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Boerjan W, Strauss SH. Social and biological innovations are essential to deliver transformative forest biotechnologies. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:526-536. [PMID: 38803120 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Forests make immense contributions to societies in the form of ecological services and sustainable industrial products. However, they face major challenges to their viability and economic use due to climate change and growing biotic and economic threats, for which recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology can sometimes provide solutions. But the application of rDNA technologies to forest trees faces major social and biological obstacles that make its societal acceptance a 'wicked' problem without straightforward solutions. We discuss the nature of these problems, and the social and biological innovations that we consider essential for progress. As case studies of biological challenges, we focus on studies of modifications in wood chemistry and transformation efficiency. We call for major innovations in regulations, and the dissolution of method-based market barriers, that together could lead to greater research investments, enable wide use of field studies, and facilitate the integration of rDNA-modified trees into conventional breeding programs. Without near-term adoption of such innovations, rDNA-based solutions will be largely unavailable to help forests adapt to the growing stresses from climate change and the proliferation of forest pests, nor will they be available to provide economic and environmental benefits from expanded use of wood and related bioproducts as part of an expanding bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wout Boerjan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven H Strauss
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
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2
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Zhang W, Higgins EE, Robinson SJ, Clarke WE, Boyle K, Sharpe AG, Fobert PR, Parkin IAP. A systems genomics and genetics approach to identify the genetic regulatory network for lignin content in Brassica napus seeds. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1393621. [PMID: 38903439 PMCID: PMC11188405 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1393621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Seed quality traits of oilseed rape, Brassica napus (B. napus), exhibit quantitative inheritance determined by its genetic makeup and the environment via the mediation of a complex genetic architecture of hundreds to thousands of genes. Thus, instead of single gene analysis, network-based systems genomics and genetics approaches that combine genotype, phenotype, and molecular phenotypes offer a promising alternative to uncover this complex genetic architecture. In the current study, systems genetics approaches were used to explore the genetic regulation of lignin traits in B. napus seeds. Four QTL (qLignin_A09_1, qLignin_A09_2, qLignin_A09_3, and qLignin_C08) distributed on two chromosomes were identified for lignin content. The qLignin_A09_2 and qLignin_C08 loci were homologous QTL from the A and C subgenomes, respectively. Genome-wide gene regulatory network analysis identified eighty-three subnetworks (or modules); and three modules with 910 genes in total, were associated with lignin content, which was confirmed by network QTL analysis. eQTL (expression quantitative trait loci) analysis revealed four cis-eQTL genes including lignin and flavonoid pathway genes, cinnamoyl-CoA-reductase (CCR1), and TRANSPARENT TESTA genes TT4, TT6, TT8, as causal genes. The findings validated the power of systems genetics to identify causal regulatory networks and genes underlying complex traits. Moreover, this information may enable the research community to explore new breeding strategies, such as network selection or gene engineering, to rewire networks to develop climate resilience crops with better seed quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Zhang
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council of Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Erin E. Higgins
- Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Stephen J. Robinson
- Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Wayne E. Clarke
- Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Kerry Boyle
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council of Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Andrew G. Sharpe
- Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Pierre R. Fobert
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Isobel A. P. Parkin
- Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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3
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Mullins E, Bresson J, Dalmay T, Dewhurst IC, Epstein MM, Firbank LG, Guerche P, Hejatko J, Moreno FJ, Naegeli H, Nogué F, Rostoks N, Sánchez Serrano JJ, Savoini G, Veromann E, Veronesi F, Ardizzone M, Camargo AM, De Sanctis G, Federici S, Fernandez A, Gennaro A, Gómez Ruiz JÁ, Goumperis T, Grammatikou P, Kagkli DM, Lenzi P, Neri FM, Papadopoulou N, Raffaello T. Assessment of genetically modified maize DP202216 for food and feed uses, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSA-GMO-NL-2019-159). EFSA J 2024; 22:e8655. [PMID: 38510324 PMCID: PMC10952026 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetically modified maize DP202216 was developed to confer tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium-containing herbicides and to provide an opportunity for yield enhancement under field conditions. These properties were achieved by introducing the mo-pat and zmm28 expression cassettes. The molecular characterisation data and bioinformatic analyses do not identify issues requiring food/feed safety assessment. None of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic and compositional characteristics tested between maize DP202216 and its comparator needs further assessment, except for the levels of stearic acid (C18:0), which do not raise nutritional and safety concerns. The GMO Panel does not identify safety concerns regarding the toxicity and allergenicity of the PAT and ZMM28 proteins as expressed in maize DP202216, and finds no evidence that the genetic modification would change the overall allergenicity of maize DP202216. In the context of this application, the consumption of food and feed from maize DP202216 does not represent a nutritional concern in humans and animals. The GMO Panel concludes that maize DP202216 is as safe as the comparator and non-GM reference varieties tested, and no post-market monitoring of food/feed is considered necessary. In the case of accidental release of viable maize DP202216 grains into the environment, this would not raise environmental safety concerns. The post-market environmental monitoring plan and reporting intervals are in line with the intended uses of maize DP202216. The GMO Panel concludes that maize DP202216 is as safe as its comparator and the tested non-GM reference varieties with respect to potential effects on human and animal health and the environment.
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4
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Yaschenko AE, Alonso JM, Stepanova AN. Arabidopsis as a model for translational research. THE PLANT CELL 2024:koae065. [PMID: 38411602 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Arabidopsis thaliana is currently the most-studied plant species on earth, with an unprecedented number of genetic, genomic, and molecular resources having been generated in this plant model. In the era of translating foundational discoveries to crops and beyond, we aimed to highlight the utility and challenges of using Arabidopsis as a reference for applied plant biology research, agricultural innovation, biotechnology, and medicine. We hope that this review will inspire the next generation of plant biologists to continue leveraging Arabidopsis as a robust and convenient experimental system to address fundamental and applied questions in biology. We aim to encourage lab and field scientists alike to take advantage of the vast Arabidopsis datasets, annotations, germplasm, constructs, methods, molecular and computational tools in our pursuit to advance understanding of plant biology and help feed the world's growing population. We envision that the power of Arabidopsis-inspired biotechnologies and foundational discoveries will continue to fuel the development of resilient, high-yielding, nutritious plants for the betterment of plant and animal health and greater environmental sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Yaschenko
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Jose M Alonso
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Anna N Stepanova
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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5
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Sun Y, Xie X, Jiang CJ. Antioxidant Agriculture for Stress-Resilient Crop Production: Field Practice. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:164. [PMID: 38397762 PMCID: PMC10885882 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13020164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress, resulting from the excessive production of reactive oxygen species, is a common and major cause of cellular damage in plants exposed to various abiotic stresses. To address this challenge, we introduce the concept of antioxidant agriculture as a comprehensive strategy to improve stress tolerance and thus crop productivity by minimizing oxidative stress levels in the field environment. This strategy encompasses a diverse range of approaches, including genetic engineering, the exogenous application of antioxidant agents, microbial inoculation, and agronomic practices, to reinforce the plant's intrinsic antioxidant defense system and mitigate oxidative stress. We present recent successful studies of antioxidant measures that have been validated in field conditions, along with our perspective on achieving antioxidant agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chang-Jie Jiang
- Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (Y.S.); (X.X.)
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6
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Kirov I. Toward Transgene-Free Transposon-Mediated Biological Mutagenesis for Plant Breeding. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17054. [PMID: 38069377 PMCID: PMC10706983 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242317054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity is a key factor for plant breeding. The birth of novel genic and genomic variants is also crucial for plant adaptation in nature. Therefore, the genomes of almost all living organisms possess natural mutagenic mechanisms. Transposable elements (TEs) are a major mutagenic force driving genetic diversity in wild plants and modern crops. The relatively rare TE transposition activity during the thousand-year crop domestication process has led to the phenotypic diversity of many cultivated species. The utilization of TE mutagenesis by artificial and transient acceleration of their activity in a controlled mode is an attractive foundation for a novel type of mutagenesis called TE-mediated biological mutagenesis. Here, I focus on TEs as mutagenic sources for plant breeding and discuss existing and emerging transgene-free approaches for TE activation in plants. Furthermore, I also review the non-randomness of TE insertions in a plant genome and the molecular and epigenetic factors involved in shaping TE insertion preferences. Additionally, I discuss the molecular mechanisms that prevent TE transpositions in germline plant cells (e.g., meiocytes, pollen, egg and embryo cells, and shoot apical meristem), thereby reducing the chances of TE insertion inheritance. Knowledge of these mechanisms can expand the TE activation toolbox using novel gene targeting approaches. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of plant populations with induced novel TE insertions (iTE plant collections) are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya Kirov
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, 127550 Moscow, Russia;
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
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7
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Oliveira-Filho ER, Voiniciuc C, Hanson AD. Adapting enzymes to improve their functionality in plants: why and how. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1957-1966. [PMID: 37787016 PMCID: PMC10657173 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology creates new metabolic processes and improves existing ones using engineered or natural enzymes. These enzymes are often sourced from cells that differ from those in the target plant organ with respect to, e.g. redox potential, effector levels, or proteostasis machinery. Non-native enzymes may thus need to be adapted to work well in their new plant context ('plantized') even if their specificity and kinetics in vitro are adequate. Hence there are two distinct ways in which an enzyme destined for use in plants can require improvement: In catalytic properties such as substrate and product specificity, kcat, and KM; and in general compatibility with the milieu of cells that express the enzyme. Continuous directed evolution systems can deliver both types of improvement and are so far the most broadly effective way to deliver the second type. Accordingly, in this review we provide a short account of continuous evolution methods, emphasizing the yeast OrthoRep system because of its suitability for plant applications. We then cover the down-to-earth and increasingly urgent issues of which enzymes and enzyme properties can - or cannot - be improved in theory, and which in practice are the best to target for crop improvement, i.e. those that are realistically improvable and important enough to warrant deploying continuous directed evolution. We take horticultural crops as examples because of the opportunities they present and to sharpen the focus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cătălin Voiniciuc
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | - Andrew D. Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
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8
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Djabali Y, Rincent R, Martin ML, Blein-Nicolas M. Plasticity QTLs specifically contribute to the genotype × water availability interaction in maize. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2023; 136:228. [PMID: 37855950 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04458-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Multi-trial genome wide association study of plasticity indices allow to detect QTLs specifically involved in the genotype x water availability interaction. Concerns regarding high maize yield losses due to increasing occurrences of drought events are growing, and breeders are still looking for molecular markers for drought tolerance. However, the genetic determinism of traits in response to drought is highly complex and identification of causal regions is a tremendous task. Here, we exploit the phenotypic data obtained from four trials carried out on a phenotyping platform, where a diversity panel of 254 maize hybrids was grown under well-watered and water deficit conditions, to investigate the genetic bases of the drought response in maize. To dissociate drought effect from other environmental factors, we performed multi-trial genome-wide association study on well-watered and water deficit phenotypic means, and on phenotypic plasticity indices computed from measurements made for six ecophysiological traits. We identify 102 QTLs and 40 plasticity QTLs. Most of them were new compared to those obtained from a previous study on the same dataset. Our results show that plasticity QTLs cover genetic regions not identified by QTLs. Furthermore, for all ecophysiological traits, except one, plasticity QTLs are specifically involved in the genotype by water availability interaction, for which they explain between 60 and 100% of the variance. Altogether, QTLs and plasticity QTLs captured more than 75% of the genotype by water availability interaction variance, and allowed to find new genetic regions. Overall, our results demonstrate the importance of considering phenotypic plasticity to decipher the genetic architecture of trait response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yacine Djabali
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université de Paris Cité, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, CNRS, AgroParisTech, GQE-Le Moulon, 91190, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Renaud Rincent
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, CNRS, AgroParisTech, GQE-Le Moulon, 91190, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie-Laure Martin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
- Université de Paris Cité, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
- Université Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, INRAE, UMR MIA Paris-Saclay, 91120, Palaiseau, France.
| | - Mélisande Blein-Nicolas
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, CNRS, AgroParisTech, GQE-Le Moulon, 91190, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France.
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9
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Rahmati Ishka M, Julkowska M. Tapping into the plasticity of plant architecture for increased stress resilience. F1000Res 2023; 12:1257. [PMID: 38434638 PMCID: PMC10905174 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.140649.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant architecture develops post-embryonically and emerges from a dialogue between the developmental signals and environmental cues. Length and branching of the vegetative and reproductive tissues were the focus of improvement of plant performance from the early days of plant breeding. Current breeding priorities are changing, as we need to prioritize plant productivity under increasingly challenging environmental conditions. While it has been widely recognized that plant architecture changes in response to the environment, its contribution to plant productivity in the changing climate remains to be fully explored. This review will summarize prior discoveries of genetic control of plant architecture traits and their effect on plant performance under environmental stress. We review new tools in phenotyping that will guide future discoveries of genes contributing to plant architecture, its plasticity, and its contributions to stress resilience. Subsequently, we provide a perspective into how integrating the study of new species, modern phenotyping techniques, and modeling can lead to discovering new genetic targets underlying the plasticity of plant architecture and stress resilience. Altogether, this review provides a new perspective on the plasticity of plant architecture and how it can be harnessed for increased performance under environmental stress.
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10
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Dun EA, Brewer PB, Gillam EMJ, Beveridge CA. Strigolactones and Shoot Branching: What Is the Real Hormone and How Does It Work? PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 64:967-983. [PMID: 37526426 PMCID: PMC10504579 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
There have been substantial advances in our understanding of many aspects of strigolactone regulation of branching since the discovery of strigolactones as phytohormones. These include further insights into the network of phytohormones and other signals that regulate branching, as well as deep insights into strigolactone biosynthesis, metabolism, transport, perception and downstream signaling. In this review, we provide an update on recent advances in our understanding of how the strigolactone pathway co-ordinately and dynamically regulates bud outgrowth and pose some important outstanding questions that are yet to be resolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Dun
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Philip B Brewer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Waite Research Institute, School of Agriculture Food & Wine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Elizabeth M J Gillam
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christine A Beveridge
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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11
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Khaipho-Burch M, Cooper M, Crossa J, de Leon N, Holland J, Lewis R, McCouch S, Murray SC, Rabbi I, Ronald P, Ross-Ibarra J, Weigel D, Buckler ES. Genetic modification can improve crop yields - but stop overselling it. Nature 2023; 621:470-473. [PMID: 37773222 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02895-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
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12
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Chawla R, Poonia A, Samantara K, Mohapatra SR, Naik SB, Ashwath MN, Djalovic IG, Prasad PVV. Green revolution to genome revolution: driving better resilient crops against environmental instability. Front Genet 2023; 14:1204585. [PMID: 37719711 PMCID: PMC10500607 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1204585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Crop improvement programmes began with traditional breeding practices since the inception of agriculture. Farmers and plant breeders continue to use these strategies for crop improvement due to their broad application in modifying crop genetic compositions. Nonetheless, conventional breeding has significant downsides in regard to effort and time. Crop productivity seems to be hitting a plateau as a consequence of environmental issues and the scarcity of agricultural land. Therefore, continuous pursuit of advancement in crop improvement is essential. Recent technical innovations have resulted in a revolutionary shift in the pattern of breeding methods, leaning further towards molecular approaches. Among the promising approaches, marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, omics-assisted breeding, genome-wide association studies and genome editing have lately gained prominence. Several governments have progressively relaxed their restrictions relating to genome editing. The present review highlights the evolutionary and revolutionary approaches that have been utilized for crop improvement in a bid to produce climate-resilient crops observing the consequence of climate change. Additionally, it will contribute to the comprehension of plant breeding succession so far. Investing in advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics will deepen our understanding of genetic variations and their functional implications, contributing to breakthroughs in crop improvement and biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukoo Chawla
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Atman Poonia
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Bawal, Haryana, India
| | - Kajal Samantara
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sourav Ranjan Mohapatra
- Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - S. Balaji Naik
- Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems, University of Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - M. N. Ashwath
- Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Ivica G. Djalovic
- Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - P. V. Vara Prasad
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
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13
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Marla S, Felderhoff T, Hayes C, Perumal R, Wang X, Poland J, Morris GP. Genomics and phenomics enabled prebreeding improved early-season chilling tolerance in Sorghum. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad116. [PMID: 37232400 PMCID: PMC10411554 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In temperate climates, earlier planting of tropical-origin crops can provide longer growing seasons, reduce water loss, suppress weeds, and escape post-flowering drought stress. However, chilling sensitivity of sorghum, a tropical-origin cereal crop, limits early planting, and over 50 years of conventional breeding has been stymied by coinheritance of chilling tolerance (CT) loci with undesirable tannin and dwarfing alleles. In this study, phenomics and genomics-enabled approaches were used for prebreeding of sorghum early-season CT. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) high-throughput phenotyping platform tested for improving scalability showed moderate correlation between manual and UAS phenotyping. UAS normalized difference vegetation index values from the chilling nested association mapping population detected CT quantitative trait locus (QTL) that colocalized with manual phenotyping CT QTL. Two of the 4 first-generation Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) molecular markers, generated using the peak QTL single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), failed to function in an independent breeding program as the CT allele was common in diverse breeding lines. Population genomic fixation index analysis identified SNP CT alleles that were globally rare but common to the CT donors. Second-generation markers, generated using population genomics, were successful in tracking the donor CT allele in diverse breeding lines from 2 independent sorghum breeding programs. Marker-assisted breeding, effective in introgressing CT allele from Chinese sorghums into chilling-sensitive US elite sorghums, improved early-planted seedling performance ratings in lines with CT alleles by up to 13-24% compared to the negative control under natural chilling stress. These findings directly demonstrate the effectiveness of high-throughput phenotyping and population genomics in molecular breeding of complex adaptive traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Marla
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Terry Felderhoff
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Chad Hayes
- USDA-ARS, Plant Stress & Germplasm Development Unit, Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, Lubbock, TX 79415, USA
| | - Ramasamy Perumal
- Western Kansas Agricultural Research Center, Kansas State University, Hays, KS 67601, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Wimauma, FL 33598, USA
| | - Jesse Poland
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Geoffrey P Morris
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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14
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Wu A. Modelling plants across scales of biological organisation for guiding crop improvement. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2023; 50:435-454. [PMID: 37105931 DOI: 10.1071/fp23010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Grain yield improvement in globally important staple crops is critical in the coming decades if production is to keep pace with growing demand; so there is increasing interest in understanding and manipulating plant growth and developmental traits for better crop productivity. However, this is confounded by complex cross-scale feedback regulations and a limited ability to evaluate the consequences of manipulation on crop production. Plant/crop modelling could hold the key to deepening our understanding of dynamic trait-crop-environment interactions and predictive capabilities for supporting genetic manipulation. Using photosynthesis and crop growth as an example, this review summarises past and present experimental and modelling work, bringing about a model-guided crop improvement thrust, encompassing research into: (1) advancing cross-scale plant/crop modelling that connects across biological scales of organisation using a trait dissection-integration modelling principle; (2) improving the reliability of predicted molecular-trait-crop-environment system dynamics with experimental validation; and (3) innovative model application in synergy with cross-scale experimentation to evaluate G×M×E and predict yield outcomes of genetic intervention (or lack of it) for strategising further molecular and breeding efforts. The possible future roles of cross-scale plant/crop modelling in maximising crop improvement are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Wu
- Centre for Crop Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
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15
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Verslues PE, Bailey-Serres J, Brodersen C, Buckley TN, Conti L, Christmann A, Dinneny JR, Grill E, Hayes S, Heckman RW, Hsu PK, Juenger TE, Mas P, Munnik T, Nelissen H, Sack L, Schroeder JI, Testerink C, Tyerman SD, Umezawa T, Wigge PA. Burning questions for a warming and changing world: 15 unknowns in plant abiotic stress. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:67-108. [PMID: 36018271 PMCID: PMC9806664 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
We present unresolved questions in plant abiotic stress biology as posed by 15 research groups with expertise spanning eco-physiology to cell and molecular biology. Common themes of these questions include the need to better understand how plants detect water availability, temperature, salinity, and rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels; how environmental signals interface with endogenous signaling and development (e.g. circadian clock and flowering time); and how this integrated signaling controls downstream responses (e.g. stomatal regulation, proline metabolism, and growth versus defense balance). The plasma membrane comes up frequently as a site of key signaling and transport events (e.g. mechanosensing and lipid-derived signaling, aquaporins). Adaptation to water extremes and rising CO2 affects hydraulic architecture and transpiration, as well as root and shoot growth and morphology, in ways not fully understood. Environmental adaptation involves tradeoffs that limit ecological distribution and crop resilience in the face of changing and increasingly unpredictable environments. Exploration of plant diversity within and among species can help us know which of these tradeoffs represent fundamental limits and which ones can be circumvented by bringing new trait combinations together. Better defining what constitutes beneficial stress resistance in different contexts and making connections between genes and phenotypes, and between laboratory and field observations, are overarching challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Bailey-Serres
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Craig Brodersen
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA
| | - Thomas N Buckley
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Lucio Conti
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Alexander Christmann
- School of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan 85354, Germany
| | - José R Dinneny
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Erwin Grill
- School of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan 85354, Germany
| | - Scott Hayes
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Robert W Heckman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Po-Kai Hsu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Thomas E Juenger
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Paloma Mas
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Barcelona 08193, Spain
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Teun Munnik
- Department of Plant Cell Biology, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam NL-1098XH, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Julian I Schroeder
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Christa Testerink
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen D Tyerman
- ARC Center Excellence, Plant Energy Biology, School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | - Taishi Umezawa
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 6708 PB, Japan
| | - Philip A Wigge
- Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau, Großbeeren 14979, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam 14476, Germany
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16
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Cooper M, Messina CD. Breeding crops for drought-affected environments and improved climate resilience. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:162-186. [PMID: 36370076 PMCID: PMC9806606 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Breeding climate-resilient crops with improved levels of abiotic and biotic stress resistance as a response to climate change presents both opportunities and challenges. Applying the framework of the "breeder's equation," which is used to predict the response to selection for a breeding program cycle, we review methodologies and strategies that have been used to successfully breed crops with improved levels of drought resistance, where the target population of environments (TPEs) is a spatially and temporally heterogeneous mixture of drought-affected and favorable (water-sufficient) environments. Long-term improvement of temperate maize for the US corn belt is used as a case study and compared with progress for other crops and geographies. Integration of trait information across scales, from genomes to ecosystems, is needed to accurately predict yield outcomes for genotypes within the current and future TPEs. This will require transdisciplinary teams to explore, identify, and exploit novel opportunities to accelerate breeding program outcomes; both improved germplasm resources and improved products (cultivars, hybrids, clones, and populations) that outperform and replace the products in use by farmers, in combination with modified agronomic management strategies suited to their local environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos D Messina
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
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17
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Bowerman AF, Byrt CS, Roy SJ, Whitney SM, Mortimer JC, Ankeny RA, Gilliham M, Zhang D, Millar AA, Rebetzke GJ, Pogson BJ. Potential abiotic stress targets for modern genetic manipulation. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:139-161. [PMID: 36377770 PMCID: PMC9806601 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Research into crop yield and resilience has underpinned global food security, evident in yields tripling in the past 5 decades. The challenges that global agriculture now faces are not just to feed 10+ billion people within a generation, but to do so under a harsher, more variable, and less predictable climate, and in many cases with less water, more expensive inputs, and declining soil quality. The challenges of climate change are not simply to breed for a "hotter drier climate," but to enable resilience to floods and droughts and frosts and heat waves, possibly even within a single growing season. How well we prepare for the coming decades of climate variability will depend on our ability to modify current practices, innovate with novel breeding methods, and communicate and work with farming communities to ensure viability and profitability. Here we define how future climates will impact farming systems and growing seasons, thereby identifying the traits and practices needed and including exemplars being implemented and developed. Critically, this review will also consider societal perspectives and public engagement about emerging technologies for climate resilience, with participatory approaches presented as the best approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Bowerman
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Caitlin S Byrt
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Stuart John Roy
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Spencer M Whitney
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Jenny C Mortimer
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Rachel A Ankeny
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Humanities, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, South Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew Gilliham
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dabing Zhang
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Anthony A Millar
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Greg J Rebetzke
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Barry J Pogson
- ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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18
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Lorenzo CD, Debray K, Herwegh D, Develtere W, Impens L, Schaumont D, Vandeputte W, Aesaert S, Coussens G, De Boe Y, Demuynck K, Van Hautegem T, Pauwels L, Jacobs TB, Ruttink T, Nelissen H, Inzé D. BREEDIT: a multiplex genome editing strategy to improve complex quantitative traits in maize. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:218-238. [PMID: 36066192 PMCID: PMC9806654 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Ensuring food security for an ever-growing global population while adapting to climate change is the main challenge for agriculture in the 21st century. Although new technologies are being applied to tackle this problem, we are approaching a plateau in crop improvement using conventional breeding. Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene engineering have paved the way to accelerate plant breeding to meet this increasing demand. However, many traits are governed by multiple small-effect genes operating in complex interactive networks. Here, we present the gene discovery pipeline BREEDIT, which combines multiplex genome editing of whole gene families with crossing schemes to improve complex traits such as yield and drought tolerance. We induced gene knockouts in 48 growth-related genes into maize (Zea mays) using CRISPR/Cas9 and generated a collection of over 1,000 gene-edited plants. The edited populations displayed (on average) 5%-10% increases in leaf length and up to 20% increases in leaf width compared with the controls. For each gene family, edits in subsets of genes could be associated with enhanced traits, allowing us to reduce the gene space to be considered for trait improvement. BREEDIT could be rapidly applied to generate a diverse collection of mutants to identify promising gene modifications for later use in breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Denia Herwegh
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Ward Develtere
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Lennert Impens
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Dries Schaumont
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Wout Vandeputte
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Stijn Aesaert
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Griet Coussens
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Yara De Boe
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Kirin Demuynck
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Tom Van Hautegem
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Thomas B Jacobs
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Tom Ruttink
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
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19
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Hernandes-Lopes J, Yassitepe JEDCT, Koltun A, Pauwels L, Silva VCHD, Dante RA, Gerhardt IR, Arruda P. Genome editing in maize: Toward improving complex traits in a global crop. Genet Mol Biol 2023; 46:e20220217. [PMID: 36880696 PMCID: PMC9990078 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2022-0217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in genome editing have enormously enhanced the effort to develop biotechnology crops for more sustainable food production. CRISPR/Cas, the most versatile genome-editing tool, has shown the potential to create genome modifications that range from gene knockout and gene expression pattern modulations to allele-specific changes in order to design superior genotypes harboring multiple improved agronomic traits. However, a frequent bottleneck is the delivery of CRISPR/Cas to crops that are less amenable to transformation and regeneration. Several technologies have recently been proposed to overcome transformation recalcitrance, including HI-Edit/IMGE and ectopic/transient expression of genes encoding morphogenic regulators. These technologies allow the eroding of the barriers that make crops inaccessible for genome editing. In this review, we discuss the advances in genome editing in crops with a particular focus on the use of technologies to improve complex traits such as water use efficiency, drought stress, and yield in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Hernandes-Lopes
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Erika de Carvalho Teixeira Yassitepe
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Embrapa Agricultura Digital, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Koltun
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB, Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Viviane Cristina Heinzen da Silva
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Augusto Dante
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Embrapa Agricultura Digital, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabel Rodrigues Gerhardt
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Embrapa Agricultura Digital, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo Arruda
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia e Evolução, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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20
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Wang Y, Tang Q, Pu L, Zhang H, Li X. CRISPR-Cas technology opens a new era for the creation of novel maize germplasms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1049803. [PMID: 36589095 PMCID: PMC9800880 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1049803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most important food crops in the world with the greatest global production, and contributes to satiating the demands for human food, animal feed, and biofuels. With population growth and deteriorating environment, efficient and innovative breeding strategies to develop maize varieties with high yield and stress resistance are urgently needed to augment global food security and sustainable agriculture. CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome-editing technology (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas (CRISPR-associated)) has emerged as an effective and powerful tool for plant science and crop improvement, and is likely to accelerate crop breeding in ways dissimilar to crossbreeding and transgenic technologies. In this review, we summarize the current applications and prospects of CRISPR-Cas technology in maize gene-function studies and the generation of new germplasm for increased yield, specialty corns, plant architecture, stress response, haploid induction, and male sterility. Optimization of gene editing and genetic transformation systems for maize is also briefly reviewed. Lastly, the challenges and new opportunities that arise with the use of the CRISPR-Cas technology for maize genetic improvement are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhua Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoling Tang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Pu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haiwen Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinhai Li
- Institute of Crop Sciences/National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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21
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Kerwin RE, Dubois M. A common language: Cross-species network analysis reveals growth regulators. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:2069-2071. [PMID: 36086956 PMCID: PMC9706460 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marieke Dubois
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
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22
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Curci PL, Zhang J, Mähler N, Seyfferth C, Mannapperuma C, Diels T, Van Hautegem T, Jonsen D, Street N, Hvidsten TR, Hertzberg M, Nilsson O, Inzé D, Nelissen H, Vandepoele K. Identification of growth regulators using cross-species network analysis in plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:2350-2365. [PMID: 35984294 PMCID: PMC9706488 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
With the need to increase plant productivity, one of the challenges plant scientists are facing is to identify genes that play a role in beneficial plant traits. Moreover, even when such genes are found, it is generally not trivial to transfer this knowledge about gene function across species to identify functional orthologs. Here, we focused on the leaf to study plant growth. First, we built leaf growth transcriptional networks in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), maize (Zea mays), and aspen (Populus tremula). Next, known growth regulators, here defined as genes that when mutated or ectopically expressed alter plant growth, together with cross-species conserved networks, were used as guides to predict novel Arabidopsis growth regulators. Using an in-depth literature screening, 34 out of 100 top predicted growth regulators were confirmed to affect leaf phenotype when mutated or overexpressed and thus represent novel potential growth regulators. Globally, these growth regulators were involved in cell cycle, plant defense responses, gibberellin, auxin, and brassinosteroid signaling. Phenotypic characterization of loss-of-function lines confirmed two predicted growth regulators to be involved in leaf growth (NPF6.4 and LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY2). In conclusion, the presented network approach offers an integrative cross-species strategy to identify genes involved in plant growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Luca Curci
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Niklas Mähler
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Carolin Seyfferth
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Chanaka Mannapperuma
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Tim Diels
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Van Hautegem
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - David Jonsen
- SweTree Technologies AB, Skogsmarksgränd 7, SE-907 36 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nathaniel Street
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Torgeir R Hvidsten
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Magnus Hertzberg
- SweTree Technologies AB, Skogsmarksgränd 7, SE-907 36 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ove Nilsson
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Klaas Vandepoele
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
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23
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Dubois M. KUFfed by drought: A KARRIKIN-upregulated F-box protein compromises plant growth and survival under drought. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:2087-2089. [PMID: 36063030 PMCID: PMC9706421 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
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24
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Ren H, Liu M, Zhang J, Liu P, Liu C. Effects of agronomic traits and climatic factors on yield and yield stability of summer maize ( Zea mays L) in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1050064. [PMID: 36457517 PMCID: PMC9707337 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1050064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Zhengdan 958 (ZD958) is the summer maize variety with the widest planting area in Huang-Huai-Hai plain in the past 20 years. Understanding the agronomic characteristics of maize and its adaptability to climatic factors is of great significance for breeding maize varieties with high yield and stability. In this study, the experimental data of 33 experimental stations from 2005 to 2015 were analyzed to clarify the effects of different agronomic traits on yield and the correlation between agronomic traits, and to understand the effects of different climatic factors on summer maize yield and agronomic traits. The results showed that the average yield of ZD958 was 9.20 t ha-1, and the yield variation coefficient was 13.41%. There was a certainly negative correlation between high yield and high stability. Plant heights, ear heights, double ear rate, ear length, ear rows, line grain number, grain number per ear, ear diameter, cob diameter, and 1000 grains weight were significantly positive correlation with maize yield. Solar radiation before and after silking were significantly positive correlation with maize yield. Path analysis showed that changes in agronomic traits accounted for 54% of the yield variation, and changes in climate factors accounted for 26% of the yield variation. Our study showed that higher plant height, ear height, grain number per ear and 1000-grain weight, lower lodging rate, pour the discount rate and shorter bald tip long were the main reasons for high yield. Among the climatic factors, solar radiation and the lowest temperature have significant effects on the yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Ren
- College of Agronomy, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
| | - Mingyu Liu
- College of Agronomy, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
| | - Jibo Zhang
- Shandong Climate Center, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Peng Liu
- College of Agronomy, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
| | - Cunhui Liu
- Shandong Seed Administration Station, Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, Shandong, China
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25
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Wang Y, Tang Q, Kang Y, Wang X, Zhang H, Li X. Analysis of the Utilization and Prospects of CRISPR-Cas Technology in the Annotation of Gene Function and Creation New Germplasm in Maize Based on Patent Data. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213471. [PMID: 36359866 PMCID: PMC9657720 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a food crop with the largest planting area and the highest yield in the world, and it plays a vital role in ensuring global food security. Conventional breeding methods are costly, time-consuming, and ineffective in maize breeding. In recent years, CRISPR-Cas editing technology has been used to quickly generate new varieties with high yield and improved grain quality and stress resistance by precisely modifying key genes involved in specific traits, thus becoming a new engine for promoting crop breeding and the competitiveness of seed industries. Using CRISPR-Cas, a range of new maize materials with high yield, improved grain quality, ideal plant type and flowering period, male sterility, and stress resistance have been created. Moreover, many patents have been filed worldwide, reflecting the huge practical application prospects and commercial value. Based on the existing patent data, we analyzed the development process, current status, and prospects of CRISPR-Cas technology in dissecting gene function and creating new germplasm in maize, providing information for future basic research and commercial production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhua Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qiaoling Tang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yuli Kang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xujing Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Haiwen Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Xinhai Li
- Institute of Crop Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (X.L.)
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26
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Inzé D, Nelissen H. The translatability of genetic networks from model to crop species: lessons from the past and perspectives for the future. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:43-48. [PMID: 35801919 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Comparative analyses of growth-regulatory mechanisms between Arabidopsis and maize revealed that even when the gene space is conserved, the translation of knowledge from model species to crops is not trivial. Based on these insights, we formulate future opportunities to improve the interpretation of curiosity-driven research towards crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
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27
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Roeder AHK, Otegui MS, Dixit R, Anderson CT, Faulkner C, Zhang Y, Harrison MJ, Kirchhelle C, Goshima G, Coate JE, Doyle JJ, Hamant O, Sugimoto K, Dolan L, Meyer H, Ehrhardt DW, Boudaoud A, Messina C. Fifteen compelling open questions in plant cell biology. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:72-102. [PMID: 34529074 PMCID: PMC8774073 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
As scientists, we are at least as excited about the open questions-the things we do not know-as the discoveries. Here, we asked 15 experts to describe the most compelling open questions in plant cell biology. These are their questions: How are organelle identity, domains, and boundaries maintained under the continuous flux of vesicle trafficking and membrane remodeling? Is the plant cortical microtubule cytoskeleton a mechanosensory apparatus? How are the cellular pathways of cell wall synthesis, assembly, modification, and integrity sensing linked in plants? Why do plasmodesmata open and close? Is there retrograde signaling from vacuoles to the nucleus? How do root cells accommodate fungal endosymbionts? What is the role of cell edges in plant morphogenesis? How is the cell division site determined? What are the emergent effects of polyploidy on the biology of the cell, and how are any such "rules" conditioned by cell type? Can mechanical forces trigger new cell fates in plants? How does a single differentiated somatic cell reprogram and gain pluripotency? How does polarity develop de-novo in isolated plant cells? What is the spectrum of cellular functions for membraneless organelles and intrinsically disordered proteins? How do plants deal with internal noise? How does order emerge in cells and propagate to organs and organisms from complex dynamical processes? We hope you find the discussions of these questions thought provoking and inspiring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marisa S Otegui
- Department of Botany and Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Ram Dixit
- Department of Biology and Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University in St Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
| | - Charles T Anderson
- Department of Biology and Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Christine Faulkner
- Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
| | | | - Charlotte Kirchhelle
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
- Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, UCBL, INRAE, CNRS, Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Gohta Goshima
- Sugashima Marine Biological Laboratory, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Jeremy E Coate
- Department of Biology, Reed College, Portland, Oregon 97202, USA
| | - Jeff J Doyle
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Section of Plant Biology and Section of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Olivier Hamant
- Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, UCBL, INRAE, CNRS, Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Keiko Sugimoto
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Liam Dolan
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology GmbH, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Heather Meyer
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - David W Ehrhardt
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Arezki Boudaoud
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau Cedex 91128 France
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28
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Kerchev PI, Van Breusegem F. Improving oxidative stress resilience in plants. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:359-372. [PMID: 34519111 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Originally conceived as harmful metabolic byproducts, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are now recognized as an integral part of numerous cellular programs. Thanks to their diverse physicochemical properties, compartmentalized production, and tight control exerted by the antioxidant machinery they activate signaling pathways that govern plant growth, development, and defense. Excessive ROS levels are often driven by adverse changes in environmental conditions, ultimately causing oxidative stress. The associated negative impact on cellular constituents have been a major focus of decade-long research efforts to improve the oxidative stress resilience by boosting the antioxidant machinery in model and crop species. We highlight the role of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants as integral factors of multiple signaling cascades beyond their mere function to prevent oxidative damage under adverse abiotic stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel I Kerchev
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Frank Van Breusegem
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Gent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Gent, Belgium
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29
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Berrío RT, Nelissen H, Inzé D, Dubois M. Increasing yield on dry fields: molecular pathways with growing potential. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:323-341. [PMID: 34695266 PMCID: PMC7612350 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15550] [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: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Drought stress constitutes one of the major constraints to agriculture all over the world, and its devastating effect is only expected to increase in the following years due to climate change. Concurrently, the increasing food demand in a steadily growing population requires a proportional increase in yield and crop production. In the past, research aimed to increase plant resilience to severe drought stress. However, this often resulted in stunted growth and reduced yield under favorable conditions or moderate drought. Nowadays, drought tolerance research aims to maintain plant growth and yield under drought conditions. Overall, recently deployed strategies to engineer drought tolerance in the lab can be classified into a 'growth-centered' strategy, which focuses on keeping growth unaffected by the drought stress, and a 'drought resilience without growth penalty' strategy, in which the main aim is still to boost drought resilience, while limiting the side effects on plant growth. In this review, we put the scope on these two strategies and some molecular players that were successfully engineered to generate drought-tolerant plants: abscisic acid, brassinosteroids, cytokinins, ethylene, ROS scavenging genes, strigolactones, and aquaporins. We discuss how these pathways participate in growth and stress response regulation under drought. Finally, we present an overview of the current insights and future perspectives in the development of new strategies to improve drought tolerance in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Tenorio Berrío
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Corresponding Author: Dirk Inzé VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology Technologiepark 71 B-9052 Ghent (Belgium) Tel.: +32 9 3313800; Fax: +32 9 3313809;
| | - Marieke Dubois
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
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30
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Paul MJ. What are the regulatory targets for intervention in assimilate partitioning to improve crop yield and resilience? JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 266:153537. [PMID: 34619557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sucrose utilisation for the synthesis of cellular components involved in growth and development and the accumulation of biomass determines diversity in the plant kingdom; sucrose utilisation and partitioning also underpin crop yields. As a complex process the use of sucrose for the partitioning of plant products for yield is decided by the interaction of several regulatory hubs and the integration of metabolism and development. Understanding the regulation of assimilate partitioning has been a grand challenge in plant and crop science. There are emerging examples of genes and processes that appear important for assimilate partitioning that underpin yield in crops and which are amenable to intervention. Enzymes of carbon metabolism were some of the first targets in attempts to modify assimilate partitioning at the beginning (source) and end (sink) of the whole plant assimilate partitioning process. Metabolic enzymes are subject to regulatory and homeostatic mechanisms, a key factor to consider in modifying assimilate partitioning. Trehalose 6-phosphate, as a sucrose signal, may represent a special case in its ability to regulate and coordinate source and sink processes. This review summarises recent progress in understanding the underlying regulators of assimilate partitioning and the current and potentially most promising routes to crop yield enhancement with a main focus on cereals. A framework for how source-sink may regulate whole plant assimilate partitioning involving a few key elements and the central importance of reproductive development is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Paul
- Plant Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK.
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31
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Yassitepe JEDCT, da Silva VCH, Hernandes-Lopes J, Dante RA, Gerhardt IR, Fernandes FR, da Silva PA, Vieira LR, Bonatti V, Arruda P. Maize Transformation: From Plant Material to the Release of Genetically Modified and Edited Varieties. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:766702. [PMID: 34721493 PMCID: PMC8553389 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.766702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, advances in plant biotechnology have allowed the development of genetically modified maize varieties that have significantly impacted agricultural management and improved the grain yield worldwide. To date, genetically modified varieties represent 30% of the world's maize cultivated area and incorporate traits such as herbicide, insect and disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, high yield, and improved nutritional quality. Maize transformation, which is a prerequisite for genetically modified maize development, is no longer a major bottleneck. Protocols using morphogenic regulators have evolved significantly towards increasing transformation frequency and genotype independence. Emerging technologies using either stable or transient expression and tissue culture-independent methods, such as direct genome editing using RNA-guided endonuclease system as an in vivo desired-target mutator, simultaneous double haploid production and editing/haploid-inducer-mediated genome editing, and pollen transformation, are expected to lead significant progress in maize biotechnology. This review summarises the significant advances in maize transformation protocols, technologies, and applications and discusses the current status, including a pipeline for trait development and regulatory issues related to current and future genetically modified and genetically edited maize varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Erika de Carvalho Teixeira Yassitepe
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Viviane Cristina Heinzen da Silva
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - José Hernandes-Lopes
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Augusto Dante
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Isabel Rodrigues Gerhardt
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Rausch Fernandes
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Priscila Alves da Silva
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Leticia Rios Vieira
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Bonatti
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Paulo Arruda
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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32
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Abstract
Plants cannot move, so they must endure abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and extreme temperatures. These stressors greatly limit the distribution of plants, alter their growth and development, and reduce crop productivity. Recent progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of plants to abiotic stresses emphasizes their multilevel nature; multiple processes are involved, including sensing, signalling, transcription, transcript processing, translation and post-translational protein modifications. This improved knowledge can be used to boost crop productivity and agricultural sustainability through genetic, chemical and microbial approaches.
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33
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Paul MJ. Improving Photosynthetic Metabolism for Crop Yields: What Is Going to Work? FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:743862. [PMID: 34621287 PMCID: PMC8490674 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.743862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Paul
- Plant Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
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34
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Hammer GL, Cooper M, Reynolds MP. Plant production in water-limited environments. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:5097-5101. [PMID: 34245562 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Graeme L Hammer
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Crop Science, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Mark Cooper
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre for Crop Science, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Matthew P Reynolds
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
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35
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Technow F, Podlich D, Cooper M. Back to the future: Implications of genetic complexity for the structure of hybrid breeding programs. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:6265599. [PMID: 33950172 PMCID: PMC8495936 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Commercial hybrid breeding operations can be described as decentralized networks of smaller, more or less isolated breeding programs. There is further a tendency for the disproportionate use of successful inbred lines for generating the next generation of recombinants, which has led to a series of significant bottlenecks, particularly in the history of the North American and European maize germplasm. Both the decentralization and the disproportionate contribution of inbred lines reduce effective population size and constrain the accessible genetic space. Under these conditions, long-term response to selection is not expected to be optimal under the classical infinitesimal model of quantitative genetics. In this study, we therefore aim to propose a rationale for the success of large breeding operations in the context of genetic complexity arising from the structure and properties of interactive genetic networks. For this, we use simulations based on the NK model of genetic architecture. We indeed found that constraining genetic space through program decentralization and disproportionate contribution of parental inbred lines, is required to expose additive genetic variation and thus facilitate heritable genetic gains under high levels of genetic complexity. These results introduce new insights into why the historically grown structure of hybrid breeding programs was successful in improving the yield potential of hybrid crops over the last century. We also hope that a renewed appreciation for “why things worked” in the past can guide the adoption of novel technologies and the design of future breeding strategies for navigating biological complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Technow
- Plant Breeding, Corteva Agriscience, Tavistock, ON, N0B 2R0, Canada
| | - Dean Podlich
- Systems and Innovation for Breeding and Seed Products, Corteva Agriscience, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA
| | - Mark Cooper
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
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36
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Cooper M, Messina CD. Can We Harness "Enviromics" to Accelerate Crop Improvement by Integrating Breeding and Agronomy? FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:735143. [PMID: 34567047 PMCID: PMC8461239 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.735143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The diverse consequences of genotype-by-environment (GxE) interactions determine trait phenotypes across levels of biological organization for crops, challenging our ambition to predict trait phenotypes from genomic information alone. GxE interactions have many implications for optimizing both genetic gain through plant breeding and crop productivity through on-farm agronomic management. Advances in genomics technologies have provided many suitable predictors for the genotype dimension of GxE interactions. Emerging advances in high-throughput proximal and remote sensor technologies have stimulated the development of "enviromics" as a community of practice, which has the potential to provide suitable predictors for the environment dimension of GxE interactions. Recently, several bespoke examples have emerged demonstrating the nascent potential for enhancing the prediction of yield and other complex trait phenotypes of crop plants through including effects of GxE interactions within prediction models. These encouraging results motivate the development of new prediction methods to accelerate crop improvement. If we can automate methods to identify and harness suitable sets of coordinated genotypic and environmental predictors, this will open new opportunities to upscale and operationalize prediction of the consequences of GxE interactions. This would provide a foundation for accelerating crop improvement through integrating the contributions of both breeding and agronomy. Here we draw on our experience from improvement of maize productivity for the range of water-driven environments across the US corn-belt. We provide perspectives from the maize case study to prioritize promising opportunities to further develop and automate "enviromics" methodologies to accelerate crop improvement through integrated breeding and agronomic approaches for a wider range of crops and environmental targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Cooper
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Mark Cooper,
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