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Huang S, Yang X, Li W, Xu Z, Xie Y, Meng X, Li Z, Zhou W, Wang S, Jin L, Jin N, Lyu J, Yu J. Genome-wide analysis of the CCT gene family and functional characterization of SlCCT6 in response to drought stress in tomato. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 280:135906. [PMID: 39332567 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2024] [Revised: 09/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
CCT transcription factors are important for photoperiod and abiotic stress regulation in Arabidopsis and rice. However, the CCT gene family has not been reported in tomato. Here, we systematically analyzed this. Thirty-one SlCCT genes were identified and divided into five groups (CMF, TIFY, PRR, S8, and COL), with members unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes and the third chromosome exhibiting the most distribution. SlCCT was found to interact with an interacting protein (SlGI), transcription factor (MYB), and non-coding RNA (sly-miR156-5p) to jointly regulate the tomato stress response. cis-Acting element analysis of the SlCCT promoter region indicated large stress- and hormone-response elements in this family. Real-time PCR results indicated that SlPRR subfamily genes respond to various abiotic stresses and hormones. Tissue expression analysis revealed that several PRR subfamily genes are highly expressed in flowers, and subcellular localization analysis indicated an SlCCT6 nuclear location. Notably, SlCCT6 expression was significantly induced by drought, and its silencing reduced drought stress tolerance. Moreover, SlCCT6 overexpression enhanced tomato drought resistance by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and activating stress-related genes, whereas SlCCT6 knockout decreased drought resistance. In conclusion, this provides valuable insights for future research on SlCCT functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuchao Huang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Xiting Yang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Wei Li
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zhiqi Xu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yandong Xie
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Xin Meng
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zhaozhuang Li
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Wenhao Zhou
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Shuya Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Li Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Ning Jin
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Jian Lyu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
| | - Jihua Yu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
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Sivabharathi RC, Rajagopalan VR, Suresh R, Sudha M, Karthikeyan G, Jayakanthan M, Raveendran M. Haplotype-based breeding: A new insight in crop improvement. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 346:112129. [PMID: 38763472 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Haplotype-based breeding (HBB) is one of the cutting-edge technologies in the realm of crop improvement due to the increasing availability of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms identified by Next Generation Sequencing technologies. The complexity of the data can be decreased with fewer statistical tests and a lower probability of spurious associations by combining thousands of SNPs into a few hundred haplotype blocks. The presence of strong genomic regions in breeding lines of most crop species facilitates the use of haplotypes to improve the efficiency of genomic and marker-assisted selection. Haplotype-based breeding as a Genomic Assisted Breeding (GAB) approach harnesses the genome sequence data to pinpoint the allelic variation used to hasten the breeding cycle and circumvent the challenges associated with linkage drag. This review article demonstrates ways to identify candidate genes, superior haplotype identification, haplo-pheno analysis, and haplotype-based marker-assisted selection. The crop improvement strategies that utilize superior haplotypes will hasten the breeding progress to safeguard global food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Sivabharathi
- Department of Genetics and Plant breeding, CPBG, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
| | - Veera Ranjani Rajagopalan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
| | - R Suresh
- Department of Rice, CPBG, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
| | - M Sudha
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India.
| | - G Karthikeyan
- Department of Plant Pathology, CPPS, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
| | - M Jayakanthan
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
| | - M Raveendran
- Directorate of research, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India.
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Romero JM, Serrano-Bueno G, Camacho-Fernández C, Vicente MH, Ruiz MT, Pérez-Castiñeira JR, Pérez-Hormaeche J, Nogueira FTS, Valverde F. CONSTANS, a HUB for all seasons: How photoperiod pervades plant physiology regulatory circuits. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:2086-2102. [PMID: 38513610 PMCID: PMC11132886 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
How does a plant detect the changing seasons and make important developmental decisions accordingly? How do they incorporate daylength information into their routine physiological processes? Photoperiodism, or the capacity to measure the daylength, is a crucial aspect of plant development that helps plants determine the best time of the year to make vital decisions, such as flowering. The protein CONSTANS (CO) constitutes the central regulator of this sensing mechanism, not only activating florigen production in the leaves but also participating in many physiological aspects in which seasonality is important. Recent discoveries place CO in the center of a gene network that can determine the length of the day and confer seasonal input to aspects of plant development and physiology as important as senescence, seed size, or circadian rhythms. In this review, we discuss the importance of CO protein structure, function, and evolutionary mechanisms that embryophytes have developed to incorporate annual information into their physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Romero
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Gloria Serrano-Bueno
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Carolina Camacho-Fernández
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
- Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mateus Henrique Vicente
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Plant Development, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, 13418-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M Teresa Ruiz
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - J Román Pérez-Castiñeira
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Javier Pérez-Hormaeche
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Fabio T S Nogueira
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Plant Development, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, 13418-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Federico Valverde
- Plant Development Group - Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
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Poretsky E, Cagirici HB, Andorf CM, Sen TZ. Harnessing the predicted maize pan-interactome for putative gene function prediction and prioritization of candidate genes for important traits. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae059. [PMID: 38492232 PMCID: PMC11075552 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The recent assembly and annotation of the 26 maize nested association mapping population founder inbreds have enabled large-scale pan-genomic comparative studies. These studies have expanded our understanding of agronomically important traits by integrating pan-transcriptomic data with trait-specific gene candidates from previous association mapping results. In contrast to the availability of pan-transcriptomic data, obtaining reliable protein-protein interaction (PPI) data has remained a challenge due to its high cost and complexity. We generated predicted PPI networks for each of the 26 genomes using the established STRING database. The individual genome-interactomes were then integrated to generate core- and pan-interactomes. We deployed the PPI clustering algorithm ClusterONE to identify numerous PPI clusters that were functionally annotated using gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment, demonstrating a diverse range of enriched GO terms across different clusters. Additional cluster annotations were generated by integrating gene coexpression data and gene description annotations, providing additional useful information. We show that the functionally annotated PPI clusters establish a useful framework for protein function prediction and prioritization of candidate genes of interest. Our study not only provides a comprehensive resource of predicted PPI networks for 26 maize genomes but also offers annotated interactome clusters for predicting protein functions and prioritizing gene candidates. The source code for the Python implementation of the analysis workflow and a standalone web application for accessing the analysis results are available at https://github.com/eporetsky/PanPPI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elly Poretsky
- Crop Improvement and Genetics Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 800 Buchanan St., Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Halise Busra Cagirici
- Crop Improvement and Genetics Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 800 Buchanan St., Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Carson M Andorf
- Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Taner Z Sen
- Crop Improvement and Genetics Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 800 Buchanan St., Albany, CA 94710, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 306 Stanley Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Ran F, Wang Y, Jiang F, Yin X, Bi Y, Shaw RK, Fan X. Studies on Candidate Genes Related to Flowering Time in a Multiparent Population of Maize Derived from Tropical and Temperate Germplasm. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1032. [PMID: 38611561 PMCID: PMC11013272 DOI: 10.3390/plants13071032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
A comprehensive study on maize flowering traits, focusing on the regulation of flowering time and the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying the genes controlling flowering, holds the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of the associated regulatory gene network. In this study, three tropical maize inbreds, CML384, CML171, and CML444, were used, along with a temperate maize variety, Shen137, as parental lines to cross with Ye107. The resulting F1s underwent seven consecutive generations of self-pollination through the single-seed descent (SSD) method to develop a multiparent population. To investigate the regulation of maize flowering time-related traits and to identify loci and candidate genes, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted. GWAS analysis identified 556 SNPs and 12 candidate genes that were significantly associated with flowering time-related traits. Additionally, an analysis of the effect of the estimated breeding values of the subpopulations on flowering time was conducted to further validate the findings of the present study. Collectively, this study offers valuable insights into novel candidate genes, contributing to an improved understanding of maize flowering time-related traits. This information holds practical significance for future maize breeding programs aimed at developing high-yielding hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyun Ran
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650500, China; (F.R.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yizhu Wang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650500, China; (F.R.); (Y.W.)
| | - Fuyan Jiang
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (F.J.); (X.Y.); (Y.B.); (R.K.S.)
| | - Xingfu Yin
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (F.J.); (X.Y.); (Y.B.); (R.K.S.)
| | - Yaqi Bi
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (F.J.); (X.Y.); (Y.B.); (R.K.S.)
| | - Ranjan K. Shaw
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (F.J.); (X.Y.); (Y.B.); (R.K.S.)
| | - Xingming Fan
- Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, China; (F.J.); (X.Y.); (Y.B.); (R.K.S.)
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6
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Lu Y, Li T, Zhao X, Wang M, Huang J, Huang Z, Teixeira da Silva JA, Duan J, Si C, Zhang J. Identification of the CONSTANS-like family in Cymbidium sinense, and their functional characterization. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:786. [PMID: 38110864 PMCID: PMC10729429 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09884-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cymbidium sinense is an orchid that is typically used as a potted plant, given its high-grade ornamental characteristics, and is most frequently distributed in China and SE Asia. The inability to strictly regulate flowering in this economically important potted and cut-flower orchid is a bottleneck that limits its industrial development. Studies on C. sinense flowering time genes would help to elucidate the mechanism regulating flowering. There are very few studies on the genetic regulation of flowering pathways in C. sinense. Photoperiod significantly affects the flowering of C. sinense, but it was unknown how the CONSTANS gene family is involved in regulating flowering. RESULTS In this study, eight CONSTANS-like genes were identified and cloned. They were divided into three groups based on a phylogenetic analysis. Five representative CsCOL genes (CsCOL3/4/6/8/9) were selected from the three groups to perform expression characterization and functional study. CsCOL3/4/6/8/9 are nucleus-localized proteins, and all five CsCOL genes were expressed in all organs, mainly in leaves followed by sepals. The expression levels of CsCOL3/4 (group I) were higher in all organs than other CsCOL genes. Developmental stage specific expression revealed that the expression of CsCOL3/4/9 peaked at the initial flowering stage. In contrast, the transcript level of CsCOL6/8 was highest at the pedicel development stage. Photoperiodic experiments demonstrated that the transcripts of the five CsCOL genes exhibited distinct diurnal rhythms. Under LD conditions, the overexpression of CsCOL3/4 promoted early flowering, and CsCOL6 had little effect on flowering time, whereas CsCOL8 delayed flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana. However, under SD conditions, overexpression of CsCOL4/6/8 promoted early flowering and the rosette leaves growth, and CsCOL3 induced flower bud formation in transgenic Arabidopsis. CONCLUSION The phylogenetic analysis, temporal and spatial expression patterns, photoperiodic rhythms and functional study indicate that CsCOL family members in C. sinense were involved in growth, development and flowering regulation through different photoperiodic pathway. The results will be useful for future research on mechanisms pertaining to photoperiod-dependent flowering, and will also facilitate genetic engineering-based research that uses Cymbidium flowering time genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youfa Lu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Tengji Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xiaolan Zhao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Mingjun Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jiexian Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Ziqin Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | | | - Jun Duan
- Key laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Can Si
- Key laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China.
| | - Jianxia Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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De Riseis S, Chen J, Xin Z, Harmon FG. Sorghum bicolor INDETERMINATE1 is a conserved primary regulator of flowering. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1304822. [PMID: 38152141 PMCID: PMC10751353 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1304822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Introduction A fundamental developmental switch for plants is transition from vegetative to floral growth, which integrates external and internal signals. INDETERMINATE1 (Id1) family proteins are zinc finger transcription factors that activate flowering in grasses regardless of photoperiod. Mutations in maize Id1 and rice Id1 (RID1) cause very late flowering. RID1 promotes expression of the flowering activator genes Early Heading Date1 (Ehd1) and Heading date 1 (Hd1), a rice homolog of CONSTANS (CO). Methods and results Mapping of two recessive late flowering mutants from a pedigreed sorghum EMS mutant library identified two distinct mutations in the Sorghum bicolor Id1 (SbId1) homolog, mutant alleles named sbid1-1 and sbid1-2. The weaker sbid1-1 allele caused a 35 day delay in reaching boot stage in the field, but its effect was limited to 6 days under greenhouse conditions. The strong sbid1-2 allele delayed boot stage by more than 60 days in the field and under greenhouse conditions. When sbid1-1 and sbid1-2 were combined, the delayed flowering phenotype remained and resembled that of sbid1-2, confirming late flowering was due to loss of SbId1 function. Evaluation of major flowering time regulatory gene expression in sbid1-2 showed that SbId1 is needed for expression of floral activators, like SbCO and SbCN8, and repressors, like SbPRR37 and SbGhd7. Discussion These results demonstrate a conserved role for SbId1 in promotion of flowering in sorghum, where it appears to be critical to allow expression of most major flowering regulatory genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel De Riseis
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Junping Chen
- Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Unit, Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Zhanguo Xin
- Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Unit, Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Frank G. Harmon
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Plant Gene Expression Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Albany, CA, United States
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Arkhestova DK, Anisimova OK, Kochieva EZ, Shchennikova AV. Expression Levels of Flowering Time Genes (CONZ1, GIGZ1A, GIGZ1B, FKF1A, and FKF1B) in Seedlings under Long-Day Conditions Differentiates Early and Late Zea mays L. Lines. DOKLADY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES : PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE USSR, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SECTIONS 2023; 513:378-381. [PMID: 37770752 DOI: 10.1134/s0012496623700710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Phenophase durations, including the timing of flowering and ripeness, were characterized in 20 inbred lines of the maize Zea mays L. Expression of key flowering initiation genes (CONZ1, GIGZ1a, GIGZ1b, ZmFKF1a, and ZmFKF1b) under long-photoperiod conditions was studied in seedlings of six maize lines that differed in ripeness time. Significantly lower transcription levels of all of the five genes were found in early-ripening lines compared with late-ripening lines. Similar expression patterns were observed for the GIGZ1a and GIGZ1b paralogous genes, while ZmFKF1a significantly predominated in expression over its paralog ZmFKF1b.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kh Arkhestova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology," Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Agriculture, Branch of Kabardino-Balkarian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nalchik, Russia
| | - O K Anisimova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology," Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - E Z Kochieva
- Institute of Bioengineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology," Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A V Shchennikova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Federal Research Center "Fundamentals of Biotechnology," Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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Zhang B, Feng M, Zhang J, Song Z. Involvement of CONSTANS-like Proteins in Plant Flowering and Abiotic Stress Response. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16585. [PMID: 38068908 PMCID: PMC10706179 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of flowering in plants is a pivotal stage in their life cycle, and the CONSTANS-like (COL) protein family, known for its photoperiod sensing ability, plays a crucial role in regulating plant flowering. Over the past two decades, homologous genes of COL have been identified in various plant species, leading to significant advancements in comprehending their involvement in the flowering pathway and response to abiotic stress. This article presents novel research progress on the structural aspects of COL proteins and their regulatory patterns within transcription complexes. Additionally, we reviewed recent information about their participation in flowering and abiotic stress response, aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the functions of COL proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Industrial Crops, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (B.Z.); (M.F.); (J.Z.)
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
| | - Minghui Feng
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Industrial Crops, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (B.Z.); (M.F.); (J.Z.)
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Industrial Crops, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (B.Z.); (M.F.); (J.Z.)
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
| | - Zhangqiang Song
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Industrial Crops, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (B.Z.); (M.F.); (J.Z.)
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10
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Wu L, Liang Y, Guo L, Zhu Y, Qin W, Wu W, Jia H, Tian F. A single nucleotide polymorphism in conz1 enhances maize adaptation to higher latitudes. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:2163-2165. [PMID: 37558498 PMCID: PMC10579700 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lishuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yameng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Li Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yifan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Wenchao Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Weihao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Hong Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Feng Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural UniversitySanyaChina
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11
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Choi S, Prabhakar PK, Chowdhury R, Pendergast TH, Urbanowicz BR, Maranas C, Devos KM. A single amino acid change led to structural and functional differentiation of PvHd1 to control flowering in switchgrass. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:5532-5546. [PMID: 37402629 PMCID: PMC10540729 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass, a forage and bioenergy crop, occurs as two main ecotypes with different but overlapping ranges of adaptation. The two ecotypes differ in a range of characteristics, including flowering time. Flowering time determines the duration of vegetative development and therefore biomass accumulation, a key trait in bioenergy crops. No causal variants for flowering time differences between switchgrass ecotypes have, as yet, been identified. In this study, we mapped a robust flowering time quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 4K in a biparental F2 population and characterized the flowering-associated transcription factor gene PvHd1, an ortholog of CONSTANS in Arabidopsis and Heading date 1 in rice, as the underlying causal gene. Protein modeling predicted that a serine to glycine substitution at position 35 (p.S35G) in B-Box domain 1 greatly altered the global structure of the PvHd1 protein. The predicted variation in protein compactness was supported in vitro by a 4 °C shift in denaturation temperature. Overexpressing the PvHd1-p.35S allele in a late-flowering CONSTANS-null Arabidopsis mutant rescued earlier flowering, whereas PvHd1-p.35G had a reduced ability to promote flowering, demonstrating that the structural variation led to functional divergence. Our findings provide us with a tool to manipulate the timing of floral transition in switchgrass cultivars and, potentially, expand their cultivation range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Choi
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Pradeep K Prabhakar
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Ratul Chowdhury
- Chemical Engineering, Penn State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - Thomas H Pendergast
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Breeanna R Urbanowicz
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Costas Maranas
- Chemical Engineering, Penn State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - Katrien M Devos
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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12
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Li Z, Gao F, Liu Y, Abou-Elwafa SF, Qi J, Pan H, Hu X, Ren Z, Zeng H, Liu Z, Zhang D, Xi Z, Liu T, Chen Y, Su H, Xiong S, Ku L. ZmGI2 regulates flowering time through multiple flower development pathways in maize. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 332:111701. [PMID: 37030327 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
GIGANTEA (GI) encodes a component of the circadian clock core oscillator and has been identified as a regulatory pathway of the circadian rhythm and photoperiodic flowering in model plants. However, the regulatory pathway of GI affecting flowering time is unknown in maize. Here, we identified that the zmgi2 mutant flowered earlier than the wild type under long day (LD) conditions, whereas the difference in flowering time was not apparent under short day (SD) conditions. The 24 h optimal expression of the gene in the stem apex meristems (SAM) appeared at 9 h after dawn under LD conditions and at 11 h after dawn under SD conditions. DAP-Seq and RNA-Seq further revealed that ZmGI2 delays flowering by directly binding to the upstream regions of ZmVOZs, ZmZCN8 and ZmFPF1 to repress the expression of these genes and by directly binding to the upstream regions of ZmARR11, ZmDOF and ZmUBC11 to promote the expression of these genes. The genetic and biochemical evidence suggests a model for the potential role of ZmGI2 in regulating the flowering time-dependent photoperiodic pathway. This study provides novel insights into the function of ZmGIs in maize and further demonstrates their potential importance for floral transition. These results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks of GI transcription factors in regulating flowering time in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Li
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Fengran Gao
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Yajing Liu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | | | - Junlong Qi
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Haibo Pan
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Xiaomeng Hu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Zhenzhen Ren
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Haixia Zeng
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Zhixue Liu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Dongling Zhang
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Zhangying Xi
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Tianxue Liu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Yanhui Chen
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Huihui Su
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China.
| | - Shuping Xiong
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China.
| | - Lixia Ku
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Park, Zhengdong New Area, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China.
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13
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Du F, Tao Y, Ma C, Zhu M, Guo C, Xu M. Effects of the quantitative trait locus qPss3 on inhibition of photoperiod sensitivity and resistance to stalk rot disease in maize. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2023; 136:126. [PMID: 37165143 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04370-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE We identified a quantitative trait locus, qPss3, and fine-mapped the causal locus to a 120-kb interval in maize. This locus inhibits the photoperiod sensitivity caused by ZmCCT9 and ZmCCT10, resulting in earlier flowering by 2 ~ 4 days without reduction in stalk-rot resistance in certain genotypes. Photoperiod sensitivity is a key factor affecting the adaptation of maize (Zea mays L.) to high-latitude growing areas. Although many genes associated with flowering time have been identified in maize, no gene that inhibits photoperiod sensitivity has been reported. In our previous study, we detected large differences in photoperiod sensitivity among maize inbred lines with the same photoperiod-sensitive allele at the ZmCCT10 locus. Here, we used two segregating populations with the same genetic backgrounds but different ZmCCT10 alleles to perform quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. We identified a unique QTL, qPss3, on chromosome 3 in the population carrying the sensitive ZmCCT10 allele. After sequential fine-mapping, we eventually delimited qPss3 to an interval of ~ 120 kb. qPss3 behaved as a dominant locus and caused earlier flowering by 2-4 days via inhibiting ZmCCT10-induced photoperiod sensitivity under long-day conditions. qPss3 also inhibited the photoperiod sensitivity induced by another flowering-related gene, ZmCCT9. For application in agriculture, an F1 hybrid heterozygous at both qPss3 and ZmCCT10 loci constitutes an optimal allele combination, showing high resistance to stalk rot without a significant delay in flowering time. Moreover, qPss3 is of great value in regulating the flowering time of tropical maize grown at high-latitude regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feili Du
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiyuan Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanyu Ma
- Research Pipeline Enablement SBC, Syngenta Biotechnology China Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Mang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenyu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingliang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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14
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Fu R, Wang X. Modeling the influence of phenotypic plasticity on maize hybrid performance. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:100548. [PMID: 36635964 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of an individual to alter its phenotype in response to changes in the environment, has been proposed as a target for breeding crop varieties with high environmental fitness. Here, we used phenotypic and genotypic data from multiple maize (Zea mays L.) populations to mathematically model phenotypic plasticity in response to the environment (PPRE) in inbred and hybrid lines. PPRE can be simply described by a linear model in which the two main parameters, intercept a and slope b, reflect two classes of genes responsive to endogenous (class A) and exogenous (class B) signals that coordinate plant development. Together, class A and class B genes contribute to the phenotypic plasticity of an individual in response to the environment. We also made connections between phenotypic plasticity and hybrid performance or general combining ability (GCA) of yield using 30 F1 hybrid populations generated by crossing the same maternal line with 30 paternal lines from different maize heterotic groups. We show that the parameters a and b from two given parental lines must be concordant to reach an ideal GCA of F1 yield. We hypothesize that coordinated regulation of the two classes of genes in the F1 hybrid genome is the basis for high GCA. Based on this theory, we built a series of predictive models to evaluate GCA in silico between parental lines of different heterotic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Fu
- National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China; Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Xiangfeng Wang
- National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China; Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China.
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15
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Wang F, Li S, Kong F, Lin X, Lu S. Altered regulation of flowering expands growth ranges and maximizes yields in major crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1094411. [PMID: 36743503 PMCID: PMC9892950 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1094411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Flowering time influences reproductive success in plants and has a significant impact on yield in grain crops. Flowering time is regulated by a variety of environmental factors, with daylength often playing an important role. Crops can be categorized into different types according to their photoperiod requirements for flowering. For instance, long-day crops include wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and pea (Pisum sativum), while short-day crops include rice (Oryza sativa), soybean (Glycine max), and maize (Zea mays). Understanding the molecular regulation of flowering and genotypic variation therein is important for molecular breeding and crop improvement. This paper reviews the regulation of flowering in different crop species with a particular focus on how photoperiod-related genes facilitate adaptation to local environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xiaoya Lin
- *Correspondence: Xiaoya Lin, ; Sijia Lu,
| | - Sijia Lu
- *Correspondence: Xiaoya Lin, ; Sijia Lu,
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16
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Li Y, Yu S, Zhang Q, Wang Z, Liu M, Zhang A, Dong X, Fan J, Zhu Y, Ruan Y, Li C. Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the CCT Gene Family in Foxtail Millet ( Setaria italica) Response to Diurnal Rhythm and Abiotic Stress. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1829. [PMID: 36292714 PMCID: PMC9601966 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The CCT gene family plays important roles in diurnal rhythm and abiotic stress response, affecting crop growth and development, and thus yield. However, little information is available on the CCT family in foxtail millet (Setaria italica). In the present study, we identified 37 putative SiCCT genes from the foxtail millet genome. A phylogenetic tree was constructed from the predicted full-length SiCCT amino acid sequences, together with CCT proteins from rice and Arabidopsis as representatives of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants, respectively. Based on the conserved structure and phylogenetic relationships, 13, 5, and 19 SiCCT proteins were classified in the COL, PRR, and CMF subfamilies, respectively. The gene structure and protein conserved motifs analysis exhibited highly similar compositions within the same subfamily. Whole-genome duplication analysis indicated that segmental duplication events played an important role in the expansion of the CCT gene family in foxtail millet. Analysis of transcriptome data showed that 16 SiCCT genes had significant diurnal rhythm oscillations. Under abiotic stress and exogenous hormonal treatment, the expression of many CMF subfamily genes was significantly changed. Especially after drought treatment, the expression of CMF subfamily genes except SiCCT32 was significantly up-regulated. This work provides valuable information for further study of the molecular mechanism of diurnal rhythm regulation, abiotic stress responses, and the identification of candidate genes for foxtail millet molecular breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Cong Li
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
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17
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Satake A, Nagahama A, Sasaki E. A cross-scale approach to unravel the molecular basis of plant phenology in temperate and tropical climates. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 233:2340-2353. [PMID: 34862973 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plants have evolved to time their leafing, flowering and fruiting in appropriate seasons for growth, reproduction and resting. As a consequence of their adaptation to geographically different environments, there is a rich diversity in plant phenology from temperate and tropical climates. Recent progress in genetic and molecular studies will provide numerous opportunities to study the genetic basis of phenological traits and the history of adaptation of phenological traits to seasonal and aseasonal environments. Integrating molecular data with long-term phenology and climate data into predictive models will be a powerful tool to forecast future phenological changes in the face of global environmental change. Here, we review the cross-scale approach from genes to plant communities from three aspects: the latitudinal gradient of plant phenology at the community level, the environmental and genetic factors underlying the diversity of plant phenology, and an integrated approach to forecast future plant phenology based on genetically informed knowledge. Synthesizing the latest knowledge about plant phenology from molecular, ecological and mathematical perspectives will help us understand how natural selection can lead to the further evolution of the gene regulatory mechanisms in phenological traits in future forest ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Satake
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Ai Nagahama
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Eriko Sasaki
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
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18
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Carvalho RF, Aguiar-Perecin MLR, Clarindo WR, Fristche-Neto R, Mondin M. A Heterochromatic Knob Reducing the Flowering Time in Maize. Front Genet 2022; 12:799681. [PMID: 35280927 PMCID: PMC8908004 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.799681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Maize flowering time is an important agronomic trait, which has been associated with variations in the genome size and heterochromatic knobs content. We integrated three steps to show this association. Firstly, we selected inbred lines varying for heterochromatic knob composition at specific sites in the homozygous state. Then, we produced homozygous and heterozygous hybrids for knobs. Second, we measured the genome size and flowering time for all materials. Knob composition did not affect the genome size and flowering time. Finally, we developed an association study and identified a knob marker on chromosome 9 showing the strongest association with flowering time. Indeed, modelling allele substitution and dominance effects could offer only one heterochromatic knob locus that could affect flowering time, making it earlier rather than the knob composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Flávia Carvalho
- “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | | | | | - Roberto Fristche-Neto
- “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) - Breeding Analytics and Data, Management Unit, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Mateus Mondin
- “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
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19
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Li FF, Niu JH, Yu X, Kong QH, Wang RF, Qin L, Chen EY, Yang YB, Liu ZY, Lang LN, Zhang HW, Wang HL, Guan YA. Isolation and identification of SiCOL5, which is involved in photoperiod response, based on the quantitative trait locus mapping of Setaria italica. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:969604. [PMID: 36204051 PMCID: PMC9530826 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.969604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is a versatile grain and fodder crop grown in arid and semi-arid regions. It is an especially important crop for combating malnutrition in certain poverty-stricken areas of the world. Photoperiod sensitivity is a major constraint to the distribution and utilization of foxtail millet germplasm resources. Foxtail millet may be suitable as a model species for studying the photoperiod sensitivity of C4 crops. However, the genetic basis of the photoperiod response of foxtail millet remains poorly studied. To detect the genetic basis of photoperiod sensitivity-related traits, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 313 lines derived from a cross between the spring-sown cultivar "Longgu 3" and the summer-sown cultivar "Canggu 3" was established. The RIL population was genotyped using whole-genome re-sequencing and was phenotyped in four environments. A high-density genetic linkage map was constructed with an average distance between adjacent markers of 0.69 cM. A total of 21 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified by composite interval mapping, and 116 candidate genes were predicted according to gene annotations and variations between parents, among which three genes were considered important candidate genes by the integration and overall consideration of the results from gene annotation, SNP and indel analysis, cis-element analysis, and the expression pattern of different genes in different varieties, which have different photoperiod sensitivities. A putative candidate gene, SiCOL5, was isolated based on QTL mapping analysis. The expression of SiCOL5 was sensitive to photoperiod and was regulated by biological rhythm-related genes. Function analysis suggested that SiCOL5 positively regulated flowering time. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays showed that SiCOL5 was capable of interacting with SiNF-YA1 in the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-fei Li
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jia-hong Niu
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Qing-hua Kong
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Run-feng Wang
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Ling Qin
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Er-ying Chen
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Yan-bing Yang
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Zhen-yu Liu
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Li-na Lang
- Shandong Seed Administration Station, Jinan, China
| | - Hua-wen Zhang
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Hai-lian Wang
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Yan-an Guan
- Featured Crops Engineering Laboratory of Shandong Province, National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Wheat, Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Yan-an Guan,
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Dong MY, Lei L, Fan XW, Li YZ. Analyses of open-access multi-omics data sets reveal genetic and expression characteristics of maize ZmCCT family genes. AOB PLANTS 2021; 13:plab048. [PMID: 34567492 PMCID: PMC8459886 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Flowering in maize (Zea mays) is influenced by photoperiod. The CO, CO-like/COL and TOC1 (CCT) domain protein-encoding genes in maize, ZmCCTs, are particularly important for photoperiod sensitivity. However, little is known about CCT protein-encoding gene number across plant species or among maize inbred lines. Therefore, we analysed CCT protein-encoding gene number across plant species, and characterized ZmCCTs in different inbred lines, including structural variations (SVs), copy number variations (CNVs), expression under stresses, dark-dark (DD) and dark-light (DL) cycles, interaction network and associations with maize quantitative trait loci (QTLs) by referring to the latest v4 genome data of B73. Gene number varied greatly across plant species, more in polyploids than in diploids. The numbers of ZmCCTs identified were 58 in B73, 59 in W22, 48 in Mo17, and 57 in Huangzao4 for temperate maize inbred lines, and 68 in tropical maize inbred line SK. Some ZmCCTs underwent duplications and presented chromosome collinearity. Structural variations and CNVs were found but they had no germplasm specificity. Forty-two ZmCCTs responded to stresses. Expression of 37 ZmCCTs in embryonic leaves during seed germination of maize under DD and DL cycles was roughly divided into five patterns of uphill pattern, downhill-pattern, zigzag-pattern, └-pattern and ⅃-pattern, indicating some of them have a potential to perceive dark and/or dark-light transition. Thirty-three ZmCCTs were co-expressed with 218 other maize genes; and 24 ZmCCTs were associated with known QTLs. The data presented in this study will help inform further functions of ZmCCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-You Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources/College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, P. R. China
| | - Ling Lei
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources/College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, P. R. China
| | - Xian-Wei Fan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources/College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, P. R. China
| | - You-Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources/College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, P. R. China
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21
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Han Q, Sakaguchi S, Wakabayashi T, Setoguchi H. Association between RsFT, RsFLC and RsCOL5 ( A&B) expression and flowering regulation in Japanese wild radish. AOB PLANTS 2021; 13:plab039. [PMID: 34285794 PMCID: PMC8286712 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Flowering is an important step in the life cycle of plants and indicates adaptability to external climatic cues such as temperature and photoperiod. We investigated the expression patterns of core genes related to flowering-time regulation in Japanese wild radish (Raphanus sativus var. raphanistroides) with different vernalization requirements (obligate and facultative) and further identified climatic cues that may act as natural selective forces. Specifically, we analysed flowering-time variation under different cold and photoperiod treatments in Japanese wild radish collected from the Hokkaido (northern lineage) and Okinawa (southern lineage) islands, which experience contrasting climatic cues. The cultivation experiment verified the obligate and facultative vernalization requirements of the northern and southern wild radish accessions, respectively. The expression of major genes involved in flowering time indicated that RsFLC and RsCOL5 (A&B) may interact to regulate flowering time. Notably, floral initiation in the northern lineage was strongly correlated with RsFLC expression, whereas flowering in the southern linage was correlated with induction of RsCOL5-A expression, despite high RsFLC transcript levels. These results suggested that the northern accessions are more sensitive to prolonged cold exposure, whereas the southern accessions are more sensitive to photoperiod. These different mechanisms ultimately confer an optimal flowering time in natural populations in response to locally contrasting climatic cues. This study provides new insights into the variant mechanisms underlying floral pathways in Japanese wild radish from different geographic locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxiang Han
- College of Life Sciences, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, 277160, China
- Corresponding author e-mail address:
| | - Shota Sakaguchi
- Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Tomomi Wakabayashi
- Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Setoguchi
- Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
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Dissecting the Genetic Basis of Flowering Time and Height Related-Traits Using Two Doubled Haploid Populations in Maize. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10081585. [PMID: 34451629 PMCID: PMC8399143 DOI: 10.3390/plants10081585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the field, maize flowering time and height traits are closely linked with yield, planting density, lodging resistance, and grain fill. To explore the genetic basis of flowering time and height traits in maize, we investigated six related traits, namely, days to anthesis (AD), days to silking (SD), the anthesis-silking interval (ASI), plant height (PH), ear height (EH), and the EH/PH ratio (ER) in two locations for two years based on two doubled haploid (DH) populations. Based on the two high-density genetic linkage maps, 12 and 22 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified, respectively, for flowering time and height-related traits. Of these, ten QTLs had overlapping confidence intervals between the two populations and were integrated into three consensus QTLs (qFT_YZ1a, qHT_YZ5a, and qHT_YZ7a). Of these, qFT_YZ1a, conferring flowering time, is located at 221.1-277.0 Mb on chromosome 1 and explained 10.0-12.5% of the AD and SD variation, and qHT_YZ5a, conferring height traits, is located at 147.4-217.3 Mb on chromosome 5 and explained 11.6-15.3% of the PH and EH variation. These consensus QTLs, in addition to the other repeatedly detected QTLs, provide useful information for further genetic studies and variety improvements in flowering time and height-related traits.
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23
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Li X, Guo T, Wang J, Bekele WA, Sukumaran S, Vanous AE, McNellie JP, Tibbs-Cortes LE, Lopes MS, Lamkey KR, Westgate ME, McKay JK, Archontoulis SV, Reynolds MP, Tinker NA, Schnable PS, Yu J. An integrated framework reinstating the environmental dimension for GWAS and genomic selection in crops. MOLECULAR PLANT 2021; 14:874-887. [PMID: 33713844 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Identifying mechanisms and pathways involved in gene-environment interplay and phenotypic plasticity is a long-standing challenge. It is highly desirable to establish an integrated framework with an environmental dimension for complex trait dissection and prediction. A critical step is to identify an environmental index that is both biologically relevant and estimable for new environments. With extensive field-observed complex traits, environmental profiles, and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms for three major crops (maize, wheat, and oat), we demonstrated that identifying such an environmental index (i.e., a combination of environmental parameter and growth window) enables genome-wide association studies and genomic selection of complex traits to be conducted with an explicit environmental dimension. Interestingly, genes identified for two reaction-norm parameters (i.e., intercept and slope) derived from flowering time values along the environmental index were less colocalized for a diverse maize panel than for wheat and oat breeding panels, agreeing with the different diversity levels and genetic constitutions of the panels. In addition, we showcased the usefulness of this framework for systematically forecasting the performance of diverse germplasm panels in new environments. This general framework and the companion CERIS-JGRA analytical package should facilitate biologically informed dissection of complex traits, enhanced performance prediction in breeding for future climates, and coordinated efforts to enrich our understanding of mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianran Li
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Tingting Guo
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Jinyu Wang
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Wubishet A Bekele
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sivakumar Sukumaran
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Adam E Vanous
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - James P McNellie
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | | | - Marta S Lopes
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Kendall R Lamkey
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Mark E Westgate
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - John K McKay
- Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | | | - Matthew P Reynolds
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Nicholas A Tinker
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jianming Yu
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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24
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Coordinative regulation of plants growth and development by light and circadian clock. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:176-189. [PMID: 36304756 PMCID: PMC9590570 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-021-00041-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The circadian clock, known as an endogenous timekeeping system, can integrate various cues to regulate plant physiological functions for adapting to the changing environment and thus ensure optimal plant growth. The synchronization of internal clock with external environmental information needs a process termed entrainment, and light is one of the predominant entraining signals for the plant circadian clock. Photoreceptors can detect and transmit light information to the clock core oscillator through transcriptional or post-transcriptional interactions with core-clock components to sustain circadian rhythms and regulate a myriad of downstream responses, including photomorphogenesis and photoperiodic flowering which are key links in the process of growth and development. Here we summarize the current understanding of the molecular network of the circadian clock and how light information is integrated into the circadian system, especially focus on how the circadian clock and light signals coordinately regulate the common downstream outputs. We discuss the functions of the clock and light signals in regulating photoperiodic flowering among various crop species.
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25
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Joint analysis of days to flowering reveals independent temperate adaptations in maize. Heredity (Edinb) 2021; 126:929-941. [PMID: 33888874 PMCID: PMC8178344 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-021-00422-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Domesticates are an excellent model for understanding biological consequences of rapid climate change. Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) was domesticated from a tropical grass yet is widespread across temperate regions today. We investigate the biological basis of temperate adaptation in diverse structured nested association mapping (NAM) populations from China, Europe (Dent and Flint) and the United States as well as in the Ames inbred diversity panel, using days to flowering as a proxy. Using cross-population prediction, where high prediction accuracy derives from overall genomic relatedness, shared genetic architecture, and sufficient diversity in the training population, we identify patterns in predictive ability across the five populations. To identify the source of temperate adapted alleles in these populations, we predict top associated genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified loci in a Random Forest Classifier using independent temperate-tropical North American populations based on lines selected from Hapmap3 as predictors. We find that North American populations are well predicted (AUC equals 0.89 and 0.85 for Ames and USNAM, respectively), European populations somewhat well predicted (AUC equals 0.59 and 0.67 for the Dent and Flint panels, respectively) and that the Chinese population is not predicted well at all (AUC is 0.47), suggesting an independent adaptation process for early flowering in China. Multiple adaptations for the complex trait days to flowering in maize provide hope for similar natural systems under climate change.
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Arefian M, Bhagya N, Prasad TSK. Phosphorylation-mediated signalling in flowering: prospects and retrospects of phosphoproteomics in crops. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2164-2191. [PMID: 34047006 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is a major post-translational modification, regulating protein function, stability, and subcellular localization. To date, annotated phosphorylation data are available mainly for model organisms and humans, despite the economic importance of crop species and their large kinomes. Our understanding of the phospho-regulation of flowering in relation to the biology and interaction between the pollen and pistil is still significantly lagging, limiting our knowledge on kinase signalling and its potential applications to crop production. To address this gap, we bring together relevant literature that were previously disconnected to present an overview of the roles of phosphoproteomic signalling pathways in modulating molecular and cellular regulation within specific tissues at different morphological stages of flowering. This review is intended to stimulate research, with the potential to increase crop productivity by providing a platform for novel molecular tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Arefian
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Center, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - N Bhagya
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Center, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - T S Keshava Prasad
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Center, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
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27
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Talar U, Kiełbowicz-Matuk A. Beyond Arabidopsis: BBX Regulators in Crop Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22062906. [PMID: 33809370 PMCID: PMC7999331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
B-box proteins represent diverse zinc finger transcription factors and regulators forming large families in various plants. A unique domain structure defines them—besides the highly conserved B-box domains, some B-box (BBX) proteins also possess CCT domain and VP motif. Based on the presence of these specific domains, they are mostly classified into five structural groups. The particular members widely differ in structure and fulfill distinct functions in regulating plant growth and development, including seedling photomorphogenesis, the anthocyanins biosynthesis, photoperiodic regulation of flowering, and hormonal pathways. Several BBX proteins are additionally involved in biotic and abiotic stress response. Overexpression of some BBX genes stimulates various stress-related genes and enhanced tolerance to different stresses. Moreover, there is evidence of interplay between B-box and the circadian clock mechanism. This review highlights the role of BBX proteins as a part of a broad regulatory network in crop plants, considering their participation in development, physiology, defense, and environmental constraints. A description is also provided of how various BBX regulators involved in stress tolerance were applied in genetic engineering to obtain stress tolerance in transgenic crops.
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28
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Yang Y, Sang Z, Du Q, Guo Z, Li Z, Kong X, Xu Y, Zou C. Flowering time regulation model revisited by pooled sequencing of mass selection populations. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 304:110797. [PMID: 33568296 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Maize is one of the most broadly cultivated crops throughout the world, and flowering time is a major adaptive trait for its diffusion. The biggest challenge in understanding maize flowering genetic architecture is that the trait is confounded with population structure. To eliminate the effect, we revisited the flower time genetic network by using a tropical maize population Pop32, which was under mass selection for adaptation to early flowering time in China for six generations from tropical to temperate regions. The days to anthesis (DTA) of the initial (Pop32C0), intermedia (Pop32C3), and final population (Pop32C5) was 90.77, 84.63, and 79.72 days on average, respectively. To examine the genetic mechanism and identify the genetic loci underlying this rapid change in flowering time of Pop32, we bulked 30 individuals from C0, C3, and C5 to conduct the whole genome sequencing. And we finally identified 4,973,810 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 6,517 genes with allele frequency significantly changed during the artificial improvement process. We speculate that these genes might participate in the adaptive improvement process and control flowering time. To identify the candidate genes for flowering time from the gene set with allele frequency changed, we carried out weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and identified four co-expression modules that highly associated with the flowering time development, as well as constructed the co-expression network of key flowering time genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the GO terms photosynthesis/light reaction, carbohydrate binding, auxin mediated signaling pathway, response to temperature stimulus that are closely connected with flowering time. Furthermore, targeted GWAS revealed the genes are significantly connected with the flowering time. qRT-PCR of four candidate genes GRMZM2G019879, GRMZM2G055905, GRMZM2G058158, and GRMZM2G171365 showed that their expression level is similar to the flowering time genes, which playing a key role in maize flowering time transition. This study revealed that the changes of flowering time in mass selection process may be strongly associated with the variations of allele frequency changes, and we identified some important candidate genes for flowering time, which will provide a new insight for the rapid improvement of maize important agronomic traits and promote the gene cloning of maize flowering time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Yang
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Zhiqin Sang
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, China.
| | - Qingguo Du
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Zifeng Guo
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Zhiwei Li
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Xiuying Kong
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Yunbi Xu
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batán 56130, Texcoco, Mexico.
| | - Cheng Zou
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Lei X, Tan B, Liu Z, Wu J, Lv J, Gao C. ThCOL2 Improves the Salt Stress Tolerance of Tamarix hispida. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:653791. [PMID: 34079567 PMCID: PMC8166225 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.653791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The CONSTANS-LIKE (COL) transcription factor has been reported to play important roles in regulating plant flowering and the response to abiotic stress. To clone and screen COL genes with excellent salt tolerance from the woody halophyte Tamarix hispida, 8 ThCOL genes were identified in this study. The expression patterns of these genes under different abiotic stresses (high salt, osmotic, and heavy metal) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The expression levels of 8 ThCOL genes changed significantly after exposure to one or more stresses, indicating that these genes were all stress-responsive genes and may be involved in the stress resistance response of T. hispida. In particular, the expression level of ThCOL2 changed significantly at most time points in the roots and leaves of T. hispida under salt stress and after ABA treatments, which may play an important role in the response process of salt stress through a mechanism dependent on the ABA pathway. The recombinant vectors pROKII-ThCOL2 and pFGC5941-ThCOL2 were constructed for the transient transformation of T. hispida, and the transient infection of T. hispida with the pROKII empty vector was used as the control to further verify whether the ThCOL2 gene was involved in the regulation of the salt tolerance response of T. hispida. Overexpression of the ThCOL2 gene in plants under 150 mM NaCl stress increased the ability of transgenic T. hispida cells to remove reactive oxygen species (ROS) by regulating the activity of protective enzymes and promoting a decrease in the accumulation of O2- and H2O2, thereby reducing cell damage or cell death and enhancing salt tolerance. The ThCOL2 gene may be a candidate gene associated with excellent salt tolerance. Furthermore, the expression levels of some genes related to the ABA pathway were analyzed using qRT-PCR. The results showed that the expressions of ThNCED1 and ThNCED4 were significantly higher, and the expressions of ThNCED3, ThZEP, and ThAAO3 were not significantly altered in OE compared with CON under normal conditions. But after 24 h of salt stress, the expressions of all five studied genes all were lower than the normal condition. In the future, the downstream genes directly regulated by the ThCOL2 transcription factor will be searched and identified to analyze the salt tolerance regulatory network of ThCOL2.
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Li Q, Wu G, Zhao Y, Wang B, Zhao B, Kong D, Wei H, Chen C, Wang H. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout and overexpression studies reveal a role of maize phytochrome C in regulating flowering time and plant height. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2020; 18:2520-2532. [PMID: 32531863 PMCID: PMC7680541 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Maize is a major staple crop widely used for food, feedstocks and industrial products. Shade-avoidance syndrome (SAS), which is triggered when plants sense competition of light from neighbouring vegetation, is detrimental for maize yield production under high-density planting conditions. Previous studies have shown that the red and far-red photoreceptor phytochromes are responsible for perceiving the shading signals and triggering SAS in Arabidopsis; however, their roles in maize are less clear. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of ZmPHYC1 and ZmPHYC2 and found that ZmPHYC1, but not ZmPHYC2, is highly expressed in leaves and is regulated by the circadian clock. Both ZmPHYC1 and ZmPHYC2 proteins are localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm under light conditions and both of them can interact with themselves or with ZmPHYBs. Heterologous expression of ZmPHYCs can complement the Arabidopsis phyC-2 mutant under constant red light conditions and confer an attenuated SAS in Arabidopsis in response to shading. Double knockout mutants of ZmPHYC1 and ZmPHYC2 created using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology display a moderate early-flowering phenotype under long-day conditions, whereas ZmPHYC2 overexpression plants exhibit a moderately reduced plant height and ear height. Together, these results provided new insight into the function of ZmPHYCs and guidance for breeding high-density tolerant maize cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop BiologyCollege of AgronomyShandong Agricultural UniversityTai’anChina
| | - Guangxia Wu
- Biotechnology Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yongping Zhao
- Biotechnology Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Baobao Wang
- Biotechnology Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Binbin Zhao
- Biotechnology Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Dexin Kong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Hongbin Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Cuixia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop BiologyCollege of AgronomyShandong Agricultural UniversityTai’anChina
| | - Haiyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
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31
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Abdul‐Awal SM, Chen J, Xin Z, Harmon FG. A sorghum gigantea mutant attenuates florigen gene expression and delays flowering time. PLANT DIRECT 2020; 4:e00281. [PMID: 33210074 PMCID: PMC7665845 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
GIGANTEA (GI) is a conserved plant-specific gene that modulates a range of environmental responses in multiple plant species, including playing a key role in photoperiodic regulation of flowering time. The C4 grass Sorghum bicolor is an important grain and subsistence crop, animal forage, and cellulosic biofuel feedstock that is tolerant of abiotic stresses and marginal soils. To understand sorghum flowering time regulatory networks, we characterized the sbgi-ems1 nonsense mutant allele of the sorghum GIGANTEA (SbGI) gene from a sequenced M4 EMS-mutagenized BTx623 population. sbgi-ems1 plants flowered later than wild type siblings under both long-day or short-day photoperiods. Delayed flowering in sbgi-ems1 plants accompanied an increase in node number, indicating an extended vegetative growth phase prior to flowering. sbgi-ems1 plants had reduced expression of floral activator genes SbCO and SbEHD1 and downstream FT-like florigen genes SbFT, SbCN8, and SbCN12. Therefore, SbGI plays a role in regulating SbCO and SbEHD1 expression that serves to accelerate flowering. SbGI protein physically interacts with the sorghum FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX1-like (SbFFL) protein, a conserved flowering-associated blue light photoreceptor, and the SbGI-SbFFL interaction is stimulated by blue light. This work demonstrates that SbGI is an activator of sorghum flowering time upstream of florigen genes under short- and long-day photoperiods, likely in association with the activity of the blue light photoreceptor SbFFL. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study elucidates molecular details of flowering time networks for the adaptable C4 cereal crop Sorghum bicolor, including demonstration of a role for blue light sensing in sorghum GIGANTEA activity. This work validates the utility of a large publicly available sequenced EMS-mutagenized sorghum population to determine gene function.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. M. Abdul‐Awal
- Plant Gene Expression CenterUSDA‐ARSAlbanyCAUSA
- Department of Plant & Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
- Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering DisciplineKhulna UniversityKhulnaBangladesh
| | - Junping Chen
- Plant Stress and Germplasm Development UnitUSDA‐ARSLubbockTXUSA
| | - Zhanguo Xin
- Plant Stress and Germplasm Development UnitUSDA‐ARSLubbockTXUSA
| | - Frank G. Harmon
- Plant Gene Expression CenterUSDA‐ARSAlbanyCAUSA
- Department of Plant & Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
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Maize adaptation across temperate climates was obtained via expression of two florigen genes. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008882. [PMID: 32673315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansion of the maize growing area was central for food security in temperate regions. In addition to the suppression of the short-day requirement for floral induction, it required breeding for a large range of flowering time that compensates the effect of South-North gradients of temperatures. Here we show the role of a novel florigen gene, ZCN12, in the latter adaptation in cooperation with ZCN8. Strong eQTLs of ZCN8 and ZCN12, measured in 327 maize lines, accounted for most of the genetic variance of flowering time in platform and field experiments. ZCN12 had a strong effect on flowering time of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants; a path analysis showed that it directly affected maize flowering time together with ZCN8. The allelic composition at ZCN QTLs showed clear signs of selection by breeders. This suggests that florigens played a central role in ensuring a large range of flowering time, necessary for adaptation to temperate areas.
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Hu J, Liu Y, Tang X, Rao H, Ren C, Chen J, Wu Q, Jiang Y, Geng F, Pei J. Transcriptome profiling of the flowering transition in saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Sci Rep 2020; 10:9680. [PMID: 32541892 PMCID: PMC7295807 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66675-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Saffron, derived from the stigma of Crocus sativus, is not only a valuable traditional Chinese medicine but also the expensive spice and dye. Its yield and quality are seriously influenced by its flowering transition. However, the molecular regulatory mechanism of the flowering transition in C. sativus is still unknown. In this study, we performed morphological, physiological and transcriptomic analyses using apical bud samples from C. sativus during the floral transition process. Morphological results indicated that the flowering transition process could be divided into three stages: an undifferentiated period, the early flower bud differentiation period, and the late flower bud differentiation period. Sugar, gibberellin (GA3), auxin (IAA) and zeatin (ZT) levels were steadily upregulated, while starch and abscisic acid (ABA) levels were gradually downregulated. Transcriptomic analysis showed that a total of 60 203 unigenes were identified, among which 19 490 were significantly differentially expressed. Of these, 165 unigenes were involved in flowering and were significantly enriched in the sugar metabolism, hormone signal transduction, cell cycle regulatory, photoperiod and autonomous pathways. Based on the above analysis, a hypothetical model for the regulatory networks of the saffron flowering transition was proposed. This study lays a theoretical basis for the genetic regulation of flowering in C. sativus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Research and Development, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yuping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Research and Development, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Xiaohui Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Research and Development, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Huajing Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Research and Development, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Chaoxiang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Research and Development, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Research and Development, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Qinghua Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Research and Development, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- New Zealand Academy of Chinese Medicine Science, Christchurch, 8014, New Zealand
| | - Fuchang Geng
- The Good Doctor Pharmaceutical group co. LTD, Mianyang, 622650, China
| | - Jin Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Research and Development, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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Dong MY, Lei L, Fan XW, Li YZ. Dark response genes: a group of endogenous pendulum/timing players in maize? PLANTA 2020; 252:1. [PMID: 32504137 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-020-03403-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Maize has a set of dark response genes, expression of which is influenced by multiple factor and varies with maize inbred lines but without germplasm specificity. The response to photoperiod is a common biological issue across the species kingdoms. Dark is as important as light in photoperiod. However, further in-depth understanding of responses of maize (Zea mays) to light and dark transition under photoperiod is hindered due to the lack of understanding of dark response genes. With multiple public "-omic" datasets of temperate and tropical/subtropical maize, 16 maize dark response genes, ZmDRGs, were found and had rhythmic expression under dark and light-dark cycle. ZmDRGs 6-8 were tandemly duplicated. ZmDRGs 2, 13, and 14 had a chromosomal collinearity with other maize genes. ZmDRGs 1-11 and 13-16 had copy-number variations. ZmDRGs 2, 9, and 16 showed 5'-end sequence deletion mutations. Some ZmDRGs had chromatin interactions and underwent DNA methylation and/or m6A mRNA methylation. Chromosomal histones associated with 15 ZmDRGs were methylated and acetylated. ZmDRGs 1, 2, 4, 9, and 13 involved photoperiodic phenotypes. ZmDRG16 was within flowering-related QTLs. ZmDRGs 1, 3, and 6-11 were present in cis-acting expression QTLs (eQTLs). ZmDRGs 1, 4, 6-9, 11, 12, and 14-16 showed co-expression with other maize genes. Some of ZmDRG-encoded ZmDRGs showed obvious differences in abundance and phosphorylation. CONCLUSION Sixteen ZmDRGs 1-16 are associated with the dark response of maize. In the process of post-domestication and/or breeding, the ZmDRGs undergo the changes without germplasm specificity, including epigenetic modifications, gene copy numbers, chromatin interactions, and deletion mutations. In addition to effects by these factors, ZmDRG expression is influenced by promoter elements, cis-acting eQTLs, and co-expression networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-You Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Ling Lei
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Xian-Wei Fan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - You-Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China.
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Forestan C, Farinati S, Zambelli F, Pavesi G, Rossi V, Varotto S. Epigenetic signatures of stress adaptation and flowering regulation in response to extended drought and recovery in Zea mays. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2020; 43:55-75. [PMID: 31677283 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
During their lifespan, plants respond to a multitude of stressful factors. Dynamic changes in chromatin and concomitant transcriptional variations control stress response and adaptation, with epigenetic memory mechanisms integrating environmental conditions and appropriate developmental programs over the time. Here we analyzed transcriptome and genome-wide histone modifications of maize plants subjected to a mild and prolonged drought stress just before the flowering transition. Stress was followed by a complete recovery period to evaluate drought memory mechanisms. Three categories of stress-memory genes were identified: i) "transcriptional memory" genes, with stable transcriptional changes persisting after the recovery; ii) "epigenetic memory candidate" genes in which stress-induced chromatin changes persist longer than the stimulus, in absence of transcriptional changes; iii) "delayed memory" genes, not immediately affected by the stress, but perceiving and storing stress signal for a delayed response. This last memory mechanism is described for the first time in drought response. In addition, applied drought stress altered floral patterning, possibly by affecting expression and chromatin of flowering regulatory genes. Altogether, we provided a genome-wide map of the coordination between genes and chromatin marks utilized by plants to adapt to a stressful environment, describing how this serves as a backbone for setting stress memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Forestan
- Department of Agronomy Animals Food Natural Resources and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Silvia Farinati
- Department of Agronomy Animals Food Natural Resources and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Federico Zambelli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Pavesi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Rossi
- CREA - Centro di Cerealicoltura e Colture Industriali (CREA-CI), Via Stezzano 24, 24126, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Serena Varotto
- Department of Agronomy Animals Food Natural Resources and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
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Wisser RJ, Fang Z, Holland JB, Teixeira JEC, Dougherty J, Weldekidan T, de Leon N, Flint-Garcia S, Lauter N, Murray SC, Xu W, Hallauer A. The Genomic Basis for Short-Term Evolution of Environmental Adaptation in Maize. Genetics 2019; 213:1479-1494. [PMID: 31615843 PMCID: PMC6893377 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary capacity of populations to adapt to novel environments is one of the major pursuits in genetics. Moreover, for plant breeding, maladaptation is the foremost barrier to capitalizing on intraspecific variation in order to develop new breeds for future climate scenarios in agriculture. Using a unique study design, we simultaneously dissected the population and quantitative genomic basis of short-term evolution in a tropical landrace of maize that was translocated to a temperate environment and phenotypically selected for adaptation in flowering time phenology. Underlying 10 generations of directional selection, which resulted in a 26-day mean decrease in female-flowering time, [Formula: see text] of the heritable variation mapped to [Formula: see text] of the genome, where, overall, alleles shifted in frequency beyond the boundaries of genetic drift in the expected direction given their flowering time effects. However, clustering these non-neutral alleles based on their profiles of frequency change revealed transient shifts underpinning a transition in genotype-phenotype relationships across generations. This was distinguished by initial reductions in the frequencies of few relatively large positive effect alleles and subsequent enrichment of many rare negative effect alleles, some of which appear to represent allelic series. With these genomic shifts, the population reached an adapted state while retaining [Formula: see text] of the standing molecular marker variation in the founding population. Robust selection and association mapping tests highlighted several key genes driving the phenotypic response to selection. Our results reveal the evolutionary dynamics of a finite polygenic architecture conditioning a capacity for rapid environmental adaptation in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall J Wisser
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716
| | - Zhou Fang
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - James B Holland
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Juliana E C Teixeira
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716
| | - John Dougherty
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19714
| | | | - Natalia de Leon
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Sherry Flint-Garcia
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Columbia, Missouri 65211
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211
| | - Nick Lauter
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Ames, Iowa 50011
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
| | - Seth C Murray
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
| | - Wenwei Xu
- Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Lubbock, Texas 79403
| | - Arnel Hallauer
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
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Plunkett BJ, Henry-Kirk R, Friend A, Diack R, Helbig S, Mouhu K, Tomes S, Dare AP, Espley RV, Putterill J, Allan AC. Apple B-box factors regulate light-responsive anthocyanin biosynthesis genes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17762. [PMID: 31780719 PMCID: PMC6882830 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54166-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmentally-responsive genes can affect fruit red colour via the activation of MYB transcription factors. The apple B-box (BBX) gene, BBX33/CONSTANS-like 11 (COL11) has been reported to influence apple red-skin colour in a light- and temperature-dependent manner. To further understand the role of apple BBX genes, other members of the BBX family were examined for effects on colour regulation. Expression of 23 BBX genes in apple skin was analysed during fruit development. We investigated the diurnal rhythm of expression of the BBX genes, the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and a MYB activator, MYB10. Transactivation assays on the MYB10 promoter, showed that BBX proteins 1, 17, 15, 35, 51, and 54 were able to directly function as activators. Using truncated versions of the MYB10 promoter, a key region was identified for activation by BBX1. BBX1 enhanced the activation of MYB10 and MdbHLH3 on the promoter of the anthocyanin biosynthetic gene DFR. In transformed apple lines, over-expression of BBX1 reduced internal ethylene content and altered both cyanidin concentration and associated gene expression. We propose that, along with environmental signals, the control of MYB10 expression by BBXs in 'Royal Gala' fruit involves the integration of the expression of multiple BBXs to regulate fruit colour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blue J Plunkett
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rebecca Henry-Kirk
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Adam Friend
- PFR, 55 Old Mill Road, RD 3, Motueka, 7198, New Zealand
| | - Robert Diack
- PFR, 55 Old Mill Road, RD 3, Motueka, 7198, New Zealand
| | - Susanne Helbig
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand
- BIOTECON Diagnostics GmbH, Hermannswerder 17, 14473, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Katriina Mouhu
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand
- Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sumathi Tomes
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew P Dare
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard V Espley
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Joanna Putterill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew C Allan
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Mt Albert, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Stephenson E, Estrada S, Meng X, Ourada J, Muszynski MG, Habben JE, Danilevskaya ON. Over-expression of the photoperiod response regulator ZmCCT10 modifies plant architecture, flowering time and inflorescence morphology in maize. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0203728. [PMID: 30726207 PMCID: PMC6364868 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Maize originated as a tropical plant that required short days to transition from vegetative to reproductive development. ZmCCT10 [CO, CONSTANS, CO-LIKE and TIMING OF CAB1 (CCT) transcription factor family] is a regulator of photoperiod response and was identified as a major QTL controlling photoperiod sensitivity in maize. We modulated expression of ZmCCT10 in transgenic maize using two constitutive promoters with different expression levels. Transgenic plants over expressing ZmCCT10 with either promoter were delayed in their transition from vegetative to reproductive development but were not affected in their switch from juvenile-to-adult vegetative growth. Strikingly, transgenic plants containing the stronger expressing construct had a prolonged period of vegetative growth accompanied with dramatic modifications to plant architecture that impacted both vegetative and reproductive traits. These plants did not produce ears, but tassels were heavily branched. In more than half of the transgenic plants, tassels were converted into a branched leafy structure resembling phyllody, often composed of vegetative plantlets. Analysis of expression modules controlling the floral transition and meristem identity linked these networks to photoperiod dependent regulation, whereas phase change modules appeared to be photoperiod independent. Results from this study clarified the influence of the photoperiod pathway on vegetative and reproductive development and allowed for the fine-tuning of the maize flowering time model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Stephenson
- CORTEVA Agrisciences, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont; Johnston, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Stacey Estrada
- CORTEVA Agrisciences, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont; Johnston, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Xin Meng
- CORTEVA Agrisciences, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont; Johnston, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jesse Ourada
- CORTEVA Agrisciences, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont; Johnston, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Michael G. Muszynski
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, Honolulu, Hawaii; United States of America
| | - Jeffrey E. Habben
- CORTEVA Agrisciences, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont; Johnston, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Olga N. Danilevskaya
- CORTEVA Agrisciences, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont; Johnston, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zhou R, Liu P, Li D, Zhang X, Wei X. Photoperiod response-related gene SiCOL1 contributes to flowering in sesame. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 18:343. [PMID: 30526484 PMCID: PMC6288898 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-018-1583-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sesame is a major oilseed crop which is widely cultivated all around the world. Flowering, the timing of transition from vegetative to reproductive growth, is one of the most important events in the life cycle of sesame. Sesame is a typical short-day (SD) plant and its flowering is largely affected by photoperiod. However, the flowering mechanism in sesame at the molecular level is still not very clear. Previous studies showed that the CONSTANS (CO) gene is the crucial photoperiod response gene which plays a center role in duration of the plant vegetative growth. RESULTS In this study, the CO-like (COL) genes were identified and characterized in the sesame genome. Two homologs of the CO gene in the SiCOLs, SiCOL1 and SiCOL2, were recognized and comprehensively analyzed. However, sequence analysis showed that SiCOL2 lacked one of the B-box motifs. In addition, the flowering time of the transgenic Arabidopsis lines with overexpressed SiCOL2 were longer than that of SiCOL1, indicating that SiCOL1 was more likely to be the potential functional homologue of CO in sesame. Expression analysis revealed that SiCOL1 had high expressed levels before flowering in leaves and exhibited diurnal rhythmic expression in both SD and long-day (LD) conditions. In total, 16 haplotypes of SiCOL1 were discovered in the sesame collections from Asia. However, the mutated haplotypes did not express under both SD and LD conditions and was regarded as a nonfunctional allele. Notably, the sesame landraces from high-latitude regions harboring nonfunctional alleles of SiCOL1 flowered much earlier than landraces from low-latitude regions under LD condition, and adapted to the northernmost regions of sesame cultivation. The result indicated that sesame landraces from high-latitude regions might have undergone artificial selection to adapt to the LD environment. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that SiCOL1 might contribute to regulation of flowering in sesame and natural variations in SiCOL1 were probably related to the expansion of sesame cultivation to high-latitude regions. The results could be used in sesame breeding and in broadening adaptation of sesame varieties to new regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Pan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Donghua Li
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Xiurong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Xin Wei
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062 China
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 China
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40
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Tian L, Liu H, Ren L, Ku L, Wu L, Li M, Wang S, Zhou J, Song X, Zhang J, Dou D, Liu H, Tang G, Chen Y. MicroRNA 399 as a potential integrator of photo-response, phosphate homeostasis, and sucrose signaling under long day condition. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 18:290. [PMID: 30463514 PMCID: PMC6249786 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-018-1460-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photoperiod-sensitivity is a critical endogenous regulatory mechanism for plant growth and development under specific environmental conditions, while phosphate and sucrose signaling processes play key roles in cell growth and organ initiation. MicroRNA399 is phosphate-responsive, but, whether it has roles in other metabolic processes remains unknown. RESULTS MicroRNA399 was determined to be sucrose-responsive through a microRNA array assay. High levels of sucrose inhibited the accumulation of microRNA399 family under phosphate starvation conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana. Similarly, exogenous sucrose supplementation also reduced microRNA399 expression in maize at developmental transition stages. RNA sequencing of a near-isogenic line(photoperiod-sensitive) line and its recurrent parent Huangzao4, a photoperiod-insensitive line, was conducted at various developmental stages. Members of microRNA399 family were down-regulated under long-day conditions in the photoperiod-sensitive near-isogenic line that accumulated more sucrose in vivo compared with the control line Huangzao4. CONCLUSION MicroRNA399s may play central roles in the integration of sucrose sensing and photoperiodic responses under long day conditions in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tian
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Haiping Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931 USA
| | - Ligang Ren
- College of Life Science, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Lixia Ku
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Liuji Wu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Mingna Li
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Shunxi Wang
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Jinlong Zhou
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Xiaoheng Song
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Cereal Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Science/Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Maize Biology, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Dandan Dou
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Huafeng Liu
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
| | - Guiliang Tang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931 USA
| | - Yanhui Chen
- College of Agronomy, National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 China
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Li YF, Zhao YQ, Zhang M, Jia GX, Zaccai M. Functional and Evolutionary Characterization of the CONSTANS-like Family in Lilium�formolongi. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 59:1874-1888. [PMID: 29878281 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcy105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Lilium�formolongi is a facultative long-day (LD) plant. Aiming to dissect the molecular regulation of the photoperiodic pathway, largely unknown in Lilium, we explored the CONSTANS/FLOWERING LOCUS T (CO/FT) module, a major regulatory factor in the external coincidence model of the photoperiodic flowering pathway in lily. We identified eight CONSTANS-LIKE (COL) family members in L.�formolongi, which could be divided into three types, according to their zinc-finger (B-box) protein domains. Type I included only LfCOL5, containing two B-box motifs. Type II contained six LfCOLs members that had only one B-box motif. Type III contained only LfCOL9 that showed a normal B-box and a second divergent B-box motif. Phylogenic analyses revealed that LfCOL5 was the closest to Arabidopsis CO. LfCOL5, LfCOL6 and LfCOL9 were up-regulated at the flowering induction stage under LDs, coinciding with an increase in LfFT1 expression. LfCOL5, LfCOL6 and LfCOL9 also showed obvious diurnal expression pattern for 3 d under LDs. However, under short-day (SD) conditions, the expression patterns of LfCOL5, LfCOL6 and LfCOL9 were variable and complex, with regard to the developmental stages and circadian rhythm. LfCOL5, LfCOL6 and LfCOL9 complemented the late flowering phenotype of the co mutant in Arabidopsis. Taken together, the results suggest that LfCOL5, LfCOL6 and LfCOL9 are involved in triggering flowering induction under LDs. LfCOL6 and LfCOL9 belong to types different from functional COL homologs in other plant species, illustrating the variation in phylogeny, evolution and gene function among LfCOL family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Fan Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape, Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha, China
| | - Yu-Qian Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Gui-Xia Jia
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Michele Zaccai
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel
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Song N, Xu Z, Wang J, Qin Q, Jiang H, Si W, Li X. Genome-wide analysis of maize CONSTANS-LIKE gene family and expression profiling under light/dark and abscisic acid treatment. Gene 2018; 673:1-11. [PMID: 29908279 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The CONSTANS-LIKE (COL) gene has an important role both in regulation flowering through photoperiodic control and response to abiotic stress. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of maize COL gene family and identified 19 non-redundant ZmCOL genes, which were unequally distributed on ten maize chromosomes. Analysis of compound phylogenetic tree (maize, sorghum, rice and Arabidopsis) showed high bootstrap, as well as conserved domain and semblable gene structures among members within the same clade, revealing that COL genes in same clade were from the common ancestral and prior to the divergence of monocots and dicots lineages. Calculation of Ka/Ks ratio demonstrated that most duplicated ZmCOLs experienced purifying selection, which suggested limited functional divergence after duplication events. Comparing interspecies gene collinearity between three major grasses species, extensive microsynteny was detected among maize, sorghum and rice COL-containing segments. Additionally, several light-responsive and one ABA-responsive cis-elements could be detected for ZmCOL genes in group A. Therefore, qRT-PCR was performed to explore the expression patterns of ZmCOL genes in group A under light/dark conditions and ABA treatment. Our results laid the foundation for functional characterization of ZmCOL proteins and uncovering the biological roles of COL genes in response to stress in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Song
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Zhilan Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Jing Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Qianqian Qin
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Haiyang Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Weina Si
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
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Minow MAA, Ávila LM, Turner K, Ponzoni E, Mascheretti I, Dussault FM, Lukens L, Rossi V, Colasanti J. Distinct gene networks modulate floral induction of autonomous maize and photoperiod-dependent teosinte. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:2937-2952. [PMID: 29688423 PMCID: PMC5972621 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Temperate maize was domesticated from its tropical ancestor, teosinte. Whereas temperate maize is an autonomous day-neutral plant, teosinte is an obligate short-day plant that requires uninterrupted long nights to induce flowering. Leaf-derived florigenic signals trigger reproductive growth in both teosinte and temperate maize. To study the genetic mechanisms underlying floral inductive pathways in maize and teosinte, mRNA and small RNA genome-wide expression analyses were conducted on leaf tissue from plants that were induced or not induced to flower. Transcriptome profiles reveal common differentially expressed genes during floral induction, but a comparison of candidate flowering time genes indicates that photoperiod and autonomous pathways act independently. Expression differences in teosinte are consistent with the current paradigm for photoperiod-induced flowering, where changes in circadian clock output trigger florigen production. Conversely, differentially expressed genes in temperate maize link carbon partitioning and flowering, but also show altered expression of circadian clock genes that are distinct from those altered upon photoperiodic induction in teosinte. Altered miRNA399 levels in both teosinte and maize suggest a novel common connection between flowering and phosphorus perception. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying a strengthened autonomous pathway that enabled maize growth throughout temperate regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A A Minow
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luis M Ávila
- Plant Agriculture Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katie Turner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elena Ponzoni
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Iride Mascheretti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Forest M Dussault
- Research and Development, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lewis Lukens
- Plant Agriculture Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vincenzo Rossi
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Joseph Colasanti
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract
Flowering time is a critical determinant of crop adaptation to local environments. As a result of natural and artificial selection, maize has evolved a reduced photoperiod sensitivity to adapt to regions over 90° of latitude in the Americas. Here we show that a distant Harbinger-like transposon acts as a cis-regulatory element to repress ZmCCT9 expression to promote flowering under the long days of higher latitudes. The transposon at ZmCCT9 and another functional transposon at a second flowering-time gene, ZmCCT10, arose sequentially following domestication and were targeted by selection as maize spread from the tropics to higher latitudes. Our results demonstrate that new functional variation created by transposon insertions helped maize to spread over a broad range of latitudes rapidly. From its tropical origin in southwestern Mexico, maize spread over a wide latitudinal cline in the Americas. This feat defies the rule that crops are inhibited from spreading easily across latitudes. How the widespread latitudinal adaptation of maize was accomplished is largely unknown. Through positional cloning and association mapping, we resolved a flowering-time quantitative trait locus to a Harbinger-like transposable element positioned 57 kb upstream of a CCT transcription factor (ZmCCT9). The Harbinger-like element acts in cis to repress ZmCCT9 expression to promote flowering under long days. Knockout of ZmCCT9 by CRISPR/Cas9 causes early flowering under long days. ZmCCT9 is diurnally regulated and negatively regulates the expression of the florigen ZCN8, thereby resulting in late flowering under long days. Population genetics analyses revealed that the Harbinger-like transposon insertion at ZmCCT9 and the CACTA-like transposon insertion at another CCT paralog, ZmCCT10, arose sequentially following domestication and were targeted by selection for maize adaptation to higher latitudes. Our findings help explain how the dynamic maize genome with abundant transposon activity enabled maize to adapt over 90° of latitude during the pre-Columbian era.
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Li Y, Tong L, Deng L, Liu Q, Xing Y, Wang C, Liu B, Yang X, Xu M. Evaluation of ZmCCT haplotypes for genetic improvement of maize hybrids. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2017; 130:2587-2600. [PMID: 28916922 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-017-2978-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The elite ZmCCT haplotypes which have no transposable element in the promoter could enhance maize resistance to Gibberella stalk rot and improve yield-related traits, while having no or mild impact on flowering time. Therefore, they are expected to have great value in future maize breeding programs. A CCT domain-containing gene, ZmCCT, is involved in both photoperiod response and stalk rot resistance in maize. At least 15 haplotypes are present at the ZmCCT locus in maize germplasm, whereas only three of them are found in Chinese commercial maize hybrids. Here, we evaluated ZmCCT haplotypes for their potential application in corn breeding. Nine resistant ZmCCT haplotypes that have no CACTA-like transposable element in the promoter were introduced into seven elite maize inbred lines by marker-assisted backcrossing. The resultant 63 converted lines had 0.7-5.1 Mb of resistant ZmCCT donor segments with over 90% recovery rates. All converted lines tested exhibited enhanced resistance to maize stalk rot but varied in photoperiod sensitivity. There was a close correlation between the hybrids and their parental lines with respect to both resistance performance and photoperiod sensitivity. Furthermore, in a given hybrid A5302/83B28, resistant ZmCCT haplotype could largely improve yield-related traits, such as ear length and 100-kernel weight, resulting in enhanced grain yield. Of nine resistant ZmCCT haplotypes, haplotype H5 exhibited excellent performance for both flowering time and stalk rot resistance and is thus expected to have potential value in future maize breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipu Li
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixiu Tong
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Lele Deng
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiyu Liu
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuexian Xing
- Maize Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, 136100, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Wang
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoshen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohong Yang
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingliang Xu
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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Jończyk M, Sobkowiak A, Trzcinska-Danielewicz J, Skoneczny M, Solecka D, Fronk J, Sowiński P. Global analysis of gene expression in maize leaves treated with low temperature. II. Combined effect of severe cold (8 °C) and circadian rhythm. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 95:279-302. [PMID: 28828699 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-017-0651-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In maize seedlings, severe cold results in dysregulation of circadian pattern of gene expression causing profound modulation of transcription of genes related to photosynthesis and other key biological processes. Plants live highly cyclic life and their response to environmental stresses must allow for underlying biological rhythms. To study the interplay of a stress and a rhythmic cue we investigated transcriptomic response of maize seedlings to low temperature in the context of diurnal gene expression. Severe cold stress had pronounced effect on the circadian rhythm of a substantial proportion of genes. Their response was strikingly dual, comprising either flattening (partial or complete) of the diel amplitude or delay of expression maximum/minimum by several hours. Genes encoding central oscillator components behaved in the same dual manner, unlike their Arabidopsis counterparts reported earlier to cease cycling altogether upon cold treatment. Also numerous genes lacking circadian rhythm responded to the cold by undergoing up- or down-regulation. Notably, the transcriptome changes preceded major physiological manifestations of cold stress. In silico analysis of metabolic processes likely affected by observed gene expression changes indicated major down-regulation of photosynthesis, profound and multifarious modulation of plant hormone levels, and of chromatin structure, transcription, and translation. A role of trehalose and stachyose in cold stress signaling was also suggested. Meta-analysis of published transcriptomic data allowed discrimination between general stress response of maize and that unique to severe cold. Several cis- and trans-factors likely involved in the latter were predicted, albeit none of them seemed to have a major role. These results underscore a key role of modulation of diel gene expression in maize response to severe cold and the unique character of the cold-response of the maize circadian clock.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Jończyk
- Department of Plant Molecular Ecophysiology, Institute of Plant Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warszawa, Poland
| | - A Sobkowiak
- Department of Plant Molecular Ecophysiology, Institute of Plant Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warszawa, Poland
| | - J Trzcinska-Danielewicz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warszawa, Poland
| | - M Skoneczny
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, Warszawa, Poland
| | - D Solecka
- Department of Plant Molecular Ecophysiology, Institute of Plant Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warszawa, Poland
| | - J Fronk
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warszawa, Poland
| | - P Sowiński
- Department of Plant Molecular Ecophysiology, Institute of Plant Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warszawa, Poland.
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Yan J, Mao D, Liu X, Wang L, Xu F, Wang G, Zhang W, Liao Y. Isolation and functional characterization of a circadian-regulated CONSTANS homolog (GbCO) from Ginkgo biloba. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2017; 36:1387-1399. [PMID: 28616659 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-017-2162-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This is the first report to clone and functionally characterize a flowering time gene GbCO in perennial gymnosperm Ginkgo biloba. GbCO complements the co mutant of Arabidopsis, restoring normal early flowering. CONSTANS (CO) is a central regulator of photoperiod pathway, which channels inputs from light, day length, and circadian clock to promote the floral transition. In order to understand the role of CO in gymnosperm Ginkgo biloba, which has a long juvenile phase (15-20 years), a CO homolog (GbCO) was isolated and characterized from G. biloba. GbCO encodes a 1741-bp gene with a predicted protein of 400 amino acids with two zinc finger domains (B-box I and B-box II) and a CCT domain. Phylogenic analysis classified GbCO into the group 1a clade of CO families in accordance with the grouping scheme for Arabidopsis CO (AtCO). Southern blot analysis indicated that GbCO belongs to a multigene family in G. biloba. Real-time PCR analysis showed that GbCO was expressed in aerial parts of Ginkgo, with the highest transcript level of GbCO being observed in shoot apexes. GbCO transcript level exhibited a strong diurnal rhythm under flowering-inductive long days and peaked during early morning, suggesting that GbCO is tightly coupled to the floral inductive long-day signal. In addition, an increasing trend of GbCO transcript level was observed both in shoot tips and leaves as the shoot growth under long-day condition, whereas GbCO transcript level decreased in both tissues under short-day condition prior to growth cessation of shoot in G. biloba. GbCO complemented the Arabidopsis co-2 mutant, restoring normal early flowering. All the evidence being taken together, our findings suggested that GbCO served as a potential inducer of flowering in G. biloba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaping Yan
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, Hubei, China
| | - Dun Mao
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, Hubei, China
| | - Lanlan Wang
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, Hubei, China
| | - Feng Xu
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, Hubei, China.
| | - Guiyuan Wang
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, Hubei, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, Hubei, China
| | - Yongling Liao
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, Hubei, China
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49
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Seeve CM, Cho IJ, Hearne LB, Srivastava GP, Joshi T, Smith DO, Sharp RE, Oliver MJ. Water-deficit-induced changes in transcription factor expression in maize seedlings. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2017; 40:686-701. [PMID: 28039925 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Plants tolerate water deficits by regulating gene networks controlling cellular and physiological traits to modify growth and development. Transcription factor (TF)-directed regulation of transcription within these gene networks is key to eliciting appropriate responses. In this study, reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to examine the abundance of 618 transcripts from 536 TF genes in individual root and shoot tissues of maize seedlings grown in vermiculite under well-watered (water potential of -0.02 MPa) and water-deficit conditions (water potentials of -0.3 and -1.6 MPa). A linear mixed model identified 433 TF transcripts representing 392 genes that differed significantly in abundance in at least one treatment, including TFs that intersect growth and development and environmental stress responses. TFs were extensively differentially regulated across stressed maize seedling tissues. Hierarchical clustering revealed TFs with stress-induced increased abundance in primary root tips that likely regulate root growth responses to water deficits, possibly as part of abscisic acid and/or auxin-dependent signaling pathways. Ten of these TFs were selected for validation in nodal root tips of drought-stressed field-grown plants (late V1 to early V2 stage). Changes in abundance of these TF transcripts under a field drought were similar to those observed in the seedling system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace M Seeve
- Plant Genetics Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - In-Jeong Cho
- Plant Genetics Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Leonard B Hearne
- Statistics Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | | | - Trupti Joshi
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Informatics Institute and Christopher S Bond Life Science Center, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Dante O Smith
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Robert E Sharp
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Melvin J Oliver
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
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50
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Brambilla V, Gomez-Ariza J, Cerise M, Fornara F. The Importance of Being on Time: Regulatory Networks Controlling Photoperiodic Flowering in Cereals. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:665. [PMID: 28491078 PMCID: PMC5405123 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Flowering is the result of the coordination between genetic information and environmental cues. Gene regulatory networks have evolved in plants in order to measure diurnal and seasonal variation of day length (or photoperiod), thus aligning the reproductive phase with the most favorable season of the year. The capacity of plants to discriminate distinct photoperiods classifies them into long and short day species, depending on the conditions that induce flowering. Plants of tropical origin and adapted to short day lengths include rice, maize, and sorghum, whereas wheat and barley were originally domesticated in the Fertile Crescent and are considered long day species. In these and other crops, day length measurement mechanisms have been artificially modified during domestication and breeding to adapt plants to novel areas, to the extent that a wide diversity of responses exists within any given species. Notwithstanding the ample natural and artificial variation of day length responses, some of the basic molecular elements governing photoperiodic flowering are widely conserved. However, as our understanding of the underlying mechanisms improves, it becomes evident that specific regulators exist in many lineages that are not shared by others, while apparently conserved components can be recruited to novel functions during evolution.
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