Calcium-mediation of jasmonate biosynthesis and signaling in plants

Molecular mechanisms underlying the negative effects of transient heatwaves on crop fertility

Transient heatwaves occurring more frequently as the climate warms, yet their impacts on crop yield are severely underestimated and even overlooked. Heatwaves lasting only a few days or even hours during sensitive stages, such as microgametogenesis and flowering, can significantly reduce crop yield by disrupting plant reproduction. Recent advances in multi-omics and GWAS analysis have shed light on the specific organs (e.g., pollen, lodicule, style), key metabolic pathways (sugar and reactive oxygen species metabolism, Ca2+ homeostasis), and essential genes that are involved in crop responses to transient heatwaves during sensitive stages. This review therefore places particular emphasis on heat-sensitive stages, with pollen development, floret opening, pollination, and fertilization as the central narrative thread. The multifaceted effects of transient heatwaves and their molecular basis are systematically reviewed, with a focus on key structures such as the lodicule and tapetum. A number of heat-tolerance genes associated with these processes have been identified in major crops like maize and rice. The mechanisms and key heat-tolerance genes shared among different stages may facilitate the more precise improvement of heat-tolerant crops.

Heat stress and sexual reproduction in maize: unveiling the most pivotal factors and the greatest opportunities

The escalation in the intensity, frequency, and duration of high-temperature (HT) stress is currently unparalleled, which aggravates the challenges for crop production. Yet, the stage-dependent responses of reproductive organs to HT stress at the morphological, physiological, and molecular levels remain inadequately explored in pivotal staple crops. This review synthesized current knowledge regarding the mechanisms by which HT stress induces abnormalities and aberrations in reproductive growth and development, as well as by which it alters the morphology and function of florets, flowering patterns, and the processes of pollination and fertilization in maize (Zea mays L.). We identified the stage-specific sensitivities to HT stress and accurately defined the sensitive period from a time scale of days to hours. The microspore tetrad phase of pollen development and anthesis (especially shortly after pollination) are most sensitive to HT stress, and even brief temperature spikes during these stages can lead to significant kernel loss. The impetuses behind the heat-induced impairments in seed set are closely related to carbon, reactive oxygen species, phytohormone signals, ion (e.g. Ca2+) homeostasis, plasma membrane structure and function, and others. Recent advances in understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying HT stress responses during maize sexual reproduction have been systematically summarized.

Calcium (Ca2+ ) sensors and MYC2 are crucial players during jasmonates-mediated abiotic stress tolerance in plants

Plants evolve stress-specific responses that sense changes in their external environmental conditions and develop various mechanisms for acclimatization and survival. Calcium (Ca2+ ) is an essential stress-sensing secondary messenger in plants. Ca2+ sensors, including calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), calmodulins (CaMs), CaM-like proteins (CMLs), and calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs), are involved in jasmonates (JAs) signalling and biosynthesis. Moreover, JAs are phospholipid-derived phytohormones that control plant response to abiotic stresses. The JAs signalling pathway affects hormone-receptor gene transcription by binding to the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor. MYC2 acts as a master regulator of JAs signalling module assimilated through various genes. The Ca2+ sensor CML regulates MYC2 and is involved in a distinct mechanism mediating JAs signalling during abiotic stresses. This review highlights the pivotal role of the Ca2+ sensors in JAs biosynthesis and MYC2-mediated JAs signalling during abiotic stresses in plants.

From the floret to the canopy: High temperature tolerance during flowering

Heat waves induced by climate warming have become common in food-producing regions worldwide, frequently coinciding with high temperature (HT)-sensitive stages of many crops and thus threatening global food security. Understanding the HT sensitivity of reproductive organs is currently of great interest for increasing seed set. The responses of seed set to HT involve multiple processes in both male and female reproductive organs, but we currently lack an integrated and systematic summary of these responses for the world's three leading food crops (rice, wheat, and maize). In the present work, we define the critical high temperature thresholds for seed set in rice (37.2°C ± 0.2°C), wheat (27.3°C ± 0.5°C), and maize (37.9°C ± 0.4°C) during flowering. We assess the HT sensitivity of these three cereals from the microspore stage to the lag period, including effects of HT on flowering dynamics, floret growth and development, pollination, and fertilization. Our review synthesizes existing knowledge about the effects of HT stress on spikelet opening, anther dehiscence, pollen shedding number, pollen viability, pistil and stigma function, pollen germination on the stigma, and pollen tube elongation. HT-induced spikelet closure and arrest of pollen tube elongation have a catastrophic effect on pollination and fertilization in maize. Rice benefits from pollination under HT stress owing to bottom anther dehiscence and cleistogamy. Cleistogamy and secondary spikelet opening increase the probability of pollination success in wheat under HT stress. However, cereal crops themselves also have protective measures under HT stress. Lower canopy/tissue temperatures compared with air temperatures indicate that cereal crops, especially rice, can partly protect themselves from heat damage. In maize, husk leaves reduce inner ear temperature by about 5°C compared with outer ear temperature, thereby protecting the later phases of pollen tube growth and fertilization processes. These findings have important implications for accurate modeling, optimized crop management, and breeding of new varieties to cope with HT stress in the most important staple crops.

The regulatory metabolic networks of the Brassica campestris L. hairy roots in response to cadmium stress revealed from proteome studies combined with a transcriptome analysis

Brassica campestris L., a cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulating herbaceous plant, is considered as a promising candidate for the bioremediation of Cd pollution. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating these processes remain unclear. The present work, using proteome studies combined with a transcriptome analysis, was carried out to reveal the response mechanisms of the hairy roots of Brassica campestris L. under Cd stress. Significant tissue necrosis and cellular damage occurred, and Cd accumulation was observed in the cell walls and vacuoles of the hairy roots. Through quantitative proteomic profiling, a total of 1424 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified, and are known to be enriched in processes including phenylalanine metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, cysteine and methionine metabolism, protein export, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis and flavone biosynthesis. Further studies combined with a transcriptome analysis found that 118 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their corresponding proteins were simultaneously up- or downregulated. Further Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of the 118 shared DEGs and DEPs indicated their involvement in calcium, ROS and hormone signaling-mediated response, including regulation of carbohydrate and energy metabolism, biosynthesis of GSH, PCs and phenylpropanoid compounds that play vital roles in the Cd tolerance of Brassica campestris L. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the regulatory networks of Brassica campestris L. under Cd stress, as well as provide valuable information on candidate genes (e.g., BrPAL, BrTAT, Br4CL, BrCDPK, BrRBOH, BrCALM, BrABCG1/2, BrVIP, BrGCLC, BrilvE, BrGST12/13/25). These results are of particular importance to the subsequent development of promising transgenic plants that will hyperaccumulate heavy metals and efficient phytoremediation processes.

Exogenous calcium: Its mechanisms and research advances involved in plant stress tolerance

Abiotic stresses are various environmental factors that inhibit a normal plant growth and limit the crop productivity. Plant scientists have been attempting for a long time to understand how plants respond to these stresses and find an effective and feasible solution in mitigating their adverse impacts. Exogenous calcium ion as an essential element for the plant growth, development and reproduction has proven to be effective in alleviating plant stresses through enhancing its resistance or tolerance against them. With a comprehensive review of most recent advances and the analysis by VOSviewer in the researches on this focus of "exogenous calcium" and "stress" for last decade, this paper summarizes the mechanisms of exogenous calcium that are involved in plant defensive responses to abiotic stresses and classifies them accordingly into six categories: I) stabilization of cell walls and membranes; II) regulation of Na⁺ and K⁺ ratios; III) regulation of hormone levels in plants; IV) maintenance of photosynthesis; V) regulation of plant respiratory metabolism and improvement of root activities; and VI) induction of gene expressions and protein transcriptions for the stress resistance. Also, the progress and advances from the updated researches on exogenous calcium to alleviate seven abiotic stresses such as drought, flooding, salinity, high temperature, low temperature, heavy metals, and acid rain are outlined. Finally, the future research perspectives in agricultural production are discussed.

DYSCALCULIA, a Venus flytrap mutant without the ability to count action potentials

The Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula estimates prey nutrient content by counting trigger hair contacts initiating action potentials (APs) and calcium waves traveling all over the trap.^1,2,3 A first AP is associated with a subcritical rise in cytosolic calcium concentration, but when the second AP arrives in time, calcium levels pass the threshold required for fast trap closure. Consequently, memory function and decision-making are timed via a calcium clock.^3,4 For higher numbers of APs elicited by the struggling prey, the Ca²⁺ clock connects to the networks governed by the touch hormone jasmonic acid (JA), which initiates slow, hermetic trap sealing and mining of the animal food stock.⁵ Two distinct phases of trap closure can be distinguished within Dionaea's hunting cycle: (1) very fast trap snapping requiring two APs and crossing of a critical cytosolic Ca²⁺ level and (2) JA-dependent slow trap sealing and prey processing induced by more than five APs. The Dionaea mutant DYSC is still able to fire touch-induced APs but does not snap close its traps and fails to enter the hunting cycle after prolonged mechanostimulation. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that upon trigger hair touch/AP stimulation, activation of calcium signaling is largely suppressed in DYSC traps. The observation that external JA application restored hunting cycle progression together with the DYSC phenotype and its transcriptional landscape indicates that DYSC cannot properly read, count, and decode touch/AP-induced calcium signals that are key in prey capture and processing.

Herbivore-induced Ca2+ signals trigger a jasmonate burst by activating ERF16-mediated expression in tomato

Herbivory severely affects plant growth, posing a threat to crop production. Calcium ion (Ca²⁺ ) signaling and accumulation of jasmonates (JAs) are activated in plant response to herbivore attack, leading to the expression of defense pathways. However, little is known about how the Ca²⁺ signal modulates JA biosynthesis. We used diverse techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9, UPLC-MS/MS and molecular biology methods to explore the role of ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 16 in Ca²⁺ signal-triggered JA burst during herbivore defense in tomato. Here we show that simulated herbivory induces GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR LIKE3.3/3.5 (GLR3.3/3.5)-dependent increases in electrical activity, Ca²⁺ influx and increases the abundance of CALMODULIN2 (CaM2) and ERF16 transcripts in tomato. The interaction between CaM2 and ERF16 promotes JA biosynthesis by enhancing the transcriptional activity of ERF16, which increases the activation of ERF16 expression and causes expression of LIPOXYGENASE D (LOXD), AOC and 12-OXO-PHYTODIENOIC ACID REDUCTASE 3 (OPR3), the key genes in JA biosynthesis. Mutation of CaM2 results in decreased JA accumulation, together with the expression of JA biosynthesis-related genes, leading to reduced resistance to the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. These findings reveal a molecular mechanism underpinning the Ca²⁺ signal-initiated systemic JA burst and emphasize the pivotal role of Ca²⁺ signal/ERF16 crosstalk in herbivore defense.

ACA pumps maintain leaf excitability during herbivore onslaught

Recurrent damage by lepidopteran folivores triggers repeated leaf-to-leaf electrical signaling. We found that the ability to propagate electrical signals-called slow wave potentials-was unexpectedly robust and was maintained in plants that had experienced severe damage. We sought genes that maintain tissue excitability during group insect attack. When Arabidopsis thaliana P-Type II Ca²⁺-ATPase mutants were mechanically wounded, all mutants tested displayed leaf-to-leaf electrical signals. However, when the auto-inhibited Ca²⁺-ATPase double-mutant aca10 aca12 was attacked by Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars, electrical signaling failed catastrophically, and the insects consumed these plants rapidly. The attacked double mutant displayed petiole base deformation and chlorosis, which spread acropetally into laminas and led to senescence. A phloem-feeding aphid recapitulated these effects, implicating the vasculature in electrical signaling failure. Consistent with this, ACA10 expressed in phloem companion cells in an aca10 aca12 background rescued electrical signaling and defense during protracted S. littoralis attack. When expressed in xylem contact cells, ACA10 partially rescued these phenotypes. Extending our analyses, we found that prolonged darkness also caused wound-response electrical signaling failure in aca10 aca12 mutants. Our results lead to a model in which the plant vasculature acts as a capacitor that discharges temporarily when leaves are subjected to energy-depleting stresses. Under these conditions, ACA10 and ACA12 function allows the restoration of vein cell membrane potentials. In the absence of these gene functions, vascular cell excitability can no longer be restored efficiently. Additionally, this work demonstrates that non-invasive electrophysiology is a powerful tool for probing early events underlying senescence.

Electrical Signals, Plant Tolerance to Actions of Stressors, and Programmed Cell Death: Is Interaction Possible?

In environmental conditions, plants are affected by abiotic and biotic stressors which can be heterogenous. This means that the systemic plant adaptive responses on their actions require long-distance stress signals including electrical signals (ESs). ESs are based on transient changes in the activities of ion channels and H⁺-ATP-ase in the plasma membrane. They influence numerous physiological processes, including gene expression, phytohormone synthesis, photosynthesis, respiration, phloem mass flow, ATP content, and many others. It is considered that these changes increase plant tolerance to the action of stressors; the effect can be related to stimulation of damages of specific molecular structures. In this review, we hypothesize that programmed cell death (PCD) in plant cells can be interconnected with ESs. There are the following points supporting this hypothesis. (i) Propagation of ESs can be related to ROS waves; these waves are a probable mechanism of PCD initiation. (ii) ESs induce the inactivation of photosynthetic dark reactions and activation of respiration. Both responses can also produce ROS and, probably, induce PCD. (iii) ESs stimulate the synthesis of stress phytohormones (e.g., jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene) which are known to contribute to the induction of PCD. (iv) Generation of ESs accompanies K⁺ efflux from the cytoplasm that is also a mechanism of induction of PCD. Our review argues for the possibility of PCD induction by electrical signals and shows some directions of future investigations in the field.

Calcium and methyl jasmonate cross-talk in the secondary metabolism of grape cells

In grape cell cultures cv. Gamay Fréaux var. Teinturier, Ca was shown to decrease cell pigmentation through the inhibition of anthocyanin biosynthesis, while stimulating stilbenoids accumulation. Because methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a well-known inducer of secondary metabolism in grape cells, and Ca antagonizes its stimulatory effect over several enzymes of core metabolic branches, in the present study we hypothesized that Ca and MeJA signaling pathways interact to regulate specific secondary metabolism routes. Grape cultured cells were elicited with MeJA or with MeJA + Ca and an UPLC-MS-based targeted metabolomic method was implemented to characterize their polyphenolic profiles. Results were compared with the profile of cells elicited with Ca only, previously reported. Data was complemented with gene expression analysis, allowing the assembly of a metabolic map that unraveled routes specifically regulated by both elicitors. MeJA + Ca specifically boosted E-resveratrol and E-ε-viniferin levels by 180% and 140%, respectively, in comparison to cells treated with MeJA only, while the stimulatory effect of MeJA over flavonoid synthesis was inhibited by Ca. In parallel, Ca downregulated most flavonoid pathway genes, including LAR1, ANS, BAN and ANR. Ca was able to mimic or potentiate the effect of MeJA on the expression of JA signaling genes, including JAR1, PIN and PR10. Transcript/metabolite correlation networks exposed the central influence of FLS1,STS,CDPK17 and COI1 in polyphenolic biosynthetic routes. This study highlights the potential of the MeJA-Ca combination for diverting polyphenolic metabolism towards the production of specific metabolites of interest, highly relevant in a biotechnological perspective.

Transcriptome and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal Regulatory Networks Controlling Maize Stomatal Development in Response to Blue Light

(1) Background: Blue light is important for the formation of maize stomata, but the signal network remains unclear. (2) Methods: We replaced red light with blue light in an experiment and provided a complementary regulatory network for the stomatal development of maize by using transcriptome and metabolomics analysis. (3) Results: Exposure to blue light led to 1296 differentially expressed genes and 419 differential metabolites. Transcriptome comparisons and correlation signaling network analysis detected 55 genes, and identified 6 genes that work in the regulation of the HY5 module and MAPK cascade, that interact with PTI1, COI1, MPK2, and MPK3, in response to the substitution of blue light in environmental adaptation and signaling transduction pathways. Metabolomics analysis showed that two genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism participate in stomatal development. Their signaling sites located on the PHI1 and MPK2 sites of the MAPK cascade respond to blue light signaling. (4) Conclusions: Blue light remarkably changed the transcriptional signal transduction and metabolism of metabolites, and eight obtained genes worked in the HY5 module and MAPK cascade.

Transcriptome and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal Regulatory Networks Controlling Maize Stomatal Development in Response to Blue Light

(1) Background: Blue light is important for the formation of maize stomata, but the signal network remains unclear. (2) Methods: We replaced red light with blue light in an experiment and provided a complementary regulatory network for the stomatal development of maize by using transcriptome and metabolomics analysis. (3) Results: Exposure to blue light led to 1296 differentially expressed genes and 419 differential metabolites. Transcriptome comparisons and correlation signaling network analysis detected 55 genes, and identified 6 genes that work in the regulation of the HY5 module and MAPK cascade, that interact with PTI1, COI1, MPK2, and MPK3, in response to the substitution of blue light in environmental adaptation and signaling transduction pathways. Metabolomics analysis showed that two genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism participate in stomatal development. Their signaling sites located on the PHI1 and MPK2 sites of the MAPK cascade respond to blue light signaling. (4) Conclusions: Blue light remarkably changed the transcriptional signal transduction and metabolism of metabolites, and eight obtained genes worked in the HY5 module and MAPK cascade.

Molecular Interaction and Evolution of Jasmonate Signaling With Transport and Detoxification of Heavy Metals and Metalloids in Plants

An increase in environmental pollution resulting from toxic heavy metals and metalloids [e.g., cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and lead (Pb)] causes serious health risks to humans and animals. Mitigation strategies need to be developed to reduce the accumulation of the toxic elements in plant-derived foods. Natural and genetically-engineered plants with hyper-tolerant and hyper-accumulating capacity of toxic minerals are valuable for phytoremediation. However, the molecular mechanisms of detoxification and accumulation in plants have only been demonstrated in very few plant species such as Arabidopsis and rice. Here, we review the physiological and molecular aspects of jasmonic acid and the jasmonate derivatives (JAs) in response to toxic heavy metals and metalloids. Jasmonates have been identified in, limiting the accumulation and enhancing the tolerance to the toxic elements, by coordinating the ion transport system, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and the chelating capacity in plants. We also propose the potential involvement of Ca2+ signaling in the stress-induced production of jasmonates. Comparative transcriptomics analyses using the public datasets reveal the key gene families involved in the JA-responsive routes. Furthermore, we show that JAs may function as a fundamental phytohormone that protects plants from heavy metals and metalloids as demonstrated by the evolutionary conservation and diversity of these gene families in a large number of species of the major green plant lineages. Using ATP-Binding Cassette G (ABCG) transporter subfamily of six representative green plant species, we propose that JA transporters in Subgroup 4 of ABCGs may also have roles in heavy metal detoxification. Our paper may provide guidance toward the selection and development of suitable plant and crop species that are tolerant to toxic heavy metals and metalloids.

Mechanisms of specific systemic response in wheat plants under different locally acting heat stimuli

Mechanisms of the specific systemic response of plant to different adverse factors are poorly understood. We studied the mechanisms acting in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the action of local burn and gradual heating. Both stimuli induce a variation potential (VP) propagation and a biphasic (fast and long-term phases) photosynthetic response in non-stimulated zones of plant with stimulus-specific parameters of the latter: the fast phase or long-term phase predominance in responses induced by burn or heating, respectively. The burn-induced VP and photosynthetic response attenuate with distance, while the heating-induced VP and photosynthetic response were of more stable amplitude in distant part of the stimulated plant. VP propagation in both cases induced apoplast alkalization with dynamics well corresponding to such of VP and of the fast phase of photosynthetic response. Gradual heating induced a significant rise in jasmonate production along with a decrease in stomatal conductance with characteristic times well corresponding to the long-term phase of the photosynthetic response. We suppose that the VP-induced pH shift is responsible for in the induction of the fast phase, while jasmonate production for the long-term phase of the photosynthetic response. The revealed differences in the systemic response to stressors studied, apparently, reflect two distinct plant adaptation strategies to fast and slow-growing stimuli. The immediate response in the tissue nearest to the damage zone is the most important under a fast-growing stimulus. The fundamentally different situation is under a slowly-growing stimulus which provokes long-term changes in the plant that ensure the preparation of the whole organism for impending environmental changes.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Calcium Metabolism Related Gene Families in Arabidopsis thaliana and Their Regulation by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Under High Calcium Stress

Several gene families involved in calcium signaling have been detected in plants, including calmodulin (CaM), calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPK), calcineurin B-like (CBL) and cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGCs). In our previous study, we demonstrated that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LZ04 (B. amyloliquefaciens LZ04) regulate genes involved in calcium stress in Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana). Here, we aimed to explore the potential involvement of calcium-related gene families in the response of A. thaliana to calcium stress and the potential regulatory effects of B. amyloliquefaciens LZ04 on these genes. The structure, duplication, synteny, and expression profiles of 102 genes in calcium-related gene families in A. thaliana were investigated. Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) and BLASTP were used to predict candidate genes and conserved domains of the candidate genes were confirmed in SMART and NCBI CDD databases. Gene duplications and synteny were uncovered by BLASTP and phylogenetic analysis. The transcriptome expression profiles of candidate genes were investigated by strand-specific sequencing. Cluster analysis was used to find the expression profiles of calcium-related genes families under different treatment conditions. A total of 102 genes in calcium-related gene families were detected in A. thaliana genome, including 34 CDPK genes, 20 CNGC genes, 18 CIPK genes, 22 IQD genes, and 10 CBP genes. Additionally, of the 102 genes, 33 duplications (32.35%) and 26 gene pairs including 48 genes (47.06%) were detected. Treatment with B. amyloliquefaciens LZ04 enhanced the resistance of A. thaliana under high calcium stress by regulating some of the genes in the calcium-related gene families. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the genes clustered in the 42nd expression profile which may be B. amyloliquefaciens-responsive genes under calcium stress were enriched in protein phosphorylation and protein modification process. Transcriptome data was validated by RT-PCR and the results generally corroborated the transcriptome sequencing results. These results may be useful for agricultural improvement in high calcium stress regions.

Plant Peroxisomes: A Factory of Reactive Species

Plant peroxisomes are organelles enclosed by a single membrane whose biochemical composition has the capacity to adapt depending on the plant tissue, developmental stage, as well as internal and external cellular stimuli. Apart from the peroxisomal metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), discovered several decades ago, new molecules with signaling potential, including nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), have been detected in these organelles in recent years. These molecules generate a family of derived molecules, called reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive sulfur species (RSS), whose peroxisomal metabolism is autoregulated through posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as S-nitrosation, nitration and persulfidation. The peroxisomal metabolism of these reactive species, which can be weaponized against pathogens, is susceptible to modification in response to external stimuli. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on crosstalk between these reactive species families and peroxisomes, as well as on their cellular environment in light of the well-recognized signaling properties of H2O2, NO and H2S.

Combinatorial Control of Plant Specialized Metabolism: Mechanisms, Functions, and Consequences

Plants constantly perceive internal and external cues, many of which they need to address to safeguard their proper development and survival. They respond to these cues by selective activation of specific metabolic pathways involving a plethora of molecular players that act and interact in complex networks. In this review, we illustrate and discuss the complexity in the combinatorial control of plant specialized metabolism. We hereby go beyond the intuitive concept of combinatorial control as exerted by modular-acting complexes of transcription factors that govern expression of specialized metabolism genes. To extend this discussion, we also consider all known hierarchical levels of regulation of plant specialized metabolism and their interfaces by referring to reported regulatory concepts from the plant field. Finally, we speculate on possible yet-to-be-discovered regulatory principles of plant specialized metabolism that are inspired by knowledge from other kingdoms of life and areas of biological research.

CRb and PbBa8.1 Synergically Increases Resistant Genes Expression upon Infection of Plasmodiophora brassicae in Brassica napus

PbBa8.1 and CRb are two clubroot-resistant genes that are important for canola breeding in China. Previously, we combined these resistant genes and developed a pyramid-based, homozygous recurrent inbred line (618R), the results of which showed strong resistance to Plasmodiophora brassicae field isolates; however, the genetic mechanisms of resistance were unclear. In the present work, we conducted comparative RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis between 618R and its parental lines (305R and 409R) in order to uncover the transcriptomic response of the superior defense mechanisms of 618R and to determine how these two different resistant genes coordinate with each other. Here, we elucidated that the number and expression of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in 618R are significantly higher than in the parental lines, and PbBa8.1 shares more DEGs and plays a dominant role in the pyramided line. The common DEGs among the lines largely exhibit non-additive expression patterns and enrichment in resistance pathways. Among the enriched pathways, plant-pathogen interaction, plant hormone signaling transduction, and secondary metabolites are the key observation. However, the expressions of the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS) appear to be crucial regulatory components in defense response. Our findings provide comprehensive transcriptomic insight into understanding the interactions of resistance gene pyramids in single lines and can facilitate the breeding of improved resistance in Brassica napus.