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Alam MR, MacFarlane GR. Upregulation of antioxidant enzymes contribute to the elevated tolerance of Juncus acutus offspring from metal contaminated environments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 346:123627. [PMID: 38395127 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123627] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Long-term environmental exposure to metals e.g. zinc (Zn), may allow saltmarsh halophytes to develop metal tolerance to improve the chance of survival of their progeny in future metal-contaminated scenarios. Juncus acutus seeds were collected from mature parents (F0) inhabiting a legacy Zn-contaminated location (Cockle Creek) and an uncontaminated reference location (Swansea) of Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia. Seeds (J. acutus) were exposed to Zn (0.00 mM (control), 0.01 mM (effective concentration, EC10) and 0.74 mM (EC50)) and resultant germinants (F1) were allowed to grow until 15 days. Seedling growth parameters i.e. biomass, root length and 1st leaf length, and seedling biochemical responses i.e. superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation products, malondialdehyde (MDA), were examined in order to assess if enzymes may be implicated in conferring tolerance to the offspring of metal-exposed parents. Control locations exhibited significantly greater declines in biomass and root length with Zn dose compared to seed from contaminated locations, suggesting F1 offspring from contaminated parents were conferred tolerance to Zn. Furthermore, significant upregulation of CAT and GPx enzymes were evident in the seedlings derived from parents of contaminated locations. These are the antioxidative enzymes responsible for minimizing metal-induced oxidative stress, and may, in part, be responsible for increasing seedling fitness and observed tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Rushna Alam
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Department of Aquaculture, Patuakhali Science and Technology University Dumki, Patuakhali, 8602, Bangladesh
| | - Geoff R MacFarlane
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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Abdulraheem MI, Xiong Y, Moshood AY, Cadenas-Pliego G, Zhang H, Hu J. Mechanisms of Plant Epigenetic Regulation in Response to Plant Stress: Recent Discoveries and Implications. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:163. [PMID: 38256717 PMCID: PMC10820249 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Plant stress is a significant challenge that affects the development, growth, and productivity of plants and causes an adverse environmental condition that disrupts normal physiological processes and hampers plant survival. Epigenetic regulation is a crucial mechanism for plants to respond and adapt to stress. Several studies have investigated the role of DNA methylation (DM), non-coding RNAs, and histone modifications in plant stress responses. However, there are various limitations or challenges in translating the research findings into practical applications. Hence, this review delves into the recent recovery, implications, and applications of epigenetic regulation in response to plant stress. To better understand plant epigenetic regulation under stress, we reviewed recent studies published in the last 5-10 years that made significant contributions, and we analyzed the novel techniques and technologies that have advanced the field, such as next-generation sequencing and genome-wide profiling of epigenetic modifications. We emphasized the breakthrough findings that have uncovered specific genes or pathways and the potential implications of understanding plant epigenetic regulation in response to stress for agriculture, crop improvement, and environmental sustainability. Finally, we concluded that plant epigenetic regulation in response to stress holds immense significance in agriculture, and understanding its mechanisms in stress tolerance can revolutionize crop breeding and genetic engineering strategies, leading to the evolution of stress-tolerant crops and ensuring sustainable food production in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges. Future research in this field will continue to unveil the intricacies of epigenetic regulation and its potential applications in crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukhtar Iderawumi Abdulraheem
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yani Xiong
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Abiodun Yusuff Moshood
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego
- Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada, Blvd. Enrique Reyna 140, Saltillo 25294, Mexico;
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
| | - Jiandong Hu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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Ding S, Zhang H, Zhou C, Bao Y, Xu X, Chen Y, Shen Z, Chen C. Transcriptomic, epigenomic and physiological comparisons reveal key factors for different manganese tolerances in three Chenopodium ambrosioides L. populations. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 201:107883. [PMID: 37442049 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Chenopodium ambrosioides is a manganese (Mn) hyperaccumulator that can be used for Mn-polluted soil phytoremediation. However, the mechanism of Mn tolerance of C. ambrosioides remains largely unknown. In this study, the key factors for Mn tolerance of C. ambrosioides was investigated from the aspects of DNA methylation pattern, gene expression regulation and physiological function. We found that the two genotypes of C. ambrosioides populations have differentiated tolerance to Mn stress (Mn-tolerant: CS and XC, Mn-sensitive: WH). Although there was no difference in Mn accumulation between two types under excess Mn, the biomass and photosynthetic systems were more severely inhibited in Mn-sensitive type, as well as suffering more serious oxidative damage. More differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were downregulated in the Mn-tolerant type, indicating that the Mn-tolerant type tends to inhibit gene expression to cope with Mn stress. DEGs related to metal transport, antioxidant system, phytohormone and transcription factors contribute to the tolerance of C. ambrosioides to Mn, and account for difference in Mn stress sensitivities between the Mn-sensitive and tolerant types. We also found that DNA methylation variation may help to cope with Mn stress. The global DNA methylation level in C. ambrosioides increased under Mn stress, especially in the Mn-sensitive type. Dozens of methylated loci were significantly associated with the Mn accumulation trait of C. ambrosioides, and some critical DEGs were regulated by DNA methylation. Our study comprehensively demonstrated the Mn tolerance mechanism of C. ambrosioides for the first time, and highlighted the roles of epigenetic modification in C. ambrosioides response to Mn stress. Our findings may contribute to elucidating the adaptation mechanism of hyperaccumulator to the heavy metal toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifeng Ding
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Hanchao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Changwei Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yiqiong Bao
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yahua Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Zhenguo Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Chen Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
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Zhu H, Han G, Wang J, Xu J, Hong Y, Huang L, Zheng S, Yang J, Chen W. CG hypermethylation of the bHLH39 promoter regulates its expression and Fe deficiency responses in tomato roots. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad104. [PMID: 37577397 PMCID: PMC10419876 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for all organisms, including plants, whose limited bioavailability restricts plant growth, yield, and nutritional quality. While the transcriptional regulation of plant responses to Fe deficiency have been extensively studied, the contribution of epigenetic modulations, such as DNA methylation, remains poorly understood. Here, we report that treatment with a DNA methylase inhibitor repressed Fe deficiency-induced responses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots, suggesting the importance of DNA methylation in regulating Fe deficiency responses. Dynamic changes in the DNA methylome in tomato roots responding to short-term (12 hours) and long-term (72 hours) Fe deficiency identified many differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and DMR-associated genes. Most DMRs occurred at CHH sites under short-term Fe deficiency, whereas they were predominant at CG sites following long-term Fe deficiency. Furthermore, no correlation was detected between the changes in DNA methylation levels and the changes in transcript levels of the affected genes under either short-term or long-term treatments. Notably, one exception was CG hypermethylation at the bHLH39 promoter, which was positively correlated with its transcriptional induction. In agreement, we detected lower CG methylation at the bHLH39 promoter and lower bHLH39 expression in MET1-RNA interference lines compared with wild-type seedlings. Virus-induced gene silencing of bHLH39 and luciferase reporter assays revealed that bHLH39 is positively involved in the modulation of Fe homeostasis. Altogether, we propose that dynamic epigenetic DNA methylation in the CG context at the bHLH39 promoter is involved in its transcriptional regulation, thus contributing to the Fe deficiency response of tomato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Guanghao Han
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jiayi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jiming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yiguo Hong
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Li Huang
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shaojian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jianli Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Weiwei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
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Gupta K, Garg R. Unravelling Differential DNA Methylation Patterns in Genotype Dependent Manner under Salinity Stress Response in Chickpea. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031863. [PMID: 36768187 PMCID: PMC9915442 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic mechanisms that govern gene regulation in response to abiotic stress in plants. Here, we analyzed the role of epigenetic variations by exploring global DNA methylation and integrating it with differential gene expression in response to salinity stress in tolerant and sensitive chickpea genotypes. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiles showed higher CG methylation in the gene body regions and higher CHH methylation in the TE body regions. The analysis of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) suggested more hyper-methylation in response to stress in the tolerant genotype compared to the sensitive genotype. We observed higher enrichment of CG DMRs in genes and CHH DMRs in transposable elements (TEs). A positive correlation of gene expression with CG gene body methylation was observed. The enrichment analysis of DMR-associated differentially expressed genes revealed they are involved in biological processes, such as lateral root development, transmembrane transporter activity, GTPase activity, and regulation of gene expression. Further, a high correlation of CG methylation with CHG and CHH methylation under salinity stress was revealed, suggesting crosstalk among the methylation contexts. Further, we observed small RNA-mediated CHH hypermethylation in TEs. Overall, the interplay between DNA methylation, small RNAs, and gene expression provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism underlying salinity stress response in chickpeas.
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Ali S, Khan N, Tang Y. Epigenetic marks for mitigating abiotic stresses in plants. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 275:153740. [PMID: 35716656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Abiotic stressors are one of the major factors affecting agricultural output. Plants have evolved adaptive systems to respond appropriately to various environmental cues. These responses can be accomplished by modulating or fine-tuning genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Understanding the response of plants' molecular features to abiotic stress is a priority in the current period of continued environmental changes. Epigenetic modifications are necessary that control gene expression by changing chromatin status and recruiting various transcription regulators. The present study summarized the current knowledge on epigenetic modifications concerning plant responses to various environmental stressors. The functional relevance of epigenetic marks in regulating stress tolerance has been revealed, and epigenetic changes impact the effector genes. This study looks at the epigenetic mechanisms that govern plant abiotic stress responses, especially DNA methylation, histone methylation/acetylation, chromatin remodeling, and various metabolites. Plant breeders will benefit from a thorough understanding of these processes to create alternative crop improvement approaches. Genome editing with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR/Cas) provides genetic tools to make agricultural genetic engineering more sustainable and publicly acceptable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Ali
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-environmental Science, Longhua Institute of Innovative Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong Province, China; Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Naeem Khan
- Department of Agronomy, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Yulin Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-environmental Science, Longhua Institute of Innovative Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong Province, China; Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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Suguiyama VF, Rodriguez JDP, Dos Santos TCN, Lira BS, de Haro LA, Silva JPN, Borba EL, Purgatto E, da Silva EA, Bellora N, Carrari F, Centeno DDC, Bermúdez LF, Rossi M, de Setta N. Regulatory mechanisms behind the phenotypic plasticity associated with Setaria italica water deficit tolerance. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:761-780. [PMID: 35524936 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-022-01273-w] [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: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Drought is one of the main environmental stresses that negatively impacts vegetative and reproductive yield. Water deficit responses are determined by the duration and intensity of the stress, which, together with plant genotype, will define the chances of plant survival. The metabolic adjustments in response to water deficit are complex and involve gene expression modulation regulated by DNA-binding proteins and epigenetic modifications. This last mechanism may also regulate the activity of transposable elements, which in turn impact the expression of nearby loci. Setaria italica plants submitted to five water deficit regimes were analyzed through a phenotypical approach, including growth, physiological, RNA-seq and sRNA-seq analyses. The results showed a progressive reduction in yield as a function of water deficit intensity associated with signaling pathway modulation and metabolic adjustments. We identified a group of loci that were consistently associated with drought responses, some of which were related to water deficit perception, signaling and regulation. Finally, an analysis of the transcriptome and sRNAome allowed us to identify genes putatively regulated by TE- and sRNA-related mechanisms and an intriguing positive correlation between transcript levels and sRNA accumulation in gene body regions. These findings shed light on the processes that allow S. italica to overcome drought and survive under water restrictive conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Fuentes Suguiyama
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Bruno Silvestre Lira
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luis Alejandro de Haro
- Departament of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - João Paulo Naldi Silva
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Leite Borba
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Purgatto
- Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Emerson Alves da Silva
- Instituto de Botânica da Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Nicolas Bellora
- Institute of Nuclear Technologies for Health (Intecnus), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), 8400, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Fernando Carrari
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología Y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), CICVYA, INTA-CONICET, Hurlingham, Argentina
- Cátedra de Genética, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Danilo da Cruz Centeno
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luisa Fernanda Bermúdez
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología Y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), CICVYA, INTA-CONICET, Hurlingham, Argentina
- Cátedra de Genética, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Magdalena Rossi
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Nathalia de Setta
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
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Role of Epigenetics in Modulating Phenotypic Plasticity against Abiotic Stresses in Plants. Int J Genomics 2022; 2022:1092894. [PMID: 35747076 PMCID: PMC9213152 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1092894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants being sessile are always exposed to various environmental stresses, and to overcome these stresses, modifications at the epigenetic level can prove vital for their long-term survival. Epigenomics refers to the large-scale study of epigenetic marks on the genome, which include covalent modifications of histone tails (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and the small RNA machinery). Studies based on epigenetics have evolved over the years especially in understanding the mechanisms at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in plants against various environmental stimuli. Epigenomic changes in plants through induced methylation of specific genes that lead to changes in their expression can help to overcome various stress conditions. Recent studies suggested that epigenomics has a significant potential for crop improvement in plants. By the induction and modulation of various cellular processes like DNA methylation, histone modification, and biogenesis of noncoding RNAs, the plant genome can be activated which can help in achieving a quicker response against various plant stresses. Epigenetic modifications in plants allow them to adjust under varied environmental stresses by modulating their phenotypic plasticity and at the same time ensure the quality and yield of crops. The plasticity of the epigenome helps to adapt the plants during pre- and postdevelopmental processes. The variation in DNA methylation in different organisms exhibits variable phenotypic responses. The epigenetic changes also occur sequentially in the genome. Various studies indicated that environmentally stimulated epimutations produce variable responses especially in differentially methylated regions (DMR) that play a major role in the management of stress conditions in plants. Besides, it has been observed that environmental stresses cause specific changes in the epigenome that are closely associated with phenotypic modifications. However, the relationship between epigenetic modifications and phenotypic plasticity is still debatable. In this review, we will be discussing the role of various factors that allow epigenetic changes to modulate phenotypic plasticity against various abiotic stress in plants.
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Jing M, Zhang H, Wei M, Tang Y, Xia Y, Chen Y, Shen Z, Chen C. Reactive Oxygen Species Partly Mediate DNA Methylation in Responses to Different Heavy Metals in Pokeweed. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:845108. [PMID: 35463456 PMCID: PMC9021841 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.845108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a rapid response strategy promoting plant survival under heavy metal (HM) stress. However, the roles of DNA methylation underlying plant adaptation to HM stress remain largely unknown. Here, we used pokeweed, a hyperaccumulator of manganese (Mn) and cadmium (Cd), to explore responses of plant to HM stress at phenotypic, transcriptional and DNA methylation levels. Mn- and Cd-specific response patterns were detected in pokeweed. The growth of pokeweed was both inhibited with exposure to excess Mn/Cd, but pokeweed distinguished Mn and Cd with different subcellular distributions, ROS scavenging systems, transcriptional patterns including genes involved in DNA methylation, and differentially methylated loci (DML). The number of DML between Mn/Cd treated and untreated samples increased with increased Mn/Cd concentrations. Meanwhile, pretreatment with NADPH oxidase inhibitors prior to HM exposure markedly reduced HM-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), which caused reductions in expressions of DNA methylase and demethylase in pretreated samples. The increased levels of HM-induced demethylation were suppressed with alleviated ROS stress, and a series of HM-related methylated loci were also ROS-related. Taken together, our study demonstrates that different HMs affect different DNA methylation sites in a dose-dependent manner and changes in DNA methylation under Mn/Cd stress are partly mediated by HM-induced ROS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyu Jing
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hanchao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingyue Wei
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongwei Tang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Xia
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yahua Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenguo Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Kaur S, Shamshad M, Jindal S, Kaur A, Singh S, sharma A, Kaur S. RNA-Seq-Based Transcriptomics Study to Investigate the Genes Governing Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Indian Wheat Cultivars. Front Genet 2022; 13:853910. [PMID: 35432475 PMCID: PMC9009086 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.853910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
High NUE (nitrogen use efficiency) has great practical significance for sustainable crop production. Wheat is one of the main cultivated crops worldwide for human food and nutrition. However, wheat grain productivity is dependent upon cultivars with high NUE in addition to the application of nitrogen fertilizers. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms exhibiting a high NUE response, a comparative transcriptomics study was carried out through RNA-seq analysis to investigate the gene expression that regulates NUE, in root and shoot tissue of N-efficient (PBW677) and N-inefficient (703) cultivars under optimum and nitrogen (N) stress. Differentially expressed gene analysis revealed a total of 2,406 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) present in both the contrasting cultivars under N stress. The efficient genotype PBW677 had considerably more abundant DEGs with 1,653 (903 roots +750 shoots) compared to inefficient cultivar PBW703 with 753 (96 roots +657 shoots). Gene ontology enrichment and pathway analysis of these DEGs suggested that the two cultivars differed in terms of adaptive mechanism. Gene enrichment analysis revealed that among the upregulated and downregulated genes the overrepresented and underrepresented gene categories belonged to biological processes like DNA binding, response to abiotic stimulus, photosynthesis, carbon fixation, carbohydrate metabolic process, nitrogen compound metabolic process, nitrate transport, and translation in cultivar PBW677, while the enriched biological processes were nucleosome assembly, chromatin remodeling, DNA packaging, lipid transport, sulfur compound metabolic process, protein modifications, and protein folding and refolding in N inefficient cultivar PBW703. We found several transcription factors (MYB, WRKY, RING finger protein, zinc finger protein, transporters, NRT1, amino acid transporters, sugar), protein kinases, and genes involved in N absorption, transportation, and assimilation to be highly expressed in high NUE cultivar PBW677. In our study, we report 13 potential candidate genes which showed alternate gene expression in the two contrasting cultivars under study. These genes could serve as potential targets for future breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarabjit Kaur
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - M. Shamshad
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Suruchi Jindal
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Amandeep Kaur
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Satinder Singh
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Achla sharma
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
- *Correspondence: Achla sharma, ; Satinder Kaur,
| | - Satinder Kaur
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
- *Correspondence: Achla sharma, ; Satinder Kaur,
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Chennakesavulu K, Singh H, Trivedi PK, Jain M, Yadav SR. State-of-the-Art in CRISPR Technology and Engineering Drought, Salinity, and Thermo-tolerant crop plants. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2022; 41:815-831. [PMID: 33742256 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02681-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Our review has described principles and functional importance of CRISPR-Cas9 with emphasis on the recent advancements, such as CRISPR-Cpf1, base editing (BE), prime editing (PE), epigenome editing, tissue-specific (CRISPR-TSKO), and inducible genome editing and their potential applications in generating stress-tolerant plants. Improved agricultural practices and enhanced food crop production using innovative crop breeding technology is essential for increasing access to nutritious foods across the planet. The crop plants play a pivotal role in energy and nutrient supply to humans. The abiotic stress factors, such as drought, heat, and salinity cause a substantial yield loss in crop plants and threaten food security. The most sustainable and eco-friendly way to overcome these challenges are the breeding of crop cultivars with improved tolerance against abiotic stress factors. The conventional plant breeding methods have been highly successful in developing abiotic stress-tolerant crop varieties, but usually cumbersome and time-consuming. Alternatively, the CRISPR/Cas genome editing has emerged as a revolutionary tool for making efficient and precise genetic manipulations in plant genomes. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the CRISPR/Cas genome editing (GE) technology with an emphasis on recent advances in the plant genome editing, including base editing (BE), prime editing (PE), epigenome editing, tissue-specific (CRISPR-TSKO), and inducible genome editing (CRISPR-IGE), which can be used for obtaining cultivars with enhanced tolerance to various abiotic stress factors. We also describe tissue culture-free, DNA-free GE technology, and some of the CRISPR-based tools that can be modified for their use in crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunchapu Chennakesavulu
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Harshita Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Prabodh Kumar Trivedi
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Near Kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Mukesh Jain
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Shri Ram Yadav
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
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12
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Chen C, Wang M, Zhu J, Tang Y, Zhang H, Zhao Q, Jing M, Chen Y, Xu X, Jiang J, Shen Z. Long-term effect of epigenetic modification in plant-microbe interactions: modification of DNA methylation induced by plant growth-promoting bacteria mediates promotion process. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:36. [PMID: 35209943 PMCID: PMC8876431 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01236-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil microbiomes are considered a cornerstone of the next green revolution, and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are critical for microbiome engineering. However, taking plant-beneficial microorganisms from discovery to agricultural application remains challenging, as the mechanisms underlying the interactions between beneficial strains and plants in native soils are still largely unknown. Increasing numbers of studies have indicated that strains introduced to manipulate microbiomes are usually eliminated in soils, while others have reported that application of PGPB as inocula significantly improves plant growth. This contradiction suggests the need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying microbe-induced growth promotion. RESULTS We showed PGPB-induced long-term plant growth promotion after elimination of the PGPB inoculum in soils and explored the three-way interactions among the exogenous inoculum, indigenous microbiome, and plant, which were key elements of the plant growth-promoting process. We found the rhizosphere microbiome assembly was mainly driven by plant development and root recruitments greatly attenuated the influence of inocula on the rhizosphere microbiome. Neither changes in the rhizosphere microbiome nor colonization of inocula in roots was necessary for plant growth promotion. In roots, modification of DNA methylation in response to inoculation affects gene expression related to PGPB-induced growth promotion, and disruptions of the inoculation-induced DNA methylation patterns greatly weakened the plant growth promotion. Together, our results showed PGPB-induced DNA methylation modifications in roots mediated the promotion process and these modifications remained functional after elimination of the inoculum from the microbiome. CONCLUSION This study suggests a new mechanism in which PGPB affect DNA methylation in roots to promote plant growth, which provides important insights into microbiome-plant interactions and offers new strategies for plant microbiome engineering beyond the perspective of maintaining inoculum persistence in soils. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingzhi Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongwei Tang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanchao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiming Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Minyu Jing
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yahua Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Xihui Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiandong Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhenguo Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Multi-omics data integration reveals link between epigenetic modifications and gene expression in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) in response to cold. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:144. [PMID: 35176993 PMCID: PMC8855596 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08312-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background DNA methylation is thought to influence the expression of genes, especially in response to changing environmental conditions and developmental changes. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris), and other biennial or perennial plants are inevitably exposed to fluctuating temperatures throughout their lifecycle and might even require such stimulus to acquire floral competence. Therefore, plants such as beets, need to fine-tune their epigenetic makeup to ensure phenotypic plasticity towards changing environmental conditions while at the same time steering essential developmental processes. Different crop species may show opposing reactions towards the same abiotic stress, or, vice versa, identical species may respond differently depending on the specific kind of stress. Results In this study, we investigated common effects of cold treatment on genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression of two Beta vulgaris accessions via multi-omics data analysis. Cold exposure resulted in a pronounced reduction of DNA methylation levels, which particularly affected methylation in CHH context (and to a lesser extent CHG) and was accompanied by transcriptional downregulation of the chromomethyltransferase CMT2 and strong upregulation of several genes mediating active DNA demethylation. Conclusion Integration of methylomic and transcriptomic data revealed that, rather than methylation having directly influenced expression, epigenetic modifications correlated with changes in expression of known players involved in DNA (de)methylation. In particular, cold triggered upregulation of genes putatively contributing to DNA demethylation via the ROS1 pathway. Our observations suggest that these transcriptional responses precede the cold-induced global DNA-hypomethylation in non-CpG, preparing beets for additional transcriptional alterations necessary for adapting to upcoming environmental changes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08312-2.
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Qureshi MK, Gawroński P, Munir S, Jindal S, Kerchev P. Hydrogen peroxide-induced stress acclimation in plants. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:129. [PMID: 35141765 PMCID: PMC11073338 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04156-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Among all reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) takes a central role in regulating plant development and responses to the environment. The diverse role of H2O2 is achieved through its compartmentalized synthesis, temporal control exerted by the antioxidant machinery, and ability to oxidize specific residues of target proteins. Here, we examine the role of H2O2 in stress acclimation beyond the well-studied transcriptional reprogramming, modulation of plant hormonal networks and long-distance signalling waves by highlighting its global impact on the transcriptional regulation and translational machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Kamran Qureshi
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Bosan road, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
| | - Piotr Gawroński
- Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw, University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sana Munir
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Bosan road, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
| | - Sunita Jindal
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Kerchev
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
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15
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Ahmad M, Waraich EA, Skalicky M, Hussain S, Zulfiqar U, Anjum MZ, Habib ur Rahman M, Brestic M, Ratnasekera D, Lamilla-Tamayo L, Al-Ashkar I, EL Sabagh A. Adaptation Strategies to Improve the Resistance of Oilseed Crops to Heat Stress Under a Changing Climate: An Overview. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:767150. [PMID: 34975951 PMCID: PMC8714756 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.767150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is one of the decisive environmental factors that is projected to increase by 1. 5°C over the next two decades due to climate change that may affect various agronomic characteristics, such as biomass production, phenology and physiology, and yield-contributing traits in oilseed crops. Oilseed crops such as soybean, sunflower, canola, peanut, cottonseed, coconut, palm oil, sesame, safflower, olive etc., are widely grown. Specific importance is the vulnerability of oil synthesis in these crops against the rise in climatic temperature, threatening the stability of yield and quality. The natural defense system in these crops cannot withstand the harmful impacts of heat stress, thus causing a considerable loss in seed and oil yield. Therefore, a proper understanding of underlying mechanisms of genotype-environment interactions that could affect oil synthesis pathways is a prime requirement in developing stable cultivars. Heat stress tolerance is a complex quantitative trait controlled by many genes and is challenging to study and characterize. However, heat tolerance studies to date have pointed to several sophisticated mechanisms to deal with the stress of high temperatures, including hormonal signaling pathways for sensing heat stimuli and acquiring tolerance to heat stress, maintaining membrane integrity, production of heat shock proteins (HSPs), removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS), assembly of antioxidants, accumulation of compatible solutes, modified gene expression to enable changes, intelligent agricultural technologies, and several other agronomic techniques for thriving and surviving. Manipulation of multiple genes responsible for thermo-tolerance and exploring their high expressions greatly impacts their potential application using CRISPR/Cas genome editing and OMICS technology. This review highlights the latest outcomes on the response and tolerance to heat stress at the cellular, organelle, and whole plant levels describing numerous approaches applied to enhance thermos-tolerance in oilseed crops. We are attempting to critically analyze the scattered existing approaches to temperature tolerance used in oilseeds as a whole, work toward extending studies into the field, and provide researchers and related parties with useful information to streamline their breeding programs so that they can seek new avenues and develop guidelines that will greatly enhance ongoing efforts to establish heat stress tolerance in oilseeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ahmad
- Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Horticultural Sciences Department, Tropical Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, United States
| | | | - Milan Skalicky
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Saddam Hussain
- Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Usman Zulfiqar
- Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Zohaib Anjum
- Department of Forestry and Range Management, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Habib ur Rahman
- Department of Agronomy, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
- Crop Science Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marian Brestic
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Plant Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Disna Ratnasekera
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka
| | - Laura Lamilla-Tamayo
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ibrahim Al-Ashkar
- Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ayman EL Sabagh
- Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University, Siirt, Turkey
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Shaikh, Egypt
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16
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Żabka A, Gocek N, Winnicki K, Szczeblewski P, Laskowski T, Polit JT. Changes in Epigenetic Patterns Related to DNA Replication in Vicia faba Root Meristem Cells under Cadmium-Induced Stress Conditions. Cells 2021; 10:3409. [PMID: 34943918 PMCID: PMC8699714 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Experiments on Vicia faba root meristem cells exposed to 150 µM cadmium chloride (CdCl2) were undertaken to analyse epigenetic changes, mainly with respect to DNA replication stress. Histone modifications examined by means of immunofluorescence labeling included: (1) acetylation of histone H3 on lysine 56 (H3K56Ac), involved in transcription, S phase, and response to DNA damage during DNA biosynthesis; (2) dimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 79 (H3K79Me2), correlated with the replication initiation; (3) phosphorylation of histone H3 on threonine 45 (H3T45Ph), engaged in DNA synthesis and apoptosis. Moreover, immunostaining using specific antibodies against 5-MetC-modified DNA was used to determine the level of DNA methylation. A significant decrease in the level of H3K79Me2, noted in all phases of the CdCl2-treated interphase cell nuclei, was found to correspond with: (1) an increase in the mean number of intranuclear foci of H3K56Ac histones (observed mainly in S-phase), (2) a plethora of nuclear and nucleolar labeling patterns (combined with a general decrease in H3T45Ph), and (3) a decrease in DNA methylation. All these changes correlate well with a general viewpoint that DNA modifications and post-translational histone modifications play an important role in gene expression and plant development under cadmium-induced stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Żabka
- Department of Cytophysiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-236 Lodz, Poland; (N.G.); (K.W.); (J.T.P.)
| | - Natalia Gocek
- Department of Cytophysiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-236 Lodz, Poland; (N.G.); (K.W.); (J.T.P.)
| | - Konrad Winnicki
- Department of Cytophysiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-236 Lodz, Poland; (N.G.); (K.W.); (J.T.P.)
| | - Paweł Szczeblewski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland; (P.S.); (T.L.)
| | - Tomasz Laskowski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland; (P.S.); (T.L.)
| | - Justyna Teresa Polit
- Department of Cytophysiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-236 Lodz, Poland; (N.G.); (K.W.); (J.T.P.)
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17
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Rashid MM, Vaishnav A, Verma RK, Sharma P, Suprasanna P, Gaur RK. Epigenetic regulation of salinity stress responses in cereals. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 49:761-772. [PMID: 34773178 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06922-9] [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: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Cereals are important crops and are exposed to various types of environmental stresses that affect the overall growth and yield. Among the various abiotic stresses, salt stress is a major environmental factor that influences the genetic, physiological, and biochemical responses of cereal crops. Epigenetic regulation which includes DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodelling plays an important role in salt stress tolerance. Recent studies in rice genomics have highlighted that the epigenetic changes are heritable and therefore can be considered as molecular signatures. An epigenetic mechanism under salinity induces phenotypic responses involving modulations in gene expression. Association between histone modification and altered DNA methylation patterns and differential gene expression has been evidenced for salt sensitivity in rice and other cereal crops. In addition, epigenetics also creates stress memory that helps the plant to better combat future stress exposure. In the present review, we have discussed epigenetic influences in stress tolerance, adaptation, and evolution processes. Understanding the epigenetic regulation of salinity could help for designing salt-tolerant varieties leading to improved crop productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mahtab Rashid
- Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Department of Plant Pathology, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India
| | - Anukool Vaishnav
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, 281121, India.,Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope (Reckenholz), 8046, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rakesh Kumar Verma
- Department of Biosciences, Mody University of Science and Technology, Lakshmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan, India
| | - Pradeep Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - P Suprasanna
- Nuclear Agriculture & Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - R K Gaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Kaur R, Choudhury A, Chauhan S, Ghosh A, Tiwari R, Rajam MV. RNA interference and crop protection against biotic stresses. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2357-2377. [PMID: 34744371 PMCID: PMC8526635 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-021-01064-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a universal phenomenon of RNA silencing or gene silencing with broader implications in important physiological and developmental processes of most eukaryotes, including plants. Small RNA (sRNA) are the critical drivers of the RNAi machinery that ensures down-regulation of the target genes in a homology-dependent manner and includes small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and micro RNAs (miRNAs). Plant researchers across the globe have exploited the powerful technique of RNAi to execute targeted suppression of desired genes in important crop plants, with an intent to improve crop protection against pathogens and pests for sustainable crop production. Biotic stresses cause severe losses to the agricultural productivity leading to food insecurity for future generations. RNAi has majorly contributed towards the development of designer crops that are resilient towards the various biotic stresses such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, insect pests, and nematodes. This review summarizes the recent progress made in the RNAi-mediated strategies against these biotic stresses, along with new insights on the future directions in research involving RNAi for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjeet Kaur
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021 India
| | - Aparajita Choudhury
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021 India
| | - Sambhavana Chauhan
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021 India
| | - Arundhati Ghosh
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021 India
| | - Ruby Tiwari
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021 India
| | - Manchikatla Venkat Rajam
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021 India
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19
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Hereme R, Galleguillos C, Morales-Navarro S, Molina-Montenegro MA. What if the cold days return? Epigenetic mechanisms in plants to cold tolerance. PLANTA 2021; 254:46. [PMID: 34370110 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03694-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The epigenetic could be an important, but seldom assessed, mechanisms in plants inhabiting cold ecosystems. Thus, this review could help to fill a gap in the current literature. Low temperatures are one of the most critical environmental conditions that negatively affect the growth, development, and geographic distribution of plants. Exposure to low temperatures results in a suit of physiological, biochemical and molecular modifications through the reprogramming of the expression of genes and transcription factors. Scientific evidence shows that the average annual temperature has increased in recent years worldwide, with cold ecosystems (polar and high mountain) being among the most sensitive to these changes. However, scientific evidence also indicates that there would be specific events of low temperatures, due it is highly relevant to know the capacity for adaptation, regulation and epigenetic memory in the face of these events, by plants. Epigenetic regulation has been described to play an important role in the face of environmental stimuli, especially in response to abiotic stress. Several studies on epigenetic mechanisms have focused on responses to stress as drought and/or salinity; however, there is a gap in the current literature considering those related to low temperatures. In this review, we focus on systematizing the information published to date, related to the regulation of epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA-dependent silencing mechanisms, in the face of plant´s stress due to low temperatures. Finally, we present a schematic model about the potential responses by plants taking in count their epigenetic memory; considering a global warming scenario and with the presence or absence of extreme specific events of low temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasme Hereme
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Campus Talca, Talca, Chile
| | | | | | - Marco A Molina-Montenegro
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Campus Talca, Talca, Chile.
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.
- Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados del Maule (CIEAM), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile.
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20
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In Response to Abiotic Stress, DNA Methylation Confers EpiGenetic Changes in Plants. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10061096. [PMID: 34070712 PMCID: PMC8227271 DOI: 10.3390/plants10061096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics involves the heritable changes in patterns of gene expression determined by developmental and abiotic stresses, i.e., drought, cold, salinity, trace metals, and heat. Gene expression is driven by changes in DNA bases, histone proteins, the biogenesis of ncRNA, and changes in the nucleotide sequence. To cope with abiotic stresses, plants adopt certain changes driven by a sophisticated biological system. DNA methylation is a primary mechanism for epigenetic variation, which can induce phenotypic alterations in plants under stress. Some of the stress-driven changes in plants are temporary, while some modifications may be stable and inheritable to the next generations to allow them to cope with such extreme stress challenges in the future. In this review, we discuss the pivotal role of epigenetically developed phenotypic characteristics in plants as an evolutionary process participating in adaptation and tolerance responses to abiotic and biotic stresses that alter their growth and development. We emphasize the molecular process underlying changes in DNA methylation, differential variation for different species, the roles of non-coding RNAs in epigenetic modification, techniques for studying DNA methylation, and its role in crop improvement in tolerance to abiotic stress (drought, salinity, and heat). We summarize DNA methylation as a significant future research priority for tailoring crops according to various challenging environmental issues.
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21
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Carballo J, Zappacosta D, Marconi G, Gallardo J, Di Marsico M, Gallo CA, Caccamo M, Albertini E, Echenique V. Differential Methylation Patterns in Apomictic vs. Sexual Genotypes of the Diplosporous Grass Eragrostis curvula. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10050946. [PMID: 34068493 PMCID: PMC8150776 DOI: 10.3390/plants10050946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism by which a methyl group is added to a cytosine or an adenine. When located in a gene/regulatory sequence it may repress or de-repress genes, depending on the context and species. Eragrostis curvula is an apomictic grass in which facultative genotypes increases the frequency of sexual pistils triggered by epigenetic mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to look for correlations between the reproductive mode and specific methylated genes or genomic regions. To do so, plants with contrasting reproductive modes were investigated through MCSeEd (Methylation Context Sensitive Enzyme ddRad) showing higher levels of DNA methylation in apomictic genotypes. Moreover, an increased proportion of differentially methylated positions over the regulatory regions were observed, suggesting its possible role in regulation of gene expression. Interestingly, the methylation pathway was also found to be self-regulated since two of the main genes (ROS1 and ROS4), involved in de-methylation, were found differentially methylated between genotypes with different reproductive behavior. Moreover, this work allowed us to detect several genes regulated by methylation that were previously found as differentially expressed in the comparisons between apomictic and sexual genotypes, linking DNA methylation to differences in reproductive mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Gianpiero Marconi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Jimena Gallardo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Marco Di Marsico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Cristian A. Gallo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
| | - Mario Caccamo
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK;
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
- Correspondence: (E.A.); (V.E.); Tel.: +39-075-585-6206 (E.A.); +54-291-486-1124 (V.E.)
| | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Correspondence: (E.A.); (V.E.); Tel.: +39-075-585-6206 (E.A.); +54-291-486-1124 (V.E.)
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The EpiDiverse Plant Epigenome-Wide Association Studies (EWAS) Pipeline. EPIGENOMES 2021; 5:epigenomes5020012. [PMID: 34968299 PMCID: PMC8594691 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes5020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisulfite sequencing is a widely used technique for determining DNA methylation and its relationship with epigenetics, genetics, and environmental parameters. Various techniques were implemented for epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) to reveal meaningful associations; however, there are only very few plant studies available to date. Here, we developed the EpiDiverse EWAS pipeline and tested it using two plant datasets, from P. abies (Norway spruce) and Q. lobata (valley oak). Hence, we present an EWAS implementation tested for non-model plant species and describe its use.
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Skinner MK, Nilsson EE. Role of environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance in evolutionary biology: Unified Evolution Theory. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2021; 7:dvab012. [PMID: 34729214 PMCID: PMC8557805 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The current evolutionary biology theory primarily involves genetic alterations and random DNA sequence mutations to generate the phenotypic variation required for Darwinian natural selection to act. This neo-Darwinian evolution is termed the Modern Evolution Synthesis and has been the primary paradigm for nearly 100 years. Although environmental factors have a role in neo-Darwinian natural selection, Modern Evolution Synthesis does not consider environment to impact the basic molecular processes involved in evolution. An Extended Evolutionary Synthesis has recently developed that extends the modern synthesis to consider non-genetic processes. Over the past few decades, environmental epigenetics research has been demonstrated to regulate genetic processes and directly generate phenotypic variation independent of genetic sequence alterations. Therefore, the environment can on a molecular level through non-genetic (i.e. epigenetic) mechanisms directly influence phenotypic variation, genetic variation, inheritance and adaptation. This direct action of the environment to alter phenotype that is heritable is a neo-Lamarckian concept that can facilitate neo-Darwinian (i.e. Modern Synthesis) evolution. The integration of genetics, epigenetics, Darwinian theory, Lamarckian concepts, environment, and epigenetic inheritance provides a paradigm shift in evolution theory. The role of environmental-induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance in evolution is presented to describe a more unified theory of evolutionary biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Skinner
- **Correspondence address. Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA. Tel: +1 509-335-1524; E-mail:
| | - Eric E Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
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Varotto S, Tani E, Abraham E, Krugman T, Kapazoglou A, Melzer R, Radanović A, Miladinović D. Epigenetics: possible applications in climate-smart crop breeding. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:5223-5236. [PMID: 32279074 PMCID: PMC7475248 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
To better adapt transiently or lastingly to stimuli from the surrounding environment, the chromatin states in plant cells vary to allow the cells to fine-tune their transcriptional profiles. Modifications of chromatin states involve a wide range of post-transcriptional histone modifications, histone variants, DNA methylation, and activity of non-coding RNAs, which can epigenetically determine specific transcriptional outputs. Recent advances in the area of '-omics' of major crops have facilitated identification of epigenetic marks and their effect on plant response to environmental stresses. As most epigenetic mechanisms are known from studies in model plants, we summarize in this review recent epigenetic studies that may be important for improvement of crop adaptation and resilience to environmental changes, ultimately leading to the generation of stable climate-smart crops. This has paved the way for exploitation of epigenetic variation in crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Varotto
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, and the Environment, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Eleni Tani
- Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Biometry, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Abraham
- Laboratory of Range Science, School of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Tamar Krugman
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Aliki Kapazoglou
- Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture (IOSV), Department of Vitis, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-Demeter (HAO-Demeter), Lykovrysi, Greece
| | - Rainer Melzer
- School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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Ostrowska-Mazurek A, Kasprzak P, Kubala S, Zaborowska M, Sobieszczuk-Nowicka E. Epigenetic Landmarks of Leaf Senescence and Crop Improvement. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145125. [PMID: 32698545 PMCID: PMC7404090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This review synthesizes knowledge on epigenetic regulation of leaf senescence and discusses the possibility of using this knowledge to improve crop quality. This control level is implemented by different but interacting epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, and non-covalent chromatin remodeling. The genetic and epigenetic changes may act alone or together and regulate the gene expression, which may result in heritable (stress memory) changes and may lead to crop survival. In the review, the question also arises whether the mitotically stable epigenetic information can be used for crop improvement. The barley crop model for early and late events of dark-induced leaf senescence (DILS), where the point of no return was defined, revealed differences in DNA and RNA modifications active in DILS compared to developmental leaf senescence. This suggests the possibility of a yet-to-be-discovered epigenetic-based switch between cell survival and cell death. Conclusions from the analyzed research contributed to the hypothesis that chromatin-remodeling mechanisms play a role in the control of induced leaf senescence. Understanding this mechanism in crops might provide a tool for further exploitation toward sustainable agriculture: so-called epibreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Ostrowska-Mazurek
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (A.O.-M.); (P.K.)
| | - Piotr Kasprzak
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (A.O.-M.); (P.K.)
| | - Szymon Kubala
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (S.K.); (M.Z.)
| | - Magdalena Zaborowska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (S.K.); (M.Z.)
| | - Ewa Sobieszczuk-Nowicka
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (A.O.-M.); (P.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-61-829-5892
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Gallo-Franco JJ, Sosa CC, Ghneim-Herrera T, Quimbaya M. Epigenetic Control of Plant Response to Heavy Metal Stress: A New View on Aluminum Tolerance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:602625. [PMID: 33391313 PMCID: PMC7772216 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.602625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
High concentrations of heavy metal (HM) ions impact agronomic staple crop production in acid soils (pH ≤ 5) due to their cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects. Among cytotoxic ions, the trivalent aluminum cation (Al3+) formed by solubilization of aluminum (Al) into acid soils, is one of the most abundant and toxic elements under acidic conditions. In recent years, several studies have elucidated the different signal transduction pathways involved in HM responses, identifying complementary genetic mechanisms conferring tolerance to plants. Although epigenetics has become more relevant in abiotic stress studies, epigenetic mechanisms underlying plant responses to HM stress remain poorly understood. This review describes the main epigenetic mechanisms related to crop responses during stress conditions, specifically, the molecular evidence showing how epigenetics is at the core of plant adaptation responses to HM ions. We highlight the epigenetic mechanisms that induce Al tolerance. Likewise, we analyze the pivotal relationship between epigenetic and genetic factors associated with HM tolerance. Finally, using rice as a study case, we performed a general analysis over previously whole-genome bisulfite-seq published data. Specific genes related to Al tolerance, measured in contrasting tolerant and susceptible rice varieties, exhibited differences in DNA methylation frequency. The differential methylation patterns could be associated with epigenetic regulation of rice responses to Al stress, highlighting the major role of epigenetics over specific abiotic stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Johana Gallo-Franco
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Cali, Colombia
| | - Chrystian Camilo Sosa
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Cali, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación en Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | | | - Mauricio Quimbaya
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Cali, Colombia
- *Correspondence: Mauricio Quimbaya,
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Zangi M, Bagherieh Najjar MB, Golalipour M, Aghdasi M. met1 DNA Methyltransferase Controls TERT Gene Expression: A New Insight to The Role of Telomerase in Development. CELL JOURNAL 2019; 22:71-74. [PMID: 31606969 PMCID: PMC6791074 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2020.6290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Objective: DNA methylation systems are essential for proper embryo development. Methylation defects lead to
developmental abnormalities. Furthermore, changes in telomerase gene expression can affect stability of chromosomes
and produces abnormal growth. Therefore, defects in both methylation and telomerase gene expression can lead to
developmental abnormalities. We hypothesized that mutation in the methylation systems may induce developmental
abnormalities through changing telomerase gene expression. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we used Arabidopsis thaliana (At) as a developmental model.
DNA was extracted from seedlings leaves. The grown plants were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
reactions. Total RNA was isolated from the mature leaves, stems and flowers of wild type and met1 mutants. For
gene expression analysis, cDNA was synthesized and then quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was
performed. Results: Telomerase gene expression level in homozygous met1 mutant plants showed ~14 fold increase compared
to normal plants. Furthermore, TERT expression in met1 heterozygous was~ 2 fold higher than the wild type plants. Conclusion: Our results suggested that TERT is a methyltransferase-regulated gene which may be involved in
developmental abnormities causing by mutation in met1 methyltransferase system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zangi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran
| | | | - Masoud Golalipour
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. Electronic Address:
| | - Mahnaz Aghdasi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran
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Moglia A, Gianoglio S, Acquadro A, Valentino D, Milani AM, Lanteri S, Comino C. Identification of DNA methyltransferases and demethylases in Solanum melongena L., and their transcription dynamics during fruit development and after salt and drought stresses. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223581. [PMID: 31596886 PMCID: PMC6785084 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation through the activity of cytosine-5-methyltransferases (C5-MTases) and DNA demethylases plays important roles in genome protection as well as in regulating gene expression during plant development and plant response to environmental stresses. In this study, we report on a genome-wide identification of six C5-MTases (SmelMET1, SmelCMT2, SmelCMT3a, SmelCMT3b, SmelDRM2, SmelDRM3) and five demethylases (SmelDemethylase_1, SmelDemethylase_2, SmelDemethylase_3, SmelDemethylase_4, SmelDemethylase_5) in eggplant. Gene structural characteristics, chromosomal localization and phylogenetic analyses are also described. The transcript profiling of both C5-MTases and demethylases was assessed at three stages of fruit development in three eggplant commercial F1 hybrids: i.e. 'Clara', 'Nite Lady' and 'Bella Roma', representative of the eggplant berry phenotypic variation. The trend of activation of C5-MTases and demethylase genes varied in function of the stage of fruit development and was genotype dependent. The transcription pattern of C5MTAses and demethylases was also assessed in leaves of the F1 hybrid 'Nite Lady' subjected to salt and drought stresses. A marked up-regulation and down-regulation of some C5-MTases and demethylases was detected, while others did not vary in their expression profile. Our results suggest a role for both C5-MTases and demethylases during fruit development, as well as in response to abiotic stresses in eggplant, and provide a starting framework for supporting future epigenetic studies in the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Moglia
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Silvia Gianoglio
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Alberto Acquadro
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Danila Valentino
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Milani
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Sergio Lanteri
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Cinzia Comino
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
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29
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Sun RZ, Zuo EH, Qi JF, Liu Y, Lin CT, Deng X. A role of age-dependent DNA methylation reprogramming in regulating the regeneration capacity of Boea hygrometrica leaves. Funct Integr Genomics 2019; 20:133-149. [PMID: 31414312 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-019-00701-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Plants can regenerate new individuals under appropriate culture conditions. Although the molecular basis of shoot regeneration has steadily been unraveled, the role of age-dependent DNA methylation status in the regulation of explant regeneration remains practically unknown. Here, we established an effective auxin/cytokinin-induced shoot regeneration system for the resurrection plant Boea hygrometrica via direct organogenesis and observed that regeneration was postponed with increasing age of donor plants. Global transcriptome analysis revealed significant upregulation of genes required for hormone signaling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and downregulation of photosynthetic genes during regeneration. Transcriptional changes in the positive/negative regulators and cell wall-related proteins involved in plant regeneration, such as ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN, SHOOT-MERISTEMLESS, and WUSCHEL, were associated with the regeneration process. Comparison of DNA methylation profiling between leaves from young seedlings (YL) and mature plants (ML) revealed increased asymmetrical methylation in ML, which was predominantly distributed in promoter regions of genes, such as HY5 and a member of ABA-responsive element (ABRE) binding protein/ABRE binding factor, as well as genes encoding glycine-rich cell wall structural protein, CENTRORADIALIS-like protein, and beta-glucosidase 40-like essential for shoot meristem and cell wall architecture. Their opposite transcription response in ML explants during regeneration compared with those from YL demonstrated the putative involvement of DNA methylation in regeneration. Moreover, a significant lower expression of DNA glycosylase-lyase required for DNA demethylation in ML was coincident with its postponed regeneration compared with those in YL. Taken together, our results suggest a role of promoter demethylation in B. hygrometrica regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run-Ze Sun
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - En-Hui Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jin-Feng Qi
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Chih-Ta Lin
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Xin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
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30
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Horemans N, Spurgeon DJ, Lecomte-Pradines C, Saenen E, Bradshaw C, Oughton D, Rasnaca I, Kamstra JH, Adam-Guillermin C. Current evidence for a role of epigenetic mechanisms in response to ionizing radiation in an ecotoxicological context. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 251:469-483. [PMID: 31103007 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.04.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The issue of potential long-term or hereditary effects for both humans and wildlife exposed to low doses (or dose rates) of ionising radiation is a major concern. Chronic exposure to ionising radiation, defined as an exposure over a large fraction of the organism's lifespan or even over several generations, can possibly have consequences in the progeny. Recent work has begun to show that epigenetics plays an important role in adaptation of organisms challenged to environmental stimulae. Changes to so-called epigenetic marks such as histone modifications, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs result in altered transcriptomes and proteomes, without directly changing the DNA sequence. Moreover, some of these environmentally-induced epigenetic changes tend to persist over generations, and thus, epigenetic modifications are regarded as the conduits for environmental influence on the genome. Here, we review the current knowledge of possible involvement of epigenetics in the cascade of responses resulting from environmental exposure to ionising radiation. In addition, from a comparison of lab and field obtained data, we investigate evidence on radiation-induced changes in the epigenome and in particular the total or locus specific levels of DNA methylation. The challenges for future research and possible use of changes as an early warning (biomarker) of radiosensitivity and individual exposure is discussed. Such a biomarker could be used to detect and better understand the mechanisms of toxic action and inter/intra-species susceptibility to radiation within an environmental risk assessment and management context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Horemans
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, B-2400, Mol, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Research, University of Hasselt, Agoralaan, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - David J Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Catherine Lecomte-Pradines
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, Saint Paul Lez Durance, France
| | - Eline Saenen
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, B-2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Clare Bradshaw
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Deborah Oughton
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1430, Aas, Norway
| | - Ilze Rasnaca
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Jorke H Kamstra
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Christelle Adam-Guillermin
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-SANTE, Cadarache, Saint Paul Lez Durance, France
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31
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Zhou M, Sng NJ, LeFrois CE, Paul AL, Ferl RJ. Epigenomics in an extraterrestrial environment: organ-specific alteration of DNA methylation and gene expression elicited by spaceflight in Arabidopsis thaliana. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:205. [PMID: 30866818 PMCID: PMC6416986 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5554-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants adapted to diverse environments on Earth throughout their evolutionary history, and developed mechanisms to thrive in a variety of terrestrial habitats. When plants are grown in the novel environment of spaceflight aboard the International Space Station (ISS), an environment completely outside their evolutionary history, they respond with unique alterations to their gene expression profile. Identifying the genes important for physiological adaptation to spaceflight and dissecting the biological processes and pathways engaged by plants during spaceflight has helped reveal spaceflight adaptation, and has furthered understanding of terrestrial growth processes. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms responsible for these changes in gene expression patterns are just beginning to be explored. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation at position five in cytosine, has been shown to play a role in the physiological adaptation to adverse terrestrial environments, and may play a role in spaceflight as well. RESULTS Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing of DNA of Arabidopsis grown on the ISS from seed revealed organ-specific patterns of differential methylation compared to ground controls. The overall levels of methylation in CG, CHG, and CHH contexts were similar between flight and ground DNA, however, thousands of specifically differentially methylated cytosines were discovered, and there were clear organ-specific differences in methylation patterns. Spaceflight leaves had higher methylation levels in CHG and CHH contexts within protein-coding genes in spaceflight; about a fifth of the leaf genes were also differentially regulated in spaceflight, almost half of which were associated with reactive oxygen signaling. CONCLUSIONS The physiological adaptation of plants to spaceflight is likely nuanced by epigenomic modification. This is the first examination of differential genomic methylation from plants grown completely in the spaceflight environment of the ISS in plant growth hardware developed for informing exploration life support strategies. Yet even in this optimized plant habitat, plants respond as if stressed. These data suggest that gene expression associated with physiological adaptation to spaceflight is regulated in part by methylation strategies similar to those engaged with familiar terrestrial stress responses. The differential methylation maps generated here provide a useful reference for elucidating the layers of regulation of spaceflight responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingqi Zhou
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Natasha J. Sng
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Collin E. LeFrois
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Anna-Lisa Paul
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Robert J. Ferl
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
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