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Yu Y, Yang M, Liu X, Xia Y, Hu R, Xia Q, Jing D, Guo Q. Genome-wide analysis of the WOX gene family and the role of EjWUSa in regulating flowering in loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1024515. [PMID: 36407616 PMCID: PMC9669421 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1024515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The WUSCHEL (WUS)-related homeobox (WOX) gene family plays a crucial role in stem cell maintenance, apical meristem formation, embryonic development, and various other developmental processes. However, the identification and function of WOX genes have not been reported in perennial loquat. In this study, 18 EjWOX genes were identified in the loquat genome. Chromosomal localization analysis showed that 18 EjWOX genes were located on 12 of 17 chromosomes. Gene structure analysis showed that all EjWOX genes contain introns, of which 11 EjWOX genes contain untranslated regions. There are 8 pairs of segmental duplication genes and 0 pairs of tandem duplication genes in the loquat WOX family, suggesting that segmental duplications might be the main reason for the expansion of the loquat WOX family. A WOX transcription factor gene named EjWUSa was isolated from loquat. The EjWUSa protein was localized in the nucleus. Protein interactions between EjWUSa with EjWUSa and EjSTM were verified. Compared with wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana, the 35S::EjWUSa transgenic Arabidopsis showed early flowering. Our study provides an important basis for further research on the function of EjWOX genes and facilitates the molecular breeding of loquat early-flowering varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhui Yu
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Miaomiao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinya Liu
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Xia
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruoqian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingqing Xia
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Danlong Jing
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qigao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Jiang L, Fan T, Wang L, Zhang L, Xu J. Divergence of flowering-related genes to control flowering in five Euphorbiaceae genomes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1015114. [PMID: 36340397 PMCID: PMC9627276 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1015114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive growth and vegetative growth are a pair of main contradictions in the process of plant growth. Flowering, as part of reproductive growth, is a key switch in the life cycle of higher plants, which affects the yield and economic benefits of plants to a certain extent. The Euphorbiaceae species, including castor bean (Ricinus communis), physic nut (Jatropha curcas), tung tree (Vernicia fordii), cassava (Manihot esculenta), and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), have important economic values because they are raw materials for the production of biodiesel, rubber, etc. The flowering mechanisms are still excluded in the Euphorbiaceae species. The flowering-related genes of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) were used as a reference to determine the orthologs of these genes in Euphorbiaceae genomes. The result showed that 146, 144, 114, 114, and 149 of 207 A. thaliana genes were respectively matched to R. communis, V. fordii, J. curcas, H. brasiliensis, and M. esculenta. These identified genes were clustered into seven pathways including gibberellins, floral meristem identity (FMI), vernalization, photoperiod, floral pathway integrators (FPIs), and autonomous pathways. Then, some key numbers of flowering-related genes are widely conserved in the Euphorbiaceae genomes including but not limited to FPI genes LFY, SOC1, FT, and FMI genes AG, CAL, and FUL. However, some genes, including FRI, FLC, and GO, were missing in several or all five Euphorbiaceae species. In this study, we proposed the putative mechanisms of flowering-related genes to control flowering and provided new candidate flowering genes for using marker-assisted breeding to improve variety quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Non-coding RNA Transformation Research of Anhui Higher Education Institution, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Critical Respiratory Disease, Wuhu, China
| | - Tingting Fan
- Forestry College, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Lihu Wang
- School of Landscape and Ecological Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Hunan Institute of Microbiology, Changsha, China
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Guo YH, Luo C, Liu Y, Liang RZ, Yu HX, Lu XX, Mo X, Chen SQ, He XH. Isolation and functional analysis of two CONSTANS-like 1 genes from mango. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2022; 172:125-135. [PMID: 35065373 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The CONSTANS-LIKE1 (COL1) gene plays an important role in the regulation of photoperiodic flowering in plants. In this study, two COL1 homolog genes, MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B, were isolated from mango (Mangifera indica L.). The open reading frames of MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B are 852 and 822 bp in length and encode 284 and 274 amino acids, respectively. The MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B proteins contain only one CCT domain and belong to the CO/COL group IV protein family. MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B were expressed both in vegetative and reproductive organs but with expression level differences. MiCOL1A was highly expressed in juvenile and adult leaves, but MiCOL1B was highly expressed in flowers. Seasonal expression analysis showed that MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B have similar expression patterns and higher expression levels during flower induction and flower organ differentiation periods. However, MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B exhibited unstable patterns in circadian expression analysis. MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B were localized in the nucleus and had transcriptional activation activity in yeast. Overexpression of MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B resulted in significantly delayed flowering time in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, we also found that overexpression of MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B enhanced drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. The results demonstrated that MiCOL1A and MiCOL1B are not only involved in flowering regulation but also play a role in the stress response of plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hang Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Cong Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Rong-Zhen Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Hai-Xia Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Xin-Xi Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiao Mo
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Shu-Quan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Xin-Hua He
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China.
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Jiang Y, Liu Y, Gao Y, Peng J, Su W, Yuan Y, Yang X, Zhao C, Wang M, Lin S, Peng Z, Xie F. Gibberellin Induced Transcriptome Profiles Reveal Gene Regulation of Loquat Flowering. Front Genet 2021; 12:703688. [PMID: 34567066 PMCID: PMC8460860 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.703688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Flowering is an integral part of the life cycle of flowering plants, which is essential for plant survival and crop production. Most woody fruit trees such as apples and pears bloom in spring, but loquat blooms in autumn and winter. Gibberellin (GA) plays a key role in the regulation of plant flower formation. In this study, we sprayed loquat plants with exogenous GA3, which resulted in vigorous vegetative growth rather than floral bud formation. We then performed a comprehensive RNA-seq analysis on GA3-treated and control-treated leaves and buds over three time periods to observe the effects of exogenous GA3 application on floral initiation and development. The results showed that 111 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 563 DEGs were down-regulated, and 151 DEGs and 506 DEGs were up-regulated in buds and leaves, respectively, upon treatment with GA3. Among those that are homologs of the DELLA-mediated GA signal pathway genes, some may be involved in the positive regulation of flower development, including EjWRKY75, EjFT, EjSOC1, EjAGL24, EjSPL, EjLFY, EjFUL, and EjAP1; while some may be involved in the negative regulation of flower development, including EjDELLA, EjMYC3, EjWRKY12, and EjWRKY13. Finally, by analyzing the co-expression of DEGs and key floral genes EjSOC1s, EjLFYs, EjFULs, EjAP1s, 330 candidate genes that may be involved in the regulation of loquat flowering were screened. These genes belong to 74 gene families, including Cyclin_C, Histone, Kinesin, Lipase_GDSL, MYB, P450, Pkinase, Tubulin, and ZF-HD_dimer gene families. These findings provide new insights into the regulation mechanism of loquat flowering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Jiang
- Henry Fok College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, China.,State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yicun Liu
- College of Agriculture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongshun Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Beijing Academy of Forestry and Pomology Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Engineering Research Center for Strawberry, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangrong Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenbing Su
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Fruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Henry Fok College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, China
| | - Xianghui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chongbin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Man Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shunquan Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ze Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fangfang Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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5
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Patil SI, Vyavahare SN, Krishna B, Sane PV. Studies on the expression patterns of the circadian rhythm regulated genes in mango. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2009-2025. [PMID: 34629775 PMCID: PMC8484393 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-021-01053-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Mango, an important fruit crop of the tropical and subtropical regions shows alternate bearing in most varieties causing a financial loss to the farmer. Genetic reasons for this undesirable trait have not been studied so far. In our attempts to investigate the genetic reasons for alternate bearing we have initiated studies on genes associated with the induction, repression and regulation of flowering in mango. We have previously identified and characterized FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes that induce flowering and two TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1) genes that repress flowering. In this communication, we have explored the association of GI-FKF1-CDF1-CO module with the regulation of flowering in mango. The role of this module in regulating flowering has been well documented in photoperiod sensitive plants. We have characterized these genes and their expressions during flowering in Ratna variety as also their diurnal fluctuations and tissue specific expressions. The data taken together suggest that GI-FKF1-CDF1-CO module may also be employed by mango in regulating its flowering. Further, we suggest that the temperature dependent flowering in mango is probably associated with the presence of temperature sensitive elements present in the promoter region of one of the GIGANTEA genes that have been shown to be closely associated with floral induction. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01053-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumersing I. Patil
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Lab, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., Agri Park, Jain Hills, Shirsoli Road, Jalgaon, 425001 India
| | - Sayali N. Vyavahare
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Lab, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., Agri Park, Jain Hills, Shirsoli Road, Jalgaon, 425001 India
| | - Bal Krishna
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Lab, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., Agri Park, Jain Hills, Shirsoli Road, Jalgaon, 425001 India
| | - Prafullachandra V. Sane
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Lab, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., Agri Park, Jain Hills, Shirsoli Road, Jalgaon, 425001 India
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Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Differentially Expressed Transcripts Associated with Flowering Time of Loquat (Eriobotya japonica Lindl.). HORTICULTURAE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae7070171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Flowering is an important phenophase of plant species, however, knowledge about the regulatory mechanism controlling flowering cues in loquat is limited. To identify candidate genes regulating flowering time in loquat, we used RNA-Seq technology to conduct a comparative transcriptome analysis of differentiating apical buds collected from the early-flowering variety ‘Baiyu’ and the late-flowering variety ‘Huoju’. A total of 28,842 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified. Of these, 42 DETs controlled flowering time while 17 other DETs were associated with the ABA signaling pathway. Compared with those in ‘Huoju’, EjFT, EjFY, EjFLK, and EjCAL1-like were significantly upregulated in ‘Baiyu’. Moreover, transcripts of the ABA 8′-hydroxylases (EjABH2, EjABH4, and EjABH4-like2), the ABA receptors (EjPYL4/8), and the bZIP transcription factor EjABI5-like were upregulated in ‘Baiyu’ compared with ‘Huoju’. Hence, they might regulate loquat flowering time. There was no significant difference between ‘Baiyu’ and ‘Huoju’ in terms of IAA content. However, the ABA content was about ten-fold higher in the apical buds of ‘Baiyu’ than in those of ‘Huoju’. The ABA:IAA ratio sharply rose and attained a peak during bud differentiation. Thus, ABA is vital in regulating floral bud formation in loquat. The results of the present study help clarify gene transcription during loquat flowering.
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Peng Z, Wang M, Zhang L, Jiang Y, Zhao C, Shahid MQ, Bai Y, Hao J, Peng J, Gao Y, Su W, Yang X. EjRAV1/ 2 Delay Flowering Through Transcriptional Repression of EjFTs and EjSOC1s in Loquat. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:816086. [PMID: 35035390 PMCID: PMC8759039 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.816086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Most species in Rosaceae usually need to undergo several years of juvenile phase before the initiation of flowering. After 4-6 years' juvenile phase, cultivated loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), a species in Rosaceae, enters the reproductive phase, blooms in the autumn and sets fruits during the winter. However, the mechanisms of the transition from a seedling to an adult tree remain obscure in loquat. The regulation networks controlling seasonal flowering are also largely unknown. Here, we report two RELATED TO ABI3 AND VP1 (RAV) homologs controlling juvenility and seasonal flowering in loquat. The expressions of EjRAV1/2 were relatively high during the juvenile or vegetative phase and low at the adult or reproductive phase. Overexpression of the two EjRAVs in Arabidopsis prolonged (about threefold) the juvenile period by repressing the expressions of flowering activator genes. Additionally, the transformed plants produced more lateral branches than the wild type plants. Molecular assays revealed that the nucleus localized EjRAVs could bind to the CAACA motif of the promoters of flower signal integrators, EjFT1/2, to repress their expression levels. These findings suggest that EjRAVs play critical roles in maintaining juvenility and repressing flower initiation in the early life cycle of loquat as well as in regulating seasonal flowering. Results from this study not only shed light on the control and maintenance of the juvenile phase, but also provided potential targets for manipulation of flowering time and accelerated breeding in loquat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Man Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Lushan Botanical Garden Jiangxi Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lushan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chongbin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Qasim Shahid
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunlu Bai
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Hao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiangrong Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongshun Gao
- Beijing Academy of Forestry and Pomology Sciences, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenbing Su
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Fruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xianghui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crop Resources in South China (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Jiang Y, Peng J, Cao Y, Han Z, Zhang L, Su W, Lin S, Yuan Y, Wang B, Yang X, Zhang Z. Method for fast staining and obtaining high-magnification and high-resolution cell images of Nicotiana benthamiana. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 27:181-188. [PMID: 33627970 PMCID: PMC7873200 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-021-00931-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
As tools of plant molecular biology, fluorescence microscopy and Nicotiana benthamiana have been used frequently to study the structure and function of plant cells. However, it is difficult to obtain ideal micrographs; for example, the images are typically unclear, the inner cell structure cannot be observed under a high-power lens by fluorescence microscopy, etc. Here, we describe a method for observing the cell structure of N. benthamiana. This method significantly improves imaging by fluorescence microscopy and allows clear images to be obtained under a high-power lens. This method is easy to perform with good stability, and the stomatal structure, nucleus, nucleolus, chloroplast and other organelles in N. benthamiana cells as well as protein localizations and the locations of protein-protein interactions have been observed clearly. Furthermore, compared with traditional methods, fluorescent dye more efficiently dyes cells with this method. The applicability of this method was verified by performing confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM), and CSLM imaging was greatly improved. Thus, our results provided a method to visualize the subcellular structures of live cells in the leaves of N. benthamiana by greatly improving imaging under a fluorescence microscope and provided new insights and references for the study of cell structures and functions in other plants. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-00931-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Jiang
- Henry Fok College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, 512005 China
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Jiangrong Peng
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Yunpeng Cao
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004 Hunan People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Han
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004 Hunan People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Wenbing Su
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Shunquan Lin
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Henry Fok College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, 512005 China
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Bin Wang
- Henry Fok College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, 512005 China
| | - Xianghui Yang
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Zhike Zhang
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
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Denoyes B, Gaston A, Rothan C. Make it bloom! CONSTANS contributes to day neutrality in rose. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:3923-3926. [PMID: 32628767 PMCID: PMC7337180 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This article comments on:
Lu J, Sun J, Jiang A, Bai M, Fan C, Liu J, Ning G, Wang C. 2020. Alternate expression of CONSTANS-LIKE 4 in short days and CONSTANS in long days facilitates day-neutral response in Rosa chinensis. Journal of Experimental Botany 71, 4057–4068
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Affiliation(s)
- Béatrice Denoyes
- INRAE and University of Bordeaux, UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, Villenave d’Ornon, France
| | - Amèlia Gaston
- INRAE and University of Bordeaux, UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, Villenave d’Ornon, France
| | - Christophe Rothan
- INRAE and University of Bordeaux, UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, Villenave d’Ornon, France
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Chen W, Wang P, Wang D, Shi M, Xia Y, He Q, Dang J, Guo Q, Jing D, Liang G. EjFRI, FRIGIDA ( FRI) Ortholog from Eriobotrya japonica, Delays Flowering in Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031087. [PMID: 32041257 PMCID: PMC7038142 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, FRIGIDA (FRI) is a key regulator of flowering time and can inhibit flowering without vernalization. However, little information is available on the function in the Rosaceae family. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) belongs to the family Rosaceae and is a distinctive species, in which flowering can be induced without vernalization, followed by blooming in late-autumn or winter. To investigate the functional roles of FRI orthologs in this non-vernalization species, we isolated an FRI ortholog, dubbed as EjFRI, from loquat. Analyses of the phylogenetic tree and protein sequence alignment showed that EjFRI is assigned to eurosids I FRI lineage. Expression analysis revealed that the highest expression level of EjFRI was after flower initiation. Meanwhile, EjFRI was widely expressed in different tissues. Subcellular localization of EjFRI was only detected to be in the nucleus. Ectopic expression of EjFRI in wild-type Arabidopsis delayed flowering time. The expression levels of EjFRI in transgenic wild-type Arabidopsis were significantly higher than those of nontransgenic wild-type lines. However, the expression levels of AtFRI showed no significant difference between transgenic and nontransgenic wild-type lines. Furthermore, the upregulated AtFLC expression in the transgenic lines indicated that EjFRI functioned similarly to the AtFRI of the model plant Arabidopsis. Our study provides a foundation to further explore the characterization of EjFRI, and also contributes to illuminating the molecular mechanism about flowering in loquat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Min Shi
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yan Xia
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qiao He
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiangbo Dang
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qigao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Danlong Jing
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
- Correspondence: (D.J.); (G.L.); Tel.: +86-023-6825-0383 (D.J. & G.L.)
| | - Guolu Liang
- Key Laboratory of Horticulture Science for Southern Mountains Regions of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.C.)
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Southwest University, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
- Correspondence: (D.J.); (G.L.); Tel.: +86-023-6825-0383 (D.J. & G.L.)
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Jiang Y, Zhu Y, Zhang L, Su W, Peng J, Yang X, Song H, Gao Y, Lin S. EjTFL1 Genes Promote Growth but Inhibit Flower Bud Differentiation in Loquat. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:576. [PMID: 32528491 PMCID: PMC7247538 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1), a key factor belonging to the phosphatidyl ethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family, controls flowering time and inflorescence architecture in some plants. However, the role of TFL1 in loquat remains unknown. In this study, we cloned two TFL1-like genes (EjTFL1-1 and EjTFL1-2) with conserved deduced amino acid sequences from cultivated loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). First, we determined that flower bud differentiation occurs at the end of June and early July, and then comprehensively analyzed the temporal and spatial expression patterns of these EjTFL1s during loquat growth and development. We observed the contrasting expression trends for EjTFL1s and EjAP1s (APETALA 1) in shoot apices, and EjTFL1s were mainly expressed in young tissues. In addition, short-day and exogenous GA3 treatments promoted the expression of EjTFL1s, and no flower bud differentiation was observed after these treatments in loquat. Moreover, EjTFL1s were localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus, and both interacted with another flowering transcription factor, EjFD, in the nucleus, and EjTFL1s-EjFD complex significantly repressed the promoter activity of EjAP1-1. The two EjTFL1s were overexpressed in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0, which delayed flowering time, promoted stem elongation, increased the number of branches, and also affected flower and silique phenotypes. In conclusion, our results suggested that EjTFL1-1 and EjTFL1-2 do not show the same pattern of expression whereas both are able of inhibiting flower bud differentiation and promoting vegetative growth in loquat by integrating GA3 and photoperiod signals. These findings provide useful clues for analyzing the flowering regulatory network of loquat and provide meaningful references for flowering regulation research of other woody fruit trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Jiang
- Henry Fok College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, China
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunmei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenbing Su
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiangrong Peng
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianghui Yang
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huwei Song
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology Around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai’an, China
| | - Yongshun Gao
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Beijing Academy of Forestry and Pomology Sciences, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yongshun Gao,
| | - Shunquan Lin
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Shunquan Lin,
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Jiang Y, Peng J, Wang M, Su W, Gan X, Jing Y, Yang X, Lin S, Gao Y. The Role of EjSPL3, EjSPL4, EjSPL5, and EjSPL9 in Regulating Flowering in Loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010248. [PMID: 31905863 PMCID: PMC6981807 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The age pathway is important for regulating flower bud initiation in flowering plants. The major regulators in this pathway are miR156 and SPL transcription factors. To date, SPL genes have been identified in many species of plants. Loquat, as a woody fruit tree of Rosaceae, is unique in flowering time as it blooms in winter. However, the study of its SPL homologous genes on the regulation mechanism of flowering time is still limited. In this study, four SPL homologs—EjSPL3, EjSPL4, EjSPL5, and EjSPL9—are cloned from loquat, and phylogenetic analysis showed that they share a high sequence similarity with the homologues from other plants, including a highly conserved SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP)-box domain. EjSPL3, EjSPL4, EjSPL5 are localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and EjSPL9 is localized only in the nucleus. EjSPL4, EjSPL5, and EjSPL9 can significantly activate the promoters of EjSOC1-1, EjLFY-1, and EjAP1-1; overexpression of EjSPL3, EjSPL4, EjSPL5, and EjSPL9 in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana can promote flowering obviously, and downstream flowering genes expression were upregulated. Our work indicated that the EjSPL3, EjSPL4, EjSPL5, and EjSPL9 transcription factors are speculated to likely participate in flower bud differentiation and other developmental processes in loquat. These findings are helpful to analyze the flowering regulation mechanism of loquat and provide reference for the study of the flowering mechanism of other woody fruit trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.J.); (J.P.); (M.W.); (W.S.); (X.G.); (X.Y.)
| | - Jiangrong Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.J.); (J.P.); (M.W.); (W.S.); (X.G.); (X.Y.)
| | - Man Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.J.); (J.P.); (M.W.); (W.S.); (X.G.); (X.Y.)
| | - Wenbing Su
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.J.); (J.P.); (M.W.); (W.S.); (X.G.); (X.Y.)
| | - Xiaoqing Gan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.J.); (J.P.); (M.W.); (W.S.); (X.G.); (X.Y.)
| | - Yi Jing
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China;
| | - Xianghui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.J.); (J.P.); (M.W.); (W.S.); (X.G.); (X.Y.)
| | - Shunquan Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.J.); (J.P.); (M.W.); (W.S.); (X.G.); (X.Y.)
- Correspondence: (S.L.); (Y.G.); Tel.: +86-13380055716 (S.L.); +86-15692001878 (Y.G.)
| | - Yongshun Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road 483, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.J.); (J.P.); (M.W.); (W.S.); (X.G.); (X.Y.)
- Beijing Academy of Forestry and Pomology Sciences, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- Correspondence: (S.L.); (Y.G.); Tel.: +86-13380055716 (S.L.); +86-15692001878 (Y.G.)
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The Role of EjSVPs in Flower Initiation in Eriobotrya japonica. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20235933. [PMID: 31779080 PMCID: PMC6928820 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Flowering plants have evolved different flowering habits to sustain long-term reproduction. Most woody trees experience dormancy and then bloom in the warm spring, but loquat blooms in the cold autumn and winter. To explore its mechanism of flowering regulation, we cloned two SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) homologous genes from 'Jiefanzhong' loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), namely, EjSVP1 and EjSVP2. Sequence analysis revealed that the EjSVPs were typical MADS-box transcription factors and exhibited a close genetic relationship with other plant SVP/DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX (DAM) proteins. The temporal and spatial expression patterns showed that EjSVP1 and EjSVP2 were mainly expressed in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) after the initiation of flowering; after reaching their highest level, they gradually decreased with the development of the flower until they could not be detected. EjSVP1 expression levels were relatively high in young tissues, and EjSVP2 expression levels were relatively high in young to mature transformed tissues. Interestingly, EjSVP2 showed relatively high expression levels in various flower tissues. We analyzed the EjSVP promoter regions and found that they did not contain the C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element. Finally, we overexpressed the EjSVPs in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 and found no significant changes in the number of rosette leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana; however, overexpression of EjSVP2 affected the formation of Arabidopsis thaliana flower organs. In conclusion, EjSVPs were found to play an active role in the development of loquat flowering. These findings may provide a reference for exploring the regulation mechanisms of loquat flowering and the dormancy mechanisms of other plants.
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