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Kumar A, Mushtaq M, Kumar P, Sharma DP, Gahlaut V. Insights into flowering mechanisms in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) amidst climate change: An exploration of genetic and epigenetic factors. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130593. [PMID: 38408683 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) holds a prominent position among global temperate fruit crops, with flowering playing a crucial role in both production and breeding. This review delves into the intricate mechanisms governing apple flowering amidst the backdrop of climate change, acknowledging the profound influence of external and internal factors on biennial bearing, flower bud quality, and ultimately, fruit quality. Notably, the challenge faced in major apple production regions is not an inadequacy of flowers but an excess, leading to compromised fruit quality necessitating thinning practices. Climate change exacerbates these challenges, rendering apple trees more susceptible to crop failure due to unusual weather events, such as reduced winter snowfall, early spring cold weather, and hailstorms during flowering and fruit setting. Altered climatic conditions, exemplified by increased spring warming coupled with sub-freezing temperatures, negatively impact developing flower buds and decrease overall crop production. Furthermore, changing winter conditions affect chilling accumulation, disrupting flower development and synchronicity. Although the physiological perception of apple flowering has been reviewed in the past, the genetic, epigenetic, and multi-omics regulatory mechanisms governing floral induction and flowering are still rarely discussed in the case of apple flowering. This article comprehensively reviews the latest literature encompassing all aspects of apple flowering, aiming to broaden our understanding and address flowering challenges while also laying a solid foundation for future research in developing cultivars that are ideally adapted to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshul Kumar
- MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University, Bhajol, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173229, India
| | - Muntazir Mushtaq
- MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University, Bhajol, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173229, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173230, India.
| | - Dharam Paul Sharma
- Department of Fruit Science, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173230, India
| | - Vijay Gahlaut
- University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Punjab 140413, India.
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Duan Z, Ding J, Jiang Y, Zhang W. Integrated soil-fruit-climate management system to improve apple production stability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167840. [PMID: 37844636 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167840] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Unstable agricultural systems, such as unreliable fruit production, threaten global food security and could negatively impact human nutrition. However, methods of maintaining a stable fruit supply have received little attention. Therefore, this study explored the impact of a systematic service model on the establishment of an integrated soil-fruit-climate management (ISM) approach and stabilization of apple yield based on a fixed-effects model using sample data from Fuji apple farmers in China for six consecutive years (2016-2021). The results showed that the systematic service model dramatically improved the adoption of ISM-based technology. By 2021, the rate of ISM technology adoption among farmers reached 84.4 %, especially pendulous branch-fruiting technology and Osmia pollination, which increased by 82.2 % and 37.8 %, respectively, compared to that in 2016. With the adoption of the ISM approach, apple yields and tree loadings stabilized over time. For example, the yield change rate and tree loading change rate were 14.8 % and 7.3 % lower, respectively, in 2021 than in 2016. We demonstrated through a fixed-effects analysis that the ISM approach exerts a fully mediated effect on the mechanism of action of service measure quantity disclosure, which positively impacted the rate of change in yield and tree loadings. This finding indicated that the six-in-one systematic service model of soil testing, pest and disease diagnosis, course training, meteorological monitoring, on-site guidance, and experimental demonstration established by the Science and Technology Backyard model resolved the information, goal, and hardware gaps that limited the adoption of this technology by farmers and promoted the construction of an integrated soil-fruit-climate management approach, which in turn has stabilized the apple production system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiping Duan
- College of Resources & Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiping Ding
- College of Economics & Management, Northwest A&F University, Shannxi 712100, China
| | - Yuanmao Jiang
- College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Weifeng Zhang
- College of Resources & Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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3
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Milyaev A, Kofler J, Moya YAT, Lempe J, Stefanelli D, Hanke MV, Flachowsky H, von Wirén N, Wünsche JN. Profiling of phytohormones in apple fruit and buds regarding their role as potential regulators of flower bud formation. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 42:2319-2335. [PMID: 35867427 PMCID: PMC9912367 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cropping behavior, if not regulated, is often manifested by high yields of small-sized fruit in so called ON-years, which are usually followed by strongly reduced crop loads in OFF-years. Such cropping pattern is defined as biennial bearing and causes significant losses in apple production. The growth of apple fruit overlaps with the formation of flower buds, which remain dormant until the following spring. Earlier works proposed that some fruit-derived mobile compounds, as e.g., phytohormones, could suppress flower bud formation that thereby leads to biennial bearing. We addressed this hypothesis by analyzing 39 phytohormones in apple seeds, fruit flesh and by measuring phytohormone export from the fruits of the biennial bearing cultivar 'Fuji' and of the regular bearing cultivar 'Gala'. Moreover, we analyzed the same compounds in bourse buds from fruiting (ON-trees) and non-fruiting (OFF-trees) spurs of both apple cultivars over the period of flower bud formation. Our results showed that apple fruit exported at least 14 phytohormones including indole-3-acetic acid and gibberellin A3; however, their influence on flower bud formation was inconclusive. A gibberellin-like compound, which was detected exclusively in bourse buds, was significantly more abundant in bourse buds from ON-trees compared with OFF-trees. Cultivar differences were marked by the accumulation of trans-zeatin-O-glucoside in bourse buds of 'Gala' ON-trees, whereas the levels of this compound in 'Gala' OFF were significantly lower and comparable to those in 'Fuji' ON- and OFF-trees. Particular phytohormones including five cytokinin forms as well as abscisic acid and its degradation products had higher levels in bourse buds from OFF-trees compared with ON-trees and were therefore proposed as potential promotors of flower bud initiation. The work discusses regulatory roles of phytohormones in flower bud formation in apple based on the novel and to date most comprehensive phytohormone profiles of apple fruit and buds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julian Kofler
- Institute of Crop Science, Section of Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops (340f), University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Street 25, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Yudelsy Antonia Tandron Moya
- Department Molecular Plant Nutrition, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Janne Lempe
- Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Pillnitzer Platz 3a, 01326 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dario Stefanelli
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, Locked Bag 7, 6258 Manjimup, Australia
| | - Magda-Viola Hanke
- Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Pillnitzer Platz 3a, 01326 Dresden, Germany
| | - Henryk Flachowsky
- Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Pillnitzer Platz 3a, 01326 Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicolaus von Wirén
- Department Molecular Plant Nutrition, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Jens-Norbert Wünsche
- Institute of Crop Science, Section of Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops (340f), University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Street 25, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
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Kofler J, Milyaev A, Würtz B, Pfannstiel J, Flachowsky H, Wünsche JN. Proteomic differences in apple spur buds from high and non-cropping trees during floral initiation. J Proteomics 2021; 253:104459. [PMID: 34923173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The cropping behavior of biennial apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) cultivars is irregular and often follows a biennial bearing pattern with 'On' years (high crop load and inhibited floral bud formation) followed by 'Off' years (little crop load and a promoted formation of floral buds). To study proteomic differences between floral and vegetative buds, trees of the strongly alternating cultivar 'Fuji' and the regular bearing cultivar 'Gala' were either completely thinned or not thinned at full bloom to establish two cropping treatments with no ('Off') or a high ('On') crop load, respectively. Student's t-Tests indicated significant differences of protein profiles in buds from 2-year old spurs from both treatments at each sampling date. Abundance patterns of protein clusters coincided with the onset of floral bud initiation and were most noticeable in buds from 'On' trees with a decreased abundance of key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways and an increased abundance of histone deacetylase and ferritins. Furthermore, an increased abundance of proteins involved in histone and DNA methylation was found in the buds from 'Off' trees. This study presents the first large-scale, label-free proteomic profiling of floral and vegetative apple buds during the period of floral bud initiation. SIGNIFICANCE: Although several studies exist that address the complex developmental processes associated with the formation of floral buds in apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) at transcriptomic level, no data is available for explaining the difference between floral and vegetative buds or biennial and regular bearing cultivars on a proteomic level. This study presents the first large-scale, label-free proteomic profiling of floral and vegetative apple buds from the two cultivars 'Fuji' and 'Royal Gala' during the period of floral bud initiation and renders possible the development of suitable biomarkers for biennial bearing in apple.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Kofler
- Institute of Crop Science, Section of Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops (340f), University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Anton Milyaev
- Institute of Crop Science, Section of Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops (340f), University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Berit Würtz
- Mass Spectometry Unit, Core Facility Hohenheim (640), University of Hohenheim, August-von-Hartmann-Str. 3, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jens Pfannstiel
- Mass Spectometry Unit, Core Facility Hohenheim (640), University of Hohenheim, August-von-Hartmann-Str. 3, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Henryk Flachowsky
- Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Pillnitzer Platz 3a, 01326 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens-Norbert Wünsche
- Institute of Crop Science, Section of Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops (340f), University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
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Garcia G, Re B, Orians C, Crone E. By wind or wing: pollination syndromes and alternate bearing in horticultural systems. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200371. [PMID: 34657465 PMCID: PMC8520786 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclical fluctuations in reproductive output are widespread among perennial plants, from multi-year masting cycles in forest trees to alternate bearing in horticultural crops. In natural systems, ecological drivers such as climate and pollen limitation can result in synchrony among plants. Agricultural practices are generally assumed to outweigh ecological drivers that might synchronize alternate-bearing individuals, but this assumption has not been rigorously assessed and little is known about the role of pollen limitation as a driver of synchrony in alternate-bearing crops. We tested whether alternate-bearing perennial crops show signs of alternate bearing at a national scale and whether the magnitude of national-scale alternate bearing differs across pollination syndromes. We analysed the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations time series (1961-2018) of national crop yields across the top-producing countries of 27 alternate-bearing taxa, 6 wind-pollinated and 21 insect-pollinated. Alternate bearing was common in these national data and more pronounced in wind-pollinated taxa, which exhibited a more negative lag-1 autocorrelation and a higher coefficient of variation (CV). We highlight the mutual benefits of integrating ecological theory and agricultural data for (i) advancing our understanding of perennial plant reproduction across time, space and taxa, and (ii) promoting stable farmer livelihoods and global food supply. This article is part of the theme issue 'The ecology and evolution of synchronized seed production in plants'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Garcia
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford MA 02155 USA
| | - Bridget Re
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford MA 02155 USA
| | - Colin Orians
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford MA 02155 USA
| | - Elizabeth Crone
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford MA 02155 USA
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Milyaev A, Kofler J, Klaiber I, Czemmel S, Pfannstiel J, Flachowsky H, Stefanelli D, Hanke MV, Wünsche JN. Toward Systematic Understanding of Flower Bud Induction in Apple: A Multi-Omics Approach. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:604810. [PMID: 33841452 PMCID: PMC8030266 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.604810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The induction of flower buds in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) is tightly connected to biennial bearing, which is characterized by alternating years with high (ON) and low or no (OFF) crop loads. In order to study this irregular cropping behavior, spur buds from ON- and OFF-trees of the biennial-bearing cultivar 'Fuji' and the regular bearing cultivar 'Gala' were collected. First, the time of flower bud initiation was precisely determined for both cultivars by histological analysis. Moreover, for a systematic understanding of flower bud induction in apple, the physiological and molecular mechanisms within the bud tissue were evaluated over four weeks prior to flower bud initiation by employing a multi-omics approach, including RNA sequencing, proteomic and metabolic profiling. Gene and protein enrichment analysis detected physiological pathways promoting and inhibiting early flower bud development. Metabolic profiles from the cropping treatments revealed a greater abundance of thiamine, chlorogenic acid, and an adenine derivative in spur buds from OFF-trees, whereas tryptophan was more abundant in the buds collected from ON-trees. Cultivar comparison indicated that chlorogenic acid was more abundant in 'Gala' than in 'Fuji' spur buds, whereas the opposite effect was found for tryptophan. Genes controlling tryptophan biosynthesis were not affected by ON- and OFF-treatments, but genes assigned to the metabolism of tryptophan into indoleacetate were differentially expressed between cultivars and treatments. The multi-omics approach permitted analyzing complex plant metabolic processes involved in early flower bud development and more specifically presumably in flower bud induction by tracing some pathways from gene to product level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Milyaev
- Section of Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops (340f), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Julian Kofler
- Section of Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops (340f), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Iris Klaiber
- Mass Spectrometry Unit, Core Facility Hohenheim (640), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Stefan Czemmel
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC) Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jens Pfannstiel
- Mass Spectrometry Unit, Core Facility Hohenheim (640), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Henryk Flachowsky
- Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dario Stefanelli
- Agriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Magda-Viola Hanke
- Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens-Norbert Wünsche
- Section of Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops (340f), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
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Zuo X, Wang S, Xiang W, Yang H, Tahir MM, Zheng S, An N, Han M, Zhao C, Zhang D. Genome-wide identification of the 14-3-3 gene family and its participation in floral transition by interacting with TFL1/FT in apple. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:41. [PMID: 33419402 PMCID: PMC7796649 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is a popular cultivated fruit crop with high economic value in China. Apple floral transition is an important process but liable to be affected by various environmental factors. The 14-3-3 proteins are involved in regulating diverse biological processes in plants, and some 14-3-3 members play vital roles in flowering. However, little information was available about the 14-3-3 members in apple. RESULTS In the current study, we identified eighteen 14-3-3 gene family members from the apple genome database, designated MdGF14a to MdGF14r. The isoforms possess a conserved core region comprising nine antiparallel α-helices and divergent N and C termini. According to their structural and phylogenetic features, Md14-3-3 proteins could be classified into two major evolutionary branches, the epsilon (ɛ) group and the non-epsilon (non-ɛ) group. Moreover, expression profiles derived from transcriptome data and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR analysis showed diverse expression patterns of Md14-3-3 genes in various tissues and in response to different sugars and hormone treatments during the floral transition phase. Four Md14-3-3 isoforms (MdGF14a, MdGF14d, MdGF14i, and MdGF14j) exhibiting prominent transcriptional responses to sugars and hormones were selected for further investigation. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiments showed that the four Md14-3-3 proteins interact with key floral integrators, MdTFL1 (TERMINAL FLOWER1) and MdFT (FLOWERING LOCUS T). Subcellular localization of four selected Md14-3-3 proteins demonstrated their localization in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. CONCLUSION We identified the Md14-3-3 s family in apple comprehensively. Certain Md14-3-3 genes are expressed predominantly during the apple floral transition stage, and may participate in the regulation of flowering through association with flower control genes. Our results provide a preliminary framework for further investigation into the roles of Md14-3-3 s in floral transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiya Zuo
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Shixiang Wang
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Wen Xiang
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Huiru Yang
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | | | - Shangong Zheng
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Na An
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Mingyu Han
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Caiping Zhao
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
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Chronic cement dust load induce novel damages in foliage and buds of Malus domestica. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12186. [PMID: 32699317 PMCID: PMC7376120 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68902-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cement industry-derived pollutants appear to play multiple roles in stimulating abiotic stress responses in plants. Cement dust deposition on agriculture fields can affect soils, photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration of plants. Here, we characterised the acute physiological responses of Malus × domestica leaves to different cement dust concentrations. The cement dust was sprinkled over plants daily for 2 months at 10 and 20 g/plant, with 0 g/plant serving as the control. Leaf physiological responses revealed significant increases in oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity levels. Additionally, ascorbic acid, soluble sugar, free amino acid, and pigment levels decreased after exposure to cement dust. Macroscopic morphometric parameters, such as weight, dry matter content, and lengths and widths of leaves and buds, were significantly reduced in the cement-treated groups. A histological analysis of leaves and buds revealed decreased cellular areas, cellular damage, and abridged leaf thickness, while an ion leakage assay confirmed the negative effects on tissue integrity. These results provide evidence that cement dust is a hazardous pollutant that induces abiotic stress responses and has degradative effects on leaf health, pigment and biochemical metabolite levels, and anatomical features. Studies to determine the elemental residues of cement dust present in edible plant parts and the adverse impacts of their consumption on human health are strongly recommended.
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Qin L, Zhang X, Yan J, Fan L, Rong C, Mo C, Zhang M. Effect of exogenous spermidine on floral induction, endogenous polyamine and hormone production, and expression of related genes in 'Fuji' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.). Sci Rep 2019; 9:12777. [PMID: 31484948 PMCID: PMC6726604 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49280-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Flower bud formation in ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is difficult, which severely constrains commercial production. Spermidine (Spd) plays an important role in floral induction, but the mechanism of its action is incompletely understood. To investigate the effect of Spd on flowering, 6-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple trees were treated with 1 × 10−5 mol L−1 Spd to study the responses of polyamines [putrescine (Put), Spd and spermine (Spm)], hormones [gibberellins (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA)], and polyamine-, hormone- and flowering-related genes. Spd application promoted flowering during floral induction by increasing MdGA2ox2 (gibberellin 2-oxidase) through GA3 reduction and increasing MdNCED1 and MdNCED3 (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase) through ABA enrichment during 60 to 80 days after full bloom. The flowering rate as well as the expressions of flower-related genes, except for MdLEY (LEAFY), also increased, thereby promoting flowering. In addition, spraying with Spd significantly increased the contents of endogenous polyamines except for Spm in terminal buds by increasing the expressions of polyamine-associated genes. We hypothesize that the contribution of Spd to flowering is related to crosstalk among polyamines, hormone signals, and related gene expressions, which suggests that Spd participates in the apple floral induction process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Qin
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jie Yan
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lu Fan
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chunxiao Rong
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chuanyuan Mo
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Manrang Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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Li K, Liu Z, Xing L, Wei Y, Mao J, Meng Y, Bao L, Han M, Zhao C, Zhang D. miRNAs associated with auxin signaling, stress response, and cellular activities mediate adventitious root formation in apple rootstocks. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2019; 139:66-81. [PMID: 30878839 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Adventitious root (AR) formation is essential for the vegetative propagation of apple rootstocks. miRNAs play a significant role in regulating AR development, however, large-scale transcriptomic data on miRNA mediated AR formation in apple rootstocks is lacking. Therefore, in order to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying AR formation in 'M9-T337' apple rootstocks, transcriptomic changes occurring during key time points of AR formation (0, 3, and 16 days) were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing with a focus on miRNAs. A total of 84 known miRNAs and 56 novel miRNAs have differentially expressed were identified. Additionally, a total of 88 target genes of known miRNAs and 76 target genes of novel miRNAs were identified by degradome sequencing. The expression levels of the miRNAs and target genes were quantified by RT-qPCR. Results indicate that miRNAs and their target genes are associated with auxin signal-related (miR160 and miR390), stress response-related (miR398, miR395 and miR408), cell fate transformation-, proliferation- and enlargement-related (miR171, miR156, miR166, miR319 and miR396). These all involve pathways that participate in AR formation in 'M9-T337' apple rootstock. In addition, hormones (AUX, CTK, GA3, BR, JA, and ABA) are also involved in regulating AR formation. The candidate genes belonging to pathways associated with AR formation exhibited significantly higher expression levels, providing evidence that they may be involved in the regulation of AR development. The collective results of the present study indicate that the developmental process associated with AR formation in apple rootstock is extremely complex. The known and novel miRNAs and target genes that were identified by high-throughput and degradome sequencing, respectively, provide a framework for the future analysis of miRNAs associated with AR development in apple rootstocks, and provide new information that can be used to better understand AR development in woody plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Li
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Libo Xing
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Yanhong Wei
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Jiangping Mao
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Yuan Meng
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Lu Bao
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Mingyu Han
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Caiping Zhao
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Horticulture College, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
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Fan S, Gao X, Gao C, Yang Y, Zhu X, Feng W, Li R, Mobeen Tahir M, Zhang D, Han M, An N. Dynamic Cytosine DNA Methylation Patterns Associated with mRNA and siRNA Expression Profiles in Alternate Bearing Apple Trees. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:5250-5264. [PMID: 31008599 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b00871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Cytosine DNA methylation plays an important role in plants: it can mediate gene expression to affect plant growth and development. However, little is known about the potential involvement of cytosine DNA methylation in apple trees as well as in response to alternate bearing. Here, we performed whole-genome bisulfate sequencing to investigate genomic CG, CHG, and CHH methylation patterns, together with their global mRNA accumulation and small RNA expression in "Fuji" apple trees. Results showed that "Fuji" apple trees have a higher CHH methylation than Arabidopsis. Moreover, genomic methylation analysis revealed that CG and CHG methylation were robustly maintained at the early stage of flower induction. Additionally, differentially methylated regions (DMRs), including hypermethylated and hypomethylated DMRs, were also characterized in alternate bearing (AB) apple trees. Intriguingly, the DMRs were enriched in hormones, redox state, and starch and sucrose metabolism, which affected flowering. Further global gene expression evaluation based on methylome analysis revealed a negative correlation between gene body methylation and gene expression. Subsequent small RNA analyses showed that 24-nucleotide small interfering RNAs were activated and maintained in non-CG methylated apple trees. Our whole-genome DNA methylation analysis and RNA and small RNA expression profile construction provide valuable information for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Fan
- College of Horticulture , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Xiuhua Gao
- College of Horticulture , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Cai Gao
- College of Horticulture , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Yang Yang
- Innovation Experimental College , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Xinzheng Zhu
- Innovation Experimental College , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Wei Feng
- Innovation Experimental College , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Ruimin Li
- College of Horticulture , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Muhammad Mobeen Tahir
- College of Horticulture , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Dong Zhang
- College of Horticulture , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Mingyu Han
- College of Horticulture , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
| | - Na An
- College of Horticulture , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
- College of Life Science , Northwest A&F University , Yangling 712100 , Shaanxi , China
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