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Li J, Liu L, Wang L, Rao IM, Wang Z, Chen Z. AcEXPA1, an α-expansin gene, participates in the aluminum tolerance of carpetgrass (Axonopus compressus) through root growth regulation. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2024; 43:159. [PMID: 38822842 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03243-6] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE AcEXPA1, an aluminum (Al)-inducible expansin gene, is demonstrated to be involved in carpetgrass (Axonopus compressus) root elongation under Al toxicity through analyzing composite carpetgrass plants overexpressing AcEXPA1. Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major mineral toxicity that limits plant productivity in acidic soils by inhibiting root growth. Carpetgrass (Axonopus compressus), a dominant warm-season turfgrass widely grown in acidic tropical soils, exhibits superior adaptability to Al toxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying its Al tolerance are largely unclear, and knowledge of the functional genes involved in Al detoxification in this turfgrass is limited. In this study, phenotypic variation in Al tolerance, as indicated by relative root elongation, was observed among seventeen carpetgrass genotypes. Al-responsive genes related to cell wall modification were identified in the roots of the Al-tolerant genotype 'A58' via transcriptome analysis. Among them, a gene encoding α-expansin was cloned and designated AcEXPA1 for functional characterization. Observed Al dose effects and temporal responses revealed that Al induced AcEXPA1 expression in carpetgrass roots. Subsequently, an efficient and convenient Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation method was established to generate composite carpetgrass plants with transgenic hairy roots for investigating AcEXPA1 involvement in carpetgrass root growth under Al toxicity. AcEXPA1 was successfully overexpressed in the transgenic hairy roots, and AcEXPA1 overexpression enhanced Al tolerance in composite carpetgrass plants through a decrease in Al-induced root growth inhibition. Taken together, these findings suggest that AcEXPA1 contributes to Al tolerance in carpetgrass via root growth regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifu Li
- Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rual Affairs/Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding, Sanya, 572024, People's Republic of China
| | - Liting Liu
- College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, 58 Renmin Avenue, Haikou, 570228, People's Republic of China
| | - Linjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rual Affairs/Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, People's Republic of China
| | - Idupulapati M Rao
- The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), 763537, Cali, Colombia
| | - Zhiyong Wang
- College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, 58 Renmin Avenue, Haikou, 570228, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rual Affairs/Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, People's Republic of China.
- National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding, Sanya, 572024, People's Republic of China.
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Ofoe R, Thomas RH, Asiedu SK, Wang-Pruski G, Fofana B, Abbey L. Aluminum in plant: Benefits, toxicity and tolerance mechanisms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1085998. [PMID: 36714730 PMCID: PMC9880555 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1085998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) is the third most ubiquitous metal in the earth's crust. A decrease in soil pH below 5 increases its solubility and availability. However, its impact on plants depends largely on concentration, exposure time, plant species, developmental age, and growing conditions. Although Al can be beneficial to plants by stimulating growth and mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses, it remains unknown how Al mediates these effects since its biological significance in cellular systems is still unidentified. Al is considered a major limiting factor restricting plant growth and productivity in acidic soils. It instigates a series of phytotoxic symptoms in several Al-sensitive crops with inhibition of root growth and restriction of water and nutrient uptake as the obvious symptoms. This review explores advances in Al benefits, toxicity and tolerance mechanisms employed by plants on acidic soils. These insights will provide directions and future prospects for potential crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Ofoe
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
| | - Raymond H. Thomas
- School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Grenfell Campus, Corner Brook, NL, Canada
| | - Samuel K. Asiedu
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
| | - Gefu Wang-Pruski
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
| | - Bourlaye Fofana
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
- Charlottetown Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - Lord Abbey
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
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Growth, Nutrient Accumulation, and Nutritional Efficiency of a Clonal Eucalyptus Hybrid in Competition with Grasses. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13081157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Invasive grasses reduce resource availability, mainly nutrients in the soil, and the growth of eucalyptus plants. Efficient management to increase productivity depends on understanding levels of weed interference in eucalyptus plantations. The nutritional efficiency of eucalyptus plants in competition has been evaluated by plant tissue analysis. The objective was to evaluate the growth, relative accumulation of nutrients, and nutritional efficiency of the eucalyptus clonal hybrid I144 (Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis), in competition with Megathyrsus maximus cv. BRS zuri, Urochloa brizantha cv. marandu, Urochloa decumbens cv. basilisk and in the control (eucalyptus plants without weed competition). The experiment was carried out with a completely randomized design, with four treatments and ten replications. The height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, dry matter of leaves and stem, nutrient content in leaves and uptake, transport, and N, P, and K utilization efficiency of the eucalyptus clonal hybrid were evaluated at 110 days after transplantation. The growth parameters and relative contents of macro and micronutrients in the eucalyptus clonal hybrid were lower in competition with M. maximus, U. brizantha and U. decumbens. The efficiency of N, P, and K uptake and transport by the eucalyptus clonal hybrid was 29.41 and 7.32% lower in competition with U. decumbens than in the control treatments, respectively. The efficiency of N, P, and K utilization by eucalypts was 13.73, 9.18, and 22.54% lower in competition with M. maximus, U. brizantha, and U. decumbens, respectively. The reduced growth and nutritional parameters of the eucalyptus clonal hybrid were more evident in competition with U. decumbens. Plant tissue analyses efficiently determined the level of competition for nutrients between species. Crop competition with grasses can decrease the efficiency and use of nutrients, which consequently reduces plant development and productivity.
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Hromadová D, Soukup A, Tylová E. Arabinogalactan Proteins in Plant Roots - An Update on Possible Functions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:674010. [PMID: 34079573 PMCID: PMC8165308 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.674010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Responsiveness to environmental conditions and developmental plasticity of root systems are crucial determinants of plant fitness. These processes are interconnected at a cellular level with cell wall properties and cell surface signaling, which involve arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) as essential components. AGPs are cell-wall localized glycoproteins, often GPI-anchored, which participate in root functions at many levels. They are involved in cell expansion and differentiation, regulation of root growth, interactions with other organisms, and environmental response. Due to the complexity of cell wall functional and regulatory networks, and despite the large amount of experimental data, the exact molecular mechanisms of AGP-action are still largely unknown. This dynamically evolving field of root biology is summarized in the present review.
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