1
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Mendoza-Revilla J, Trop E, Gonzalez L, Roller M, Dalla-Torre H, de Almeida BP, Richard G, Caton J, Lopez Carranza N, Skwark M, Laterre A, Beguir K, Pierrot T, Lopez M. A foundational large language model for edible plant genomes. Commun Biol 2024; 7:835. [PMID: 38982288 PMCID: PMC11233511 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06465-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in the field of plant genomics, as demonstrated by the increased use of high-throughput methodologies that enable the characterization of multiple genome-wide molecular phenotypes. These findings have provided valuable insights into plant traits and their underlying genetic mechanisms, particularly in model plant species. Nonetheless, effectively leveraging them to make accurate predictions represents a critical step in crop genomic improvement. We present AgroNT, a foundational large language model trained on genomes from 48 plant species with a predominant focus on crop species. We show that AgroNT can obtain state-of-the-art predictions for regulatory annotations, promoter/terminator strength, tissue-specific gene expression, and prioritize functional variants. We conduct a large-scale in silico saturation mutagenesis analysis on cassava to evaluate the regulatory impact of over 10 million mutations and provide their predicted effects as a resource for variant characterization. Finally, we propose the use of the diverse datasets compiled here as the Plants Genomic Benchmark (PGB), providing a comprehensive benchmark for deep learning-based methods in plant genomic research. The pre-trained AgroNT model is publicly available on HuggingFace at https://huggingface.co/InstaDeepAI/agro-nucleotide-transformer-1b for future research purposes.
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2
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Zhang X, Luo Z, Marand AP, Yan H, Jang H, Bang S, Mendieta JP, Minow MA, Schmitz RJ. A spatially resolved multiomic single-cell atlas of soybean development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.03.601616. [PMID: 39005400 PMCID: PMC11244997 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.03.601616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) precisely control spatiotemporal gene expression in cells. Using a spatially resolved single-cell atlas of gene expression with chromatin accessibility across ten soybean tissues, we identified 103 distinct cell types and 303,199 accessible chromatin regions (ACRs). Nearly 40% of the ACRs showed cell-type-specific patterns and were enriched for transcription factor (TF) motifs defining diverse cell identities. We identified de novo enriched TF motifs and explored conservation of gene regulatory networks underpinning legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation. With comprehensive developmental trajectories for endosperm and embryo, we uncovered the functional transition of the three sub-cell types of endosperm, identified 13 sucrose transporters sharing the DOF11 motif that were co-up-regulated in late peripheral endosperm and identified key embryo cell-type specification regulators during embryogenesis, including a homeobox TF that promotes cotyledon parenchyma identity. This resource provides a valuable foundation for analyzing gene regulatory programs in soybean cell types across tissues and life stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Xuan Zhang, Ziliang Luo, Alexandre P. Marand
| | - Ziliang Luo
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Xuan Zhang, Ziliang Luo, Alexandre P. Marand
| | - Alexandre P. Marand
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Xuan Zhang, Ziliang Luo, Alexandre P. Marand
| | - Haidong Yan
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Current address: College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hosung Jang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Sohyun Bang
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Mark A.A. Minow
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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3
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Zhang X, Marand AP, Yan H, Schmitz RJ. scifi-ATAC-seq: massive-scale single-cell chromatin accessibility sequencing using combinatorial fluidic indexing. Genome Biol 2024; 25:90. [PMID: 38589969 PMCID: PMC11003106 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03235-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-cell ATAC-seq has emerged as a powerful approach for revealing candidate cis-regulatory elements genome-wide at cell-type resolution. However, current single-cell methods suffer from limited throughput and high costs. Here, we present a novel technique called scifi-ATAC-seq, single-cell combinatorial fluidic indexing ATAC-sequencing, which combines a barcoded Tn5 pre-indexing step with droplet-based single-cell ATAC-seq using the 10X Genomics platform. With scifi-ATAC-seq, up to 200,000 nuclei across multiple samples can be indexed in a single emulsion reaction, representing an approximately 20-fold increase in throughput compared to the standard 10X Genomics workflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Alexandre P Marand
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Current address: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Haidong Yan
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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4
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Islam MT, Liu Y, Hassan MM, Abraham PE, Merlet J, Townsend A, Jacobson D, Buell CR, Tuskan GA, Yang X. Advances in the Application of Single-Cell Transcriptomics in Plant Systems and Synthetic Biology. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2024; 6:0029. [PMID: 38435807 PMCID: PMC10905259 DOI: 10.34133/bdr.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plants are complex systems hierarchically organized and composed of various cell types. To understand the molecular underpinnings of complex plant systems, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool for revealing high resolution of gene expression patterns at the cellular level and investigating the cell-type heterogeneity. Furthermore, scRNA-seq analysis of plant biosystems has great potential for generating new knowledge to inform plant biosystems design and synthetic biology, which aims to modify plants genetically/epigenetically through genome editing, engineering, or re-writing based on rational design for increasing crop yield and quality, promoting the bioeconomy and enhancing environmental sustainability. In particular, data from scRNA-seq studies can be utilized to facilitate the development of high-precision Build-Design-Test-Learn capabilities for maximizing the targeted performance of engineered plant biosystems while minimizing unintended side effects. To date, scRNA-seq has been demonstrated in a limited number of plant species, including model plants (e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana), agricultural crops (e.g., Oryza sativa), and bioenergy crops (e.g., Populus spp.). It is expected that future technical advancements will reduce the cost of scRNA-seq and consequently accelerate the application of this emerging technology in plants. In this review, we summarize current technical advancements in plant scRNA-seq, including sample preparation, sequencing, and data analysis, to provide guidance on how to choose the appropriate scRNA-seq methods for different types of plant samples. We then highlight various applications of scRNA-seq in both plant systems biology and plant synthetic biology research. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for the application of scRNA-seq in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Torikul Islam
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Md Mahmudul Hassan
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding,
Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
| | - Paul E. Abraham
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Jean Merlet
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education,
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Alice Townsend
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education,
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Daniel Jacobson
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - C. Robin Buell
- Center for Applied Genetic Technologies,
University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences,
University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics,
University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Gerald A. Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
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5
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Zhang X, Marand AP, Yan H, Schmitz RJ. Massive-scale single-cell chromatin accessibility sequencing using combinatorial fluidic indexing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.17.558155. [PMID: 37786710 PMCID: PMC10541611 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.17.558155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell ATAC-seq has emerged as a powerful approach for revealing candidate cis-regulatory elements genome-wide at cell-type resolution. However, current single-cell methods suffer from limited throughput and high costs. Here, we present a novel technique called single-cell combinatorial fluidic indexing ATAC-sequencing ("scifi-ATAC-seq"), which combines a barcoded Tn5 pre-indexing step with droplet-based single-cell ATAC-seq using a widely commercialized microfluidics platform (10X Genomics). With scifi-ATAC-seq, up to 200,000 nuclei across multiple samples in a single emulsion reaction can be indexed, representing a ~20-fold increase in throughput compared to the standard 10X Genomics workflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Alexandre P Marand
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Current address: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Haidong Yan
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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6
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Bobadilla LK, Tranel PJ. Predicting the unpredictable: the regulatory nature and promiscuity of herbicide cross resistance. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:235-244. [PMID: 37595061 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds is a significant threat to modern agriculture. Cross resistance, a phenomenon where resistance to one herbicide confers resistance to another, is a particular concern owing to its unpredictability. Nontarget-site (NTS) cross resistance is especially challenging to predict, as it arises from genes that encode enzymes that do not directly involve the herbicide target site and can affect multiple herbicides. Recent advancements in genomic and structural biology techniques could provide new venues for predicting NTS resistance in weed species. In this review, we present an overview of the latest approaches that could be used. We discuss the use of genomic and epigenomics techniques such as ATAC-seq and DAP-seq to identify transcription factors and cis-regulatory elements associated with resistance traits. Enzyme/protein structure prediction and docking analysis are discussed as an initial step for predicting herbicide binding affinities with key enzymes to identify candidates for subsequent in vitro validation. We also provide example analyses that can be deployed toward elucidating cross resistance and its regulatory patterns. Ultimately, our review provides important insights into the latest scientific advancements and potential directions for predicting and managing herbicide cross resistance in weeds. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas K Bobadilla
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Patrick J Tranel
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
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7
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Wen C, Yuan Z, Zhang X, Chen H, Luo L, Li W, Li T, Ma N, Mao F, Lin D, Lin Z, Lin C, Xu T, Lü P, Lin J, Zhu F. Sea-ATI unravels novel vocabularies of plant active cistrome. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11568-11583. [PMID: 37850650 PMCID: PMC10681729 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The cistrome consists of all cis-acting regulatory elements recognized by transcription factors (TFs). However, only a portion of the cistrome is active for TF binding in a specific tissue. Resolving the active cistrome in plants remains challenging. In this study, we report the assay sequential extraction assisted-active TF identification (sea-ATI), a low-input method that profiles the DNA sequences recognized by TFs in a target tissue. We applied sea-ATI to seven plant tissues to survey their active cistrome and generated 41 motif models, including 15 new models that represent previously unidentified cis-regulatory vocabularies. ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analyses confirmed the functionality of the cis-elements from the new models, in that they are actively bound in vivo, located near the transcription start site, and influence chromatin accessibility and transcription. Furthermore, comparing dimeric WRKY CREs between sea-ATI and DAP-seq libraries revealed that thermodynamics and genetic drifts cooperatively shaped their evolution. Notably, sea-ATI can identify not only positive but also negative regulatory cis-elements, thereby providing unique insights into the functional non-coding genome of plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenjin Wen
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Zhen Yuan
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Hao Chen
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Lin Luo
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Wanying Li
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Tian Li
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Nana Ma
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Fei Mao
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Dongmei Lin
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Zhanxi Lin
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Chentao Lin
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Tongda Xu
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Peitao Lü
- College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Juncheng Lin
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
| | - Fangjie Zhu
- College of Life Science, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
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8
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Minow MAA, Marand AP, Schmitz RJ. Leveraging Single-Cell Populations to Uncover the Genetic Basis of Complex Traits. Annu Rev Genet 2023; 57:297-319. [PMID: 37562412 PMCID: PMC10775913 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-022123-110824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The ease and throughput of single-cell genomics have steadily improved, and its current trajectory suggests that surveying single-cell populations will become routine. We discuss the merger of quantitative genetics with single-cell genomics and emphasize how this synergizes with advantages intrinsic to plants. Single-cell population genomics provides increased detection resolution when mapping variants that control molecular traits, including gene expression or chromatin accessibility. Additionally, single-cell population genomics reveals the cell types in which variants act and, when combined with organism-level phenotype measurements, unveils which cellular contexts impact higher-order traits. Emerging technologies, notably multiomics, can facilitate the measurement of both genetic changes and genomic traits in single cells, enabling single-cell genetic experiments. The implementation of single-cell genetics will advance the investigation of the genetic architecture of complex molecular traits and provide new experimental paradigms to study eukaryotic genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A A Minow
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA;
| | | | - Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA;
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9
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Chen YH, Lu J, Yang X, Huang LC, Zhang CQ, Liu QQ, Li QF. Gene editing of non-coding regulatory DNA and its application in crop improvement. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:6158-6175. [PMID: 37549968 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad313] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
The development of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) system has provided precise and efficient strategies to edit target genes and generate transgene-free crops. Significant progress has been made in the editing of protein-coding genes; however, studies on the editing of non-coding DNA with regulatory roles lags far behind. Non-coding regulatory DNAs, including those which can be transcribed into long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and miRNAs, together with cis-regulatory elements (CREs), play crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development. Therefore, the combination of CRISPR/Cas technology and non-coding regulatory DNA has great potential to generate novel alleles that affect various agronomic traits of crops, thus providing valuable genetic resources for crop breeding. Herein, we review recent advances in the roles of non-coding regulatory DNA, attempts to edit non-coding regulatory DNA for crop improvement, and potential application of novel editing tools in modulating non-coding regulatory DNA. Finally, the existing problems, possible solutions, and future applications of gene editing of non-coding regulatory DNA in modern crop breeding practice are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hao Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xia Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li-Chun Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chang-Quan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiao-Quan Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qian-Feng Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
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10
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Jores T, Hamm M, Cuperus JT, Queitsch C. Frontiers and techniques in plant gene regulation. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 75:102403. [PMID: 37331209 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102403] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Understanding plant gene regulation has been a priority for generations of plant scientists. However, due to its complex nature, the regulatory code governing plant gene expression has yet to be deciphered comprehensively. Recently developed methods-often relying on next-generation sequencing technology and state-of-the-art computational approaches-have started to further our understanding of the gene regulatory logic used by plants. In this review, we discuss these methods and the insights into the regulatory code of plants that they can yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Jores
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Morgan Hamm
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Josh T Cuperus
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Christine Queitsch
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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11
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Zhong M, Yue L, Liu W, Qin H, Lei B, Huang R, Yang X, Kang Y. Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Polyamine Uptake Transporter (Put) Gene Family in Tomatoes and the Role of Put2 in Response to Salt Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020228. [PMID: 36829787 PMCID: PMC9952195 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The polyamine uptake transporter (Put), an important polyamines-related protein, is involved in plant cell growth, developmental processes, and abiotic stimuli, but no research on the Put family has been carried out in the tomato. Herein, eight tomato Put were identified and scattered across four chromosomes, which were classified into three primary groups by phylogenetic analysis. Protein domains and gene structural organization also showed a significant degree of similarity, and the Put genes were significantly induced by various hormones and polyamines. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated that Put genes were expressed in all tissues of the tomato. The majority of Put genes were induced by different abiotic stresses. Furthermore, Put2 transcription was found to be responsive to salt stress, and overexpression of Put2 in yeast conferred salinity tolerance and polyamine uptake. Moreover, overexpression of Put2 in tomatoes promoted salinity tolerance accompanied by a decrease in the Na+/K+ ratio, restricting the generation of reactive oxygen and increasing polyamine metabolism and catabolism, antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT, APX, and POD), and nonenzymatic antioxidant activity (GSH/GSSG and ASA/DHA ratios, GABA, and flavonoid content); loss of function of put2 produced opposite effects. These findings highlight that Put2 plays a pivotal role in mediating polyamine synthesis and catabolism, and the antioxidant capacity in tomatoes, providing a valuable gene for salinity tolerance in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhong
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lingqi Yue
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hongyi Qin
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Bingfu Lei
- Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Riming Huang
- College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xian Yang
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Correspondence: (X.Y.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yunyan Kang
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Correspondence: (X.Y.); (Y.K.)
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12
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Napier JD, Heckman RW, Juenger TE. Gene-by-environment interactions in plants: Molecular mechanisms, environmental drivers, and adaptive plasticity. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:109-124. [PMID: 36342220 PMCID: PMC9806611 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Plants demonstrate a broad range of responses to environmental shifts. One of the most remarkable responses is plasticity, which is the ability of a single plant genotype to produce different phenotypes in response to environmental stimuli. As with all traits, the ability of plasticity to evolve depends on the presence of underlying genetic diversity within a population. A common approach for evaluating the role of genetic variation in driving differences in plasticity has been to study genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E). G × E occurs when genotypes produce different phenotypic trait values in response to different environments. In this review, we highlight progress and promising methods for identifying the key environmental and genetic drivers of G × E. Specifically, methodological advances in using algorithmic and multivariate approaches to understand key environmental drivers combined with new genomic innovations can greatly increase our understanding about molecular responses to environmental stimuli. These developing approaches can be applied to proliferating common garden networks that capture broad natural environmental gradients to unravel the underlying mechanisms of G × E. An increased understanding of G × E can be used to enhance the resilience and productivity of agronomic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D Napier
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA
| | - Robert W Heckman
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA
| | - Thomas E Juenger
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA
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Iqbal A, Bocian J, Hameed A, Orczyk W, Nadolska-Orczyk A. Cis-Regulation by NACs: A Promising Frontier in Wheat Crop Improvement. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315431. [PMID: 36499751 PMCID: PMC9736367 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315431] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Crop traits are controlled by multiple genes; however, the complex spatio-temporal transcriptional behavior of genes cannot be fully understood without comprehending the role of transcription factors (TFs) and the underlying mechanisms of the binding interactions of their cis-regulatory elements. NAC belongs to one of the largest families of plant-specific TFs and has been associated with the regulation of many traits. This review provides insight into the cis-regulation of genes by wheat NACs (TaNACs) for the improvement in yield-related traits, including phytohormonal homeostasis, leaf senescence, seed traits improvement, root modulation, and biotic and abiotic stresses in wheat and other cereals. We also discussed the current potential, knowledge gaps, and prospects of TaNACs.
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14
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Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Chinese Cabbage S1fa Transcription Factors and Their Roles in Response to Salt Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11091782. [PMID: 36139856 PMCID: PMC9495863 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11091782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The S1fa transcription factor is part of a small family involved in plant growth and development and abiotic stress tolerance. However, the roles of the S1fa genes in abiotic stress tolerance in Chinese cabbage are still unclear. In this study, four S1fa genes in the Chinese cabbage genome were identified and characterized for abiotic stress tolerance. Tissue-specific expression analysis suggested that three of these four S1fa genes were expressed in all tissues of Chinese cabbage, while Bra006994 was only expressed in the silique. Under Hg and Cd stresses, the S1fa genes were significantly expressed but were downregulated under NaCl stresses. The Bra034084 and Bra029784 overexpressing yeast cells exhibited high sensitivity to NaCl stresses, which led to slower growth compared with the wild type yeast cells (EV) under 1 M NaCl stress. In addition, the growth curve of the Bra034084 and Bra029784 overexpressing cells shows that the optical density was reduced significantly under salt stresses. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes, SOD, POD and CAT, were decreased, and the MDA, H2O2 and O2− contents were increased under salt stresses. The expression levels of cell wall biosynthesis genes Ccw14p, Cha1p, Cwp2p, Sed1p, Rlm1p, Rom2p, Mkk1p, Hsp12p, Mkk2p, Sdp1p and YLR194c were significantly enhanced, while Bck1p, and Ptc1p were downregulated under salt stresses. These results suggest that the Bra034084 and Bra029784 genes regulate cell wall biosynthesis and the defense regulatory system under salt stresses. These findings provide a fundamental basis for the further investigation of crop genetic modification to improve crop production and abiotic stress tolerance in Chinese cabbage.
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15
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Tu X, Marand AP, Schmitz RJ, Zhong S. A combinatorial indexing strategy for low-cost epigenomic profiling of plant single cells. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 3:100308. [PMID: 35605196 PMCID: PMC9284282 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how cis-regulatory elements facilitate gene expression is a key question in biology. Recent advances in single-cell genomics have led to the discovery of cell-specific chromatin landscapes that underlie transcription programs in animal models. However, the high equipment and reagent costs of commercial systems limit their applications for many laboratories. In this study, we developed a combinatorial index and dual PCR barcode strategy to profile the Arabidopsis thaliana root single-cell epigenome without any specialized equipment. We generated chromatin accessibility profiles for 13 576 root nuclei with an average of 12 784 unique Tn5 integrations per cell. Integration of the single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing and RNA sequencing data sets enabled the identification of 24 cell clusters with unique transcription, chromatin, and cis-regulatory signatures. Comparison with single-cell data generated using the commercial microfluidic platform from 10X Genomics revealed that this low-cost combinatorial index method is capable of unbiased identification of cell-type-specific chromatin accessibility. We anticipate that, by removing cost, instrumentation, and other technical obstacles, this method will be a valuable tool for routine investigation of single-cell epigenomes and provide new insights into plant growth and development and plant interactions with the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Tu
- Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | | | - Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Silin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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16
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Kulagina N, Méteignier LV, Papon N, O'Connor SE, Courdavault V. More than a Catharanthus plant: A multicellular and pluri-organelle alkaloid-producing factory. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 67:102200. [PMID: 35339956 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plants represent a huge reservoir of natural products. A broad series of these compounds now find application for human health. In this respect, the monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs), particularly from Madagascar periwinkle, are a prominent example of plant specialized metabolites with an important therapeutic potential. However, the supply of MIA drugs has always been a challenge since the low-yield accumulation in planta. This mainly results from the complex architecture of the MIA biosynthetic pathway that involves several organs, tissue types and subcellular organelles. Here, we describe the most recent advances towards the elucidation of this pathway route as well as its spatial organization in planta. Besides allowing a better understanding of the MIA biosynthetic flux in the whole plant, such knowledge will also probably pave the way for the development of metabolic engineering strategies to sustain the MIA supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalja Kulagina
- Université de Tours, EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Tours, France
| | | | - Nicolas Papon
- Univ Angers, Univ Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France
| | - Sarah Ellen O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena 07745, Germany.
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Université de Tours, EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Tours, France.
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17
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Zhu M, Taylor IW, Benfey PN. Single-cell genomics revolutionizes plant development studies across scales. Development 2022; 149:274706. [PMID: 35285482 PMCID: PMC8977093 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the development of tissues, organs and entire organisms through the lens of single-cell genomics has revolutionized developmental biology. Although single-cell transcriptomics has been pioneered in animal systems, from an experimental perspective, plant development holds some distinct advantages: cells do not migrate in relation to one another, and new organ formation (of leaves, roots, flowers, etc.) continues post-embryonically from persistent stem cell populations known as meristems. For a time, plant studies lagged behind animal or cell culture-based, single-cell approaches, largely owing to the difficulty in dissociating plant cells from their rigid cell walls. Recent intensive development of single-cell and single-nucleus isolation techniques across plant species has opened up a wide range of experimental approaches. This has produced a rapidly expanding diversity of information across tissue types and species, concomitant with the creative development of methods. In this brief Spotlight, we highlight some of the technical developments and how they have led to profiling single-cell genomics in various plant organs. We also emphasize the contribution of single-cell genomics in revealing developmental trajectories among different cell types within plant organs. Furthermore, we present efforts toward comparative analysis of tissues and organs at a single-cell level. Single-cell genomics is beginning to generate comprehensive information relating to how plant organs emerge from stem cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyuan Zhu
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Isaiah W Taylor
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Philip N Benfey
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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18
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McKenna KZ, Gawne R, Nijhout HF. The genetic control paradigm in biology: What we say, and what we are entitled to mean. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 169-170:89-93. [PMID: 35218858 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We comment on the article by Keith Baverstock (2021) and provide critiques of the concepts of genetic control, genetic blueprint and genetic program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Z McKenna
- Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, United States
| | - Richard Gawne
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, United States
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19
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Clark NM, Elmore JM, Walley JW. To the proteome and beyond: advances in single-cell omics profiling for plant systems. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:726-737. [PMID: 35235661 PMCID: PMC8825333 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in single-cell proteomics for animal systems could be adapted for plants to increase our understanding of plant development, response to stimuli, and cell-to-cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M Clark
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - James Mitch Elmore
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Justin W Walley
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
- Author for communication:
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20
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Schmitz RJ, Marand AP, Zhang X, Mosher RA, Turck F, Chen X, Axtell MJ, Zhong X, Brady SM, Megraw M, Meyers BC. Quality control and evaluation of plant epigenomics data. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:503-513. [PMID: 34648025 PMCID: PMC8773985 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Epigenomics is the study of molecular signatures associated with discrete regions within genomes, many of which are important for a wide range of nuclear processes. The ability to profile the epigenomic landscape associated with genes, repetitive regions, transposons, transcription, differential expression, cis-regulatory elements, and 3D chromatin interactions has vastly improved our understanding of plant genomes. However, many epigenomic and single-cell genomic assays are challenging to perform in plants, leading to a wide range of data quality issues; thus, the data require rigorous evaluation prior to downstream analyses and interpretation. In this commentary, we provide considerations for the evaluation of plant epigenomics and single-cell genomics data quality with the aim of improving the quality and utility of studies using those data across diverse plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Author for correspondence:
| | - Alexandre P Marand
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Rebecca A Mosher
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
| | - Franziska Turck
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Köln, Germany
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Michael J Axtell
- Department of Biology and Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16801, USA
| | - Xuehua Zhong
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery & Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, USA
| | - Siobhan M Brady
- Department of Plant Biology and Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Molly Megraw
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Center for Quantitative Life Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St Louis, Missouri 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
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