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Akabane T, Suzuki N, Ikeda K, Yonezawa T, Nagatoishi S, Matsumura H, Yoshizawa T, Tsuchiya W, Kamino S, Tsumoto K, Ishimaru K, Katoh E, Hirotsu N. THOUSAND-GRAIN WEIGHT 6, which is an IAA-glucose hydrolase, preferentially recognizes the structure of the indole ring. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6778. [PMID: 38514802 PMCID: PMC10958001 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57506-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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
An indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-glucose hydrolase, THOUSAND-GRAIN WEIGHT 6 (TGW6), negatively regulates the grain weight in rice. TGW6 has been used as a target for breeding increased rice yield. Moreover, the activity of TGW6 has been thought to involve auxin homeostasis, yet the details of this putative TGW6 activity remain unclear. Here, we show the three-dimensional structure and substrate preference of TGW6 using X-ray crystallography, thermal shift assays and fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (19F NMR). The crystal structure of TGW6 was determined at 2.6 Å resolution and exhibited a six-bladed β-propeller structure. Thermal shift assays revealed that TGW6 preferably interacted with indole compounds among the tested substrates, enzyme products and their analogs. Further analysis using 19F NMR with 1,134 fluorinated fragments emphasized the importance of indole fragments in recognition by TGW6. Finally, docking simulation analyses of the substrate and related fragments in the presence of TGW6 supported the interaction specificity for indole compounds. Herein, we describe the structure and substrate preference of TGW6 for interacting with indole fragments during substrate recognition. Uncovering the molecular details of TGW6 activity will stimulate the use of this enzyme for increasing crop yields and contributes to functional studies of IAA glycoconjugate hydrolases in auxin homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuki Akabane
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Oura, Gunma, 374-0193, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Suzuki
- Research Center for Advanced Analysis, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8518, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Ikeda
- Medicinal Chemistry Data Intelligence Unit, Drug Development Data Intelligence Platform Group, Medical Sciences Innovation Hub Program (MIH), RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- Division of Physics for Life Functions, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Tomoki Yonezawa
- Division of Physics for Life Functions, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Satoru Nagatoishi
- School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Matsumura
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshizawa
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Wataru Tsuchiya
- Research Center for Advanced Analysis, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8518, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kamino
- CRYO SHIP Incorporated, 1-266-3, Sakuragi-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama, Saitama, 330-0854, Japan
| | - Kouhei Tsumoto
- School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Ken Ishimaru
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8518, Japan
| | - Etsuko Katoh
- Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Oura, Gunma, 374-0193, Japan.
| | - Naoki Hirotsu
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura, Oura, Gunma, 374-0193, Japan.
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Honda S, Imamura A, Seki Y, Chigira K, Iwasa M, Hayami K, Nomura T, Ohkubo S, Ookawa T, Nagano AJ, Matsuoka M, Tanaka Y, Adachi S. Genome-wide association study of leaf photosynthesis using a high-throughput gas exchange system in rice. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2024; 159:17-28. [PMID: 38112862 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-023-01065-3] [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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Enhancing leaf photosynthetic capacity is essential for improving the yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Although the exploitation of natural genetic resources is considered a promising approach to enhance photosynthetic capacity, genomic factors related to the genetic diversity of leaf photosynthetic capacity have yet to be fully elucidated due to the limitation of measurement efficiency. In this study, we aimed to identify novel genomic regions for the net CO2 assimilation rate (A) by combining genome-wide association study (GWAS) and the newly developed rapid closed gas exchange system MIC-100. Using three MIC-100 systems in the field at the vegetative stage, we measured A of 168 temperate japonica rice varieties with six replicates for three years. We found that the modern varieties exhibited higher A than the landraces, while there was no significant relationship between the release year and A among the modern varieties. Our GWAS scan revealed two major peaks located on chromosomes 4 and 8, which were repeatedly detected in the different experiments and in the generalized linear modelling approach. We suggest that high-throughput gas exchange measurements combined with GWAS is a reliable approach for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying photosynthetic diversities in crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotaro Honda
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Ayumu Imamura
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Seki
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Koki Chigira
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Marina Iwasa
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hayami
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nomura
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ohkubo
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Taiichiro Ookawa
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Atsushi J Nagano
- Faculty of Agriculture, Ryukoku University, Shiga, 520-2194, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Yamagata, 997-0017, Japan
| | - Makoto Matsuoka
- Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Fermentation Sciences, Fukushima University, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Yu Tanaka
- Graduate School of Environment and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Adachi
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan.
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Guo D, Chen L, Liu S, Jiang W, Ye Q, Wu Z, Wang X, Hu X, Zhang Z, He H, Hu L. Curling Leaf 1, Encoding a MYB-Domain Protein, Regulates Leaf Morphology and Affects Plant Yield in Rice. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3127. [PMID: 37687373 PMCID: PMC10490398 DOI: 10.3390/plants12173127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The leaf is the main site of photosynthesis and is an important component in shaping the ideal rice plant architecture. Research on leaf morphology and development will lay the foundation for high-yield rice breeding. In this study, we isolated and identified a novel curling leaf mutant, designated curling leaf 1 (cl1). The cl1 mutant exhibited an inward curling phenotype because of the defective development of sclerenchymatous cells on the abaxial side. Meanwhile, the cl1 mutant showed significant reductions in grain yield and thousand-grain weight due to abnormal leaf development. Through map-based cloning, we identified the CL1 gene, which encodes a MYB transcription factor that is highly expressed in leaves. Subcellular localization studies confirmed its typical nuclear localization. Transcriptome analysis revealed a significant differential expression of the genes involved in photosynthesis, leaf morphology, yield formation, and hormone metabolism in the cl1 mutant. Yeast two-hybrid assays demonstrated that CL1 interacts with alpha-tubulin protein SRS5 and AP2/ERF protein MFS. These findings provide theoretical foundations for further elucidating the mechanisms of CL1 in regulating leaf morphology and offer genetic resources for practical applications in high-yield rice breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Guo
- College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (D.G.); (W.J.); (Q.Y.); (Z.W.); (X.W.); (X.H.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Lianghai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Shiqiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Wenxiang Jiang
- College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (D.G.); (W.J.); (Q.Y.); (Z.W.); (X.W.); (X.H.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Qing Ye
- College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (D.G.); (W.J.); (Q.Y.); (Z.W.); (X.W.); (X.H.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Zheng Wu
- College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (D.G.); (W.J.); (Q.Y.); (Z.W.); (X.W.); (X.H.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Xiaoqing Wang
- College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (D.G.); (W.J.); (Q.Y.); (Z.W.); (X.W.); (X.H.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Xiafei Hu
- College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (D.G.); (W.J.); (Q.Y.); (Z.W.); (X.W.); (X.H.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Zelin Zhang
- College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (D.G.); (W.J.); (Q.Y.); (Z.W.); (X.W.); (X.H.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Haohua He
- Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (L.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Lifang Hu
- College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (D.G.); (W.J.); (Q.Y.); (Z.W.); (X.W.); (X.H.); (Z.Z.)
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Ouyang X, Zhong X, Chang S, Qian Q, Zhang Y, Zhu X. Partially functional NARROW LEAF1 balances leaf photosynthesis and plant architecture for greater rice yield. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:772-789. [PMID: 35377451 PMCID: PMC9157069 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
NARROW LEAF1 (NAL1) is an elite gene in rice (Oryza sativa), given its close connection to leaf photosynthesis, hybrid vigor, and yield-related agronomic traits; however, the underlying mechanism by which this gene affects these traits remains elusive. In this study, we systematically measured leaf photosynthetic parameters, leaf anatomical parameters, architectural parameters, and agronomic traits in indica cultivar 9311, in 9311 with the native NAL1 replaced by the Nipponbare NAL1 (9311-NIL), and in 9311 with the NAL1 fully mutated (9311-nal1). Leaf length, width, and spikelet number gradually increased from lowest to highest in 9311-nal1, 9311, and 9311-NIL. In contrast, the leaf photosynthetic rate on a leaf area basis, leaf thickness, and panicle number gradually decreased from highest to lowest in 9311-nal1, 9311, and 9311-NIL. RNA-seq analysis showed that NAL1 negatively regulates the expression of photosynthesis-related genes; NAL1 also influenced expression of many genes related to phytohormone signaling, as also shown by different leaf contents of 3-Indoleacetic acid, jasmonic acid, Gibberellin A3, and isopentenyladenine among these genotypes. Furthermore, field experiments with different planting densities showed that 9311 had a larger biomass and yield advantage under low planting density compared to either 9311-NIL or 9311-nall. This study shows both direct and indirect effects of NAL1 on leaf photosynthesis; furthermore, we show that a partially functional NAL1 allele helps maintain a balanced leaf photosynthesis and plant architecture for increased biomass and grain yield in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center (HHRRC), Changsha 410125, China
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center of Excellence for Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center (HHRRC), Changsha 410125, China
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Shuoqi Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center (HHRRC), Changsha 410125, China
| | - Qian Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Yuzhu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center (HHRRC), Changsha 410125, China
| | - Xinguang Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center of Excellence for Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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Heredia MC, Kant J, Prodhan MA, Dixit S, Wissuwa M. Breeding rice for a changing climate by improving adaptations to water saving technologies. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2022; 135:17-33. [PMID: 34218290 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-021-03899-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increasingly affect rice production through rising temperatures and decreasing water availability. Unlike other crops, rice is a main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions due to methane emissions from flooded paddy fields. Climate change can therefore be addressed in two ways in rice: through making the crop more climate resilient and through changes in management practices that reduce methane emissions and thereby slow global warming. In this review, we focus on two water saving technologies that reduce the periods lowland rice will be grown under fully flooded conditions, thereby improving water use efficiency and reducing methane emissions. Rice breeding over the past decades has mostly focused on developing high-yielding varieties adapted to continuously flooded conditions where seedlings were raised in a nursery and transplanted into a puddled flooded soil. Shifting cultivation to direct-seeded rice or to introducing non-flooded periods as in alternate wetting and drying gives rise to new challenges which need to be addressed in rice breeding. New adaptive traits such as rapid uniform germination even under anaerobic conditions, seedling vigor, weed competitiveness, root plasticity, and moderate drought tolerance need to be bred into the current elite germplasm and to what extent this is being addressed through trait discovery, marker-assisted selection and population improvement are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - M Asaduzzaman Prodhan
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shalabh Dixit
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, The Philippines
| | - Matthias Wissuwa
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), Tsukuba, Japan.
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Honda S, Ohkubo S, San NS, Nakkasame A, Tomisawa K, Katsura K, Ookawa T, Nagano AJ, Adachi S. Maintaining higher leaf photosynthesis after heading stage could promote biomass accumulation in rice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7579. [PMID: 33828128 PMCID: PMC8027620 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86983-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leaf photosynthetic rate changes across the growing season as crop plants age. Most studies of leaf photosynthesis focus on a specific growth stage, leaving the question of which pattern of photosynthetic dynamics maximizes crop productivity unanswered. Here we obtained high-frequency data of canopy leaf CO2 assimilation rate (A) of two elite rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars and 76 inbred lines across the whole growing season. The integrated A value after heading was positively associated with crop growth rate (CGR) from heading to harvest, but that before heading was not. A curve-smoothing analysis of A after heading showed that accumulated A at > 80% of its maximum (A80) was positively correlated with CGR in analyses of all lines mixed and of lines grouped by genetic background, while the maximum A and accumulated A at ≤ 80% were less strongly correlated with CGR. We also found a genomic region (~ 12.2 Mb) that may enhance both A80 and aboveground biomass at harvest. We propose that maintaining a high A after heading, rather than having high maximum A, is a potential target for enhancing rice biomass accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotaro Honda
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ohkubo
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Nan Su San
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Anothai Nakkasame
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Kazuki Tomisawa
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Keisuke Katsura
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Taiichiro Ookawa
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Atsushi J Nagano
- Faculty of Agriculture, Ryukoku University, Yokotani 1-5, Seta Oe-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2194, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Adachi
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan.
- College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan.
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7
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Furbank RT, Sharwood R, Estavillo GM, Silva-Perez V, Condon AG. Photons to food: genetic improvement of cereal crop photosynthesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:2226-2238. [PMID: 32083680 PMCID: PMC7135014 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthesis has become a major trait of interest for cereal yield improvement as breeders appear to have reached the theoretical genetic limit for harvest index, the mass of grain as a proportion of crop biomass. Yield improvements afforded by the adoption of green revolution dwarfing genes to wheat and rice are becoming exhausted, and improvements in biomass and radiation use efficiency are now sought in these crops. Exploring genetic diversity in photosynthesis is now possible using high-throughput techniques, and low-cost genotyping facilitates discovery of the genetic architecture underlying this variation. Photosynthetic traits have been shown to be highly heritable, and significant variation is present for these traits in available germplasm. This offers hope that breeding for improved photosynthesis and radiation use efficiency in cereal crops is tractable and a useful shorter term adjunct to genetic and genome engineering to boost yield potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert T Furbank
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Robert Sharwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Nowicka B, Ciura J, Szymańska R, Kruk J. Improving photosynthesis, plant productivity and abiotic stress tolerance - current trends and future perspectives. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 231:415-433. [PMID: 30412849 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2018.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
With unfavourable climate changes and an increasing global population, there is a great need for more productive and stress-tolerant crops. As traditional methods of crop improvement have probably reached their limits, a further increase in the productivity of crops is expected to be possible using genetic engineering. The number of potential genes and metabolic pathways, which when genetically modified could result in improved photosynthesis and biomass production, is multiple. Photosynthesis, as the only source of carbon required for the growth and development of plants, attracts much attention is this respect, especially the question concerning how to improve CO2 fixation and limit photorespiration. The most promising direction for increasing CO2 assimilation is implementating carbon concentrating mechanisms found in cyanobacteria and algae into crop plants, while hitherto performed experiments on improving the CO2 fixation versus oxygenation reaction catalyzed by Rubisco are less encouraging. On the other hand, introducing the C4 pathway into C3 plants is a very difficult challenge. Among other points of interest for increased biomass production is engineering of metabolic regulation, certain proteins, nucleic acids or phytohormones. In this respect, enhanced sucrose synthesis, assimilate translocation to sink organs and starch synthesis is crucial, as is genetic engineering of the phytohormone metabolism. As abiotic stress tolerance is one of the key factors determining crop productivity, extensive studies are being undertaken to develop transgenic plants characterized by elevated stress resistance. This can be accomplished due to elevated synthesis of antioxidants, osmoprotectants and protective proteins. Among other promising targets for the genetic engineering of plants with elevated stress resistance are transcription factors that play a key role in abiotic stress responses of plants. In this review, most of the approaches to improving the productivity of plants that are potentially promising and have already been undertaken are described. In addition to this, the limitations faced, potential challenges and possibilities regarding future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrycze Nowicka
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Joanna Ciura
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Renata Szymańska
- Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Reymonta 19, 30-059 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Jerzy Kruk
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
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