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Xu L, Hao J, Lv M, Liu P, Ge Q, Zhang S, Yang J, Niu H, Wang Y, Xue Y, Lu X, Tang J, Zheng J, Gou M. A genome-wide association study identifies genes associated with cuticular wax metabolism in maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 194:2616-2630. [PMID: 38206190 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The plant cuticle is essential in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. To systematically elucidate the genetic architecture of maize (Zea mays L.) cuticular wax metabolism, 2 cuticular wax-related traits, the chlorophyll extraction rate (CER) and water loss rate (WLR) of 389 maize inbred lines, were investigated and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using 1.25 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In total, 57 nonredundant quantitative trait loci (QTL) explaining 5.57% to 15.07% of the phenotypic variation for each QTL were identified. These QTLs contained 183 genes, among which 21 strong candidates were identified based on functional annotations and previous publications. Remarkably, 3 candidate genes that express differentially during cuticle development encode β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS). While ZmKCS19 was known to be involved in cuticle wax metabolism, ZmKCS12 and ZmKCS3 functions were not reported. The association between ZmKCS12 and WLR was confirmed by resequencing 106 inbred lines, and the variation of WLR was significant between different haplotypes of ZmKCS12. In this study, the loss-of-function mutant of ZmKCS12 exhibited wrinkled leaf morphology, altered wax crystal morphology, and decreased C32 wax monomer levels, causing an increased WLR and sensitivity to drought. These results confirm that ZmKCS12 plays a vital role in maize C32 wax monomer synthesis and is critical for drought tolerance. In sum, through GWAS of 2 cuticular wax-associated traits, this study reveals comprehensively the genetic architecture in maize cuticular wax metabolism and provides a valuable reference for the genetic improvement of stress tolerance in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- The Shennong Laboratory, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jiaxin Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Mengfan Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Peipei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Qidong Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Sainan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jianping Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Hongbin Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yiru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yadong Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xiaoduo Lu
- Institute of Advanced Agricultural Technology, Qilu Normal University, Jinan 250200, China
| | - Jihua Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- The Shennong Laboratory, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Mingyue Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- The Shennong Laboratory, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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Ma Z, Hu L, Jiang W. Understanding AP2/ERF Transcription Factor Responses and Tolerance to Various Abiotic Stresses in Plants: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:893. [PMID: 38255967 PMCID: PMC10815832 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Abiotic stress is an adverse environmental factor that severely affects plant growth and development, and plants have developed complex regulatory mechanisms to adapt to these unfavourable conditions through long-term evolution. In recent years, many transcription factor families of genes have been identified to regulate the ability of plants to respond to abiotic stresses. Among them, the AP2/ERF (APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor) family is a large class of plant-specific proteins that regulate plant response to abiotic stresses and can also play a role in regulating plant growth and development. This paper reviews the structural features and classification of AP2/ERF transcription factors that are involved in transcriptional regulation, reciprocal proteins, downstream genes, and hormone-dependent signalling and hormone-independent signalling pathways in response to abiotic stress. The AP2/ERF transcription factors can synergise with hormone signalling to form cross-regulatory networks in response to and tolerance of abiotic stresses. Many of the AP2/ERF transcription factors activate the expression of abiotic stress-responsive genes that are dependent or independent of abscisic acid and ethylene in response to abscisic acid and ethylene. In addition, the AP2/ERF transcription factors are involved in gibberellin, auxin, brassinosteroid, and cytokinin-mediated abiotic stress responses. The study of AP2/ERF transcription factors and interacting proteins, as well as the identification of their downstream target genes, can provide us with a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of plant action in response to abiotic stress, which can improve plants' ability to tolerate abiotic stress and provide a more theoretical basis for increasing plant yield under abiotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziming Ma
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China;
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Plant Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Emil Ramann Str. 4, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Lanjuan Hu
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China;
| | - Wenzhu Jiang
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China;
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Yang Z, Cao Y, Shi Y, Qin F, Jiang C, Yang S. Genetic and molecular exploration of maize environmental stress resilience: Toward sustainable agriculture. MOLECULAR PLANT 2023; 16:1496-1517. [PMID: 37464740 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change exacerbates the effects of environmental stressors, such as drought, flooding, extreme temperatures, salinity, and alkalinity, on crop growth and grain yield, threatening the sustainability of the food supply. Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most widely cultivated crops and the most abundant grain crop in production worldwide. However, the stability of maize yield is highly dependent on environmental conditions. Recently, great progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying maize responses to environmental stresses and in developing stress-resilient varieties due to advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies, multi-omics analysis platforms, and automated phenotyping facilities. In this review, we summarize recent advances in dissecting the genetic factors and networks that contribute to maize abiotic stress tolerance through diverse strategies. We also discuss future challenges and opportunities for the development of climate-resilient maize varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhirui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yibo Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yiting Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Feng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Caifu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Shuhua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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Zhu J, Wei X, Yin C, Zhou H, Yan J, He W, Yan J, Li H. ZmEREB57 regulates OPDA synthesis and enhances salt stress tolerance through two distinct signalling pathways in Zea mays. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023. [PMID: 37326336 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In plant, APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF)-domain transcription factors are important in regulating abiotic stress tolerance. In this study, ZmEREB57 encoding a AP2/ERF transcription factor was identified and its function was investigated in maize. ZmEREB57 is a nuclear protein with transactivation activity induced by several abiotic stress types. Furthermore, two CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines of ZmEREB57 showed enhanced sensitivity to saline conditions, whereas the overexpression of ZmEREB57 increased salt tolerance in maize and Arabidopsis. DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-Seq) analysis revealed that ZmEREB57 notably regulates target genes by binding to promoters containing an O-box-like motif (CCGGCC). ZmEREB57 directly binds to the promoter of ZmAOC2 involved in the synthesis of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Transcriptome analysis revealed that several genes involved in regulating stress and redox homeostasis showed differential expression patterns in OPDA- and JA-treated maize seedlings exposed to salt stress compared to those treated with salt stress alone. Analysis of mutants deficient in the biosynthesis of OPDA and JA revealed that OPDA functions as a signalling molecule in the salt response. Our results indicate that ZmEREB57 involves in salt tolerance by regulating OPDA and JA signalling and confirm early observations that OPDA signalling functions independently of JA signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiantang Zhu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Xuening Wei
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Chaoshu Yin
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Jiahui Yan
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Wenxing He
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
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Gajardo HA, Gómez-Espinoza O, Boscariol Ferreira P, Carrer H, Bravo LA. The Potential of CRISPR/Cas Technology to Enhance Crop Performance on Adverse Soil Conditions. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12091892. [PMID: 37176948 PMCID: PMC10181257 DOI: 10.3390/plants12091892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide food security is under threat in the actual scenery of global climate change because the major staple food crops are not adapted to hostile climatic and soil conditions. Significant efforts have been performed to maintain the actual yield of crops, using traditional breeding and innovative molecular techniques to assist them. However, additional strategies are necessary to achieve the future food demand. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) technology, as well as its variants, have emerged as alternatives to transgenic plant breeding. This novelty has helped to accelerate the necessary modifications in major crops to confront the impact of abiotic stress on agriculture systems. This review summarizes the current advances in CRISPR/Cas applications in crops to deal with the main hostile soil conditions, such as drought, flooding and waterlogging, salinity, heavy metals, and nutrient deficiencies. In addition, the potential of extremophytes as a reservoir of new molecular mechanisms for abiotic stress tolerance, as well as their orthologue identification and edition in crops, is shown. Moreover, the future challenges and prospects related to CRISPR/Cas technology issues, legal regulations, and customer acceptance will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto A Gajardo
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Instituto de Agroindustria, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente & Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 1145, Chile
| | - Olman Gómez-Espinoza
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Instituto de Agroindustria, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente & Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 1145, Chile
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Escuela de Biología, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica
| | - Pedro Boscariol Ferreira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ), University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Helaine Carrer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ), University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil
| | - León A Bravo
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Instituto de Agroindustria, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente & Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 1145, Chile
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Kopecká R, Kameniarová M, Černý M, Brzobohatý B, Novák J. Abiotic Stress in Crop Production. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076603. [PMID: 37047573 PMCID: PMC10095105 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The vast majority of agricultural land undergoes abiotic stress that can significantly reduce agricultural yields. Understanding the mechanisms of plant defenses against stresses and putting this knowledge into practice is, therefore, an integral part of sustainable agriculture. In this review, we focus on current findings in plant resistance to four cardinal abiotic stressors—drought, heat, salinity, and low temperatures. Apart from the description of the newly discovered mechanisms of signaling and resistance to abiotic stress, this review also focuses on the importance of primary and secondary metabolites, including carbohydrates, amino acids, phenolics, and phytohormones. A meta-analysis of transcriptomic studies concerning the model plant Arabidopsis demonstrates the long-observed phenomenon that abiotic stressors induce different signals and effects at the level of gene expression, but genes whose regulation is similar under most stressors can still be traced. The analysis further reveals the transcriptional modulation of Golgi-targeted proteins in response to heat stress. Our analysis also highlights several genes that are similarly regulated under all stress conditions. These genes support the central role of phytohormones in the abiotic stress response, and the importance of some of these in plant resistance has not yet been studied. Finally, this review provides information about the response to abiotic stress in major European crop plants—wheat, sugar beet, maize, potatoes, barley, sunflowers, grapes, rapeseed, tomatoes, and apples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romana Kopecká
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Kameniarová
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Černý
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Břetislav Brzobohatý
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Novák
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
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Advances of Apetala2/Ethylene Response Factors in Regulating Development and Stress Response in Maize. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065416. [PMID: 36982510 PMCID: PMC10049130 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Apetala2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) is one of the largest families of transcription factors, regulating growth, development, and stress response in plants. Several studies have been conducted to clarify their roles in Arabidopsis and rice. However, less research has been carried out on maize. In this review, we systematically identified the AP2/ERFs in the maize genome and summarized the research progress related to AP2/ERF genes. The potential roles were predicted from rice homologs based on phylogenetic and collinear analysis. The putative regulatory interactions mediated by maize AP2/ERFs were discovered according to integrated data sources, implying that they involved complex networks in biological activities. This will facilitate the functional assignment of AP2/ERFs and their applications in breeding strategy.
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Yang Z, Qin F. The battle of crops against drought: Genetic dissection and improvement. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:496-525. [PMID: 36639908 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
With ongoing global climate change, water scarcity-induced drought stress remains a major threat to agricultural productivity. Plants undergo a series of physiological and morphological changes to cope with drought stress, including stomatal closure to reduce transpiration and changes in root architecture to optimize water uptake. Combined phenotypic and multi-omics studies have recently identified a number of drought-related genetic resources in different crop species. The functional dissection of these genes using molecular techniques has enriched our understanding of drought responses in crops and has provided genetic targets for enhancing resistance to drought. Here, we review recent advances in the cloning and functional analysis of drought resistance genes and the development of technologies to mitigate the threat of drought to crop production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhirui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Feng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
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