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Sangiorgio S, Carabelli L, Gabotti D, Manzotti PS, Persico M, Consonni G, Gavazzi G. A mutational approach for the detection of genetic factors affecting seed size in maize. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2016; 29:301-310. [PMID: 27858171 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-016-0294-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Genes influencing seed size. The designation emp (empty pericarp) refers to a group of defective kernel mutants that exhibit a drastic reduction in endosperm tissue production. They allow the isolation of genes controlling seed development and affecting seed size. Nine independently isolated emp mutants have been analyzed in this study and in all cases longitudinal sections of mature seeds revealed the absence of morphogenesis in the embryo proper, an observation that correlates with their failure to germinate. Complementation tests with the nine emp mutants, crossed inter se in all pairwise combinations, identified complementing and non-complementing pairs in the F1 progenies. Data were then validated in the F2/F3 generations. Mutant chromosomal location was also established. Overall our study has identified two novel emp genes and a novel allele at the previously identified emp4 gene. The introgression of single emp mutants in a different genetic background revealed the existence of a cryptic genetic variation (CGV) recognizable as a variable increase in the endosperm tissue. The unmasking of CGV by introducing single mutants in different genetic backgrounds is the result of the interaction of the emp mutants with a suppressor that has no obvious phenotype of its own and is present in the genetic background of the inbred lines into which the emp mutants were transferred. On the basis of these results, emp mutants could be used as tools for the detection of genetic factors that enhance the amount of endosperm tissue in the maize kernel and which could thus become valuable targets to exploit in future breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Sangiorgio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Carabelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Damiano Gabotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Priscilla Sofia Manzotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Persico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Consonni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Gavazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
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Lee YP, Funk C, Erban A, Kopka J, Köhl KI, Zuther E, Hincha DK. Salt stress responses in a geographically diverse collection of Eutrema/Thellungiella spp. accessions. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2016; 43:590-606. [PMID: 32480489 DOI: 10.1071/fp15285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Salinity strongly impairs plant growth and development. Natural genetic variation can be used to dissect complex traits such as plant salt tolerance. We used 16 accessions of the halophytic species Eutrema salsugineum (previously called Thellungiella salsuginea (Pallas) O.E.Schulz, Thellungiella halophila (C.A.Meyer) O.E. Schulz and Thellungiella botschantzevii D.A.German to investigate their natural variation in salinity tolerance. Although all accessions showed survival and growth up to 700mM NaCl in hydroponic culture, their relative salt tolerance varied considerably. All accessions accumulated the compatible solutes proline, sucrose, glucose and fructose and the polyamines putrescine and spermine. Relative salt tolerance was not correlated with the content of any of the investigated solutes. We compared the metabolomes and transcriptomes of Arabidopsis thaliana (L. Heynh.) Col-0 and E. salsugineum Yukon under control and salt stress conditions. Higher content of several metabolites in Yukon compared with Col-0 under control conditions indicated metabolic pre-adaptation to salinity in the halophyte. Most metabolic salt responses in Yukon took place at 200mM NaCl, whereas few additional changes were observed between 200 and 500mM. The opposite trend was observed for the transcriptome, with only little overlap between salt-regulated genes in the two species. In addition, only about half of the salt-regulated Yukon unigenes had orthologues in Col-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Ping Lee
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christian Funk
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Alexander Erban
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Joachim Kopka
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Karin I Köhl
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ellen Zuther
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Dirk K Hincha
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
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Lee YP, Babakov A, de Boer B, Zuther E, Hincha DK. Comparison of freezing tolerance, compatible solutes and polyamines in geographically diverse collections of Thellungiella sp. and Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2012; 12:131. [PMID: 22863402 PMCID: PMC3464606 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-12-131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/13/2012] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thellungiella has been proposed as an extremophile alternative to Arabidopsis to investigate environmental stress tolerance. However, Arabidopsis accessions show large natural variation in their freezing tolerance and here the tolerance ranges of collections of accessions in the two species were compared. RESULTS Leaf freezing tolerance of 16 Thellungiella accessions was assessed with an electrolyte leakage assay before and after 14 days of cold acclimation at 4°C. Soluble sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, raffinose) and free polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) were quantified by HPLC, proline photometrically. The ranges in nonacclimated freezing tolerance completely overlapped between Arabidopsis and Thellungiella. After cold acclimation, some Thellungiella accessions were more freezing tolerant than any Arabidopsis accessions. Acclimated freezing tolerance was correlated with sucrose levels in both species, but raffinose accumulation was lower in Thellungiella and only correlated with freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis. The reverse was true for leaf proline contents. Polyamine levels were generally similar between the species. Only spermine content was higher in nonacclimated Thellungiella plants, but decreased during acclimation and was negatively correlated with freezing tolerance. CONCLUSION Thellungiella is not an extremophile with regard to freezing tolerance, but some accessions significantly expand the range present in Arabidopsis. The metabolite data indicate different metabolic adaptation strategies between the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Ping Lee
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, D-14476, Germany
| | - Alexei Babakov
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology RAAS, Timiryazevskaya St. 42, Moscow, 127550, Russia
| | - Bert de Boer
- Department of Structural Biology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085-1087, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen Zuther
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, D-14476, Germany
| | - Dirk K Hincha
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, D-14476, Germany
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Van Norman JM, Benfey PN. Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism in systems biology. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2011; 1:372-379. [PMID: 20228888 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in identification of genes and gene networks involved in key biological processes. Yet, how these genes and networks are coordinated over increasing levels of biological complexity, from cells to tissues to organs, remains unclear. To address complex biological questions, biologists are increasingly using high-throughput tools and systems biology approaches to examine complex biological systems at a global scale. A system is a network of interacting and interdependent components that shape the system's unique properties. Systems biology studies the organization of system components and their interactions, with the idea that unique properties of that system can be observed only through study of the system as a whole. The application of systems biology approaches to questions in plant biology has been informative. In this review, we give examples of how systems biology is currently being used in Arabidopsis to investigate the transcriptional networks regulating root development, the metabolic response to stress, and the genetic regulation of metabolic variability. From these studies, we are beginning obtain sufficient data to generate more accurate models for system function. Further investigation of plant systems will require data gathering from specific cells and tissues, continued improvement in metabolic technologies, and novel computational methods for data visualization and modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimie M Van Norman
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.,IGSP Center for Systems Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Philip N Benfey
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.,IGSP Center for Systems Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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Korn M, Gärtner T, Erban A, Kopka J, Selbig J, Hincha DK. Predicting Arabidopsis freezing tolerance and heterosis in freezing tolerance from metabolite composition. MOLECULAR PLANT 2010; 3:224-35. [PMID: 20026477 PMCID: PMC2807929 DOI: 10.1093/mp/ssp105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2009] [Accepted: 11/16/2009] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is one of the most important tools in plant breeding and has previously been demonstrated for plant freezing tolerance. Freezing tolerance is an important trait because it can limit the geographical distribution of plants and their agricultural yield. Plants from temperate climates increase in freezing tolerance during exposure to low, non-freezing temperatures in a process termed 'cold acclimation'. Metabolite profiling has indicated a major reprogramming of plant metabolism in the cold, but it has remained unclear in previous studies which of these changes are related to freezing tolerance. In the present study, we have used metabolic profiling to discover combinations of metabolites that predict freezing tolerance and its heterosis in Arabidopsis thaliana. We identified compatible solutes and, in particular, the pathway leading to raffinose as crucial statistical predictors for freezing tolerance and its heterosis, while some TCA cycle intermediates contribute only to predicting the heterotic phenotype. This indicates coordinate links between heterosis and metabolic pathways, suggesting that a limited number of regulatory genes may determine the extent of heterosis in this complex trait. In addition, several unidentified metabolites strongly contributed to the prediction of both freezing tolerance and its heterosis and we present an exemplary analysis of one of these, identifying it as a hexose conjugate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Korn
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tanja Gärtner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Abteilung Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie und Biologie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Alexander Erban
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Joachim Kopka
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Joachim Selbig
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Abteilung Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie und Biologie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Dirk K. Hincha
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail , fax +49 331 567 8250, tel. +49 331 567 8253
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