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Xu J, Wang Q, Tang X, Feng X, Zhang X, Liu T, Wu F, Wang Q, Feng X, Tang Q, Lisch D, Lu Y. Drought-induced circular RNAs in maize roots: Separating signal from noise. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 196:352-367. [PMID: 38669308 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in diverse biological processes; however, their origin and functions, especially in plants, remain largely unclear. Here, we used 2 maize (Zea mays) inbred lines, as well as 14 of their derivative recombination inbred lines with different drought sensitivity, to systematically characterize 8,790 circRNAs in maize roots under well-watered (WW) and water-stress (WS) conditions. We found that a diverse set of circRNAs expressed at significantly higher levels under WS. Enhanced expression of circRNAs was associated with longer flanking introns and an enrichment of long interspersed nuclear element retrotransposable elements. The epigenetic marks found at the back-splicing junctions of circRNA-producing genes were markedly different from canonical splicing, characterized by increased levels of H3K36me3/H3K4me1, as well as decreased levels of H3K9Ac/H3K27Ac. We found that genes expressing circRNAs are subject to relaxed selection. The significant enrichment of trait-associated sites along their genic regions suggested that genes giving rise to circRNAs were associated with plant survival rate under drought stress, implying that circRNAs play roles in plant drought responses. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of circMED16, one of the drought-responsive circRNAs, enhances drought tolerance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Our results provide a framework for understanding the intricate interplay of epigenetic modifications and how they contribute to the fine-tuning of circRNA expression under drought stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Xin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Xiaoju Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Xiaoyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Tianhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Fengkai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Qingjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Xuanjun Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Qi Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Damon Lisch
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yanli Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
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2
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Sivabharathi RC, Rajagopalan VR, Suresh R, Sudha M, Karthikeyan G, Jayakanthan M, Raveendran M. Haplotype-based breeding: A new insight in crop improvement. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 346:112129. [PMID: 38763472 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112129] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Haplotype-based breeding (HBB) is one of the cutting-edge technologies in the realm of crop improvement due to the increasing availability of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms identified by Next Generation Sequencing technologies. The complexity of the data can be decreased with fewer statistical tests and a lower probability of spurious associations by combining thousands of SNPs into a few hundred haplotype blocks. The presence of strong genomic regions in breeding lines of most crop species facilitates the use of haplotypes to improve the efficiency of genomic and marker-assisted selection. Haplotype-based breeding as a Genomic Assisted Breeding (GAB) approach harnesses the genome sequence data to pinpoint the allelic variation used to hasten the breeding cycle and circumvent the challenges associated with linkage drag. This review article demonstrates ways to identify candidate genes, superior haplotype identification, haplo-pheno analysis, and haplotype-based marker-assisted selection. The crop improvement strategies that utilize superior haplotypes will hasten the breeding progress to safeguard global food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Sivabharathi
- Department of Genetics and Plant breeding, CPBG, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
| | - Veera Ranjani Rajagopalan
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
| | - R Suresh
- Department of Rice, CPBG, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
| | - M Sudha
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India.
| | - G Karthikeyan
- Department of Plant Pathology, CPPS, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
| | - M Jayakanthan
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
| | - M Raveendran
- Directorate of research, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India.
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3
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Kim Y, Castroverde CDM, Kim JH. Natural allelic diversity of the calcium signaling regulators in plants. Mol Cells 2024; 47:100104. [PMID: 39098739 DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100104] [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: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Calcium ions act as secondary messengers in diverse signaling pathways in plants throughout their life cycle. Studies have revealed that calcium is involved in developmental events and in responses to external stimuli, such as biotic and abiotic stresses. Cellular calcium ion levels are tightly controlled by intricate molecular machinery such as calcium channels and pumps. Transient and spatial fluctuations in calcium levels are subsequently recognized by diverse calcium-decoding molecules, resulting in signal transduction. In this review, we highlight recent findings on natural variations in genes controlling calcium signaling in diverse plant biological processes. We then show how the calcium ion context is utilized by fine-tuning the natural variation in centrally important genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yejin Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Korea
| | | | - Jong Hum Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Korea; Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea.
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Sharma V, Sharma DP, Salwan R. Surviving the stress: Understanding the molecular basis of plant adaptations and uncovering the role of mycorrhizal association in plant abiotic stresses. Microb Pathog 2024; 193:106772. [PMID: 38969183 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106772] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Environmental stresses severely impair plant growth, resulting in significant crop yield and quality loss. Among various abiotic factors, salt and drought stresses are one of the major factors that affect the nutrients and water uptake by the plants, hence ultimately various physiological aspects of the plants that compromises crop yield. Continuous efforts have been made to investigate, dissect and improve plant adaptations at the molecular level in response to drought and salinity stresses. In this context, the plant beneficial microbiome presents in the rhizosphere, endosphere, and phyllosphere, also referred as second genomes of the plant is well known for its roles in plant adaptations. Exploration of beneficial interaction of fungi with host plants known as mycorrhizal association is one such special interaction that can facilitates the host plants adaptations. Mycorrhiza assist in alleviating the salinity and drought stresses of plants via redistributing the ion imbalance through translocation to different parts of the plants, as well as triggering oxidative machinery. Mycorrhiza association also regulates the level of various plant growth regulators, osmolytes and assists in acquiring minerals that are helpful in plant's adaptation against extreme environmental stresses. The current review examines the role of various plant growth regulators and plants' antioxidative systems, followed by mycorrhizal association during drought and salt stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Sharma
- University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali PB 140413, India.
| | - D P Sharma
- College of Horticulture and Forestry (Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry), Neri, Hamirpur, H.P 177 001, India
| | - Richa Salwan
- College of Horticulture and Forestry (Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry), Neri, Hamirpur, H.P 177 001, India.
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5
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Liu L, Zhan J, Yan J. Engineering the future cereal crops with big biological data: toward intelligence-driven breeding by design. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:781-789. [PMID: 38531485 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.03.005] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
How to feed 10 billion human populations is one of the challenges that need to be addressed in the following decades, especially under an unpredicted climate change. Crop breeding, initiating from the phenotype-based selection by local farmers and developing into current biotechnology-based breeding, has played a critical role in securing the global food supply. However, regarding the changing environment and ever-increasing human population, can we breed outstanding crop varieties fast enough to achieve high productivity, good quality, and widespread adaptability? This review outlines the recent achievements in understanding cereal crop breeding, including the current knowledge about crop agronomic traits, newly developed techniques, crop big biological data research, and the possibility of integrating them for intelligence-driven breeding by design, which ushers in a new era of crop breeding practice and shapes the novel architecture of future crops. This review focuses on the major cereal crops, including rice, maize, and wheat, to explain how intelligence-driven breeding by design is becoming a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
| | - Jimin Zhan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
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6
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Jamil S, Ahmad S, Shahzad R, Umer N, Kanwal S, Rehman HM, Rana IA, Atif RM. Leveraging Multiomics Insights and Exploiting Wild Relatives' Potential for Drought and Heat Tolerance in Maize. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:16048-16075. [PMID: 38980762 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Climate change, particularly drought and heat stress, may slash agricultural productivity by 25.7% by 2080, with maize being the hardest hit. Therefore, unraveling the molecular nature of plant responses to these stressors is vital for the development of climate-smart maize. This manuscript's primary objective was to examine how maize plants respond to these stresses, both individually and in combination. Additionally, the paper delved into harnessing the potential of maize wild relatives as a valuable genetic resource and leveraging AI-based technologies to boost maize resilience. The role of multiomics approaches particularly genomics and transcriptomics in dissecting the genetic basis of stress tolerance was also highlighted. The way forward was proposed to utilize a bunch of information obtained through omics technologies by an interdisciplinary state-of-the-art forward-looking big-data, cyberagriculture system, and AI-based approach to orchestrate the development of climate resilient maize genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakra Jamil
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Shakeel Ahmad
- Seed Centre and Plant Genetic Resources Bank Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Riyadh 14712, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rahil Shahzad
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Noroza Umer
- Dr. Ikram ul Haq - Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Government College University, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Shamsa Kanwal
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Mamoon Rehman
- Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Iqrar Ahmad Rana
- Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Rana Muhammad Atif
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, California 95616, United States
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
- Precision Agriculture and Analytics Lab, Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, National Centre in Big Data and Cloud Computing, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
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7
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Luo B, Ma P, Zhang C, Zhang X, Li J, Ma J, Han Z, Zhang S, Yu T, Zhang G, Zhang H, Zhang H, Li B, Guo J, Ge P, Lan Y, Liu D, Wu L, Gao D, Gao S, Su S, Gao S. Mining for QTL controlling maize low-phosphorus response genes combined with deep resequencing of RIL parental genomes and in silico GWAS analysis. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2024; 137:190. [PMID: 39043952 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-024-04696-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Extensive and comprehensive phenotypic data from a maize RIL population under both low- and normal-Pi treatments were used to conduct QTL mapping. Additionally, we integrated parental resequencing data from the RIL population, GWAS results, and transcriptome data to identify candidate genes associated with low-Pi stress in maize. Phosphorus (Pi) is one of the essential nutrients that greatly affect the maize yield. However, the genes underlying the QTL controlling maize low-Pi response remain largely unknown. In this study, a total of 38 traits at both seedling and maturity stages were evaluated under low- and normal-Pi conditions using a RIL population constructed from X178 (tolerant) and 9782 (sensitive), and most traits varied significantly between low- and normal-Pi treatments. Twenty-nine QTLs specific to low-Pi conditions were identified after excluding those with common intervals under both low- and normal-Pi conditions. Furthermore, 45 additional QTLs were identified based on the index value ((Trait_under_LowPi-Trait_under_NormalPi)/Trait_under_NormalPi) of each trait. These 74 QTLs collectively were classified as Pi-dependent QTLs. Additionally, 39 Pi-dependent QTLs were clustered in nine HotspotQTLs. The Pi-dependent QTL interval contained 19,613 unique genes, 6,999 of which exhibited sequence differences with non-synonymous mutation sites between X178 and 9782. Combined with in silico GWAS results, 277 consistent candidate genes were identified, with 124 genes located within the HotspotQTL intervals. The transcriptome analysis revealed that 21 genes, including the Pi transporter ZmPT7 and the strigolactones pathway-related gene ZmPDR1, exhibited consistent low-Pi stress response patterns across various maize inbred lines or tissues. It is noteworthy that ZmPDR1 in maize roots can be sharply up-regulated by low-Pi stress, suggesting its potential importance as a candidate gene for responding to low-Pi stress through the strigolactones pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Peng Ma
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Mianyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mianyang, 621023, Sichuan, China
- Crop Characteristic Resources Creation and Utilization Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Li
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Junchi Ma
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Zheng Han
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuhao Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Yu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Guidi Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongkai Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Haiying Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Binyang Li
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jia Guo
- Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Ping Ge
- SaileGene Inc, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Yuzhou Lan
- Department of Plant Breeding, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, 23422, Lomma, Sweden
| | - Dan Liu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Wu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Duojiang Gao
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Shiqiang Gao
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Shunzong Su
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Shibin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
- Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
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8
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An Y, Xia X, Zhang X, Liu L, Jiang S, Jing T, Zhang F. Genome-wide identification of the sorghum OVATE gene family and revelation of its expression characteristics in sorghum seeds and leaves. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15123. [PMID: 38956272 PMCID: PMC11219837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66103-z] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The OVATE gene family plays an important role in regulating the development of plant organs and resisting stress, but its expression characteristics and functions in sorghum have not been revealed. In this study, we identified 26 OVATE genes in the sorghum BTx623 genome, which were divided into four groups and distributed unevenly across 9 chromosomes. Evolutionary analysis showed that after differentiation between sorghum and Arabidopsis, the OVATE gene family may have experienced unique expansion events, and all OVATE family members were negatively selected. Transcriptome sequencing and RT-qPCR results showed that OVATE genes in sorghum showed diverse expression characteristics, such as gene SORBl_3001G468900 and SORBl_3009G173400 were significantly expressed in seeds, while SORBI_3005G042700 and SORBI_3002G417700 were only highly expressed in L1. Meantime, in the promoter region, a large number of hormone-associated cis-acting elements were identified, and these results suggest that members of the OVATE gene family may be involved in regulating specific development of sorghum leaves and seeds. This study improves the understanding of the OVATE gene family of sorghum and provides important clues for further exploration of the function of the OVATE gene family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin An
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, China
| | - Xiaobo Xia
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaoqin Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, China
| | - Sixia Jiang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, China
| | - Tingting Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China.
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, China.
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9
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Yu P, Li C, Li M, He X, Wang D, Li H, Marcon C, Li Y, Perez-Limón S, Chen X, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Koller R, Metzner R, van Dusschoten D, Pflugfelder D, Borisjuk L, Plutenko I, Mahon A, Resende MFR, Salvi S, Akale A, Abdalla M, Ahmed MA, Bauer FM, Schnepf A, Lobet G, Heymans A, Suresh K, Schreiber L, McLaughlin CM, Li C, Mayer M, Schön CC, Bernau V, von Wirén N, Sawers RJH, Wang T, Hochholdinger F. Seedling root system adaptation to water availability during maize domestication and global expansion. Nat Genet 2024; 56:1245-1256. [PMID: 38778242 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01761-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The maize root system has been reshaped by indirect selection during global adaptation to new agricultural environments. In this study, we characterized the root systems of more than 9,000 global maize accessions and its wild relatives, defining the geographical signature and genomic basis of variation in seminal root number. We demonstrate that seminal root number has increased during maize domestication followed by a decrease in response to limited water availability in locally adapted varieties. By combining environmental and phenotypic association analyses with linkage mapping, we identified genes linking environmental variation and seminal root number. Functional characterization of the transcription factor ZmHb77 and in silico root modeling provides evidence that reshaping root system architecture by reducing the number of seminal roots and promoting lateral root density is beneficial for the resilience of maize seedlings to drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yu
- Crop Functional Genomics, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- Emmy Noether Group Root Functional Biology, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Chunhui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Xiaoming He
- Crop Functional Genomics, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Emmy Noether Group Root Functional Biology, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Danning Wang
- Crop Functional Genomics, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Emmy Noether Group Root Functional Biology, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Hongjie Li
- Crop Functional Genomics, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Emmy Noether Group Root Functional Biology, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Caroline Marcon
- Crop Functional Genomics, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Sergio Perez-Limón
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Xinping Chen
- College of Resources and Environment, and Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, PR China
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Robert Koller
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Juelich, Germany
| | - Ralf Metzner
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Juelich, Germany
| | - Dagmar van Dusschoten
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Juelich, Germany
| | - Daniel Pflugfelder
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Juelich, Germany
| | - Ljudmilla Borisjuk
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Iaroslav Plutenko
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Audrey Mahon
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Marcio F R Resende
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Silvio Salvi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Asegidew Akale
- Chair of Root-Soil Interactions, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mohanned Abdalla
- Chair of Root-Soil Interactions, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mutez Ali Ahmed
- Chair of Root-Soil Interactions, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Felix Maximilian Bauer
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Agrosphere (IBG-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Andrea Schnepf
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Agrosphere (IBG-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Guillaume Lobet
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Agrosphere (IBG-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
- Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, UCLouvain, Belgium
| | - Adrien Heymans
- Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, UCLouvain, Belgium
| | - Kiran Suresh
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany (IZMB), Department of Ecophysiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lukas Schreiber
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany (IZMB), Department of Ecophysiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Chloee M McLaughlin
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Plant Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Chunjian Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Manfred Mayer
- Plant Breeding, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Chris-Carolin Schön
- Plant Breeding, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Vivian Bernau
- North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, USDA-Agriculture Research Service and Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Nicolaus von Wirén
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Ruairidh J H Sawers
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA.
| | - Tianyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Frank Hochholdinger
- Crop Functional Genomics, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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Yang J, Liu Z, Liu Y, Fan X, Gao L, Li Y, Hu Y, Hu K, Huang Y. Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Quantitative Trait Loci and Candidate Genes Involved in Deep-Sowing Tolerance in Maize ( Zea mays L.). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1533. [PMID: 38891341 PMCID: PMC11175157 DOI: 10.3390/plants13111533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Deep sowing is an efficient strategy for maize to ensure the seedling emergence rate under adverse conditions such as drought or low temperatures. However, the genetic basis of deep-sowing tolerance-related traits in maize remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed a genome-wide association study on traits related to deep-sowing tolerance, including mesocotyl length (ML), coleoptile length (CL), plumule length (PL), shoot length (SL), and primary root length (PRL), using 255 maize inbred lines grown in three different environments. We identified 23, 6, 4, and 4 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with ML, CL, PL, and SL, respectively. By analyzing candidate genes within these QTLs, we found a γ-tubulin-containing complex protein, ZmGCP2, which was significantly associated with ML, PL, and SL. Loss of function of ZmGCP2 resulted in decreased PL, possibly by affecting the cell elongation, thus affecting SL. Additionally, we identified superior haplotypes and allelic variations of ZmGCP2 with a longer PL and SL, which may be useful for breeding varieties with deep-sowing tolerance to improve maize cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Zhou Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yanbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Xiujun Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Lei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yangping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yufeng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Kun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
- Sinograin Chengdu Storage Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610091, China
| | - Yubi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resource Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (J.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.); (X.F.); (L.G.); (Y.L.); (Y.H.)
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11
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Tao F, Chen F, Liu H, Chen C, Cheng B, Han G. Insight into the composition and differentiation of endophytic microbial communities in kernels via 368 maize transcriptomes. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00208-X. [PMID: 38772425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.05.018] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Kernels are important reproductive organs in maize, yet there is a lack of systematic investigation on the differences in the composition of endophytic microorganisms in plants from a population perspective. OBJECTIVES We aimed to elucidate the composition of endophytic microorganisms in developing maize kernels, emphasizing differences among various inbred lines. METHODS The transcriptomic data of 368 maize inbred lines were used to explore the composition and diversity of endophytic microorganisms. RESULTS The findings revealed a higher abundance of fungi than bacteria in developing maize kernels, followed by protozoa, while viruses were less abundant. There were significant differences in the composition and relative abundance of endophytic microorganisms among different maize lines. Diversity analysis revealed overall similarity in the community composition structure between tropical/subtropical (TST) and temperate (NSS) maize germplasm with apparent variations in community richness and abundance. The endophytic microorganisms network in the kernels from TST genotypes exhibited higher connectivity and stability compared to NSS kernels. Bacteria dominated the highly connected species in the networks, and different core species showed microbial phylum specificity. Some low-abundance species acted as core species, contributing to network stability. Beneficial bacteria were predominant in the core species of networks in TST kernels, while pathogenic bacteria were more abundant in the core species of networks in NSS kernels. CONCLUSION Tropical maize germplasm may have advantages in resisting the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, providing excellent genetic resources for disease-resistant breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Tao
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Feng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Haida Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Beijiu Cheng
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Guomin Han
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
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12
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Han D, Zhao X, Zhang D, Wang Z, Zhu Z, Sun H, Qu Z, Wang L, Liu Z, Zhu X, Yuan M. Genome-wide association studies reveal novel QTLs for agronomic traits in soybean. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1375646. [PMID: 38807775 PMCID: PMC11132100 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1375646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Soybean, as a globally significant crop, has garnered substantial attention due to its agricultural importance. The utilization of molecular approaches to enhance grain yield in soybean has gained popularity. Methods In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 156 Chinese soybean accessions over a two-year period. We employed the general linear model (GLM) and the mixed linear model (MLM) to analyze three agronomic traits: pod number, grain number, and grain weight. Results Our findings revealed significant associations between qgPNpP-98, qgGNpP-89 and qgHGW-85 QTLs and pod number, grain number, and grain weight, respectively. These QTLs were identified on chromosome 16, a region spanning 413171bp exhibited associations with all three traits. Discussion These QTL markers identified in this study hold potential for improving yield and agronomic traits through marker-assisted selection and genomic selection in breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongwei Han
- Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
- Heilongjiang Chinese Academy of Sciences Qiuying Zhang Soybean Scientist Studio, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xi Zhao
- Biotechnology Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Zhijia Zhu
- Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Haoyue Sun
- Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Zhongcheng Qu
- Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lianxia Wang
- Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Zhangxiong Liu
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Zhu
- Department of Research and Development, Ruibiotech Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Yuan
- Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
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13
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Zhang Y, Wu X, Wang X, Dai M, Peng Y. Crop root system architecture in drought response. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00100-0. [PMID: 38723744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.05.001] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production, significantly reduces crop yields, and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security. Addressing the challenge of effectively improving crop drought resistance (DR) to mitigate yield loss under drought conditions is a global issue. An optimal root system architecture (RSA) plays a pivotal role in enhancing crops' capacity to efficiently uptake water and nutrients, which consequently strengthens their resilience against environmental stresses. In this review, we discuss the compositions and roles of crop RSA and summarize the most recent developments in augmenting drought tolerance in crops by manipulating RSA-related genes. Based on the current research, we propose the potential optimal RSA configuration that could be helpful in enhancing crop DR. Lastly, we discussed the existing challenges and future directions for breeding crops with enhanced DR capabilities through genetic improvements targeting RSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Crop Research Institute, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest Cold and Arid Regions, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Xi Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, HuBei 430070, China
| | - Xingrong Wang
- Crop Research Institute, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest Cold and Arid Regions, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Mingqiu Dai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, HuBei 430070, China.
| | - Yunling Peng
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China.
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14
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Jiang L, Guo T, Song X, Jiang H, Lu M, Luo J, Rossi V, He Y. MSH7 confers quantitative variation in pollen fertility and boosts grain yield in maize. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:1372-1386. [PMID: 38263872 PMCID: PMC11022798 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14272] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Fertile pollen is critical for the survival, fitness, and dispersal of flowering plants, and directly contributes to crop productivity. Extensive mutational screening studies have been carried out to dissect the genetic regulatory network determining pollen fertility, but we still lack fundamental knowledge about whether and how pollen fertility is controlled in natural populations. We used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to show that ZmGEN1A and ZmMSH7, two DNA repair-related genes, confer natural variation in maize pollen fertility. Mutants defective in these genes exhibited abnormalities in meiotic or post-meiotic DNA repair, leading to reduced pollen fertility. More importantly, ZmMSH7 showed evidence of selection during maize domestication, and its disruption resulted in a substantial increase in grain yield for both inbred and hybrid. Overall, our study describes the first systematic examination of natural genetic effects on pollen fertility in plants, providing valuable genetic resources for optimizing male fertility. In addition, we find that ZmMSH7 represents a candidate for improvement of grain yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luguang Jiang
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, College of Agronomy and BiotechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ting Guo
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Key Laboratory of Seed InnovationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xinyuan Song
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agro‐Biotechnology Research InstituteJilin Academy of Agricultural SciencesChangchunChina
| | - Huan Jiang
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, College of Agronomy and BiotechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Minhui Lu
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular BreedingChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jinhong Luo
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, College of Agronomy and BiotechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Key Laboratory of Seed InnovationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Vincenzo Rossi
- Council for Agricultural Research and EconomicsResearch Centre for Cereal and Industrial CropsBergamoItaly
| | - Yan He
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, College of Agronomy and BiotechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Key Laboratory of Seed InnovationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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15
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Zhang F, Rosental L, Ji B, Brotman Y, Dai M. Metabolite-mediated adaptation of crops to drought and the acquisition of tolerance. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 118:626-644. [PMID: 38241088 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16634] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Drought is one of the major and growing threats to agriculture productivity and food security. Metabolites are involved in the regulation of plant responses to various environmental stresses, including drought stress. The complex drought tolerance can be ascribed to several simple metabolic traits. These traits could then be used for detecting the genetic architecture of drought tolerance. Plant metabolomes show dynamic differences when drought occurs during different developmental stages or upon different levels of drought stress. Here, we reviewed the major and most recent findings regarding the metabolite-mediated plant drought response. Recent progress in the development of drought-tolerant agents is also discussed. We provide an updated schematic overview of metabolome-driven solutions for increasing crop drought tolerance and thereby addressing an impending agricultural challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Leah Rosental
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, 8410501, Israel
| | - Boming Ji
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yariv Brotman
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, 8410501, Israel
| | - Mingqiu Dai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
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16
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Li R, Wang Y, Li D, Guo Y, Zhou Z, Zhang M, Zhang Y, Würschum T, Liu W. Meta-Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis and Candidate Gene Mining for Drought Tolerance-Associated Traits in Maize ( Zea mays L.). Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4295. [PMID: 38673880 PMCID: PMC11049847 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084295] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses with a severe negative impact on maize production globally. Understanding the genetic architecture of drought tolerance in maize is a crucial step towards the breeding of drought-tolerant varieties and a targeted exploitation of genetic resources. In this study, 511 quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to grain yield components, flowering time, and plant morphology under drought conditions, as well as drought tolerance index were collected from 27 published studies and then projected on the IBM2 2008 Neighbors reference map for meta-analysis. In total, 83 meta-QTL (MQTL) associated with drought tolerance in maize were identified, of which 20 were determined as core MQTL. The average confidence interval of MQTL was strongly reduced compared to that of the previously published QTL. Nearly half of the MQTL were confirmed by co-localized marker-trait associations from genome-wide association studies. Based on the alignment of rice proteins related to drought tolerance, 63 orthologous genes were identified near the maize MQTL. Furthermore, 583 candidate genes were identified within the 20 core MQTL regions and maize-rice homologous genes. Based on KEGG analysis of candidate genes, plant hormone signaling pathways were found to be significantly enriched. The signaling pathways can have direct or indirect effects on drought tolerance and also interact with other pathways. In conclusion, this study provides novel insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in maize towards a more targeted improvement of this important trait in breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronglan Li
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, The Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing Municipality, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Yueli Wang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, The Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing Municipality, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Dongdong Li
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, The Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing Municipality, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuhang Guo
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, The Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing Municipality, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhipeng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, The Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing Municipality, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, The Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing Municipality, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Yufeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, The Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing Municipality, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Tobias Würschum
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Wenxin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, The Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing Municipality, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China
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17
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Li J, Liu X, Chang S, Chu W, Lin J, Zhou H, Hu Z, Zhang M, Xin M, Yao Y, Guo W, Xie X, Peng H, Ni Z, Sun Q, Long Y, Hu Z. The potassium transporter TaNHX2 interacts with TaGAD1 to promote drought tolerance via modulating stomatal aperture in wheat. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk4027. [PMID: 38608020 PMCID: PMC11014451 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk4027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Drought is a major global challenge in agriculture that decreases crop production. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) interfaces with drought stress in plants; however, a mechanistic understanding of the interaction between GABA accumulation and drought response remains to be established. Here we showed the potassium/proton exchanger TaNHX2 functions as a positive regulator in drought resistance in wheat by mediating cross-talk between the stomatal aperture and GABA accumulation. TaNHX2 interacted with glutamate decarboxylase TaGAD1, a key enzyme that synthesizes GABA from glutamate. Furthermore, TaNHX2 targeted the C-terminal auto-inhibitory domain of TaGAD1, enhanced its activity, and promoted GABA accumulation under drought stress. Consistent with this, the tanhx2 and tagad1 mutants showed reduced drought tolerance, and transgenic wheat with enhanced TaNHX2 expression had a yield advantage under water deficit without growth penalty. These results shed light on the plant stomatal movement mechanism under drought stress and the TaNHX2-TaGAD1 module may be harnessed for amelioration of negative environmental effects in wheat as well as other crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Xingbei Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Shumin Chang
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Wei Chu
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Jingchen Lin
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Zhuoran Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Mancang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Mingming Xin
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Yingyin Yao
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Weilong Guo
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Xie
- International Joint Center for the Mechanismic Dissection and Genetic Improvement of Crop Stress Tolerance, College of Agriculture & Resources and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300392, China
| | - Huiru Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Zhongfu Ni
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Qixin Sun
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Yu Long
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Zhaorong Hu
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding/Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
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Hu D, Zhao Y, Zhu L, Li X, Zhang J, Cui X, Li W, Hao D, Yang Z, Wu F, Dong S, Su X, Huang F, Yu D. Genetic dissection of ten photosynthesis-related traits based on InDel- and SNP-GWAS in soybean. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2024; 137:96. [PMID: 38589730 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-024-04607-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE A total of 416 InDels and 112 SNPs were significantly associated with soybean photosynthesis-related traits. GmIWS1 and GmCDC48 might be related to chlorophyll fluorescence and gas-exchange parameters, respectively. Photosynthesis is one of the main factors determining crop yield. A better understanding of the genetic architecture for photosynthesis is of great significance for soybean yield improvement. Our previous studies identified 5,410,112 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the resequencing data of 219 natural soybean accessions. Here, we identified 634,106 insertions and deletions (InDels) from these 219 accessions and used these InDel variations to perform principal component and linkage disequilibrium analysis of this population. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) were conducted on six chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (chlorophyll content, light energy absorbed per reaction center, quantum yield for electron transport, probability that a trapped exciton moves an electron into the electron transport chain beyond primary quinone acceptor, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II primary photochemistry in the dark-adapted state, performance index on absorption basis) and four gas-exchange parameters (intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate) and revealed 416 significant InDels and 112 significant SNPs. Based on GWAS results, GmIWS1 (encoding a transcription elongation factor) and GmCDC48 (encoding a cell division cycle protein) with the highest expression in the mapping region were determined as the candidate genes responsible for chlorophyll fluorescence and gas-exchange parameters, respectively. Further identification of favorable haplotypes with higher photosynthesis, seed weight and seed yield were carried out for GmIWS1 and GmCDC48. Overall, this study revealed the natural variations and candidate genes underlying the photosynthesis-related traits based on abundant phenotypic and genetic data, providing valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms controlling photosynthesis and yield in soybean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezhou Hu
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yajun Zhao
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Lixun Zhu
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiao Li
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jinyu Zhang
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, School of Agriculture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Xuan Cui
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Wenlong Li
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Derong Hao
- Jiangsu Yanjiang Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Nantong, 226012, China
| | - Zhongyi Yang
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Fei Wu
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Shupeng Dong
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaoyue Su
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Fang Huang
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| | - Deyue Yu
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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19
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Yu H, Liu B, Yang Q, Yang Q, Li W, Fu F. Maize ZmLAZ1-3 gene negatively regulates drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:246. [PMID: 38575869 PMCID: PMC10996212 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04923-x] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular mechanisms in response to drought stress are important for the genetic improvement of maize. In our previous study, nine ZmLAZ1 members were identified in the maize genome, but the function of ZmLAZ1 was largely unknown. RESULTS The ZmLAZ1-3 gene was cloned from B73, and its drought-tolerant function was elucidated by expression analysis in transgenic Arabidopsis. The expression of ZmLAZ1-3 was upregulated by drought stress in different maize inbred lines. The driving activity of the ZmLAZ1-3 promoter was induced by drought stress and related to the abiotic stress-responsive elements such as MYB, MBS, and MYC. The results of subcellular localization indicated that the ZmLAZ1-3 protein localized on the plasma membrane and chloroplast. The ectopic expression of the ZmLAZ1-3 gene in Arabidopsis significantly reduced germination ratio and root length, decreased biomass, and relative water content, but increased relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content under drought stress. Moreover, transcriptomics analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes between the transgenic lines and wild-type were mainly associated with response to abiotic stress and biotic stimulus, and related to pathways of hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, and plant-pathogen interaction. CONCLUSION The study suggests that the ZmLAZ1-3 gene is a negative regulator in regulating drought tolerance and can be used to improve maize drought tolerance via its silencing or knockout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoqiang Yu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingliang Liu
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinyu Yang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingqing Yang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanchen Li
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fengling Fu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Shi K, Liu J, Liang H, Dong H, Zhang J, Wei Y, Zhou L, Wang S, Zhu J, Cao M, Jones CS, Ma D, Wang Z. An alfalfa MYB-like transcriptional factor MsMYBH positively regulates alfalfa seedling drought resistance and undergoes MsWAV3-mediated degradation. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 66:683-699. [PMID: 38358036 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13626] [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: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Drought is a major threat to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production. The discovery of important alfalfa genes regulating drought response will facilitate breeding for drought-resistant alfalfa cultivars. Here, we report a genome-wide association study of drought resistance in alfalfa. We identified and functionally characterized an MYB-like transcription factor gene (MsMYBH), which increases the drought resistance in alfalfa. Compared with the wild-types, the biomass and forage quality were enhanced in MsMYBH overexpressed plants. Combined RNA-seq, proteomics and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that MsMYBH can directly bind to the promoters of MsMCP1, MsMCP2, MsPRX1A and MsCARCAB to improve their expression. The outcomes of such interactions include better water balance, high photosynthetic efficiency and scavenge excess H2O2 in response to drought. Furthermore, an E3 ubiquitin ligase (MsWAV3) was found to induce MsMYBH degradation under long-term drought, via the 26S proteasome pathway. Furthermore, variable-number tandem repeats in MsMYBH promoter were characterized among a collection of germplasms, and the variation is associated with promoter activity. Collectively, our findings shed light on the functions of MsMYBH and provide a pivotal gene that could be leveraged for breeding drought-resistant alfalfa. This discovery also offers new insights into the mechanisms of drought resistance in alfalfa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Shi
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jia Liu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Huan Liang
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Hongbin Dong
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jinli Zhang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yuanhong Wei
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Le Zhou
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Shaopeng Wang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiahao Zhu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Mingshu Cao
- AgResearch Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Chris S Jones
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Dongmei Ma
- School of Ecology and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
| | - Zan Wang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
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21
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Wang H, Ye T, Guo Z, Yao Y, Tu H, Wang P, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Li X, Li B, Xiong H, Lai X, Xiong L. A double-stranded RNA binding protein enhances drought resistance via protein phase separation in rice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2514. [PMID: 38514621 PMCID: PMC10957929 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46754-2] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Drought stress significantly impacts global rice production, highlighting the critical need to understand the genetic basis of drought resistance in rice. Here, through a genome-wide association study, we reveal that natural variations in DROUGHT RESISTANCE GENE 9 (DRG9), encoding a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) binding protein, contribute to drought resistance. Under drought stress, DRG9 condenses into stress granules (SGs) through liquid-liquid phase separation via a crucial α-helix. DRG9 recruits the mRNAs of OsNCED4, a key gene for the biosynthesis of abscisic acid, into SGs and protects them from degradation. In drought-resistant DRG9 allele, natural variations in the coding region, causing an amino acid substitution (G267F) within the zinc finger domain, increase DRG9's binding ability to OsNCED4 mRNA and enhance drought resistance. Introgression of the drought-resistant DRG9 allele into the elite rice Huanghuazhan significantly improves its drought resistance. Thus, our study underscores the role of a dsRNA-binding protein in drought resistance and its promising value in breeding drought-resistant rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaijun Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tiantian Ye
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zilong Guo
- Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yilong Yao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haifu Tu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengfei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yao Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaokai Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingchen Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haiyan Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuelei Lai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Lizhong Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
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22
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Feng X, Guan H, Wen Y, Zhou H, Xing X, Li Y, Zheng D, Wang Q, Zhang W, Xiong H, Hu Y, Jia L, Luo S, Zhang X, Guo W, Wu F, Xu J, Liu Y, Lu Y. Profiling the selected hotspots for ear traits in two maize-teosinte populations. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2024; 137:74. [PMID: 38451289 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-024-04554-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Eight selected hotspots related to ear traits were identified from two maize-teosinte populations. Throughout the history of maize cultivation, ear-related traits have been selected. However, little is known about the specific genes involved in shaping these traits from their origins in the wild progenitor, teosinte, to the characteristics observed in modern maize. In this study, five ear traits (kernel row number [KRN], ear length [EL], kernel number per row [KNR], cob diameter [CD], and ear diameter [ED]) were investigated, and eight quantitative trait loci (QTL) hotspots were identified in two maize-teosinte populations. Notably, our findings revealed a significant enrichment of genes showing a selection signature and expressed in the ear in qbdCD1.1, qbdCD5.1, qbpCD2.1, qbdED1.1, qbpEL1.1, qbpEL5.1, qbdKNR1.1, and qbdKNR10.1, suggesting that these eight QTL are selected hotspots involved in shaping the maize ear. By combining the results of the QTL analysis with data from previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving two natural panels, we identified eight candidate selected genes related to KRN, KNR, CD, and ED. Among these, considering their expression pattern and sequence variation, Zm00001d025111, encoding a WD40/YVTN protein, was proposed as a positive regulator of KNR. This study presents a framework for understanding the genomic distribution of selected loci crucial in determining ear-related traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanjun Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Huarui Guan
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Ying Wen
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Hanmei Zhou
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaobin Xing
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Yinzhi Li
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Zheng
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Qingjun Wang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Weixiao Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Hao Xiong
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Yue Hu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Li Jia
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuang Luo
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Fengkai Wu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie Xu
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Yaxi Liu
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanli Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China.
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China.
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23
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Wang J, Mao L, Li Y, Lu K, Qu C, Tang Z, Li J, Liu L. Natural variation in BnaA9.NF-YA7 contributes to drought tolerance in Brassica napus L. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2082. [PMID: 38453909 PMCID: PMC10920887 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46271-2] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the important oil crops worldwide. Its production is often threatened by drought stress. Here, we identify a transcription factor (BnaA9.NF-YA7) that negatively regulates drought tolerance through genome-wide association study in B. napus. The presence of two SNPs within a CCAAT cis element leads to downregulation of BnaA9.NF-YA7 expression. In addition, the M63I (G-to-C) substitution in the transactivation domain can activate low level expression of BnaA4.DOR, which is an inhibitory factor of ABA-induced stomatal closure. Furthermore, we determine that Bna.ABF3/4s directly regulate the expression of BnaA9.NF-YA7, and BnaA9.NF-YA7 indirectly suppresses the expression of Bna.ABF3/4s by regulation of Bna.ASHH4s. Our findings uncover that BnaA9.NF-YA7 serves as a supplementary role for ABA signal balance under drought stress conditions, and provide a potential molecular target to breed drought-tolerant B. napus cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Academy of Agricultural Science, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Lin Mao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Academy of Agricultural Science, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yangyang Li
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Academy of Agricultural Science, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Kun Lu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Academy of Agricultural Science, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Cunmin Qu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Academy of Agricultural Science, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhanglin Tang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Academy of Agricultural Science, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jiana Li
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Academy of Agricultural Science, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Liezhao Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- Academy of Agricultural Science, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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24
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Liu Y, Xin W, Chen L, Liu Y, Wang X, Ma C, Zhai L, Feng Y, Gao J, Zhang W. Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Effective Tillers in Rice under Different Nitrogen Gradients. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2969. [PMID: 38474217 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052969] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen is a crucial element that impacts rice yields, and effective tillering is a significant agronomic characteristic that can influence rice yields. The way that reduced nitrogen affects effective tillering is a complex quantitative trait that is controlled by multiple genes, and its genetic basis requires further exploration. In this study, 469 germplasm varieties were used for a genome-wide association analysis aiming to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with effective tillering at low (60 kg/hm2) and high (180 kg/hm2) nitrogen levels. QTLs detected over multiple years or under different treatments were scrutinized in this study, and candidate genes were identified through haplotype analysis and spatio-temporal expression patterns. A total of seven genes (NAL1, OsCKX9, Os01g0690800, Os02g0550300, Os02g0550700, Os04g0615700, and Os04g06163000) were pinpointed in these QTL regions, and were considered the most likely candidate genes. These results provide favorable information for the use of auxiliary marker selection in controlling effective tillering in rice for improved yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhuo Liu
- College of Agriculture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Wei Xin
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Liqiang Chen
- College of Agriculture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Yuqi Liu
- College of Agriculture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xue Wang
- College of Agriculture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Cheng Ma
- College of Agriculture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Laiyuan Zhai
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Yingying Feng
- College of Agriculture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Jiping Gao
- College of Agriculture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Wenzhong Zhang
- College of Agriculture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
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25
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Sato H, Mizoi J, Shinozaki K, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K. Complex plant responses to drought and heat stress under climate change. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 117:1873-1892. [PMID: 38168757 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Global climate change is predicted to result in increased yield losses of agricultural crops caused by environmental conditions. In particular, heat and drought stress are major factors that negatively affect plant development and reproduction, and previous studies have revealed how these stresses induce plant responses at physiological and molecular levels. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge concerning how drought, heat, and combinations of these stress conditions affect the status of plants, including crops, by affecting factors such as stomatal conductance, photosynthetic activity, cellular oxidative conditions, metabolomic profiles, and molecular signaling mechanisms. We further discuss stress-responsive regulatory factors such as transcription factors and signaling factors, which play critical roles in adaptation to both drought and heat stress conditions and potentially function as 'hubs' in drought and/or heat stress responses. Additionally, we present recent findings based on forward genetic approaches that reveal natural variations in agricultural crops that play critical roles in agricultural traits under drought and/or heat conditions. Finally, we provide an overview of the application of decades of study results to actual agricultural fields as a strategy to increase drought and/or heat stress tolerance. This review summarizes our current understanding of plant responses to drought, heat, and combinations of these stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Sato
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Junya Mizoi
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kazuo Shinozaki
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Kazuko Yamaguchi-Shinozaki
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
- Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuraoka, Setagara-ku, Tokyo, 156-8502, Japan
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Yu B, Chao DY, Zhao Y. How plants sense and respond to osmotic stress. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 66:394-423. [PMID: 38329193 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Drought is one of the most serious abiotic stresses to land plants. Plants sense and respond to drought stress to survive under water deficiency. Scientists have studied how plants sense drought stress, or osmotic stress caused by drought, ever since Charles Darwin, and gradually obtained clues about osmotic stress sensing and signaling in plants. Osmotic stress is a physical stimulus that triggers many physiological changes at the cellular level, including changes in turgor, cell wall stiffness and integrity, membrane tension, and cell fluid volume, and plants may sense some of these stimuli and trigger downstream responses. In this review, we emphasized water potential and movements in organisms, compared putative signal inputs in cell wall-containing and cell wall-free organisms, prospected how plants sense changes in turgor, membrane tension, and cell fluid volume under osmotic stress according to advances in plants, animals, yeasts, and bacteria, summarized multilevel biochemical and physiological signal outputs, such as plasma membrane nanodomain formation, membrane water permeability, root hydrotropism, root halotropism, Casparian strip and suberin lamellae, and finally proposed a hypothesis that osmotic stress responses are likely to be a cocktail of signaling mediated by multiple osmosensors. We also discussed the core scientific questions, provided perspective about the future directions in this field, and highlighted the importance of robust and smart root systems and efficient source-sink allocations for generating future high-yield stress-resistant crops and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yu
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Carbon Capture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Dai-Yin Chao
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Carbon Capture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Obunyali CO, Pillay K, Meisel B, Ndou EN, Mashingaidze K, Sserumaga JP, Asea G, Mwimali M, Tende R, Beyene Y, Mugo S, Okogbenin E, Oikeh SO. Efficacy of Event MON 87460 in drought-tolerant maize hybrids under optimal and managed drought-stress in eastern and southern africa. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2024; 22:100352. [PMID: 38494265 PMCID: PMC10941202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100352] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frequent drought events due to climate change have become a major threat to maize (Zea mays L.) production and food security in Africa. Genetic engineering is one of the ways of improving drought tolerance through gene introgression to reduce the impact of drought stress in maize production. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Event MON 87460 (CspB; DroughtGard®) gene in more than 120 conventional drought-tolerant maize hybrids in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda for 3-6 years under managed drought-stress and optimal conditions and establish any additional yield contribution or yield penalties of the gene in traited hybrids relative to their non-traited isohybrids. Germplasm used in the study were either MON 87460 traited un-adapted (2008-2010), adapted traited DroughtTEGO® (2011-2013) or a mix of both under confined field trials. RESULTS Results showed significant yield differences (p < 0.001) among MON 87460 traited and non-traited hybrids across well-watered and managed drought-stress treatments. The gene had positive and significant effect on yield by 36-62% in three hybrids (CML312/CML445; WMA8101/CML445; and CML312/S0125Z) relative to non-traited hybrids under drought, and without significant yield penalty under optimum-moisture conditions in Lutzville, South Africa. Five traited hybrids (WMA2003/WMB4401; CML442/WMB4401; CML489/WMB4401; CML511/CML445; and CML395/WMB4401) had 7-13% significantly higher yield than the non-traited isohybrids out of 34 adapted DroughtTEGO® hybrids with same background genetics in the three countries for ≥ 3 years. The positive effect of MON 87460 was mostly observed under high drought-stress relative to low, moderate, or severe stress levels. CONCLUSION This study showed that MON 87460 transgenic drought tolerant maize hybrids could effectively tolerate drought and shield farmers against severe yield loss due to drought stress. The study signified that development and adoption of transgenic drought tolerant maize hybrids can cushion against farm yield losses due to drought stress as part of an integrated approach in adaptation to climate change effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb O Obunyali
- African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), P.O Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi Kenya.
| | - Kiru Pillay
- Bayer Crop Science. 27 Wrench Rd, Isando, Johannesburg 1600, South Africa.
| | - Barbara Meisel
- Bayer Crop Science. 27 Wrench Rd, Isando, Johannesburg 1600, South Africa.
| | - Eric N Ndou
- Agricultural Research Council (ARC)-Grain Crops Institute Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Present address: Bayer Crop Science. 27 Wrench Rd, Isando, Johannesburg, 1600, South Africa.
| | - Kingstone Mashingaidze
- Agricultural Research Council (ARC)-Grain Crops Institute Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
| | - Julius Pyton Sserumaga
- National Agricultural Research Organization, National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), P.O. Box 5704, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Godfrey Asea
- National Agricultural Research Organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute, P.O Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Murenga Mwimali
- Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Agricultural Mechanization Research Institute, P.O. Box 340-90100 Machakos, Kenya.
| | - Regina Tende
- Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Agricultural Mechanization Research Institute, P.O. Box 340-90100 Machakos, Kenya.
| | - Yoseph Beyene
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), P. O. Box 1041, Village Market, 00621, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Stephen Mugo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), P. O. Box 1041, Village Market, 00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Present Address: Center for Resilient Agriculture for Africa (CRA-Africa), PO Box 286-00206 Kiserian, Kenya.
| | - Emmanuel Okogbenin
- African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), P.O Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi Kenya.
| | - Sylvester O Oikeh
- African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), P.O Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi Kenya.
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Zhang J, Chen X, Song Y, Gong Z. Integrative regulatory mechanisms of stomatal movements under changing climate. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 66:368-393. [PMID: 38319001 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13611] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Global climate change-caused drought stress, high temperatures and other extreme weather profoundly impact plant growth and development, restricting sustainable crop production. To cope with various environmental stimuli, plants can optimize the opening and closing of stomata to balance CO2 uptake for photosynthesis and water loss from leaves. Guard cells perceive and integrate various signals to adjust stomatal pores through turgor pressure regulation. Molecular mechanisms and signaling networks underlying the stomatal movements in response to environmental stresses have been extensively studied and elucidated. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of stomatal movements mediated by abscisic acid, light, CO2 , reactive oxygen species, pathogens, temperature, and other phytohormones. We discussed the significance of elucidating the integrative mechanisms that regulate stomatal movements in helping design smart crops with enhanced water use efficiency and resilience in a climate-changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xuexue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yajing Song
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhizhong Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100094, China
- Institute of Life Science and Green Development, School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071001, China
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29
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Kalra A, Goel S, Elias AA. Understanding role of roots in plant response to drought: Way forward to climate-resilient crops. THE PLANT GENOME 2024; 17:e20395. [PMID: 37853948 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Drought stress leads to a significant amount of agricultural crop loss. Thus, with changing climatic conditions, it is important to develop resilience measures in agricultural systems against drought stress. Roots play a crucial role in regulating plant development under drought stress. In this review, we have summarized the studies on the role of roots and root-mediated plant responses. We have also discussed the importance of root system architecture (RSA) and the various structural and anatomical changes that it undergoes to increase survival and productivity under drought. Various genes, transcription factors, and quantitative trait loci involved in regulating root growth and development are also discussed. A summarization of various instruments and software that can be used for high-throughput phenotyping in the field is also provided in this review. More comprehensive studies are required to help build a detailed understanding of RSA and associated traits for breeding drought-resilient cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anmol Kalra
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, North Campus, Delhi, India
| | - Shailendra Goel
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, North Campus, Delhi, India
| | - Ani A Elias
- ICFRE - Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (ICFRE - IFGTB), Coimbatore, India
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Lu X, Liu P, Tu L, Guo X, Wang A, Zhu Y, Jiang Y, Zhang C, Xu Y, Chen Z, Wu X. Joint-GWAS, Linkage Mapping, and Transcriptome Analysis to Reveal the Genetic Basis of Plant Architecture-Related Traits in Maize. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2694. [PMID: 38473942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052694] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant architecture is one of the key factors affecting maize yield formation and can be divided into secondary traits, such as plant height (PH), ear height (EH), and leaf number (LN). It is a viable approach for exploiting genetic resources to improve plant density. In this study, one natural panel of 226 inbred lines and 150 family lines derived from the offspring of T32 crossed with Qi319 were genotyped by using the MaizeSNP50 chip and the genotyping by sequence (GBS) method and phenotyped under three different environments. Based on the results, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and linkage mapping were analyzed by using the MLM and ICIM models, respectively. The results showed that 120 QTNs (quantitative trait nucleotides) and 32 QTL (quantitative trait loci) related to plant architecture were identified, including four QTL and 40 QTNs of PH, eight QTL and 41 QTNs of EH, and 20 QTL and 39 QTNs of LN. One dominant QTL, qLN7-2, was identified in the Zhangye environment. Six QTNs were commonly identified to be related to PH, EH, and LN in different environments. The candidate gene analysis revealed that Zm00001d021574 was involved in regulating plant architecture traits through the autophagy pathway, and Zm00001d044730 was predicted to interact with the male sterility-related gene ms26. These results provide abundant genetic resources for improving maize plant architecture traits by using approaches to biological breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Lu
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Karst Region, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Liang Tu
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Xiangyang Guo
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Angui Wang
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Yunfang Zhu
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Yulin Jiang
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Karst Region, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Chunlan Zhang
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Zehui Chen
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Xun Wu
- Institute of Upland Food Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Karst Region, Guiyang 550006, China
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Liu B, Wang N, Yang R, Wang X, Luo P, Chen Y, Wang F, Li M, Weng J, Zhang D, Yong H, Han J, Zhou Z, Zhang X, Hao Z, Li X. ZmADF5, a Maize Actin-Depolymerizing Factor Conferring Enhanced Drought Tolerance in Maize. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:619. [PMID: 38475468 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Drought stress is seriously affecting the growth and production of crops, especially when agricultural irrigation still remains quantitatively restricted in some arid and semi-arid areas. The identification of drought-tolerant genes is important for improving the adaptability of maize under stress. Here, we found that a new member of the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) family; the ZmADF5 gene was tightly linked with a consensus drought-tolerant quantitative trait locus, and the significantly associated signals were detected through genome wide association analysis. ZmADF5 expression could be induced by osmotic stress and the application of exogenous abscisic acid. Its overexpression in Arabidopsis and maize helped plants to keep a higher survival rate after water-deficit stress, which reduced the stomatal aperture and the water-loss rate, as well as improved clearance of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, seventeen differentially expressed genes were identified as regulated by both drought stress and ZmADF5, four of which were involved in the ABA-dependent drought stress response. ZmADF5-overexpressing plants were also identified as sensitive to ABA during the seed germination and seedling stages. These results suggested that ZmADF5 played an important role in the response to drought stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Nan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Ruisi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ping Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Mingshun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jianfeng Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Degui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hongjun Yong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jienan Han
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xuecai Zhang
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo. Postal 6-641, Texcoco 06600, Mexico
| | - Zhuanfang Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xinhai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
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32
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Yao M, He D, Li W, Xiong X, He X, Liu Z, Guan C, Qian L. Identification of environment-insensitive genes for oil content by combination of transcriptome and genome-wide association analysis in rapeseed. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2024; 17:29. [PMID: 38383469 PMCID: PMC10882896 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-024-02480-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The primary objective of rapeseed breeding is to enhance oil content, which is predominantly influenced by environmental factors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of these environmental factors on oil accumulation remain inadequately elucidated. In this study, we used transcriptome data from two higher (HOC) and two lower oil content (LOC) inbred lines at 35 days after pollination (DAP) to investigate genes exhibiting stable expression across three different environments. Meanwhile, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was utilized to detect candidate genes exhibiting significant associations with seed oil content across three distinct environments. RESULTS The study found a total of 405 stable differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 25 involved in lipid/fatty acid metabolism and 14 classified as transcription factors. Among these genes, BnBZIP10-A09, BnMYB61-A06, BnAPA1-A08, BnPAS2-A10, BnLCAT3-C05 and BnKASIII-C09 were also found to exhibit significant associations with oil content across multiple different environments based on GWAS of 50 re-sequenced semi-winter rapeseed inbred lines and previously reported intervals. Otherwise, we revealed the presence of additive effects among BnBZIP10-A09, BnKASIII-C09, BnPAS2-A10 and BnAPA1-A08, resulting in a significant increase in seed oil content. Meanwhile, the majority of these stable DEGs are interconnected either directly or indirectly through co-expression network analysis, thereby giving rise to an elaborate molecular network implicated in the potential regulation of seed oil accumulation and stability. CONCLUSIONS The combination of transcription and GWAS revealed that natural variation in six environment-insensitive gene regions exhibited significant correlations with seed oil content phenotypes. These results provide important molecular marker information for us to further improve oil content accumulation and stability in rapeseed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yao
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Dan He
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Wen Li
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Xinghua Xiong
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Xin He
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Zhongsong Liu
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Chunyun Guan
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Lunwen Qian
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.
- Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, China.
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Sahito JH, Zhang H, Gishkori ZGN, Ma C, Wang Z, Ding D, Zhang X, Tang J. Advancements and Prospects of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in Maize. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1918. [PMID: 38339196 PMCID: PMC10855973 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031918] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have emerged as a powerful tool for unraveling intricate genotype-phenotype association across various species. Maize (Zea mays L.), renowned for its extensive genetic diversity and rapid linkage disequilibrium (LD), stands as an exemplary candidate for GWAS. In maize, GWAS has made significant advancements by pinpointing numerous genetic loci and potential genes associated with complex traits, including responses to both abiotic and biotic stress. These discoveries hold the promise of enhancing adaptability and yield through effective breeding strategies. Nevertheless, the impact of environmental stress on crop growth and yield is evident in various agronomic traits. Therefore, understanding the complex genetic basis of these traits becomes paramount. This review delves into current and future prospectives aimed at yield, quality, and environmental stress resilience in maize and also addresses the challenges encountered during genomic selection and molecular breeding, all facilitated by the utilization of GWAS. Furthermore, the integration of omics, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, and phenomics has enriched our understanding of intricate traits in maize, thereby enhancing environmental stress tolerance and boosting maize production. Collectively, these insights not only advance our understanding of the genetic mechanism regulating complex traits but also propel the utilization of marker-assisted selection in maize molecular breeding programs, where GWAS plays a pivotal role. Therefore, GWAS provides robust support for delving into the genetic mechanism underlying complex traits in maize and enhancing breeding strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javed Hussain Sahito
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Zeeshan Ghulam Nabi Gishkori
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chenhui Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Zhihao Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Dong Ding
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xuehai Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jihua Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- The Shennong Laboratory, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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Zhang D, Gan Y, Le L, Pu L. Epigenetic variation in maize agronomical traits for breeding and trait improvement. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00028-6. [PMID: 38310944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.01.006] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetics-mediated breeding (Epibreeding) involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity. While conventional breeding methods raise concerns about reduced genetic diversity, epibreeding propels crop improvement through epigenetic variations that regulate gene expression, ultimately impacting crop yield. Epigenetic regulation in crops encompasses various modes, including histone modification, DNA modification, RNA modification, non-coding RNA, and chromatin remodeling. This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms underlying major agronomic traits in maize and identifies candidate epigenetic landmarks in the maize breeding process. We propose a valuable strategy for improving maize yield through epibreeding, combining CRISPR/Cas-based epigenome editing technology and Synthetic Epigenetics (SynEpi). Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with maize trait improvement through epibreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daolei Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010021, China
| | - Yujun Gan
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Liang Le
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Li Pu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Li H, Che R, Zhu J, Yang X, Li J, Fernie AR, Yan J. Multi-omics-driven advances in the understanding of triacylglycerol biosynthesis in oil seeds. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 117:999-1017. [PMID: 38009661 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16545] [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: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Vegetable oils are rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids and energy as well as valuable sources of human food, animal feed, and bioenergy. Triacylglycerols, which are comprised of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone, are the main component of vegetable oils. Here, we review the development and application of multiple-level omics in major oilseeds and emphasize the progress in the analysis of the biological roles of key genes underlying seed oil content and quality in major oilseeds. Finally, we discuss future research directions in functional genomics research based on current omics and oil metabolic engineering strategies that aim to enhance seed oil content and quality, and specific fatty acids components according to either human health needs or industrial requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Ronghui Che
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Jiantang Zhu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Xiaohong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiansheng Li
- National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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Li Y, Su Z, Lin Y, Xu Z, Bao H, Wang F, Liu J, Hu S, Wang Z, Yu X, Gao J. Utilizing transcriptomics and metabolomics to unravel key genes and metabolites of maize seedlings in response to drought stress. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:34. [PMID: 38185653 PMCID: PMC10773024 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04712-y] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drought stress can substantially restrict maize growth and productivity, and global warming and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events are likely to result in more yield losses in the future. Therefore, unraveling the molecular mechanism underlying the response to drought stress is essential for breeding drought-resilient crops. RESULTS In this study, we subjected the 3-leaf-period plants of two maize inbred lines, a drought-tolerant line (si287) and a drought-sensitive line (X178), to drought stress for seven days while growing in a chamber. Subsequently, we measured physiological traits and analyzed transcriptomic and metabolic profiles of two inbred lines. Our KEGG analysis of genes and metabolites revealed significant differences in pathways related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids. Additionally, our joint analysis identified proline, tryptophan and phenylalanine are crucial amino acids for maize response to drought stress. Furthermore, we concentrated on tryptophan (Trp), which was found to enhance tolerance via IAA-ABA signaling, as well as SA and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) consequent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. We identified three hub genes in tryptophan biosynthesis, indole-3-acetaldehyde oxidase (ZmAO1, 542,228), catalase 1 (ZmCAT1, 542,369), and flavin-containing monooxygenase 6 (ZmYUC6, 103,629,142), High expression of these genes plays a significant role in regulating drought tolerance. Two metabolites related to tryptophan biosynthesis, quinolinic acid, and kynurenine improved maize tolerance to drought stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species. CONCLUSIONS This study illuminates the mechanisms underlying the response of maize seedlings to drought stress. Especially, it identifies novel candidate genes and metabolites, enriching our understanding of the role of tryptophan in drought stress. The identification of distinct resistance mechanisms in maize inbred lines will facilitate the exploration of maize germplasm and the breeding of drought-resilient hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipu Li
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
| | - Zhijun Su
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yanan Lin
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhenghan Xu
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Haizhu Bao
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Fugui Wang
- Vocational and Technical College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Baotou, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Vocational and Technical College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Baotou, China
| | - Shuping Hu
- Vocational and Technical College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Baotou, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xiaofang Yu
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
| | - Julin Gao
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
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Zhang J, Zhang Y, Feng C. Genome-Wide Analysis of MYB Genes in Primulina eburnea (Hance) and Identification of Members in Response to Drought Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:465. [PMID: 38203634 PMCID: PMC10778706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010465] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to periodic water deficiency in karst environments, Primulina eburnea experiences sporadic drought stress in its habitat. Despite being one of the largest gene families and functionally diverse in terms of plant growth and development, MYB transcription factors in P. eburnea have not been studied. Here, a total of 230 MYB genes were identified in P. eburnea, including 67 1R-MYB, 155 R2R3-MYB, six 3R-MYB, and two 4R-MYB genes. The R2R3-type PebMYB genes could be classified into 16 subgroups, while the remaining PebMYB genes (1R-MYB, 3R-MYB, and 4R-MYB genes) were divided into 10 subgroups. Notably, the results of the phylogenetic analysis were further supported by the motif and gene structure analysis, which showed that individuals in the same subgroup had comparable motif and structure organization. Additionally, gene duplication and synteny analyses were performed to better understand the evolution of PebMYB genes, and 291 pairs of segmental duplicated genes were found. Moreover, RNA-seq analysis revealed that the PebMYB genes could be divided into five groups based on their expression characteristics. Furthermore, 11 PebMYB genes that may be involved in drought stress response were identified through comparative analysis with Arabidopsis thaliana. Notably, seven of these genes (PebMYB3, PebMYB13, PebMYB17, PebMYB51, PebMYB142, PebMYB69, and PebMYB95) exhibited significant differences in expression between the control and drought stress treatments, suggesting that they may play important roles in drought stress response. These findings clarified the characteristics of the MYB gene family in P. eburnea, augmenting our comprehension of their potential roles in drought stress adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Ex Situ Plant Conservation and Utilization, Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang 332900, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yi Zhang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Ex Situ Plant Conservation and Utilization, Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang 332900, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.)
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Chen Feng
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Ex Situ Plant Conservation and Utilization, Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang 332900, China; (J.Z.); (Y.Z.)
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Yang W, Liu X, Yu S, Liu J, Jiang L, Lu X, Liu Y, Zhang J, Li X, Zhang S. The maize ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter ZmMRPA6 confers cold and salt stress tolerance in plants. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 43:13. [PMID: 38135780 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03094-7] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE ZmMRPA6 was cloned and characterized as the first ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter in maize to be proven to participate in cold and salt tolerance. Homologous genes AtABCC4 and AtABCC14 of ZmMRPA6 also responded to salt stress. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins are major transmembrane transporters that play significant roles in plant development against various abiotic stresses. However, available information regarding stress-related ABC genes in maize is minimal. In this study, a maize ABC transporter gene, ZmMRPA6, was identified through genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) for cold tolerance in maize seeds germination and functionally characterized. During germination and seedling stages, the zmmrpa6 mutant exhibited enhanced resistance to cold or salt stress. Mutated of ZmMRPA6 did not affect the expression of downstream response genes related cold or salt response at the transcriptional level. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that most of the differential proteins between zmmrpa6 and wild-type plants were involved in response to stress process including oxidative reduction, hydrolase activity, small molecule metabolism, and photosynthesis process. Meanwhile, the plants which lack the ZmMRPA6 homologous genes AtABCC4 or AtABCC14 were sensitive to salt stress in Arabidopsis. These results indicated that ZmMRPA6 and its homologous genes play a conserved role in cold and salt stress, and functional differentiation occurs in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. In summary, these findings dramatically improved our understanding of the function of ABC transporters resistance to abiotic stresses in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Shaowei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Jisheng Liu
- Institute of Molecular Breeding for Maize, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong, China
| | - Lijun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Xiaoduo Lu
- Institute of Molecular Breeding for Maize, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, 250200, Shandong, China
| | - Yinggao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Jiedao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
| | - Shuxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
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Zhang K, Xue M, Qin F, He Y, Zhou Y. Natural polymorphisms in ZmIRX15A affect water-use efficiency by modulating stomatal density in maize. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:2560-2573. [PMID: 37572352 PMCID: PMC10651153 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14153] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Stomatal density (SD) is closely related to crop drought resistance. Understanding the genetic basis for natural variation in SD may facilitate efforts to improve water-use efficiency. Here, we report a genome-wide association study for SD in maize seedlings, which identified 18 genetic variants that could be resolved to seven candidate genes. A 3-bp insertion variant (InDel1089) in the last exon of Zea mays (Zm) IRX15A (Irregular xylem 15A) had the most significant association with SD and modulated the translation of ZmIRX15A mRNA by affecting its secondary structure. Dysfunction of ZmIRX15A increased SD, leading to an increase in the transpiration rate and CO2 assimilation efficiency. ZmIRX15A encodes a xylan deposition enzyme and its disruption significantly decreased xylan abundance in secondary cell wall composition. Transcriptome analysis revealed a substantial alteration of the expression of genes involved in stomatal complex morphogenesis and drought response in the loss-of-function of ZmIRX15A mutant. Overall, our study provides important genetic insights into the natural variation of leaf SD in maize, and the identified loci or genes can serve as direct targets for enhancing drought resistance in molecular-assisted maize breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and BiochemistryEngineering Research Center of Plant Growth RegulatorCollege of Agronomy and BiotechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ming Xue
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and PhysiologyCo‐Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain CropsKey Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of EducationYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Feng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and BiochemistryCollege of Biological SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yan He
- National Maize Improvement Center of ChinaCollege of Agronomy and BiotechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yuyi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and BiochemistryEngineering Research Center of Plant Growth RegulatorCollege of Agronomy and BiotechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
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Dong S, Li C, Tian H, Wang W, Yang X, Beckles DM, Liu X, Guan J, Gu X, Sun J, Miao H, Zhang S. Natural variation in STAYGREEN contributes to low-temperature tolerance in cucumber. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:2552-2568. [PMID: 37811725 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Low-temperature (LT) stress threatens cucumber production globally; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying LT tolerance in cucumber remain largely unknown. Here, using a genome-wide association study (GWAS), we found a naturally occurring single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the STAYGREEN (CsSGR) coding region at the gLTT5.1 locus associated with LT tolerance. Knockout mutants of CsSGR generated by clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 exhibit enhanced LT tolerance, in particularly, increased chlorophyll (Chl) content and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in response to LT. Moreover, the C-repeat Binding Factor 1 (CsCBF1) transcription factor can directly activate the expression of CsSGR. We demonstrate that the LT-sensitive haplotype CsSGRHapA , but not the LT-tolerant haplotype CsSGRHapG could interact with NON-YELLOW COLORING 1 (CsNYC1) to mediate Chl degradation. Geographic distribution of the CsSGR haplotypes indicated that the CsSGRHapG was selected in cucumber accessions from high latitudes, potentially contributing to LT tolerance during cucumber cold-adaptation in these regions. CsSGR mutants also showed enhanced tolerance to salinity, water deficit, and Pseudoperonospora cubensis, thus CsSGR is an elite target gene for breeding cucumber varieties with broad-spectrum stress tolerance. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into LT tolerance and will ultimately facilitate cucumber molecular breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoyun Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Caixia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Haojie Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Weiping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xueyong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Diane M Beckles
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, One Shield Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jiantao Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xingfang Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jiaqiang Sun
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Han Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Shengping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
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Tao K, Li Y, Hu Y, Li Y, Zhang D, Li C, He G, Song Y, Shi Y, Li Y, Wang T, Lu Y, Liu X. Overexpression of ZmEXPA5 reduces anthesis-silking interval and increases grain yield under drought and well-watered conditions in maize. MOLECULAR BREEDING : NEW STRATEGIES IN PLANT IMPROVEMENT 2023; 43:84. [PMID: 38009100 PMCID: PMC10667192 DOI: 10.1007/s11032-023-01432-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting the maize production worldwide. As a cross-pollination crop, maize is sensitive to water stress at flowering stage. Drought at this stage leads to asynchronous development of male and female flower organ and increased interval between anthesis and silking, which finally causes failure of pollination and grain yield loss. In the present study, the expansin gene ZmEXPA5 was cloned and its function in drought tolerance was characterized. An indel variant in promoter of ZmEXPA5 is significantly associated with natural variation in drought-induced anthesis-silking interval. The drought susceptible haplotypes showed lower expression level of ZmEXPA5 than tolerant haplotypes and lost the cis-regulatory activity of ZmDOF29. Increasing ZmEXPA5 expression in transgenic maize decreases anthesis-silking interval and improves grain yield under both drought and well-watered environments. In addition, the expression pattern of ZmEXPA5 was analyzed. These findings provide insights into the genetic basis of drought tolerance and a promising gene for drought improvement in maize breeding. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01432-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyu Tao
- College of Advanced Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080 China
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434000 China
| | - Yue Hu
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yongxiang Li
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Dengfeng Zhang
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Chunhui Li
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Guanhua He
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yanchun Song
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yunsu Shi
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yu Li
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yuncai Lu
- College of Advanced Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080 China
| | - Xuyang Liu
- State Key Lab of Crop Gene Resource and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
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Li Y, Bao H, Xu Z, Hu S, Sun J, Wang Z, Yu X, Gao J. AMMI an GGE biplot analysis of grain yield for drought-tolerant maize hybrid selection in Inner Mongolia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18800. [PMID: 37914756 PMCID: PMC10620424 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46167-z] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the ongoing global warming, maize production worldwide is expected to be heavily inflicted by droughts. The grain yield of maize hybrids is an important factor in evaluating their suitability and stability. In this study, we utilized the AMMI model and GGE biplot to analyze grain yield of 20 hybrids from the three tested environments in Inner Mongolia in 2018 and 2019, aiming at selecting drought-tolerant maize hybrids. AMMI variance analysis revealed highly significant difference on main effects for genotype, environment, and their interaction. Furthermore, G11 (DK159) and G15 (JKY3308) exhibited favorable productivity and stability across all three test environments. Moreover, G10 (LH1) emerged as the most stable hybrid according to the AMMI analysis and the GGE biplot. Bayannur demonstrated the highest identification ability among the three tested sites. Our study provides accurate identification for drought-resilient maize hybrids in different rain-fed regions. These findings can contribute to the selection of appropriate hybrids that exhibit productivity, stability, and adaptability in drought-prone conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipu Li
- Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Haizhu Bao
- Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Zhenghan Xu
- Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Shuping Hu
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Vocational and Technical College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Jiying Sun
- Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Xiaofang Yu
- Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Julin Gao
- Agricultural College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
- Region Research Center for Conservation and Utilization of Crop Germplasm Resources in Cold and Arid Areas, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
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Liu Q, Wang F, Li P, Yu G, Zhang X. Overexpression of Lolium multiflorum LmMYB1 Enhances Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15280. [PMID: 37894960 PMCID: PMC10607481 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015280] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lolium multiflorum is one of the world-famous forage grasses with rich biomass, fast growth rate and good nutritional quality. However, its growth and forage yield are often affected by drought, which is a major natural disaster all over the world. MYB transcription factors have some specific roles in response to drought stress, such as regulation of stomatal development and density, control of cell wall and root development. However, the biological function of MYB in L. multiflorum remains unclear. Previously, we elucidated the role of LmMYB1 in enhancing osmotic stress resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, this study elucidates the biological function of LmMYB1 in enhancing plant drought tolerance through an ABA-dependent pathway involving the regulation of cell wall development and stomatal density. After drought stress and ABA stress, the expression of LmMYB1 in L. multiflorum was significantly increased. Overexpression of LmMYB1 increased the survival rate of Arabidopsis thaliana under drought stress. Under drought conditions, expression levels of drought-responsive genes such as AtRD22, AtRAB and AtAREB were up-regulated in OE compared with those in WT. Further observation showed that the stomatal density of OE was reduced, which was associated with the up-regulated expression of cell wall-related pathway genes in the RNA-Seq results. In conclusion, this study confirmed the biological function of LmMYB1 in improving drought tolerance by mediating cell wall development through the ABA-dependent pathway and thereby affecting stomatal density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxu Liu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (Q.L.); (F.W.); (P.L.)
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Fangyan Wang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (Q.L.); (F.W.); (P.L.)
| | - Peng Li
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (Q.L.); (F.W.); (P.L.)
| | - Guohui Yu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (Q.L.); (F.W.); (P.L.)
| | - Xinquan Zhang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (Q.L.); (F.W.); (P.L.)
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Wang R, Zhang Z, Wang H, Chen Y, Zhang M. Soil Water Deficit Reduced Root Hydraulic Conductivity of Common Reed ( Phragmites australis). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3543. [PMID: 37896007 PMCID: PMC10610267 DOI: 10.3390/plants12203543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in root hydraulics in response to varying moisture conditions remain a subject of debate. In our investigation, we subjected common reeds (Phragmites australis) to a 45-day treatment with four distinct soil moisture levels. The findings unveiled that, in response to drought stress, the total root length, surface area, volume, and average diameter exhibited varying degrees of reduction. Anatomically, drought caused a reduction in root diameter (RD), cortex thickness (CT), vessel diameter (VD), and root cross-sectional area (RCA). A decrease in soil moisture significantly reduced both whole- and single-root hydraulic conductivity (Lpwr, Lpsr). The total length, surface area, volume, and average diameter of the reed root system were significantly correlated with Lpwr, while RD, CT, and RCA were significantly correlated with Lpsr. A decrease in soil moisture content significantly influenced root morphological and anatomical characteristics, which, in turn, altered Lpr, and the transcriptome results suggest that this may be associated with the variation in the expression of abscisic acid (ABA) and aquaporins (AQPs) genes. Our initial findings address a gap in our understanding of reed hydraulics, offering fresh theoretical insights into how herbaceous plants respond to external stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (R.W.); (H.W.)
- The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100083, China
- Wetland Research Centre, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zhenming Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (R.W.); (H.W.)
- The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100083, China
- Wetland Research Centre, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Haoyue Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (R.W.); (H.W.)
- The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100083, China
- Wetland Research Centre, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yinglong Chen
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia;
| | - Mingxiang Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (R.W.); (H.W.)
- The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100083, China
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing 100083, China
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Kim KH, Lee BM. Effects of Climate Change and Drought Tolerance on Maize Growth. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3548. [PMID: 37896012 PMCID: PMC10610049 DOI: 10.3390/plants12203548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is affecting all regions of the world with different climates, and the scale of damage is increasing due to the occurrence of various natural disasters. In particular, maize production is highly affected by abnormal climate events such as heat waves and droughts. Increasing temperatures can accelerate growth and shorten the growing season, potentially reducing productivity. Additionally, enhanced temperatures during the ripening period can accelerate the process, reducing crop yields. In addition, drought stress due to water deficit can greatly affect seedling formation, early plant growth, photosynthesis, reproductive growth, and yield, so proper water management is critical to maize growth. Maize, in particular, is tall and broad-leaved, so extreme drought stress at planting can cause leaves to curl and stunt growth. It is important to understand that severe drought can have a detrimental effect on the growth and reproduction of maize. In addition, high temperatures caused by drought stress can inhibit the induction of flowering in male flowers and cause factors that interfere with pollen development. It is therefore important to increase the productivity of all food crops, including maize, while maintaining them in the face of persistent drought caused by climate change. This requires a strategy to develop genetically modified crops and drought-tolerant maize that can effectively respond to climate change. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of climate change and drought tolerance on maize growth. We also reviewed molecular breeding techniques to develop drought-tolerant maize varieties in response to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Byung-Moo Lee
- Department of Life Science, Dongguk University—Seoul, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea;
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Ningning Z, Binbin L, Fan Y, Jianzhong C, Yuqian Z, Yejian W, Wenjie Z, Xinghua Z, Shutu X, Jiquan X. Molecular mechanisms of drought resistance using genome-wide association mapping in maize (Zea mays L.). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:468. [PMID: 37803273 PMCID: PMC10557160 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04489-0] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drought is a critical abiotic stress that influences maize yield and reduces grain yield when it occurs at the flowering or filling stage. To dissect the genetic architecture of grain yield under drought stress (DS), a genome-wide association analysis was conducted in a maize population composed of diverse inbred lines from five locations under well-watered and DS conditions at flowering in 2019 and 2020. RESULTS Using a fixed and random model circulating probability unification model, a total of 147 loci associated with grain yield or the drought resistance index (DRI) were identified, of which 54 loci were associated with a DRI with an average phenotypic variation explanation of 4.03%. Further, 10 of these loci explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variation. By integrating two public transcriptome datasets, 22 differentially expressed genes were considered as candidate genes, including the cloned gene ZmNAC49, which responds to drought by regulating stomatal density. Enrichment and protein interaction network showed that signaling pathways responded to drought resistance, including jasmonic acid and salicylic acid, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and abscisic acid-activated. Additionally, several transcription factors involved in DS were identified, including basic leucine zipper (GRMZM2G370026), NAC (GRMZM2G347043), and ethylene-responsive element binding protein (GRMZM2G169654). CONCLUSIONS In this study, we nominated several genes as candidate genes for drought resistance by intergrating association maping and transcription analysis. These results provide valuable information for understanding the genetic basis of drought tolerance at the mature stage and for designing drought-tolerant maize breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Ningning
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Liu Binbin
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Ye Fan
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Chang Jianzhong
- Agricultural University of Shanxi, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030600, China
| | - Zhou Yuqian
- Crop Institute of Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Wang Yejian
- Institute of Grain Crops, Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Xinjiang, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830000, China
| | - Zhang Wenjie
- Crop Institute of Ningxia Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750000, China
| | - Zhang Xinghua
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Xu Shutu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
| | - Xue Jiquan
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, 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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Guo T, Jiang L, Li B, Jiang H, Zheng T, Luo J, He Y. ZmRPN1 confers quantitative variation in pollen number and boosts hybrid seed production in maize. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:1978-1989. [PMID: 37341033 PMCID: PMC10502757 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14105] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
The number of pollen grains is a critical determinant of reproductive success in seed plants and varies among species and individuals. However, in contrast with many mutant-screening studies relevant to anther and pollen development, the natural genetic basis for variations in pollen number remains largely unexplored. To address this issue, we carried out a genome-wide association study in maize, ultimately revealing that a large presence/absence variation in the promoter region of ZmRPN1 alters its expression level and thereby contributes to pollen number variation. Molecular analyses showed that ZmRPN1 interacts with ZmMSP1, which is known as a germline cell number regulator, and facilitates ZmMSP1 localization to the plasma membrane. Importantly, ZmRPN1 dysfunction resulted in a substantial increase in pollen number, consequently boosting seed production by increasing female-male planting ratio. Together, our findings uncover a key gene controlling pollen number, and therefore, modulation of ZmRPN1 expression could be efficiently used to develop elite pollinators for modern hybrid maize breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, National Maize Improvement Center of ChinaChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Lu‐Guang Jiang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, National Maize Improvement Center of ChinaChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Bo Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, National Maize Improvement Center of ChinaChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Huan Jiang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, National Maize Improvement Center of ChinaChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Tong‐Xin Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, National Maize Improvement Center of ChinaChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jin‐Hong Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, National Maize Improvement Center of ChinaChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yan He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, National Maize Improvement Center of ChinaChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
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Rabieyan E, Bihamta MR, Moghaddam ME, Alipour H, Mohammadi V, Azizyan K, Javid S. Analysis of genetic diversity and genome-wide association study for drought tolerance related traits in Iranian bread wheat. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:431. [PMID: 37715130 PMCID: PMC10503013 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04416-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drought is most likely the most significant abiotic stress affecting wheat yield. The discovery of drought-tolerant genotypes is a promising strategy for dealing with the world's rapidly diminishing water resources and growing population. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on 298 Iranian bread wheat landraces and cultivars to investigate the genetic basis of yield, yield components, and drought tolerance indices in two cropping seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) under rainfed and well-watered environments. RESULTS A heatmap display of hierarchical clustering divided cultivars and landraces into four categories, with high-yielding and drought-tolerant genotypes clustering in the same group. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that selecting genotypes based on the mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (HM), and stress tolerance index (STI) can help achieve high-yield genotypes in the environment. Genome B had the highest number of significant marker pairs in linkage disequilibrium (LD) for both landraces (427,017) and cultivars (370,359). Similar to cultivars, marker pairs on chromosome 4A represented the strongest LD (r2 = 0.32). However, the genomes D, A, and B have the highest LD, respectively. The single-locus mixed linear model (MLM) and multi-locus random-SNP-effect mixed linear model (mrMLM) identified 1711 and 1254 significant marker-trait association (MTAs) (-log10 P > 3) for all traits, respectively. A total of 874 common quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) were simultaneously discovered by both MLM and mrMLM methods. Gene ontology revealed that 11, 18, 6, and 11 MTAs were found in protein-coding regions (PCRs) for spike weight (SW), thousand kernel weight (TKW), grain number per spike (GN), and grain yield (GY), respectively. CONCLUSION The results identified rich regions of quantitative trait loci (QTL) on Ch. 4A and 5A suggest that these chromosomes are important for drought tolerance and could be used in wheat breeding programs. Furthermore, the findings indicated that landraces studied in Iranian bread wheat germplasm possess valuable alleles, that are responsive to water-limited conditions. This GWAS experiment is one of the few types of research conducted on drought tolerance that can be exploited in the genome-mediated development of novel varieties of wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Rabieyan
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Bihamta
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Esmaeilzadeh Moghaddam
- Cereal Department, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Hadi Alipour
- Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Valiollah Mohammadi
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Kobra Azizyan
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Saeideh Javid
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
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Singh A, Pandey H, Pandey S, Lal D, Chauhan D, Aparna, Antre SH, B S, Kumar A. Drought stress in maize: stress perception to molecular response and strategies for its improvement. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:296. [PMID: 37697159 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01226-6] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Given the future demand for food crops, increasing crop productivity in drought-prone rainfed areas has become essential. Drought-tolerant varieties are warranted to solve this problem in major crops, with drought tolerance as a high-priority trait for future research. Maize is one such crop affected by drought stress, which limits production, resulting in substantial economic losses. It became a more serious issue due to global climate change. The most drought sensitive among all stages of maize is the reproductive stages and the most important for overall maize production. The exact molecular basis of reproductive drought sensitivity remains unclear due to genes' complex regulation of drought stress. Understanding the molecular biology and signaling of the unexplored area of reproductive drought tolerance will provide an opportunity to develop climate-smart drought-tolerant next-generation maize cultivars. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in maize to understand the drought tolerance mechanism. However, improving maize drought tolerance through breeding is ineffective due to the complex nature and multigenic control of drought traits. With the help of advanced breeding techniques, molecular genetics, and a precision genome editing approach like CRISPR-Cas, candidate genes for drought-tolerant maize can be identified and targeted. This review summarizes the effects of drought stress on each growth stage of maize, potential genes, and transcription factors that determine drought tolerance. In addition, we discussed drought stress sensing, its molecular mechanisms, different approaches to developing drought-resistant maize varieties, and how molecular breeding and genome editing will help with the current unpredictable climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Singh
- Centre for Advanced Studies On Climate Change, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, 848125, India.
| | | | - Saurabh Pandey
- Department of Agriculture, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India.
| | - Dalpat Lal
- College of Agriculture, Jodhpur Agriculture University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342304, India
| | - Divya Chauhan
- Banasthali University, Radha Kishanpura, Rajasthan, 304022, India
| | - Aparna
- Departments of Agriculture, Jagan Nath University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303901, India
| | - Suresh H Antre
- Advanced Centre of Plant Biotechnology, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India
| | - Santhosh B
- Centre for Advanced Studies On Climate Change, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, 848125, India
| | - Amarjeet Kumar
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, MTTC & VTC, Selesih, CAU, Imphal, 795001, India
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