Nat Commun , IF:14.919 , 2024 Aug , V15 (1) : P6667 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-51036-y
Loss of cold tolerance is conferred by absence of the WRKY34 promoter fragment during tomato evolution.
Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Quality Regulation, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China.; Agricultural Experiment Station, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; Cyprus University of Technology, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Lemesos, 3036, Cyprus.; Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plants Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Quality Regulation, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, 310058, China. jie@zju.edu.cn.; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China. jie@zju.edu.cn.; Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plants Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, 310058, China. jie@zju.edu.cn.
Natural evolution has resulted in reduced cold tolerance in cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Herein, we perform a combined analysis of ATAC-Seq and RNA-Seq in cold-sensitive cultivated tomato and cold-tolerant wild tomato (S. habrochaites). We identify that WRKY34 has the most significant association with differential chromatin accessibility and expression patterns under cold stress. We find that a 60 bp InDel in the WRKY34 promoter causes differences in its transcription and cold tolerance among 376 tomato accessions. This 60 bp fragment contains a GATA cis-regulatory element that binds to SWIBs and GATA29, which synergistically suppress WRKY34 expression under cold stress. Moreover, WRKY34 interferes with the CBF cold response pathway through regulating transcription and protein levels. Our findings emphasize the importance of polymorphisms in cis-regulatory regions and their effects on chromatin structure and gene expression during crop evolution.
PMID: 39107290
Sci Adv , IF:14.136 , 2024 Aug , V10 (35) : Peado4788 doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ado4788
An AP2/ERF transcription factor confers chilling tolerance in rice.
State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.; State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430026, China.
Cold stress, a prominent adverse environmental factor, severely hinders rice growth and productivity. Unraveling the complex mechanisms governing chilling tolerance in rice is crucial for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant varieties. Here, we identify an APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factor, OsERF52, as a positive modulator in response to low temperatures. OsERF52 directly regulates the expression of C-Repeat Binding Factor (CBF) genes in rice. In addition, Osmotic Stress/ABA-Activated Protein Kinase 9-mediated phosphorylation of OsERF52 at S261 enhances its stability and interaction with Ideal Plant Architecture 1 and OsbHLH002/OsICE1. This collaborative activation leads to the expression of OsCBFs, thereby initiating the chilling response in rice. Notably, plants with base-edited OsERF52(S261D)-3HA exhibit enhanced chilling resistance without yield penalty. Our findings unveil the mechanism orchestrated by a regulatory framework involving a protein kinase and transcription factors from diverse families, offering potential genetic resources for developing chilling-tolerant rice varieties.
PMID: 39196924
Mol Plant , IF:13.164 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.08.006
The OsSRO1c-OsDREB2B complex undergoes protein phase transition to enhance cold tolerance in rice.
National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.; Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Vegetale, Universite Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI, 38000 Grenoble, France.; National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China. Electronic address: xuelei_lai@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
Cold stress is one of the major abiotic stress factors affecting rice growth and development, leading to significant yield loss in the context of global climate change. Exploring natural variants that confer cold resistance and the underlying molecular mechanism responsible for this is the major strategy to breed cold tolerant rice varieties. Here, we show that the natural variations of a SIMILAR to RCD ONE (SRO) gene, OsSRO1c, confer cold tolerance in rice at both seedling and booting stages. OsSRO1c possesses intrinsic liquid-liquid phase separation ability in vivo and in vitro and recruits an AP2/ERF transcription factor and positive cold stress regulator, OsDREB2B, into its biomolecular condensates in the nucleus, resulting in elevated transcriptional activity of OsDREB2B. The OsSRO1c-OsDREB2B complex directly responds to low temperature through dynamic phase transitions and regulates key cold response genes, including COLD1. Furthermore, introgression of an elite haplotype of OsSRO1c into a cold susceptible indica rice significantly increases its cold resistance. Collectively, our work reveals a novel cold tolerance regulatory module in rice and provides promising genetic targets for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant rice varieties.
PMID: 39169629
Mol Plant , IF:13.164 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.07.015
Genetic variation in a heat shock transcription factor modulates cold tolerance in maize.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.; State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: shiyiting@cau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and National Plant Gene Research Center, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.; State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zbdong@cau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: yangshuhua@cau.edu.cn.
Understanding how maize (Zea mays) responds to cold stress is crucial for facilitating breeding programs of cold-tolerant varieties. Despite extensive utilization of the genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach for exploring favorable natural alleles associated with maize cold tolerance, few studies have successfully identified candidate genes that contribute to maize cold tolerance. In this study, we used a diverse panel of inbred maize lines collected from different germplasm sources to perform a GWAS on variations in the relative injured area of maize true leaves during cold stress-a trait very closely correlated with maize cold tolerance. We identified HSF21, which encodes a B-class heat shock transcription factor (HSF) that positively regulates cold tolerance at both the seedling and germination stages. Natural variations in the promoter of the cold-tolerant HSF21(Hap1) allele led to increased HSF21 expression under cold stress by inhibiting binding of the basic leucine zipper bZIP68 transcription factor, a negative regulator of cold tolerance. By integrating transcriptome deep sequencing, DNA affinity purification sequencing, and targeted lipidomic analysis, we revealed the function of HSF21 in regulating lipid metabolism homeostasis to modulate cold tolerance in maize. In addition, we found that HSF21 confers maize cold tolerance without incurring yield penalties. Collectively, this study establishes HSF21 as a key regulator that enhances cold tolerance in maize, providing valuable genetic resources for breeding of cold-tolerant maize varieties.
PMID: 39095994
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1111/nph.20058
Strigolactones positively regulate HY5-dependent autophagy and the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins in response to cold stress in tomato.
Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agriculture Sciences at Weifang, Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, 261200, China.; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China.; Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plants Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, 310058, China.; Shandong (Linyi) Institute of Modern Agriculture, Zhejiang University, Linyi, 276000, China.
Autophagy, involved in protein degradation and amino acid recycling, plays a key role in plant development and stress responses. However, the relationship between autophagy and phytohormones remains unclear. We used diverse methods, including CRISPR/Cas9, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and dual-luciferase assays to explore the molecular mechanism of strigolactones in regulating autophagy and the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins under cold stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). We show that cold stress induced the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. Mutants deficient in strigolactone biosynthesis were more sensitive to cold stress with increased accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. Conversely, treatment with the synthetic strigolactone analog GR24(5DS) enhanced cold tolerance in tomato, with elevated levels of accumulation of autophagosomes and transcripts of autophagy-related genes (ATGs), and reduced accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. Meanwhile, cold stress induced the accumulation of ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), which was triggered by strigolactones. HY5 further trans-activated ATG18a transcription, resulting in autophagy formation. Mutation of ATG18a compromised strigolactone-induced cold tolerance, leading to decreased formation of autophagosomes and increased accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. These findings reveal that strigolactones positively regulate autophagy in an HY5-dependent manner and facilitate the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins under cold conditions in tomato.
PMID: 39155750
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1111/nph.20062
HOS15-mediated turnover of PRR7 enhances freezing tolerance.
Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.; Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Biological Rhythm Research Center (PBRRC), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Korea.
Arabidopsis PSEUDORESPONSE REGULATOR7 (PRR7) is a core component of the circadian oscillator which also plays a crucial role in freezing tolerance. PRR7 undergoes proteasome-dependent degradation to discretely phase maximal expression in early evening. While its repressive activity on downstream genes is integral to cold regulation, the mechanism of the conditional regulation of the PRR7 abundance is unknown. We used mutant analysis, protein interaction and ubiquitylation assays to establish that the ubiquitin ligase adaptor, HIGH EXPRESSION OF OSMOTICALLY RESPONSIVE GENE 15 (HOS15), controls the protein accumulation pattern of PRR7 through direct protein-protein interactions at low temperatures. Freezing tolerance and electrolyte leakage assays show that PRR7 enhances cold temperature sensitivity, supported by ChIP-qPCR at C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR1 (CBF1) and COLD-REGULATED 15A (COR15A) promoters where PRR7 levels were higher in hos15 mutants. HOS15 mediates PRR7 turnover through enhanced ubiquitylation at low temperature in the dark. Under the same conditions, increased PRR7 association with the promoters of CBFs and COR15A in hos15 correlates with decreased CBF1 and COR15A transcription and enhanced freezing sensitivity. We propose a novel mechanism whereby HOS15-mediated degradation of PRR7 provides an intersection between the circadian system and other cold acclimation pathways that lead to increased freezing tolerance.
PMID: 39155726
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2024 Aug , V22 (8) : P2157-2172 doi: 10.1111/pbi.14336
OsKASI-2 is required for the regulation of unsaturation levels of membrane lipids and chilling tolerance in rice.
Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Crop Sterile Germplasm Resource Innovation and Application, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.; College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.; State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, Changsha, China.; Key Laboratory of Southern Rice Innovation and Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hunan Engineering Laboratory of Disease and Pest Resistant Rice Breeding, Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co., Ltd, Changsha, China.
Chilling stress has seriously limited the global production and geographical distribution of rice. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with plant responses to chilling stress are less known. In this study, we revealed a member of beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I family (KASI), OsKASI-2 which confers chilling tolerance in rice. OsKASI-2 encodes a chloroplast-localized KASI enzyme mainly expressed in the leaves and anthers of rice and strongly induced by chilling stress. Disruption of OsKASI-2 led to decreased KAS enzymatic activity and the levels of unsaturated fatty acids, which impairs degree of unsaturation of membrane lipids, thus increased sensitivity to chilling stress in rice. However, the overexpression of OsKASI-2 significantly improved the chilling tolerance ability in rice. In addition, OsKASI-2 may regulate ROS metabolism in response to chilling stress. Natural variation of OsKASI-2 might result in difference in chilling tolerance between indica and japonica accessions, and Hap1 of OsKASI-2 confers chilling tolerance in rice. Taken together, we suggest OsKASI-2 is critical for regulating degree of unsaturation of membrane lipids and ROS accumulation for maintenance of membrane structural homeostasis under chilling stress, and provide a potential target gene for improving chilling tolerance of rice.
PMID: 38506090
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae461
RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG 5.1 regulates H3K4me3 deposition and transcription after cold priming in cucumber.
State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Plants can maintain acquired cold tolerance for a long period after cold priming, even after the resumption of warmer temperatures. However, the transcriptional mechanisms active during the recovery period after cold priming remain unknown. Here, we found that in cucumber (Cucumis sativus), cold priming altered the Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) signal of sustainably-induced (memory) and non-sustainably-induced (NSI) genes during recovery. In addition, H3K4me3 marks on upregulated memory genes exhibited a specific epigenetic memory during recovery. However, the rank of the H3K4me3 signal on memory and NSI genes in the genome was independent of cold priming, which always contributed to and inhibited the formation of transcription patterns of memory and NIS genes, respectively. Furthermore, the short-lived increase of RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG 5.1 (CsRBOH5.1) expression during recovery after cold priming was essential to maintain high levels of NADPH oxidase activity and apoplastic H2O2, causing cucumber to acquire cold priming and enhancing the maintenance of acquired cold tolerance (MACT). Interestingly, the expression of some key H3K4me3 methyltransferase genes and the accumulation of H3K4me3 on memory genes depended on CsRBOH5.1. Surprisingly, CsRBOH5.1 was essential for almost all genes to form the normal H3K4me3 signaling patterns during recovery, and the necessity was more obvious as recovery progressed. Moreover, transcriptional memory was completely lost in Csrboh5.1 mutants, and the transcriptional patterns of about 80% of NSI genes were disrupted. Overall, our results show that CsRBOH5.1 governs H3K4me3 deposition and cold-induced transcription during recovery after cold priming, affecting the acquisition of cold priming and the intensity of MACT.
PMID: 39208445
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae449
Cold mediates maize root hair developmental plasticity via epidermis-specific transcriptomic responses.
INRES, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Crop Functional Genomics, University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany.; INRES, Emmy Noether Group Root Functional Biology, University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany.; INRES, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Crop Bioinformatics, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.; Plant Genome and System Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.; Plant Breeding, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany.
Cold stress during early development limits maize (Zea mays L.) production in temperate zones. Low temperatures restrict root growth and reprogram gene expression. Here, we provide a systematic transcriptomic landscape of maize primary roots, their tissues, and cell types in response to cold stress. The epidermis exhibited a unique transcriptomic cold response, and genes involved in root hair formation were dynamically regulated in this cell type by cold. Consequently, activation of genes involved in root hair tip growth contributed to root hair recovery under moderate cold conditions. The maize root hair defective mutants roothair defective 5 (rth5) and roothair defective 6 (rth6) displayed enhanced cold tolerance with respect to primary root elongation. Furthermore, dehydration response element-binding protein 2.1 (dreb2.1) was the only member of the dreb subfamily of AP2/EREB transcription factor genes upregulated in primary root tissues and cell types but exclusively downregulated in root hairs upon cold stress. Plants overexpressing dreb2.1 significantly suppressed root hair elongation after moderate cold stress. Finally, the expression of rth3 was regulated by dreb2.1 under cold conditions, while rth6 transcription was regulated by dreb2.1 irrespective of the temperature regime. We demonstrated that dreb2.1 negatively regulates root hair plasticity at low temperatures by coordinating the expression of root hair defective genes in maize.
PMID: 39190817
Sci Total Environ , IF:7.963 , 2024 Aug , V951 : P175554 doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175554
Adaptation of Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains to low temperature stress in both free-living stage and during symbiosis with clover.
Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, 19 Akademicka, 20-033 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: monika.janczarek@mail.umcs.pl.; Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, 19 Akademicka, 20-033 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: paulina.adamczyk@mail.umcs.pl.; Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, 19 Akademicka, 20-033 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: anna.gromada@mail.umcs.pl.; Department of Natural Environment Biogeochemistry, Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 4 Doswiadczalna, 20-290 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: c.polakowski@ipan.lublin.pl.; Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka Street, 20-950 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: karolina.wengerska@up.lublin.pl.; Department of Natural Environment Biogeochemistry, Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 4 Doswiadczalna, 20-290 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: a.bieganowski@ipan.lublin.pl.
Legume-rhizobial symbiosis plays an important role in agriculture and ecological restoration. This process occurs within special new structures, called nodules, formed mainly on legume roots. Soil bacteria, commonly known as rhizobia, fix atmospheric dinitrogen, converting it into a form that can be assimilated by plants. Various environmental factors, including a low temperature, have an impact on the symbiotic efficiency. Nevertheless, the effect of temperature on the phenotypic and symbiotic traits of rhizobia has not been determined in detail to date. Therefore, in this study, the influence of temperature on different cell surface and symbiotic properties of rhizobia was estimated. In total, 31 Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains isolated from root nodules of red clover plants growing in the subpolar and temperate climate regions, which essentially differ in year and day temperature profiles, were chosen for this analysis. Our results showed that temperature has a significant effect on several surface properties of rhizobial cells, such as hydrophobicity, aggregation, and motility. Low temperature also stimulated EPS synthesis and biofilm formation in R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii. This extracellular polysaccharide is known to play an important protective role against different environmental stresses. The strains produced large amounts of EPS under tested temperature conditions that facilitated adherence of rhizobial cells to different surfaces. The high adaptability of these strains to cold stress was also confirmed during symbiosis. Irrespective of their climatic origin, the strains proved to be highly effective in attachment to legume roots and were efficient microsymbionts of clover plants. However, some diversity in the response to low temperature stress was found among the strains. Among them, M16 and R137 proved to be highly competitive and efficient in nodule occupancy and biomass production; thus, they can be potential yield-enhancing inoculants of legumes.
PMID: 39151610
Sci Total Environ , IF:7.963 , 2024 Nov , V949 : P175184 doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175184
A novel strategy of artificially regulating plant rhizosphere microbial community to promote plant tolerance to cold stress.
College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.; College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China. Electronic address: zjjx124@163.com.
Artificial regulation of plant rhizosphere microbial communities through the synthesis of microbial communities is one of the effective ways to improve plant stress resistance. However, the process of synthesizing stress resistant microbial communities with excellent performance is complex, time-consuming, and costly. To address this issue, we proposed a novel strategy for preparing functional microbial communities. We isolated a cultivable cold tolerant bacterial community (PRCBC) from the rhizosphere of peas, and studied its effectiveness in assisting rice to resist stress. The results indicate that PRCBC can not only improve the ability of rice to resist cold stress, but also promote the increase of rice yield after cold stress relieved. This is partly because PRCBC increases the nitrogen content in the rhizosphere soil, and promotes rice's absorption of nitrogen elements, thereby promoting rice growth and enhancing its ability to resist osmotic stress. More importantly, the application of PRCBC drives the succession of rice rhizosphere microbial communities, and promotes the succession of rice rhizosphere microbial communities towards stress resistance. Surprisingly, PRCBC drives the succession of rice rhizosphere microbial communities towards a composition similar to PRCBC. This provides a feasible novel method for artificially and directionally driving microbial succession. In summary, we not only proposed a novel and efficient strategy for preparing stress resistant microbial communities to promote plant stress resistance, but also unexpectedly discovered a possible directionally driving method for soil microbial community succession.
PMID: 39089386
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1111/pce.15070
CIPK11 phosphorylates GSTU23 to promote cold tolerance in Camellia sinensis.
Key Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Center for Tea Plant Improvement, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Cold stress negatively impacts the growth, development, and quality of Camellia sinensis (Cs, tea) plants. CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPK) comprise a pivotal protein family involved in plant development and response to multiple environmental stimuli. However, their roles and regulatory mechanisms in tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) remain unknown. Here we show that CsCBL-interacting protein kinase 11 (CsCIPK11), whose transcript abundance was significantly induced at low temperatures, interacts and phosphorylates tau class glutathione S-transferase 23 (CsGSTU23). CsGSTU23 was also a cold-inducible gene and has significantly higher transcript abundance in cold-resistant accessions than in cold-susceptible accessions. CsCIPK11 phosphorylated CsGSTU23 at Ser37, enhancing its stability and enzymatic activity. Overexpression of CsCIPK11 in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in enhanced cold tolerance under freezing conditions, while transient knockdown of CsCIPK11 expression in tea plants had the opposite effect, resulting in decreased cold tolerance and suppression of the C-repeat-binding transcription factor (CBF) transcriptional pathway under freezing stress. Furthermore, the transient overexpression of CsGSTU23 in tea plants increased cold tolerance. These findings demonstrate that CsCIPK11 plays a central role in the signaling pathway to cold signals and modulates antioxidant capacity by phosphorylating CsGSTU23, leading to improved cold tolerance in tea plants.
PMID: 39087790
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2024 Aug , V47 (8) : P3132-3146 doi: 10.1111/pce.14933
SlNAC3 suppresses cold tolerance in tomatoes by enhancing ethylene biosynthesis.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; Umea Plant Science Centre, UMEA, Sweden.
Low temperature stress poses a significant challenge to the productivity of horticultural crops. The dynamic expression of cold-responsive genes plays a crucial role in plant cold tolerance. While NAC transcription factors have been extensively studied in plant growth and development, their involvement in regulating plant cold tolerance remains poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the identification and characterisation of SlNAC3 as the most rapid and robust responsive gene in tomato under low temperature conditions. Manipulating SlNAC3 through overexpression or silencing resulted in reduced or enhanced cold tolerance, respectively. Surprisingly, we discovered a negative correlation between the expression of CBF and cold tolerance in the SlNAC3 transgenic lines. These findings suggest that SlNAC3 regulates tomato cold tolerance likely through a CBF-independent pathway. Furthermore, we conducted additional investigations to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying SINAC3-mediated cold tolerance in tomatoes. Our results revealed that SlNAC3 controls the transcription of ethylene biosynthetic genes, thereby bursting ethylene release in response to cold stress. Indeed, the silencing of these genes led to an augmentation in cold tolerance. This discovery provides valuable insights into the regulatory pathways involved in ethylene-mediated cold tolerance in tomatoes, offering potential strategies for developing innovative approaches to enhance cold stress resilience in this economically important crop species.
PMID: 38693781
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2024 Aug , V47 (8) : P3046-3062 doi: 10.1111/pce.14922
Appropriate induction of TOC1 ensures optimal MYB44 expression in ABA signaling and stress response in Arabidopsis.
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Plants possess the remarkable ability to integrate the circadian clock with various signalling pathways, enabling them to quickly detect and react to both external and internal stress signals. However, the interplay between the circadian clock and biological processes in orchestrating responses to environmental stresses remains poorly understood. TOC1, a core component of the plant circadian clock, plays a vital role in maintaining circadian rhythmicity and participating in plant defences. Here, our study reveals a direct interaction between TOC1 and the promoter region of MYB44, a key gene involved in plant defence. TOC1 rhythmically represses MYB44 expression, thereby ensuring elevated MYB44 expression at dawn to help the plant in coping with lowest temperatures during diurnal cycles. Additionally, both TOC1 and MYB44 can be induced by cold stress in an Abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent and independent manner. TOC1 demonstrates a rapid induction in response to lower temperatures compared to ABA treatment, suggesting timely flexible regulation of TOC1-MYB44 regulatory module by the circadian clock in ensuring a proper response to diverse stresses and maintaining a balance between normal physiological processes and energy-consuming stress responses. Our study elucidates the role of TOC1 in effectively modulating expression of MYB44, providing insights into the regulatory network connecting the circadian clock, ABA signalling, and stress-responsive genes.
PMID: 38654596
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1111/pce.15081
SlWRKY51 regulates proline content to enhance chilling tolerance in tomato.
College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China.; College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.; College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China.; College of Agriculture and Bioengineering, Heze University, He'ze, China.; Shandong Shike Modern Agriculture Investment Co. Ltd, He'ze, China.
Chilling stress is a major environmental factor that significantly reduces crop production. To adapt to chilling stress, plants activate a series of cellular responses and accumulate an array of metabolites, particularly proline. Here, we report that the transcription factor SlWRKY51 increases proline contents in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under chilling stress. SlWRKY51 expression is induced under chilling stress. Knockdown or knockout of SlWRKY51 led to chilling-sensitive phenotypes, with lower photosynthetic capacity and more reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation than the wild type (WT). The proline contents were significantly reduced in SlWRKY51 knockdown and knockout lines under chilling stress, perhaps explaining the phenotypes of these lines. D-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), which catalyses the rate-limiting step of proline biosynthesis, is encoded by two closely related P5CS genes (P5CS1 and P5CS2). We demonstrate that SlWRKY51 directly activates the expression of P5CS1 under chilling stress. In addition, the VQ (a class of plant-specific proteins containing the conserved motif FxxhVQxhTG) family member SlVQ10 physically interacts with SlWRKY51 to enhance its activation of P5CS1. Our study reveals that the chilling-induced transcription factor SlWRKY51 enhances chilling tolerance in tomato by promoting proline accumulation.
PMID: 39148214
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2024 Aug , V47 (8) : P2971-2985 doi: 10.1111/pce.14917
Freezing treatment under light conditions leads to a dramatic enhancement of freezing tolerance in cold-acclimated Arabidopsis.
The United Graduate School of Agricultural and Sciences, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.; Department of Plant-bioscience, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
Overwintering plants survive subzero temperatures by cold acclimation (CA), wherein they acquire freezing tolerance through short-term exposure to low temperatures above 0 degrees C. The freezing tolerance of CA plants increases when they are subsequently exposed to mild subzero temperatures, a phenomenon known as second-phase cold hardening (2PH). Here, we explored the molecular mechanism and physiological conditions of 2PH. The results show that, compared with supercooling, a freezing treatment during 2PH after CA enhanced the freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis. This required CA as a pretreatment, and was designated as second-phase freezing acclimation (2PFA). Light increased the effect of 2PFA to enhance freezing tolerance after CA. C-repeat binding factor and cold-regulated genes were downregulated by light during the 2PFA treatment, a different transcription profile from that during CA. The freezing tolerance of 2PFA plants was decreased by the presence of the photosynthetic electron transfer inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea during the 2PFA treatment. Compared with wild-type plants, phototropin1,2 and phyb mutants showed lower freezing tolerance after 2PFA treatment. These results show that exposure to freezing after CA increases freezing tolerance as a secondary process, and that freezing under light conditions further increases freezing tolerance via pathways involving photoreceptors and photosynthetic electron transfer.
PMID: 38630014
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae335
Primary multistep phosphorelay activation comprises both cytokinin and abiotic stress responses: Insights from comparative analysis of Brassica type-A response regulators.
CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A2, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.; National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A2, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.; Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.; Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.; Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK.; PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), Ltd., Drasov, 66424 Drasov, Czech Republic.
Multistep phosphorelay (MSP) signaling integrates hormonal and environmental signals to control both plant development and adaptive responses. The type-A RESPONSE REGULATORs (RRAs), the downstream members of the MSP cascade and cytokinin primary response genes are supposed to mediate primarily the negative feedback regulation of (cytokinin-induced) MSP signaling. However, the transcriptional data suggest the involvement of RRAs in stress-related responses as well. By employing evolutionary conservation with the well-characterized Arabidopsis thaliana RRAs, we identified 5 and 38 novel putative RRAs in Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus, respectively. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests the existence of gene-specific selective pressure, maintaining the homologs of ARR3, ARR6, and ARR16 as singletons during the evolution of Brassicaceae. We categorized RRAs based on the kinetics of their cytokinin-mediated upregulation and observed both similarities and specificities in this type of response across Brassicaceae species. Using bioinformatic analysis and experimental data demonstrating the cytokinin and abiotic stress responsiveness of A. thaliana-derived TCSv2 reporter, we unveil the mechanistic conservation of cytokinin- and stress-mediated upregulation of RRAs in Brassica rapa and Brassica napus. Notably, we identify partial cytokinin dependency of cold stress-induced RRA transcription, thus corroborating the role of cytokinin signaling in the crop adaptive responses.
PMID: 39171371
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Aug doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae333
Methylation of EjNAC5 and its interactions with other transcription factors regulate loquat fruit chilling lignification.
College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
Changes in both lignin biosynthesis and DNA methylation have been reported to be associated with chilling stress in plants. When stored at low temperatures, red-fleshed loquat is prone to lignification, with increased lignin content and fruit firmness, which has deleterious effects on taste and eating quality. Here, we found that 5 degrees C storage mitigated the increasing firmness and lignin content of red-fleshed 'Dahongpao' ('DHP') loquat fruit that occurred during 0 degrees C storage. EjNAC5 was identified by integrating RNA sequencing with whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analysis of 'DHP' loquat fruit. The transcript levels of EjNAC5 were positively correlated with changes in firmness and negatively correlated with changes in DNA methylation level of a differentially methylated region (DMR) in the EjNAC5 promoter. In white-fleshed 'Baisha' ('BS') loquat fruit, which do not undergo chilling-induced lignification at 0 degrees C, the transcripts of EjNAC5 remained low and the methylation levels of the DMR in the EjNAC5 promoter was higher, compared to 'DHP' loquat fruit. Transient overexpression of EjNAC5 in loquat fruit and stable overexpression in Arabidopsis and liverwort led to an increase in lignin content. Furthermore, EjNAC5 interacts with EjERF39 and EjHB1 and activates the transcription of Ej4CL1 and EjPRX12 genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. This regulatory network involves different TFs to those involved in lignification pathway. Our study indicates that EjNAC5 promoter methylation modulates EjNAC5 transcript levels and identifies novel EjNAC5-EjERF39-Ej4CL1 and EjNAC5-EjHB1-EjPRX12 regulatory modules involved in chilling induced-lignification.
PMID: 39086268
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2024 Sep , V119 (5) : P2385-2401 doi: 10.1111/tpj.16925
The transcription factor ERF110 promotes cold tolerance by directly regulating sugar and sterol biosynthesis in citrus.
National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.; College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.; College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
ERFs (ethylene-responsive factors) are known to play a key role in orchestrating cold stress signal transduction. However, the regulatory mechanisms and target genes of most ERFs are far from being well deciphered. In this study, we identified a cold-induced ERF, designated as PtrERF110, from trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf., also known as Citrus trifoliata L.), an elite cold-hardy plant. PtrERF110 is a nuclear protein with transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of PtrERF110 remarkably enhanced cold tolerance in lemon (Citrus limon) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), whereas VIGS (virus-induced gene silencing)-mediated knockdown of PtrERF110 drastically impaired the cold tolerance. RNA sequence analysis revealed that PtrERF110 overexpression resulted in global transcriptional reprogramming of a range of stress-responsive genes. Three of the genes, including PtrERD6L16 (early responsive dehydration 6-like transporters), PtrSPS4 (sucrose phosphate synthase 4), and PtrUGT80B1 (UDP-glucose: sterol glycosyltransferases 80B1), were confirmed as direct targets of PtrERF110. Consistently, PtrERF110-overexpressing plants exhibited higher levels of sugars and sterols compared to their wild type counterparts, whereas the VIGS plants had an opposite trend. Exogenous supply of sucrose restored the cold tolerance of PtrERF110-silencing plants. In addition, knockdown of PtrSPS4, PtrERD6L16, and PtrUGT80B1 substantially impaired the cold tolerance of P. trifoliata. Taken together, our findings indicate that PtrERF110 positively modulates cold tolerance by directly regulating sugar and sterol synthesis through transcriptionally activating PtrERD6L16, PtrSPS4, and PtrUGT80B1. The regulatory modules (ERF110-ERD6L16/SPS4/UGT80B1) unraveled in this study advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sugar and sterol accumulation in plants subjected to cold stress.
PMID: 38985498
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2024 Aug , V25 (15) doi: 10.3390/ijms25158545
Transcription Factor CcFoxO Mediated the Transition from Summer Form to Winter Form in Cacopsylla chinensis.
MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China.
Amid global climate change featuring erratic temperature fluctuations, insects adapt via seasonal polyphenism, essential for population sustainability and reproductive success. Cacopsylla chinensis, influenced by environment variations, displays a distinct summer form and winter form distinguished by significant morphological variations. Previous studies have highlighted the role of temperature receptor CcTPRM in orchestrating the transition in response to 10 degrees C temperature. Nevertheless, the contribution of the transcription factor FoxO in this process has remained ambiguous. Here, we aimed to explore the correlation between C. chinensis FoxO (CcFoxO) and cold stress responses, while identifying potential energetic substances for monitoring physiological shifts during this transition from summer to winter form under cold stress by using RNAi. Initially, CcFoxO emerges as responsive to low temperatures (10 degrees C) and is regulated by CcTRPM. Subsequent investigations reveal that CcFoxO facilitates the accumulation of triglycerides and glycogen, thereby influencing the transition from summer form to winter form by affecting cuticle pigment content, cuticle chitin levels, and cuticle thickness. Thus, the knockdown of CcFoxO led to high mortality and failed transition. Overall, our findings demonstrate that CcFoxO governs seasonal polyphenism by regulating energy storage. These insights not only enhance our comprehension of FoxO functionality but also offer avenues for environmentally friendly management strategies for C. chinensis.
PMID: 39126113
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2024 , V15 : P1440872 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1440872
Genome-wide identification and analysis of the EIN3/EIL gene family in broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).
Laboratory of Plant Epigenetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China.
The EIN3/EIL gene family holds a pivotal role as it encodes a crucial transcription factor in plants. During the process of polyploidization in broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), there is an intriguing above-average amplification observed within the EIN3/EIL gene family. Nonetheless, our current knowledge of this gene family in broomcorn millet remains limited. Hence, in this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the EIN3/EIL gene family in broomcorn millet, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of the potential evolutionary changes. Additionally, we analyzed the EIN3/EIL gene family of Panicum hallii L., a close relative of broomcorn millet, to enhance our characterization efforts. Within this study, we identified a total of 15 EIN3/EIL genes specific to broomcorn millet. Through covariance analysis, it was revealed that all PmEIL genes, except PmEIL1 and PmEIL15, had duplicate copies generated through genome-wide duplication events. Importantly, the Ka/Ks values of all duplicated genes were found to be less than 1, indicating strong purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these genes could be categorized into four distinct evolutionary branches, showcasing similar characteristics among members within the same branch. However, there appeared to be an uneven distribution of cis-acting elements amid the EIN3/EIL genes. Further examination of transcriptomic data shed light on the diverse spatiotemporal and stress-related expression patterns exhibited by the EIN3/EIL genes in broomcorn millet. Notably, under cold stress, the expression of PmEIL3/4/8/14 was significantly up-regulated, while under drought stress, PmEIL4/5/6 displayed significant up-regulation. Intriguingly, the expression pattern of PmEIL15 showed an opposite pattern in resistant and sensitive cultivars. The findings of this study augment our understanding of the EIN3/EIL gene family in broomcorn millet and offer a valuable reference for future investigations into polyploid studies. Moreover, this study establishes a theoretical foundation for further exploration of the ethylene signaling pathway in broomcorn millet.
PMID: 39170780
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2024 , V15 : P1429321 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1429321
Ectopic overexpression of ShCBF1 and SlCBF1 in tomato suggests an alternative view of fruit responses to chilling stress postharvest.
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States.
Postharvest chilling injury (PCI) is a physiological disorder that often impairs tomato fruit ripening; this reduces fruit quality and shelf-life, and even accelerates spoilage at low temperatures. The CBF gene family confers cold tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana, and constitutive overexpression of CBF in tomato increases vegetative chilling tolerance, in part by retarding growth, but, whether CBF increases PCI tolerance in fruit is unknown. We hypothesized that CBF1 overexpression (OE) would be induced in the cold and increase resistance to PCI. We induced high levels of CBF1 in fruit undergoing postharvest chilling by cloning it from S. lycopersicum and S. habrochaites, using the stress-inducible RD29A promoter. Harvested fruit were cold-stored (2.5 degrees C) for up to three weeks, then rewarmed at 20 degrees C for three days. Transgene upregulation was triggered during cold storage from 8.6- to 28.6-fold in SlCBF1-OE, and between 3.1- to 8.3-fold in ShCBF1-OE fruit, but developmental abnormalities in the absence of cold induction were visible. Remarkably, transgenic fruit displayed worsening of PCI symptoms, i.e., failure to ripen after rewarming, comparatively higher susceptibility to decay relative to wild-type (WT) fruit, lower total soluble solids, and the accumulation of volatile compounds responsible for off-odors. These symptoms correlated with CBF1 overexpression levels. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the ripening and biotic and abiotic stress responses were altered in the cold-stored transgenic fruit. Seedlings grown from 'chilled' and 'non-chilled' WT fruit, in addition to 'non-chilled' transgenic fruit were also exposed to 0 degrees C to test their photosynthetic response to chilling injury. Chilled WT seedlings adjusted their photosynthetic rates to reduce oxidative damage; 'non-chilled' WT seedlings did not. Photosynthetic parameters between transgenic seedlings were similar at 0 degrees C, but SlCBF1-OE showed more severe photoinhibition than ShCBF1-OE, mirroring phenotypic observations. These results suggest that 1) CBF1 overexpression accelerated fruit deterioration in response to cold storage, and 2) Chilling acclimation in fructus can increase chilling tolerance in seedling progeny of WT tomato.
PMID: 39161954
Genomics , IF:5.736 , 2024 Aug , V116 (5) : P110926 doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110926
Physiological and transcriptomic profiles reveal key regulatory pathways involved in cold resistance in sunflower seedlings.
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: renjiahong76@hotmail.com.; Biotechnology Research Institute, Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Chongqing Key Laboratory of Adversity Agriculture, Chongqing 401329, China. Electronic address: xiaoxuepan@126.com.; Department of Life Sciences, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, China. Electronic address: akeliu@126.com.
During sunflower growth, cold waves often occur and impede plant growth. Therefore, it is crucial to study the underlying mechanism of cold resistance in sunflowers. In this study, physiological analysis revealed that as cold stress increased, the levels of ROS, malondialdehyde, ascorbic acid, and dehydroascorbic acid and the activities of antioxidant enzymes increased. Transcriptomics further identified 10,903 DEGs between any two treatments. Clustering analysis demonstrated that the expression of MYB44a, MYB44b, MYB12, bZIP2 and bZIP4 continuously upregulated under cold stress. Cold stress can induce ROS accumulation, which interacts with hormone signals to activate cold-responsive transcription factors regulating target genes involved in antioxidant defense, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism enhancement for improved cold resistance in sunflowers. Additionally, the response of sunflowers to cold stress may be independent of the CBF pathway. These findings enhance our understanding of cold stress resistance in sunflowers and provide a foundation for genetic breeding.
PMID: 39178997
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Aug , V348 : P112237 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112237
Characterization and fine mapping of cold-inducible parthenocarpy in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: 2018204015@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: liji1981@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: 2019204025@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: yuhui_wang@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: chunyancheng@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: qzzhao@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: jfchen@njau.edu.cn.
Cold stress detrimentally influences fruit development, leading to a substantial yield reduction in many fruit-bearing vegetables. Cucumber, a vegetable of subtropical origin, is especially sensitive to cold. Cold-inducible parthenocarpy (CIP) promises fruit yield under cold conditions. Previously, we identified a CIP line EC5 in cucumber, which showed strong parthenocarpy and sustained fruit growth under cold conditions (16 degrees C day/10 degrees C night). However, the candidate gene and genetic mechanism underlying CIP in cucumber remain unknown. In this study, both BSA-seq and conventional QTL mapping strategies were employed on F(2) populations to delve into the genetic control of CIP. A single QTL, CIP5.1, was consistently mapped across two winter seasons in 2021 and 2022. Fine mapping delimited the CIP locus into a 38.3 kb region on chromosome 5, harboring 8 candidate genes. Among these candidates, CsAGL11 (CsaV3_5G040370) was identified, exhibiting multiple deletions/insertions in the promoter and 5'UTR region. The CsAGL11 gene encodes a MADS-box transcription factor protein, which is homologous to the genes previously recognized as negative regulators in ovule and fruit development of Arabidopsis and tomato. Correspondingly, cold treatment resulted in decreased expression of CsAGL11 during the early developmental stage of the fruit in EC5. A promoter activity assay confirmed promoter polymorphisms leading to weak transcriptional activation of CsAGL11 under cold conditions. This study deepens our understanding of the genetic characteristics of CIP and elucidates the potential role of the CsAGL11 gene in developing cucumber cultivars with enhanced fruiting under cold conditions.
PMID: 39182620
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Sep , V346 : P112172 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112172
Receptor-like kinase ERECTA negatively regulates anthocyanin accumulation in grape.
College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, No. 100, Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China.; Key Laboratory of Genetics and Fruit Development, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang Rd., Nanjing 210095, China.; Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.; College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, No. 100, Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China. Electronic address: jiahaifeng@gxu.edu.cn.
Receptor-like kinase (ERECTA, ER) is essential for mediating growth, development, and stress response signaling pathway in plants. In this study, we investigated the effect of VvER on anthocyanin synthesis as a regulatory factor in transgenic grape callus in response to chilling stress. Results showed that overexpression of VvER reduced the expression of transcription factors VvMYBA1, VvMYB5b, VvMYC2, and VvWDR1, as well as the structural genes VvCHS, VvCHI, VvDFR, VvLDOX, and VvUFGT, and inhibited the anthocyanins synthesis of grape callus at 25℃. VvER reduced proline content and antioxidant enzymes activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), and inhibited the expression of anthocyanin synthesis genes to reduce the cold resistance of grape callus. In transgenic Arabidopsis, overexpression of VvER promoted the elongation of Arabidopsis rosettes and sprigs. Under strong light treatment, VvER inhibited the accumulation of anthocyanins in Arabidopsis; Transient expression in strawberry fruit showed that VvER inhibited the synthesis of anthocyanin in strawberry fruit by inhibiting the expression of FaCHI, FaCHS, FaDFR and FaUFGT under low temperature treatment at 10 degrees C, but not under the normal temperature of 25℃. Using Yeast two-hybrid, we found that VvER interacted with transcription factor proteins including VvMYBA1, VvMYB5b and VvWDR1. Furthermore, VvER led to the repression of VvUFGT promoter activity and decreased the anthocyanin biosynthesis genes expression by downregulation MBW complex activity. Totally, VvER could inhibit anthocyanin biosynthesis and involve in the grape plant susceptible to cold stress for grape cultivation in northern China.
PMID: 38942388
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Aug , V213 : P108863 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108863
SMRT sequencing of a full-length transcriptome reveals cold induced alternative splicing in Vitis amurensis root.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.; Turpan Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinjiang, 830091, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China. Electronic address: xinhaiping@wbgcas.cn.
Alternative splicing enhances diversity at the transcriptional and protein levels that widely involved in plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses. V. amurensis is an extremely cold-tolerant wild grape variety, however, studies on alternative splicing (AS) in amur grape at low temperatures are currently poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed full-length transcriptome and RNA seq data at 0, 2, and 24 h after cold stress in V. amurensis roots. Following quality control and correction, 221,170 high-quality full-length non-concatemer (FLNC) reads were identified. A total of 16,181 loci and 30,733 isoforms were identified. These included 22,868 novel isoforms from annotated genes and 2815 isoforms from 2389 novel genes. Among the distinguished novel isoforms, 673 Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) and 18,164 novel isoforms open reading frame (ORF) region were found. A total of 2958 genes produced 8797 AS events, of which 189 genes were involved in the low-temperature response. Twelve transcription factors show AS during cold treatment and VaMYB108 was selected for initial exploration. Two transcripts, Chr05.63.1 (VaMYB108(short)) and Chr05.63.2 (VaMYB108(normal)) of VaMYB108, display up-regulated expression after cold treatment in amur grape roots and are both localized in the nucleus. Only VaMYB108(normal) exhibits transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of either VaMYB108(short) or VaMYB108(normal) in grape roots leads to increased expression of the other transcript and both increased chilling resistance of amur grape roots. The results improve and supplement the genome annotations and provide insights for further investigation into AS mechanisms during cold stress in V. amurensis.
PMID: 38917739
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Sep , V214 : P108954 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108954
Phytochrome interacting factor ZmPIF6 simultaneously enhances chilling tolerance and grain size in rice.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.; Hezhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hezhou, 542813, China.; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. Electronic address: guoml@yzu.edu.cn.; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. Electronic address: gaoyong@yzu.edu.cn.
Chilling is a prevalent type of abiotic stress that adversely affects agricultural productivity worldwide. Phytochrome interacting factors (PIFs) are a group of transcription factor that are crucial for plant abiotic stress response. Our research reveals that the maize PIF family gene ZmPIF6 is responsive to chilling stress, which mitigates the negative impacts of chilling through reducing reactive oxygen species content and enhancing cell membrane stability at the physiological and biochemical levels. We also found that the ZmPIF6 overexpression lines showed a significant increase in grain size, encompassing both length and width, which mainly due to the increase in cell size. In addition, digital gene expression results suggested that ZmPIF6 regulates the expression of cold-related and grain size-related genes in rice. In light of these findings, ZmPIF6 has a hopeful prospect as a candidate gene of chilling tolerance and crop productivity in the transgenic breeding.
PMID: 39053314
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Sep , V214 : P108878 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108878
Glutathione is required for nitric oxide-induced chilling tolerance by synergistically regulating antioxidant system, polyamine synthesis, and mitochondrial function in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).
Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China; Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Construction Crops, Shihezi, Xinjiang,832003, China.; College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China.; Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China; Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Construction Crops, Shihezi, Xinjiang,832003, China. Electronic address: jinxiacui77@163.com.
In this paper, we discussed the physiological mechanism of enhanced chilling tolerance with combined treatment of nitric oxide (NO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in cucumber seedlings. With prolonged low temperature (10 degrees C/6 degrees C), oxidative stress improved, which was manifested as an increase the hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and malondialdehyde (MDA), causing cell membrane damage, particularly after 48 h of chilling stress. Exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP, NO donor) enhanced the activity of nitric oxide synthase NOS-like, the contents of GSH and polyamines (PAs), and the cellular redox state, thus regulating the activities of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation components (CI, CII, CIV, CV). However, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, a GSH synthase inhibitor) treatment drastically reversed or attenuated the effects of NO. Importantly, the combination of SNP and GSH treatment had the best effect in alleviating chilling-induced oxidative stress by upregulating the activities of antioxidant enzyme, including superoxidase dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) and improved the PAs content, thereby increased activities of CI, CII, CIII, CIV, and CV. This potentially contributes to the maintenance of oxidative phosphorylation originating from mitochondria. In addition, the high activity of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) in the combined treatment of SNP and GSH possibly mediates the conversion of NO and GSH to S-nitrosoglutathione. Our study revealed that the combined treatment with NO and GSH to synergistically improve the cold tolerance of cucumber seedlings under prolonged low-temperature stress.
PMID: 38968841
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Aug , V213 : P108832 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108832
Coronatine-treated seedlings increase the tolerance of cotton to low-temperature stress.
Research Institute of Nuclear Technology and Biotechnology, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Desert Oasis Ministry of Agriculture, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830091, China; Xinjiang Crop Chemical Regulation Engineering Technology Research Center and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830091, China; The State Key Laboratory of Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation of Crop Resistance in Arid Desert Regions (Preparation), Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Crop Biotechnology, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830091, China.; Xinjiang Crop Chemical Regulation Engineering Technology Research Center and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830091, China; State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, Engineering Research Center of PGR, Ministry of Education & College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, and China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.; Xinjiang Crop Chemical Regulation Engineering Technology Research Center and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830091, China.; College of Agricultural, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830091, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, Engineering Research Center of PGR, Ministry of Education & College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, and China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China. Electronic address: dls@bua.edu.cn.; Research Institute of Nuclear Technology and Biotechnology, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Desert Oasis Ministry of Agriculture, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830091, China; Xinjiang Crop Chemical Regulation Engineering Technology Research Center and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830091, China; The State Key Laboratory of Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation of Crop Resistance in Arid Desert Regions (Preparation), Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Crop Biotechnology, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830091, China. Electronic address: leib668@xaas.ac.cn.
Coronatine, an analog of Jasmonic acid (JA), has been shown to enhance crop tolerance to abiotic stresses, including chilling stress. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of Coronatine on cotton seedlings under low temperature using transcriptomic and metabolomics analysis. Twelve cDNA libraries from cotton seedlings were constructed, and pairwise comparisons revealed a total of 48,322 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis identified the involvement of these unigenes in various metabolic pathways, including Starch and sucrose metabolism, Sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism, ABC transporters, and Plant hormone signal transduction. Additionally, substantial accumulations of jasmonates (JAs), abscisic acid and major cell wall metabolites were observed. Transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of regulatory genes, and qRT-PCR analysis confirmed the expression patterns of 9 selected genes. Co-expression analysis showed that the JA-responsive genes might form a network module with ABA biosynthesis genes or cell wall biosynthesis genes, suggesting the existence of a COR-JA-cellulose and COR-JA-ABA-cellulose regulatory pathway in cotton seedlings. Collectively, our findings uncover new insights into the molecular basis of coronatine--associated cold tolerance in cotton seedlings.
PMID: 38896915
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Aug , V24 (1) : P800 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05524-4
Genome-wide identification and analysis of abiotic stress responsiveness of the mitogen-activated protein kinase gene family in Medicago sativa L.
Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.; College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.; Institute of Forage Crop Science, Ordos Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Ordos, 017000, China.; Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China. chenlin@caas.cn.
BACKGROUND: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is crucial cell signal transduction mechanism that plays an important role in plant growth and development, metabolism, and stress responses. The MAPK cascade includes three protein kinases, MAPK, MAPKK, and MAPKKK. The three protein kinases mediate signaling to downstream response molecules by sequential phosphorylation. The MAPK gene family has been identified and analyzed in many plants, however it has not been investigated in alfalfa. RESULTS: In this study, Medicago sativa MAPK genes (referred to as MsMAPKs) were identified in the tetraploid alfalfa genome. Eighty MsMAPKs were divided into four groups, with eight in group A, 21 in group B, 21 in group C and 30 in group D. Analysis of the basic structures of the MsMAPKs revealed presence of a conserved TXY motif. Groups A, B and C contained a TEY motif, while group D contained a TDY motif. RNA-seq analysis revealed tissue-specificity of two MsMAPKs and tissue-wide expression of 35 MsMAPKs. Further analysis identified MsMAPK members responsive to drought, salt, and cold stress conditions. Two MsMAPKs (MsMAPK70 and MsMAPK75) responds to salt and cold stresses; two MsMAPKs (MsMAPK60 and MsMAPK73) responds to cold and drought stresses; four MsMAPKs (MsMAPK1, MsMAPK33, MsMAPK64 and MsMAPK71) responds to salt and drought stresses; and two MsMAPKs (MsMAPK5 and MsMAPK7) responded to all three stresses. CONCLUSION: This study comprehensively identified and analysed the alfalfa MAPK gene family. Candidate genes related to abiotic stresses were screened by analysing the RNA-seq data. The results provide key information for further analysis of alfalfa MAPK gene functions and improvement of stress tolerance.
PMID: 39179986
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Aug , V24 (1) : P750 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05463-0
Identifying dryland-resilient chickpea genotypes for autumn sowing, with a focus on multi-trait stability parameters and biochemical enzyme activity.
Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran. hatamimaleki@yahoo.com.; Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (DARI), Agriculture Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Maragheh, Iran. h.hosnian@areeo.ac.ir.; Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Sanandaj, Iran.; Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Zanjan, Iran.; Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Hamedan, Iran.
BACKGROUND: Chickpea is a key pulse crop grown in the spring in dryland regions. The cold resistance potential of chickpeas allows for the development of genotypes with varying sowing dates to take advantage of autumn and winter rainfall, particularly in dryland regions. In this study, we assessed grain yield, plant height, 100-seed weight, days to maturity, and days to flowering of 17 chickpea genotypes in five autumn-sown dryland regions from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, the response of selected chickpea genotypes to cold stress was examined at temperatures of -4 degrees C, 4 degrees C, and 22 degrees C by analyzing biochemical enzymes. RESULTS: Mixed linear model of ANOVA revealed a significant genotype x environment interaction for all traits measured, indicating varying reactions of genotypes across test environments. This study reported low estimates of broad-sense heritability for days to flowering (0.34), days to maturity (0.13), and grain yield (0.08). Plant height and seed weight exhibited the highest heritability, with genotypic selection accuracies of 0.73 and 0.92, respectively. Moreover, partial least square regression highlighted the impactful role of rainfall during all months except of October, November, and February on grain yield and its interaction with environments in autumn-planted chickpeas. Among the genotypes studied, G9, G10, and G17 emerged as superior based on stability parameters and grain yield. In particular, genotype G9 stood out as a promising genotype for dryland regions, considering both MTSI and genotype by yield*trait aproaches. The cold assay indicated that - 4 degrees C is crucial for distinguishing between susceptible and resistant genotypes. The results showed the important role of the enzymes CAT and GPX in contributing to the cold tolerance of genotype G9 in autumn-sown chickpeas. CONCLUSIONS: Significant GxE for agro-morphological traits of chickpea shows prerequisite for multi-trial analysis. Chickpea;s direct root system cause that monthly rainfall during plant establishment has no critical role in its yield interaction with dryland environment. Considering the importance of agro-morphological traits and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield, the utilization of multiple-trait stability approches is propose. Evaluation of chickpea germplasm reaction against cold stress is necessary for autumn-sowing. Finally, autumn sowing of genotype FLIP 10-128 C in dryland conditions can led to significant crop performance.
PMID: 39103803
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Aug , V24 (1) : P741 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05136-y
Transcriptomic analyses provide molecular insight into the cold stress response of cold-tolerant alfalfa.
Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Qinghai University, No.1 Wei'er Road, Biopark, Chengbei District, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, China.; Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Qinghai University, No.1 Wei'er Road, Biopark, Chengbei District, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, China. 294907827@qq.com.; Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Qinghai University, No.1 Wei'er Road, Biopark, Chengbei District, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, China. xiuzhang11@163.com.; College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, Qinghai Province, China.
BACKGROUND: Daye No.3 is a novel cultivar of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) that is well suited for cultivation in high-altitude regions such as the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau owing to its high yield and notable cold resistance. However, the limited availability of transcriptomic information has hindered our investigation into the potential mechanisms of cold tolerance in this cultivar. Consequently, we conducted de novo transcriptome assembly to overcome this limitation. Subsequently, we compared the patterns of gene expression in Daye No. 3 during cold acclimatization and exposure to cold stress at various time points. RESULTS: A total of 15 alfalfa samples were included in the transcriptome assembly, resulting in 141.97 Gb of clean bases. A total of 441 DEGs were induced by cold acclimation, while 4525, 5016, and 8056 DEGs were identified at 12 h, 24 h, and 36 h after prolonged cold stress at 4 degrees C, respectively. The consistency between the RT‒qPCR and transcriptome data confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the transcriptomic data. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that many genes related to photosynthesis were enriched under cold stress. STEM analysis demonstrated that genes involved in nitrogen metabolism and the TCA cycle were consistently upregulated under cold stress, while genes associated with photosynthesis, particularly antenna protein genes, were downregulated. PPI network analysis revealed that ubiquitination-related ribosomal proteins act as hub genes in response to cold stress. Additionally, the plant hormone signaling pathway was activated under cold stress, suggesting its vital role in the cold stress response of alfalfa. CONCLUSIONS: Ubiquitination-related ribosomal proteins induced by cold acclimation play a crucial role in early cold signal transduction. As hub genes, these ubiquitination-related ribosomal proteins regulate a multitude of downstream genes in response to cold stress. The upregulation of genes related to nitrogen metabolism and the TCA cycle and the activation of the plant hormone signaling pathway contribute to the enhanced cold tolerance of alfalfa.
PMID: 39095692
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Aug , V24 (1) : P773 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05490-x
Chromosome-level genome provides new insight into the overwintering process of Korla pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yu).
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, China.; Xinjiang Production and Construction Crops, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Tiemenguan, 841007, China.; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200123, China.; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, China. lijin@shzu.edu.cn.; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, China. zjbshz@126.com.
Korla pear has a unique taste and aroma and is a breeding parent of numerous pear varieties. It is susceptible to Valsa mali var. pyri, which invades bark wounded by freezing injury. Its genetic relationships have not been fully defined and could offer insight into the mechanism for freezing tolerance and disease resistance. We generated a high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly for Korla pear via the Illumina and PacBio circular consensus sequencing (CCS) platforms and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C). The Korla pear genome is ~ 496.63 Mb, and 99.18% of it is assembled to 17 chromosomes. Collinearity and phylogenetic analyses indicated that Korla might be derived from Pyrus pyrifolia and that it diverged ~ 3.9-4.6 Mya. During domestication, seven late embryogenesis abundant (LEA), two dehydrin (DHN), and 54 disease resistance genes were lost from Korla pear compared with P. betulifolia. Moreover, 21 LEA and 31 disease resistance genes were common to the Korla pear and P. betulifolia genomes but were upregulated under overwintering only in P. betulifolia because key cis elements were missing in Korla pear. Gene deletion and downregulation during domestication reduced freezing tolerance and disease resistance in Korla pear. These results could facilitate the breeding of novel pear varieties with high biotic and abiotic stress resistance.
PMID: 39138412
Tree Physiol , IF:4.196 , 2024 Aug , V44 (8) doi: 10.1093/treephys/tpae075
Comparative transcriptome provides new insights into the molecular regulation of olive trees to chilling stress.
Gansu Research Academy of Forestry Science and Technology, Duanjiatan Street, Lanzhou 730020, China.; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.; College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Yintan Road, 730070 Lanzhou, China.
Olive (Olea europaea L.), an economically important oil-producing crop, is sensitive to low temperature, which severely limits its productivity and geographical distribution. However, the underlying mechanism of cold tolerance in olive remains elusive. In this study, a chilling experiment (4 degrees C) on the living saplings of two olive cultivars revealed that O. europaea cv. Arbequina showed stronger cold tolerance with greater photosynthetic activity compared with O. europaea cv. Leccino. Transcriptome analyses revealed that early light-inducible protein 1 (ELIP1), the main regulator for chlorophyll synthesis, is dramatically induced to protect the photosynthesis at low temperatures. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, yeast one-hybrid and luciferase assays demonstrated that transcription factor bHLH66 serves as an important regulator of ELIP1 transcription by binding to the G-box motif in the promoter. Taken together, our research revealed a novel transcriptional module consisting of bHLH66-ELIP1 in the adaptation of olive trees to cold stress.
PMID: 38965676
FEBS Lett , IF:4.124 , 2024 Aug , V598 (15) : P1888-1898 doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.14969
The HPE1 RNA-binding protein modulates chloroplast RNA editing to promote photosynthesis under cold stress in Arabidopsis.
Institute of Medical Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China.; School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.; Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, China.; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Research on Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China.; State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China.
Cold stress has severe negative consequences for plant growth and crop yield. Here, we report that an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant that lacks the HPE1 gene, which encodes an RNA-binding protein, maintains higher photosynthetic activity under cold stress, together with higher accumulation of thylakoid proteins. We showed that HPE1 interacts with MORF2 and MORF9 and thereby mediates RNA editing in chloroplasts. Loss of HPE1 function increased the editing efficiency at four RNA editing sites, rpoC-488, ndhB-149, ndhB-746 and matK-706, under cold stress and altered the expression of nuclear photosynthesis-related genes and cold-responsive genes. We propose that HPE1-mediated RNA editing acts as a trigger for retrograde signaling that affects photosynthesis under cold stress.
PMID: 38977940
Planta , IF:4.116 , 2024 Aug , V260 (3) : P67 doi: 10.1007/s00425-024-04496-x
Physiological and molecular responses of 'Hamlin' sweet orange trees expressing the VvmybA1 gene under cold stress conditions.
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA.; Department of Plant Pathology, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, USA.; Department of Horticultural Sciences, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA. manjul@ufl.edu.; Plant Breeding Graduate Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. manjul@ufl.edu.
Overexpression of VvmybA1 transcription factor in 'Hamlin' citrus enhances cold tolerance by increasing anthocyanin accumulation. This results in improved ROS scavenging, altered gene expression, and stomatal regulation, highlighting anthocyanins' essential role in citrus cold acclimation. Cold stress is a significant threat to citrus cultivation, impacting tree health and productivity. Anthocyanins are known for their role as pigments and have emerged as key mediators of plant defense mechanisms against environmental stressors. This study investigated the potential of anthocyanin overexpression regulated by grape (Vitis vinifera) VvmybA1 transcription factor to enhance cold stress tolerance in citrus trees. Transgenic 'Hamlin' citrus trees overexpressing VvmybA1 were exposed to a 30-day cold stress period at 4 degrees C along with the control wild-type trees. Our findings reveal that anthocyanin accumulation significantly influences chlorophyll content and their fluorescence parameters, affecting leaf responses to cold stress. Additionally, we recorded enhanced ROS scavenging capacity and distinct expression patterns of key transcription factors and antioxidant-related genes in the transgenic leaves. Furthermore, VvmybA1 overexpression affected stomatal aperture regulation by moderating ABA biosynthesis, resulting in differential responses in a stomatal opening between transgenic and wild-type trees under cold stress. Transgenic trees exhibited reduced hydrogen peroxide levels, enhanced flavonoids, radical scavenging activity, and altered phytohormonal profiles. These findings highlighted the role of VvmybA1-mediated anthocyanin accumulation in enhancing cold tolerance. The current study also underlines the potential of anthocyanin overexpression as a critical regulator of the cold acclimation process by scavenging ROS in plant tissues.
PMID: 39088064
Plant Mol Biol , IF:4.076 , 2024 Aug , V114 (5) : P89 doi: 10.1007/s11103-024-01482-5
Transcriptome analysis of Sesuvium portulacastrum L. uncovers key genes and pathways involved in root formation in response to low-temperature stress.
Key Laboratory for Green Mariculture of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, 315832, PR China.; Xiangshan Laifa Aquaculture Hatchery Facility, Ningbo, 315704, PR China.; Key Laboratory for Green Mariculture of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, 315832, PR China. jiangmaowang@nbu.edu.cn.
Sesuvium portulacastrum L., a perennial facultative halophyte, is extensively distributed across tropical and subtropical coastal regions. Its limited cold tolerance significantly impacts both the productivity and the geographical distribution of this species in higher-latitude areas. In this study, we employed RNA-Seq technology to delineate the transcriptomic alterations in Sesuvium plants exposed to low temperatures, thus advancing our comprehension of the molecular underpinnings of this physiological adaptation and root formation. Our findings demonstrated differential expression of 10,805, 16,389, and 10,503 genes in the low versus moderate temperature (LT vs. MT), moderate versus high temperature (MT vs. HT), and low versus high temperature (LT vs. HT) comparative analyses, respectively. Notably, the gene categories "structural molecule activity", "ribosome biogenesis", and "ribosome" were particularly enriched among the LT vs. HT-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs). When synthesizing the insights from these three comparative studies, the principal pathways associated with the cold response mechanism were identified as "carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms", "starch and sucrose metabolism", "plant hormone signal transduction", "glycolysis/gluconeogenesis", and "photosynthesis". In addition, we elucidated the involvement of auxin signaling pathways, adventitious root formation (ARF), lateral root formation (LRF), and novel genes associated with shoot system development in root formation. Subsequently, we constructed a network diagram to investigate the interplay between hormone levels and pivotal genes, thereby clarifying the regulatory pathways of plant root formation under low-temperature stress and isolating key genes instrumental in root development. This study has provided critical insights into the molecular mechanisms that facilitate the adaptation to cold stress and root formation in S. portulacastrum.
PMID: 39168922
Res Microbiol , IF:3.992 , 2024 Jul : P104230 doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2024.104230
Effect of gamma irradiation on the proteogenome of cold-acclimated Kocuria rhizophila PT10.
National Agronomy Institute (INAT), Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082, Tunis, Mahrajene, Tunisia; Laboratory "Energy and Matter for Development of Nuclear Sciences" (LR16CNSTN02), National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology (CNSTN), Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020, Tunisia. Electronic address: guesmisihem152@gmail.com.; Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics - LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13, Place Pasteur, Tunis, 1002, Tunisia. Electronic address: kais.ghedira@pasteur.tn.; Univ Lyon, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Ecologie Microbienne, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France; CNRS, UMR 5557, Ecologie Microbienne, 69622 Villeurbanne, Cedex, INRA, UMR1418, Villeurbanne, France. Electronic address: petar.pujic@univ-lyon1.fr.; Universite de Tunis El Manar, Faculte des Sciences de Tunis, LR03ES03 Microorganismes et Biomolecules Actives, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: najjariafef@gmail.com.; Universite Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Departement Medicaments et Technologies pour la Sante (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols sur Ceze, France. Electronic address: guylaine.miotello@cea.fr.; Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, 2020, Ariana, Tunisia. Electronic address: ameur.cherif@uma.tn.; Radiation Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 48-1 Oka, Asaka, Saitama, 351-8510, Japan. Electronic address: narumi@toyo.jp.; Universite Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Departement Medicaments et Technologies pour la Sante (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols sur Ceze, France. Electronic address: jean.armengaud@cea.fr.; Univ Lyon, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Ecologie Microbienne, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France; CNRS, UMR 5557, Ecologie Microbienne, 69622 Villeurbanne, Cedex, INRA, UMR1418, Villeurbanne, France. Electronic address: philippe.normand@univ-lyon1.fr.; Laboratory "Energy and Matter for Development of Nuclear Sciences" (LR16CNSTN02), National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology (CNSTN), Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020, Tunisia; Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, 2020, Ariana, Tunisia. Electronic address: haitham.sghaier@cnstn.rnrt.tn.
The effects of ionizing radiation (IR) on the protein dynamics of cold-stressed cells of a radioresistant actinobacterium, Kocuria rhizophila PT10, isolated from the rhizosphere of the desert plant Panicum turgidum were investigated using a shotgun methodology based on nanoflow liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Overall, 1487 proteins were certified, and their abundances were compared between the irradiated condition and control. IR of cold-acclimated PT10 triggered the over-abundance of proteins involved in (1) a strong transcriptional regulation, (2) amidation of peptidoglycan and preservation of cell envelope integrity, (3) detoxification of reactive electrophiles and regulation of the redox status of proteins, (4) base excision repair and prevention of mutagenesis and (5) the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and production of fatty acids. Also, one of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is the SOS response of stressed PT10. Moreover, a comparison of top hits radio-modulated proteins of cold-acclimated PT10 with proteomics data from gamma-irradiated Deinococcus deserti showed that stressed PT10 has a specific response characterised by a high over-abundance of NemA, GatD, and UdgB.
PMID: 39089347
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2024 Aug , V25 (1) : P815 doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10721-4
Genome-wide characterization of DELLA gene family in blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) and their expression profiles in development and response to abiotic stress.
The Engineering Research Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, Ludong University, 186 Hongqizhong Road, Yantai, 264025, China. hjzhou@ldu.edu.cn.; Bestplant (Shandong) Stem Cell Engineering Co., Ltd, 300 Changjiang Road, Yantai, 264001, China. hjzhou@ldu.edu.cn.; The Engineering Research Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, Ludong University, 186 Hongqizhong Road, Yantai, 264025, China.; Bestplant (Shandong) Stem Cell Engineering Co., Ltd, 300 Changjiang Road, Yantai, 264001, China.; The Engineering Research Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, Ludong University, 186 Hongqizhong Road, Yantai, 264025, China. leiyang@nju.edu.cn.; Bestplant (Shandong) Stem Cell Engineering Co., Ltd, 300 Changjiang Road, Yantai, 264001, China. leiyang@nju.edu.cn.
BACKGROUND: The DELLA proteins, a class of GA signaling repressors, belong to the GRAS family of plant-specific nuclear proteins. Members of DELLA gene family encode transcriptional regulators with diverse functions in plant development and abiotic stress responses. To date, DELLAs have been identified in various plant species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Malus domestica, Populus trichocarpa, and other land plants. Most information of DELLA family genes was obtained from A. thaliana, whereas little is known about the DELLA gene family in blueberry. RESULTS: In this study, we identified three DELLA genes in blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii, VdDELLA) and provided a complete overview of VdDELLA gene family, describing chromosome localization, protein properties, conserved domain, motif organization, and phylogenetic analysis. Three VdDELLA members, containing two highly conserved DELLA domain and GRAS domain, were distributed across three chromosomes. Additionally, cis-acting elements analysis indicated that VdDELLA genes might play a critical role in blueberry developmental processes, hormone, and stress responses. Expression analysis using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that all of three VdDELLA genes were differentially expressed across various tissues. VdDELLA2 was the most highly expressed VdDELLA in all denoted tissues, with a highest expression in mature fruits. In addition, all of the three VdDELLA genes actively responded to diverse abiotic stresses. Based on qRT-PCR analysis, VdDELLA2 might act as a key regulator in V. darrowii in response to salt stress, whereas VdDELLA1 and VdDELLA2 might play an essential role in cold stress response. Under drought stress, all of three VdDELLA genes were involved in mediating drought response. Furthermore, their transiently co-localization with nuclear markers in A. thaliana protoplasts demonstrated their transcriptional regulator roles. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, three VdDELLA genes were identified in V. darrowii genome. Three VdDELLA genes were closely related to the C. moschata DELLA genes, S. lycopersicum DELLA genes, and M. domestica DELLA genes, respectively, indicating their similar biological functions. Expression analysis indicated that VdDELLA genes were highly efficient in blueberry fruit development. Expression patterns under different stress conditions revealed the differentially expressed VdDELLA genes responding to salt, drought, and cold stress. Overall, these results enrich our understanding of evolutionary relationship and potential functions of VdDELLA genes, which provide valuable information for further studies on genetic improvement of the plant yield and plant resistance.
PMID: 39210263
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2024 Aug , V25 (1) : P779 doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10690-8
Identification and expression analysis of CCCH gene family and screening of key low temperature stress response gene CbuC3H24 and CbuC3H58 in Catalpa bungei.
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Beijing, 102300, China.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.; Inner Mongolia Academy of Forestry, Hohhot, 010010, China.; Henan Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Eco-economic Woody Plant, Pingdingshan University, Henan, 467000, China.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Beijing, 102300, China. hury@caf.ac.cn.
Catalpa bungei, a tree indigenous to China, is renowned for its superior timber quality and as an ornamental in horticulture. To promote the cultivation of C. bungei in cold regions and expand its distribution, enhancing its cold tolerance is essential. The CCCH gene family is widely involved in plant growth, development, and expression under stress conditions, including low-temperature stress. However, a comprehensive identification and analysis of these genes have not yet been conducted. This study aims to identify key cold-tolerance-related genes within the CCCH gene family of C. bungei, providing the necessary theoretical support for its expansion in cold regions. In this study, 61 CCCH genes within C. bungei were identified and characterized. Phylogenetic assessment divided these genes into 9 subfamilies, with 55 members mapped across 16 chromosomes. The analysis of gene structures and protein motifs indicated that members within the same subfamily shared similar exon/intron distribution and motif patterns, supporting the phylogenetic classification. Collinearity analysis suggested that segmental duplications have played a significant role in the expansion of the C. bungei CCCH gene family. Notably, RNA sequencing analysis under 4 degrees C cold stress conditions identified CbuC3H24 and CbuC3H58 as exhibiting the most significant responses, highlighting their importance within the CCCH zinc finger family in response to cold stress. The findings of this study lay a theoretical foundation for further exploring the mechanisms of cold tolerance in C. bungei, providing crucial insights for its cultivation in cold regions.
PMID: 39128988
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2024 Aug , V13 (16) doi: 10.3390/plants13162212
Comparative Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Cotyledons in Response to Cold Stress.
Crop Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China.; Key Laboratory of Hunan Provincial on Crop Epigenetic Regulation and Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.; Yuelushan Laboratory, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China.; College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
Cold stress affects the seed germination and early growth of winter rapeseed, leading to yield losses. We employed transmission electron microscopy, physiological analyses, metabolome profiling, and transcriptome sequencing to understand the effect of cold stress (0 degrees C, LW) on the cotyledons of cold-tolerant (GX74) and -sensitive (XY15) rapeseeds. The mesophyll cells in cold-treated XY15 were severely damaged compared to slightly damaged cells in GX74. The fructose, glucose, malondialdehyde, and proline contents increased after cold stress in both genotypes; however, GX74 had significantly higher content than XY15. The pyruvic acid content increased after cold stress in GX74, but decreased in XY15. Metabolome analysis detected 590 compounds, of which 32 and 74 were differentially accumulated in GX74 (CK vs. cold stress) and XY15 (CK vs. cold stressed). Arachidonic acid and magnoflorine were the most up-accumulated metabolites in GX74 subjected to cold stress compared to CK. There were 461 and 1481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to XY15 and GX74 rapeseeds, respectively. Generally, the commonly expressed genes had higher expressions in GX74 compared to XY15 in CK and cold stress conditions. The expression changes in DEGs related to photosynthesis-antenna proteins, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and sugar biosynthesis-related pathways were consistent with the fructose and glucose levels in cotyledons. Compared to XY15, GX74 showed upregulation of a higher number of genes/transcripts related to arachidonic acid, pyruvic acid, arginine and proline biosynthesis, cell wall changes, reactive oxygen species scavenging, cold-responsive pathways, and phytohormone-related pathways. Taken together, our results provide a detailed overview of the cold stress responses in rapeseed cotyledons.
PMID: 39204648
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2024 Aug , V13 (16) doi: 10.3390/plants13162201
Comparative Analysis of the Characteristics of Two Hardy Kiwifruit Cultivars (Actinidia arguta cv. Cheongsan and Daebo) Stored at Low Temperatures.
Special Forest Resources Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon 16631, Republic of Korea.
A cold storage system is useful for maintaining the quality of hardy kiwifruit. However, extended cold storage periods inevitably result in cold stress, leading to lower fruit marketability; the severity of chilling injury depends on fruit types and cultivars. In this study, the impact of cold storage conditions on the physicochemical properties and antioxidant capacity of two phenotypically different hardy kiwifruit cultivars-'Cheongsan' (large type) and 'Daebo' (small type)-stored at low (L; 3 degrees C, relative humidity [RH]; 85-90%) and moderate-low (ML; 5 degrees C, RH; 85-90%) temperatures was determined. Significant differences in fruit firmness and titratable acidity between treatments L and ML were observed in both cultivars during the experimental storage period. Meanwhile, the browning and pitting rates of the 'Cheongsan' fruits in treatment L increased for 8 weeks compared with those of the 'Daebo' fruits in treatments L and ML; nonetheless, fruit decay was observed in the 'Daebo' fruits in treatment ML after 6 weeks. The total chlorophyll, carotenoid, flavonoid, and ascorbic acid concentrations as well as the antioxidant activities of both the cultivars significantly differed between treatments L and ML. After 2 weeks of storage, the 'Cheongsan' fruits in treatment L had lower antioxidant activities and ascorbic acid content than those in treatment ML. These results demonstrate that the quality attributes and antioxidant activity of hardy kiwifruit are influenced by the low-temperature storage conditions and the specific kiwifruit cultivars. Our findings suggest that optimal cold storage conditions, specific to each hardy kiwifruit cultivar, promise to maintain fruit quality, including their health-promoting compounds, during long-term storage.
PMID: 39204638
Plants (Basel) , IF:3.935 , 2024 Jul , V13 (15) doi: 10.3390/plants13152119
Identification of DREB Family Genes in Banana and Their Function under Drought and Cold Stress.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.; State Key Laboratory of Biological Breeding for Tropical Crops, Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China.; Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rual Affairs, Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Germplasm Resources Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province, Haikou 571101, China.; Hainan Seed Industry Laboratory, Sanya 572000, China.; Hainan Key Laboratory for Biosafety Monitoring and Molecular Breeding in Off-Season Reproduction Regions, Sanya Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572000, China.
Bananas are one of the most important cash crops in the tropics and subtropics. Drought and low-temperature stress affect the growth of banana. The DREB (dehydration responsive element binding protein) gene family, as one of the major transcription factor families, plays crucial roles in defense against abiotic stress. Currently, systematic analyses of the banana DREB (MaDREB) gene family have not yet been reported. In this study, 103 members of the MaDREB gene family were identified in the banana genome. In addition, transcriptomic analysis results revealed that MaDREBs responded to drought and cold stress. The expression of MaDREB14/22/51 was induced by drought and cold stress; these geneswere selected for further analysis. The qRT-PCR validation results confirmed the transcriptome results. Additionally, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing MaDREB14/22/51 exhibited enhanced resistance to drought and cold stress by reducing MDA content and increasing PRO and soluble sugar content. This study enhances our understanding of the function of the MaDREB gene family, provides new insights into their regulatory role under abiotic stress, and lays a good foundation for improving drought and cold stress-tolerant banana verities.
PMID: 39124237
Life (Basel) , IF:3.817 , 2024 Aug , V14 (8) doi: 10.3390/life14081015
The Role of Brassinosteroids in Plant Cold Stress Response.
State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Temperature affects plant growth and geographical distribution. Cold stress occurs when temperatures fall below the physiologically optimal range for plants, causing permanent and irreversible damage to plant growth, development, and production. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroid hormones that play an important role in plant growth and various stress responses. Recent studies have shown that low temperatures affect BR biosynthesis in many plant species and that BR signaling is involved in the regulation of plant tolerance to low temperatures, both in the CBF-dependent and CBF-independent pathways. These two regulatory pathways correspond to transient and acclimation responses of low temperature, respectively. The crosstalk between BRs and other hormones is a significant factor in low-temperature tolerance. We provide an overview of recent developments in our knowledge of BRs' function in plant responses to cold stress and how they interact with other plant hormones in this review.
PMID: 39202757
BMC Microbiol , IF:3.605 , 2024 Aug , V24 (1) : P304 doi: 10.1186/s12866-024-03453-8
Role of ectomycorrhizal colonization in enhancement of nutrients for survival of plants collected from mountainous cold stress areas.
Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan. ash.dr88@gmail.com.; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, 63514, Egypt.; Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.; Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar.; Laboratoire CHEMBIOPRO (Chimie et Biotechnologie des Produits Naturels), Universite de La Reunion, ESIROI Departement agroalimentaire, 15 avenue Rene Cassin, Saint-Denis, F-97490, France.; Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 116B, Krakow, 30 149, Poland.; Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doswiadczalna 4, Lublin, 20-290, Poland.
BACKGROUND: Ectomycorrhizal (ECM and ECM-like) structures associated with plant root systems are a challenge for scientists. The dispersion pattern of roots within the soil profile and the nutritional conditions are both favourable factors to motivate the plants to make ECM associations. RESULTS: This study discusses the colonization of mycorrhizal associations in Kobresia and Polygonum species including Polygonum viviparum, Kobresia filicina, K. myosuroides, Alnus nitida, Betula pendula, Pinus sylvestris, and Trifolium repens grown naturally in cold stressed soils of Gilgit-Baltistan (high-altitude alpine Deosai plains), Hazara, Swat, Dir, and Bajaur. Sieved soil batches were exposed to +5 degrees C (control), -10, -20, -30, -40, -50, -125 degrees C for 5 h, and selected plants were sown to these soils for 10 weeks under favourable conditions for ECM colonization. Ectomycorrhizal associations were examined in the above mentioned plants. Some ECM fungi have dark mycelia that look like the mantle and Hartig net. Examples of these are Kobresia filicina, K. myosuroides, and Polygonum viviparum. Findings of this study revealed that K. myosuroides excelled in ECM root tip length, dry mass, and NH(4) concentration at -125 degrees C. Contrarily, A. nitida demonstrated the lower values, indicated its minimum tolerance. Notably, T. repens boasted the highest nitrogen concentration (18.7 +/- 1.31 mg/g), while P. sylvestris led in phosphorus (3.2 +/- 0.22 mg/g). The B. pendula showed the highest potassium concentration (9.4 +/- 0.66 mg/g), emphasising species-specific nutrient uptake capabilities in extreme cold conditions. The PCA analysis revealed that the parameters, e.g., NH(4) in soil mix (NH(4)), NO(3) in soil mix (NO(3)), phosphorus in soil in species of Polygonum viviparum, Kobresia filicina, K. myosuroides, Alnus nitida, Betula pendula, Pinus sylvestris, and Trifolium repens are most accurately represented in cases of + 5 degrees C, -10 degrees C, and -20 degrees C temperatures. On the other hand, the parameters for ECM root tips (ECM) and Dry Mass (DM) are best described in -40 degrees C, -50 degrees C, and - 125 degrees C temperatures. All parameters have a strong influence on the variability of the system indicated the efficiency of ECM. The heatmap supported the nutrients positively correlated with ECM colonization with the host plants. CONCLUSION: At lower temperatures, hyphae and spores in roots were reduced, while soluble phosphorus concentrations of leaves were increased in cold stress soils. Maximum foliar nutrient concentrations were found in K. myosuroides at the lowest temperature treatments due to efficient functioning and colonization of ECM.
PMID: 39138453
Cryobiology , IF:2.487 , 2024 Aug : P104954 doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104954
Exploring freeze-injury mechanism through ion-specific analysis of leachate from reversibly versus irreversibly injured Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves.
Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Electronic address: rarora@iastate.edu.
Present study analyzed four cations (K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Fe(2+)) in leachate from freeze-injured spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. 'Reflect') leaves exposed for four freezing-durations (FDs) (0.5, 3.0, 5.5, 10.5 h) at -4.8 degrees C. Comparison of electrolyte leakage from right-after-thaw with that after 6-d recovery revealed that injury at 0.5 or 3 h FDs was recoverable but irreversible at 5.5 or 10.5 h FDs. Data suggests leakage of K(+), most abundant cation in leachate, can serve as proxy for total electrolyte-leakage in determining plant freezing-tolerance and an ionic marker discerning moderate vs. severe injury. Quantitative correspondence between Ca(2+)- and K(+)-leakage supports earlier proposition that leaked K(+) induces loss of membrane-Ca(2+), which, in turn, promotes further K(+)-leakage due to weakened membrane. Reduced / undetectable Fe(2+) in leachate at longer FDs suggests activation of Fenton reaction converting soluble Fe(2+) into insoluble Fe(3+). Enhanced Mg(2+)-leakage at greater freeze-injury suggests structural/functional impairment of chlorophyll / chloroplast complex.
PMID: 39151874
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2024 Dec , V19 (1) : P2389496 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2389496
Requirement of two simultaneous environmental signals for activation of Arabidopsis ELIP2 promoter in response to high light, cold, and UV-B stresses.
The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.; Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.; Experimental Plant Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.; RIKEN CSRS, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan.
Arabidopsis EARLY LIGH-INDUCIBLE PROTEIN 2 (ELIP2) is a chlorophyll- and carotenoid-binding protein and is involved in photoprotection under stress conditions. Because its expression is induced through high light, cold, or UV-B stressors, its mechanism of induction has been studied. It is known that a functional unit found in the promoter, which is composed of Element B and Element A, is required and sufficient for full activation by these stressors. In this study, the role of each element in the unit was analyzed by introducing weak mutations in each element as synthetic promoters in addition to intensive repeat constructs of each single element. The results suggest that a stressor like cold stress generates two parallel signals in plant cells, and they merge at the promoter region for the activation of ELIP2 expression, which constitutes an "AND" gate and has a potential to realize strong response with high specificity by an environmental trigger.
PMID: 39132719
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2024 Dec , V19 (1) : P2362518 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2362518
Exploring cotton SFR2's conundrum in response to cold stress.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.; United States Department of Agriculture, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Cotton is an important agricultural crop to many regions across the globe but is sensitive to low-temperature exposure. The activity of the enzyme SENSITIVE TO FREEZING 2 (SFR2) improves cold tolerance of plants and produces trigalactosylsyldiacylglycerol (TGDG), but its role in cold sensitive plants, such as cotton remains unknown. Recently, it was reported that cotton SFR2 produced very little TGDG under normal and cold conditions. Here, we investigate cotton SFR2 activation and TGDG production. Using multiple approaches in the native system and transformation into Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as heterologous yeast expression, we provide evidence that cotton SFR2 activates differently than previously found among other plant species. We conclude with the hypothesis that SFR2 in cotton is not activated in a similar manner regarding acidification or freezing like Arabidopsis and that other regions of SFR2 protein are critical for activation of the enzyme than previously reported.
PMID: 38836385
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2024 Dec , V19 (1) : P2318514 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2318514
Insights on the enhancement of chilling tolerance in Rice through over-expression and knock-out studies of OsRBCS3.
Rice Research Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jiamusi, China.; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China.
Chilling stress is an important environmental factor that affects rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and yield, and the booting stage is the most sensitive stage of rice to chilling stress. In this study, we focused on OsRBCS3, a rice gene related to chilling tolerance at the booting stage, which encodes the key enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) small subunit in photosynthesis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role and mechanism of OsRBCS3 in rice chilling tolerance at the booting stage. The expression levels of OsRBCS3 under chilling stress were compared in two japonica rice cultivars with different chilling tolerances: Kongyu131 (KY131) and Longjing11 (LJ11). A positive correlation was found between OsRBCS3 expression and chilling tolerance. Over-expression (OE) and knock-out (KO) lines of OsRBCS3 were constructed using over-expression and CRISPR/Cas9 technology, respectively, and their chilling tolerance was evaluated at the seedling and booting stages. The results showed that OE lines exhibited higher chilling tolerance than wild-type (WT) lines at both seedling and booting stages, while KO lines showed lower chilling tolerance than WT lines. Furthermore, the antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and Rubisco activity of four rice lines under chilling stress were measured, and it was found that OE lines had stronger antioxidant and photosynthetic capacities, while KO lines had the opposite effects. This study validated that OsRBCS3 plays an important role in rice chilling tolerance at the booting stage, providing new molecular tools and a theoretical basis for rice chilling tolerance breeding.
PMID: 38375792
Vet Med Sci , IF:1.95 , 2024 Sep , V10 (5) : Pe1542 doi: 10.1002/vms3.1542
Diets containing phytobiotics, l-arginine, vitamin E and captopril modulate ascites syndrome-related genes expression in broiler chickens exposed to low ambient temperature.
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.; Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Laboratory Science, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.; Department of Ostrich, Special Domestic Animals Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.; Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
BACKGROUND: Our hypothesis centred on the potential to mitigate ascites outbreaks in birds exposed to cold stress by inhibiting pulmonary artery contraction through dietary intervention. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of natural and synthetic medications on growth performance, ascites-related parameters and the expression of ascites-related genes in the lung tissue of broiler chickens under low ambient temperature. METHODS: We randomly assigned 450 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks to six dietary treatments across five replicate pens, each containing 15 chicks. The treatments included a basal diet (control), and the basal diet was supplemented with hydroalcoholic extracts of sumac (HES, 200 mg/kg), Syrian mesquite (HEM, 200 mg/kg), l-arginine (40% above requirement), captopril (15 mg/kg) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg). RESULTS: Diets containing HEM, l-arginine and vitamin E resulted in increased average daily gain on days 8-14 and 0-28, whereas HES showed a similar effect only during days 8-14 compared to the control diet (p < 0.05). Additionally, feed additives decreased packed cell volume, left and right ventricle volumes and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). Moreover, chickens fed the control and l-arginine diets exhibited higher levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA in lung tissue compared to those fed HES, HEM and captopril (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, supplementation with HEM and l-arginine increased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in lung tissue compared to other treatments (p < 0.05). Regarding Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) expression, feed additives increased mRNA level in lung tissue, except for captopril (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the plant extracts may reduce the incidence of ascites syndrome not only through their antioxidant properties but also by modulating the expression of ACE, iNOS and Cu/Zn-SOD genes.
PMID: 39049705
Genes Genomics , IF:1.839 , 2024 Aug , V46 (8) : P927-940 doi: 10.1007/s13258-024-01529-3
Identification and expression analysis of nuclear factor Y transcription factor genes under drought, cold and Eldana infestation in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid).
Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Department of Genetics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.; South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI), KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, Durban, 4300, South Africa.; Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Department of Genetics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa. cvdv@sun.ac.za.
BACKGROUND: The Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factor (TF) gene family plays a crucial role in plant development and response to stress. Limited information is available on this gene family in sugarcane. OBJECTIVES: To identify sugarcane NF-Y genes through bioinformatic analysis and phylogenetic association and investigate the expression of these genes in response to abiotic and biotic stress. METHODS: Sugarcane NF-Y genes were identified using comparative genomics from functionally annotated Poaceae and Arabidopsis species. Quantitative PCR and transcriptome analysis assigned preliminary functional roles to these genes in response to water deficit, cold and African sugarcane borer (Eldana saccharina) infestation. RESULTS: We identify 21 NF-Y genes in sugarcane. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three main branches representing the subunits with potential discrepancies present in the assignment of numerical names of some NF-Y putative orthologs across the different species. Gene expression analysis indicated that three genes, ShNF-YA1, A3 and B3 were upregulated and two genes, NF-YA4 and A7 were downregulated, while three genes were upregulated, ShNF-YB2, B3 and C4, in the plants exposed to water deficit and cold stress, respectively. Functional involvement of NF-Y genes in the biotic stress response were also detected where three genes, ShNF-YA6, A3 and A7 were downregulated in the early resistant (cv. N33) response to Eldana infestation whilst only ShNF-YA6 was downregulated in the susceptible (cv. N11) early response. CONCLUSIONS: Our research findings establish a foundation for investigating the function of ShNF-Ys and offer candidate genes for stress-resistant breeding and improvement in sugarcane.
PMID: 38877289
Mol Breed , 2024 Aug , V44 (8) : P50 doi: 10.1007/s11032-024-01488-3
QTL detection and candidate gene identification of qCTB1 for cold tolerance in the Yunnan plateau landrace rice.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China. GRID: grid.22935.3f. ISNI: 0000 0004 0530 8290; Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China. ROR: https://ror.org/04v3ywz14. GRID: grid.22935.3f. ISNI: 0000 0004 0530 8290; Institute of Food Crop Research, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650205 China. ROR: https://ror.org/02z2d6373. GRID: grid.410732.3. ISNI: 0000 0004 1799 1111; Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650205 China. ROR: https://ror.org/02z2d6373. GRID: grid.410732.3. ISNI: 0000 0004 1799 1111
Cold stress is one of the main abiotic stresses that affects rice growth and production worldwide. Dissection of the genetic basis is important for genetic improvement of cold tolerance in rice. In this study, a new source of cold-tolerant accession from the Yunnan plateau, Lijiangxiaoheigu, was used as the donor parent and crossed with a cold-sensitive cultivar, Deyou17, to develop recombinant inbred lines (RILs) for quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for cold tolerance at the early seedling and booting stages in rice. In total, three QTLs for cold tolerance at the early seedling stage on chromosomes 2 and 7, and four QTLs at the booting stage on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, and 7, were identified. Haplotype and linear regression analyses showed that QTL pyramiding based on the additive effect of these favorable loci has good potential for cold tolerance breeding. Effect assessment in the RIL and BC(3)F(3) populations demonstrated that qCTB1 had a stable effect on cold tolerance at the booting stage in the genetic segregation populations. Under different cold stress conditions, qCTB1 was fine-mapped to a 341-kb interval between markers M3 and M4. Through the combination of parental sequence comparison, candidate gene-based association analysis, and tissue and cold-induced expression analyses, eight important candidate genes for qCTB1 were identified. This study will provide genetic resources for molecular breeding and gene cloning to improve cold tolerance in rice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01488-3.
PMID: 39070774