 2-4.7-fold in plant tissues under drought. T7-IITJ also improved the germination and seedling growth of Tephrosia purpurea, Triticum aestivum, and Setaria italica under drought and inhibited the growth of two plant pathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani. CONCLUSIONS: P. frigoritolerans T7-IITJ is a potent biofertilizer that regulates plant genes to promote growth and drought tolerance.
PMID: 38486365
Gene , IF:3.688 , 2024 Jun , V910 : P148336 doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148336
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the Dof gene family reveals their involvement in hormone response and abiotic stresses in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).
Department of Life Sciences, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, China.; School of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China.; Department of Life Sciences, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, China. Electronic address: tznius@126.com.; Department of Life Sciences, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, China. Electronic address: akeliu@126.com.
DNA binding with one finger (Dof), plant-specific zinc finger transcription factors, can participate in various physiological and biochemical processes during the life of plants. As one of the most important oil crops in the world, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has significant economic and ornamental value. However, a systematic analysis of H. annuus Dof (HaDof) members and their functions has not been extensively conducted. In this study, we identified 50 HaDof genes that are unevenly distributed on 17 chromosomes of sunflower. We present a comprehensive overview of the HaDof genes, including their chromosome locations, phylogenetic analysis, and expression profile characterization. Phylogenetic analysis classified the 366 Dof members identified from 11 species into four groups (further subdivided into nine subfamilies). Segmental duplications are predominantly contributed to the expansion of sunflower Dof genes, and all segmental duplicate gene pairs are under purifying selection due to strong evolutionary constraints. Furthermore, we observed differential expression patterns for HaDof genes in normal tissues as well as under hormone treatment or abiotic stress conditions by analyzing RNA-seq data from previous studies and RT-qPCR data in our current study. The expression of HaDof04 and HaDof43 were not detected in any samples, which implied that they may be gradually undergoing pseudogenization process. Some HaDof genes, such as HaDof25 and HaDof30, showed responsiveness to exogenous plant hormones, such as kinetin, brassinosteroid, auxin or strigolactone, while others like HaDof15 and HaDof35 may participate in abiotic stress resistance of sunflower seedling. Our study represents the initial step towards understanding the phylogeny and expression characterization of sunflower Dof family genes, which may provide valuable reference information for functional studies on hormone response, abiotic stress resistance, and molecular breeding in sunflower and other species.
PMID: 38447680
Gene , IF:3.688 , 2024 Mar , V898 : P148080 doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.148080
Transcriptomic changes in soybean underlying growth promotion and defense against cyst nematode after Bacillus simplex Sneb545 treatment.
College of Environment, Shenyang University, Shenyang 110044, PR China.; College of plant protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, PR China.; Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China. Electronic address: piaolei9411@163.com.
Bacillus simplex Sneb45 is a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium that promotes soybean growth and systemic resistance to cyst nematode. To investigate transcriptional changes in soybean roots in response to B. simplex Sneb45 treatment, transcriptome analysis and quantitative real-time PCR were conducted to detect and validate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In total, 19,109 DEGs were obtained. After B. simplex Sneb545 treatment, 970 and 1265 genes were up- and down-regulated at 5 days post-inoculation (dpi), respectively, and 142 and 47 genes were up- and down-regulated at 10 dpi, respectively, compared with untreated soybean roots. Functional annotation of DEGs indicated that B. simplex Sneb545 regulated soybean growth and defense against cyst nematode possibly through genes related to auxin, gibberellin, and NB-LRR protein. In addition, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that the DEGs were enriched in metabolism, signal transduction, and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. Moreover, the auxin and gibberellin contents were lower in B. simplex Sneb545-treated soybean roots than in untreated roots at 5 dpi. B. simplex Sneb545 possibly altered the expression of wound-induced protein and NAC transcription factor to regulate soybean growth and defense against cyst nematode. Our study provided deep insights into the alterations in soybean transcriptome after exposure to B. simplex Sneb45 and a theoretical basis for further exploring molecular functions underlying the biological control activity of B. simplex Sneb545.
PMID: 38101712
J Plant Physiol , IF:3.549 , 2024 Apr , V295 : P154189 doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2024.154189
The emerging roles of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in plant development and stress responses.
Key Laboratory of Gene Editing for Breeding, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.; Key Laboratory of Gene Editing for Breeding, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China. Electronic address: housw@lzu.edu.cn.
Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is a highly conserved pathway that plays a crucial role in the endocytosis of plasma membrane proteins in eukaryotic cells. The pathway is initiated when the adaptor protein complex 2 (AP2) and TPLATE complex (TPC) work together to recognize cargo proteins and recruit clathrin. This review provides a concise overview of the functions of each subunit of AP2 and TPC, and highlights the involvement of CME in various biological processes, such as pollen development, root development, nutrient transport, extracellular signal transduction, auxin polar transport, hyperosmotic stress, salinity stress, high ammonium stress, and disease resistance. Additionally, the review explores the regulation of CME by phytohormones, clathrin-mediated exocytosis (CMX), and AP2M phosphorylation. It also suggests potential future research directions for CME.
PMID: 38432037
Protoplasma , IF:3.356 , 2024 Mar doi: 10.1007/s00709-024-01945-y
Plant regeneration capacity in seeds of three species of Miconia (Melastomataceae) may be related to endogenous polyamine profiles.
Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Vegetal, Campinas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil. juliana.ziemmer@gmail.com.; Laboratorio de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociencias e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28013-602, Brazil.; Departamento de Botanica, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Parana, 81531-970, Brazil.
In plant tissue culture, differences in endogenous levels of species-specific plant growth regulators (PGRs) may explain differences in regenerative capacity. In the case of polyamines (PAs), their dynamics and distribution may vary between species, genotypes, tissues, and developmental pathways, such as sexual reproduction and apomixis. In this study, for the first time, we aimed to assess the impact of varying endogenous PAs levels in seeds from distinct reproductive modes in Miconia spp. (Melastomataceae), on their in vitro regenerative capacity. We quantified the free PAs endogenous content in seeds of Miconia australis (obligate apomictic), Miconia hyemalis (facultative apomictic), and Miconia sellowiana (sexual) and evaluated their in vitro regenerative potential in WPM culture medium supplemented with a combination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The morphogenic responses were characterized by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and discussed regarding the endogenous PAs profiles found. Seeds of M. sellowiana presented approximately eight times more putrescine than M. australis, which was associated with a higher percentage of regenerated calluses (76.67%) than M. australis (5.56%). On the other hand, spermine levels were significantly higher in M. australis. Spermine is indicated as an inhibitor of auxin-carrying gene expression, which may have contributed to its lower regenerative capacity under the tested conditions. These findings provide important insights into in vitro morphogenesis mechanisms in Miconia and highlight the significance of endogenous PA levels in plant regeneration. These discoveries can potentially optimize future regeneration protocols in Miconia, a plant group still underexplored in this area.
PMID: 38530427
J Microencapsul , IF:3.142 , 2024 Mar : P1-20 doi: 10.1080/02652048.2024.2324812
Microbeads as carriers for Bacillus pumilus: a biofertilizer focus on auxin production.
Departamento de Suelos y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Agronomia, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile.; Escuela de Ingenieria Ambiental, Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad Austral de Chile, Sede Puerto Montt, Puerto Montt, Chile.; Laboratory of Biofilms and Environmental Microbiology, Center of Biotechnology, University of Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile.
The study aimed to develop a solid biofertilizer using Bacillus pumilus, focusing on auxin production to enhance plant drought tolerance. Methods involved immobilising B. pumilus in alginate-starch beads, focusing on microbial concentration, biopolymer types, and environmental conditions. The optimal formulation showed a diameter of 3.58 mm +/- 0.18, a uniform size distribution after 15 h of drying at 30 degrees C, a stable bacterial concentration (1.99 x 10(9) CFU g(-1) +/- 1.03 x 10(9) over 180 days at room temperature), a high auxin production (748.8 microg g(-1) +/- 10.3 of IAA in 7 days), and a water retention capacity of 37% +/- 4.07. In conclusion, this new formulation of alginate + starch + L-tryptophan + B. pumilus has the potential for use in crops due to its compelling water retention, high viability in storage at room temperature, and high auxin production, which provides commercial advantages.
PMID: 38469757
Mol Biol Rep , IF:2.316 , 2024 Mar , V51 (1) : P444 doi: 10.1007/s11033-024-09392-x
Synthetic auxin herbicide 2,4-D and its influence on a model BY-2 suspension.
Global Change Research Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic.; Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno, Czech Republic. mouralova@fme.vutbr.cz.
2,4-D is a broadly used auxin herbicide. The presence of the 2,4-D synthetic auxin in the medium is imperative for long-term BY-2 tobacco suspension viability. The precise mechanism of this symbiosis of the suspension and the synthetic auxin remains unclear. Our goal was to study the hormonal regulation of the growth of the cell suspension; and to describe the experiments clarifying the interaction between the chosen growth regulators and phytohormones on the cellular level, specifically between the 2,4-D synthetic auxin and the native stress phytohormone - ethylene. This study examined the influence of low 2,4-D concentrations stimulating cell growth in vitro as well as the influence of high herbicide concentrations on the model tobacco BY-2 suspension. The culture took 6 days. Different parameters were evaluated, including the influence of different 2,4-D concentrations on the production of the phytohormone ethylene and its precursor 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in the tobacco cells. The content of 2,4-D in the cells and the medium was established. The observations of the morphological changes showed that a heavy impregnation of the cell walls taking place depending on the concentration of 2,4-D. A dramatic increase in protective polysaccharides and a remodulation of the cell walls by the formation of a pectin shield in artificial conditions were expected and observed. At the same time, massive production of the stress phytohormone ethylene took place, and, because of that, plant mutagenicity, anomalous tumour-type proliferation growth, and the production of supercells were observed. The hypothesis of the protective shield is discussed.
PMID: 38520569
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2024 Dec , V19 (1) : P2331358 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2331358
Plant hormone profiling of scion and rootstock incision sites and intra- and inter-family graft junctions in Nicotiana benthamiana.
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Plant Productivity Systems Research Group, Yokohama, Japan.
Many previous studies have suggested that various plant hormones play essential roles in the grafting process. In this study, to understand the plant hormones that accumulate in the graft junctions, whether these are supplied from the scion or rootstock, and how these hormones play a role in the grafting process, we performed a hormonome analysis that accumulated in the incision site of the upper plants from the incision as "ungrafted scion" and lower plants from the incision as "ungrafted rootstock" in Nicotiana benthamiana. The results revealed that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA), which regulate cell division; abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA), which regulate xylem formation; cytokinin (CK), which regulates callus formation, show different accumulation patterns in the incision sites of the ungrafted scion and rootstock. In addition, to try discussing the differences in the degree and speed of each event during the grafting process between intra- and inter-family grafting by determining the concentration and accumulation timing of plant hormones in the graft junctions, we performed hormonome analysis of graft junctions of intra-family grafted plants with N. benthamiana as scion and Solanum lycopersicum as rootstock (Nb/Sl) and inter-family grafted plants with N. benthamiana as scion and Arabidopsis thaliana as rootstock (Nb/At), using the ability of Nicotiana species to graft with many plant species. The results revealed that ABA and CK showed different accumulation timings; IAA, JA, and salicylic acid (SA) showed similar accumulation timings, while different accumulated concentrations in the graft junctions of Nb/Sl and Nb/At. This information is important for understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant hormones in the grafting process and the differences in molecular mechanisms between intra- and inter-family grafting.
PMID: 38513064
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2024 Dec , V19 (1) : P2305030 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2305030
Cytokinin signaling is involved in root hair elongation in response to phosphate starvation.
School of Biological Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.; Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, Japan.
Root hair, single-celled tubular structures originating from the epidermis, plays a vital role in the uptake of nutrients from the soil by increasing the root surface area. Therefore, optimizing root hair growth is crucial for plants to survive in fluctuating environments. Root hair length is determined by the action of various plant hormones, among which the roles of auxin and ethylene have been extensively studied. However, evidence for the involvement of cytokinins has remained elusive. We recently reported that the cytokinin-activated B-type response regulators, ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR 1 (ARR1) and ARR12 directly upregulate the expression of ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE 6-LIKE 4 (RSL4), which encodes a key transcription factor that controls root hair elongation. However, depending on the nutrient availability, it is unknown whether the ARR1/12-RSL4 pathway controls root hair elongation. This study shows that phosphate deficiency induced the expression of RSL4 and increased the root hair length through ARR1/12, though the transcript and protein levels of ARR1/12 did not change. These results indicate that cytokinins, together with other hormones, regulate root hair growth under phosphate starvation conditions.
PMID: 38267225
Microbiol Resour Announc , 2024 Mar : Pe0113723 doi: 10.1128/mra.01137-23
Complete genome sequence of plant growth-promoting Bacillus stratosphericus AIMST-CREST02 isolated from bulk soil of a paddy field.
Centre of Excellence for Omics-Driven Computational Biodiscovery (COMBio), AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia.; Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.; Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.; Laboratory of Sustainable Agronomy and Crop Protection, Institute of Plantation Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Here, we present the complete genome of a plant growth-promoting strain, Bacillus stratosphericus AIMST-CREST02 isolated from the bulk soil of a high-yielding paddy plot. The genome is 3,840,451 bp in size with a GC content of 41.25%. Annotation predicted the presence of 3,907 coding sequences, including genes involved in auxin biosynthesis regulation and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism.
PMID: 38506531
Plant Commun , 2024 Mar : P100886 doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100886
A predictive model for ethylene-mediated auxin and cytokinin patterning in the Arabidopsis root.
Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.; Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.; Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK. Electronic address: keith.lindsey@durham.ac.uk.
The interaction between auxin and cytokinin is important in many aspects of plant development. Experimental measurements of both auxin and cytokinin concentration and reporter gene expression clearly show the coexistence of auxin and cytokinin concentration patterning in Arabidopsis root development. However, in the context of crosstalk between auxin, cytokinin and ethylene, little is known about how auxin and cytokinin concentration patterns simultaneously emerge and how they regulate each other in the Arabidopsis root. This work utilizes a wide range of experimental observations to propose a mechanism for simultaneous patterning of auxin and cytokinin concentration. In addition to the regulatory relationships between auxin and cytokinin, the mechanism reveals that ethylene signalling is an important factor in achieving simultaneous auxin and cytokinin patterning, while also predicting other experimental observations. Combining the mechanism with a realistic in silico root model reproduces experimental observations of both auxin and cytokinin patterning. Predictions made by the mechanism can be compared with a variety of experimental observations, including those conducted by our group and other independent experiments reported by other groups. Examples of these predictions include patterning of auxin biosynthesis rate, PIN1 and PIN2 pattern changes in pin3, 4, 7 mutants, cytokinin patterning change in the pls mutant, PLS patterning, as well as various trends in different mutants. This research unravels a plausible mechanism for simultaneous patterning of auxin and cytokinin concentrations in Arabidopsis root development and suggests a key role for ethylene pattern integration.
PMID: 38504522
Plant Commun , 2024 Mar : P100880 doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100880
CCaP1/CCaP2/CCaP3 Interact with Plasma Membrane H(+)-ATPases and Promote Thermo-Responsive Growth through Regulating Cell Wall Modification in Arabidopsis.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. Electronic address: jianxiangliu@zju.edu.cn.
The Arabidopsis plant adapts to warm temperatures by promoting hypocotyl growth primarily through the bHLH transcription factor PIF4 and its downstream genes involved in auxin responses, which enhance cell division. In the current study, we have discovered that the cell wall-related calcium-binding protein 2 (CCaP2), along with its paralogs CCaP1 and CCaP3, function as positive regulators of thermo-responsive hypocotyl growth by promoting cell elongation in Arabidopsis. Interestingly, mutations in CCaP1/CCaP2/CCaP3 do not affect the expression of PIF4-regulated classical downstream genes, but they do reduce the expression of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) genes, which are involved in cell wall modification. We have also found that CCaP1/CCaP2/CCaP3 are proteins predominantly localized to the plasma membrane and interact with the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPases AHA1/AHA2. Furthermore, we observed that the vanadate-sensitive H(+)-ATPase activity, as well as the cell wall pectin and hemicellulose contents, are significantly increased at warm temperatures in wild-type plants compared to those at normal growth temperatures, but these changes are not evident in the ccap1-1 ccap2-1 ccap3-1 triple mutant. Overall, our findings demonstrate that CCaP1/CCaP2/CCaP3 play an important role in controlling thermo-responsive hypocotyl growth and provide new insights into the alternative pathway regulating hypocotyl growth at warm temperatures through cell wall modification mediated by CCaP1/CCaP2/CCaP3.
PMID: 38486455
STAR Protoc , 2024 Mar , V5 (1) : P102901 doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102901
Protocol to synthesize the auxin analog 5-Ph-IAA for conditional protein depletion in C. elegans using the AID2 system.
Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.; Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.; Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. Electronic address: or38@columbia.edu.; Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. Electronic address: mt2992@columbia.edu.
The auxin-inducible degron (AID) system is a broadly used tool for spatiotemporal and reversible control of protein depletion in multiple experimental model systems. AID2 technology relies on a synthetic ligand, 5-phenyl-indole-3-acetic acid (5-Ph-IAA), for improved specificity and efficiency of protein degradation. Here, we provide a protocol for cost-effective 5-Ph-IAA synthesis utilizing the Suzuki coupling of 5-chloroindole and phenylboronic acid. We describe steps for evaluating the quality of lab-synthesized 5-Ph-IAA using a C. elegans AID2 tester strain.
PMID: 38377002
Anal Methods , 2024 Feb , V16 (9) : P1347-1356 doi: 10.1039/d4ay00067f
A rapid and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of phytohormones in the medicinal plant saffron.
TCM Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Zhejiang Province for the Development and Clinical Transformation of Immunomodulatory Drugs, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital HuZhou University, Huzhou Hospital, Zhejiang University, Huzhou, China. liliqin@hzhospital.com.; Department of Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a valuable Chinese herb with high medicinal value. Saffron pistils are used as medicine, so increasing the number of flowers can increase the yield. Plant hormones have essential roles in the growth and development of saffron, as well as the response to biotic and abiotic stresses (especially in floral initiation), which may directly affect the number of flowers. Quantitative analysis of plant hormones provides a basis for more efficient research on their synthesis, transportation, metabolism, and action. However, starch (which interferes with extraction) is present in high levels, and hormone levels are extremely low, in saffron corms, thereby hampering accurate determination of plant-hormone levels in saffron. Herein, we screened an efficient and convenient pre-treatment method for plant materials containing abundant amounts of starch. Also, we proposed an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the quantification of abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin (IAA). Then, the method was applied for the detection of hormone-content differences between flowering and non-flowering top buds, as well as between lateral and top buds. Our method showed high sensitivity, reproducibility, and reliability. Specifically, good linearity in the range 2-100 ng ml(-1) was achieved in the determination of ABA and IAA, and the correlation coefficient (R(2)) was >0.9982. The relative standard deviation was 2.956-14.51% (intraday) and 9.57-18.99% (interday), and the recovery range was 89.04-101.1% (n = 9). The matrix effect was 80.38-90.50% (n = 3). The method was thoroughly assessed employing various "green" chemistry evaluation tools: Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI), Complementary Green Analytical Procedure Index (Complex GAPI) and Red Green Blue 12 Algorithm (RGB12). These tools revealed the good greenness, analytical performance, applicability, and overall sustainability alignment of our method. Quantitative results showed that, compared with saffron with a flowering phenotype cultivated at 25 degrees C, the contents of IAA and ABA in the terminal buds of saffron cultivated at 16 degrees C decreased significantly. When cultivated at 25 degrees C, the IAA and ABA contents in the terminal buds of saffron were 1.54- and 4.84-times higher than those in the lateral buds, respectively. A simple, rapid, and accurate UPLC-MS/MS method was established to determine IAA and ABA contents. Using this method, a connection between the contents of IAA and ABA and the flowering phenotype was observed in the quantification results. Our data lay a foundation for studying the flowering mechanism of saffron.
PMID: 38334707
Adv Biol (Weinh) , 2024 Mar , V8 (3) : Pe2300593 doi: 10.1002/adbi.202300593
1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid Improved the In Vitro Cell Culturing by Inhibiting Apoptosis.
School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.; Tianjin University and Health-Biotech United Group Joint Laboratory of Innovative Drug Development and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.; Health-Biotech Group Stem Cell Research Institute, Tianjin, 301799, China.; Jinnan Hospital, Tianjin University, (Tianjin Jinnan Hospital), Tianjin, 300350, China.; Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
In vitro cell culturing witnessed its applications in scientific research and industrial activities. Attempts to shorten the doubling time of cultured cells have never ceased. In plants, auxin is applied to promote plant growth, the synthetic derivative 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) is a good example. Despite the auxin's naturally occurring receptors are not present in mammalian cells, studies suggested they may affect cell culturing. Yet the effects and mechanisms are still unclear. Here, an up to 2-fold increase in the yield of in vitro cultured human cells is observed. Different types of human cell lines and primary cells are tested and found that NAA is effective in all the cells tested. The PI staining followed by FACS suggested that NAA do not affect the cell cycling. Apoptosis-specific dye staining analysis implicated that NAA rescued cell death. Further bulk RNA sequencing is done and it is identified that the lipid metabolism-engaging and anti-apoptosis gene, ANGPTL4, is enhanced in expression upon NAA treatment. Studies on ANGPTL4 knockout cells indicated that ANGPTL4 is required for NAA-mediated response. Thus, the data identified a beneficial role of NAA in human cell culturing and highlighted its potency in in vitro cell culturing.
PMID: 38221687
J Genet Genomics , 2024 Mar , V51 (3) : P279-291 doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2023.07.002
Protein post-translational modifications in auxin signaling.
The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.; Shandong Academy of Grape, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China.; College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, China. Electronic address: lvbingsheng@qau.edu.cn.; The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China. Electronic address: bkhou@sdu.edu.cn.; The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China. Electronic address: dingzhaojun@sdu.edu.cn.
Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as ubiquitination, phosphorylation, and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)ylation, are crucial for regulating protein stability, activity, subcellular localization, and binding with cofactors. Such modifications remarkably increase the variety and complexity of proteomes, which are essential for regulating numerous cellular and physiological processes. The regulation of auxin signaling is finely tuned in time and space to guide various plant growth and development. Accumulating evidence indicates that PTMs play critical roles in auxin signaling regulations. Thus, a thorough and systematic review of the functions of PTMs in auxin signal transduction will improve our profound comprehension of the regulation mechanism of auxin signaling and auxin-mediated various processes. This review discusses the progress of protein ubiquitination, phosphorylation, histone acetylation and methylation, SUMOylation, and S-nitrosylation in the regulation of auxin signaling.
PMID: 37451336