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Vega JM, Podio M, Orjuela J, Siena LA, Pessino SC, Combes MC, Mariac C, Albertini E, Pupilli F, Ortiz JPA, Leblanc O. Chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of Paspalum notatum Flüggé var. saurae. Sci Data 2024; 11:891. [PMID: 39152143 PMCID: PMC11329641 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03731-0] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Paspalum notatum Flüggé is an economically important subtropical fodder grass that is widely used in the Americas. Here, we report a new chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of a diploid biotype collected in the center of origin of the species. Using Oxford Nanopore long reads, we generated a 557.81 Mb genome assembly (N50 = 56.1 Mb) with high gene completeness (BUSCO = 98.73%). Genome annotation identified 320 Mb (57.86%) of repetitive elements and 45,074 gene models, of which 36,079 have a high level of confidence. Further characterisation included the identification of 59 miRNA precursors together with their putative targets. The present work provides a comprehensive genomic resource for P. notatum improvement and a reference frame for functional and evolutionary research within the genus.
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Grants
- PUE 22920160100043CO Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Scientific and Technical Research Council)
- PIP 11220200101680CO Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Scientific and Technical Research Council)
- PICT 2019 3414 Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Argentina | Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (National Agency for Science and Technology, Argentina)
- PICT 2019-02153 Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Argentina | Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (National Agency for Science and Technology, Argentina)
- PICT-2017-1956 Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Argentina | Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (National Agency for Science and Technology, Argentina)
- PIP 80020190300021UR Universidad Nacional de Rosario (National University of Rosario)
- 101007438 EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (H2020 Excellent Science - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)
- 872417 EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (H2020 Excellent Science - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)
- PRIN 2022Z4HLLJ Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of Education, University and Research)
- P2022KFJB5 Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of Education, University and Research)
- Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of Education, University and Research)
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Vega
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Maricel Podio
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Julie Orjuela
- DIADE, Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Lorena A Siena
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Silvina C Pessino
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | | | - Cedric Mariac
- DIADE, Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Perugia, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fulvio Pupilli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Juan Pablo A Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina.
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2
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Carballo J, Achilli A, Hernández F, Bocchini M, Pasten MC, Marconi G, Albertini E, Zappacosta D, Echenique V. Differentially methylated genes involved in reproduction and ploidy levels in recent diploidized and tetraploidized Eragrostis curvula genotypes. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2024; 37:133-145. [PMID: 38055074 PMCID: PMC11180019 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-023-00490-7] [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: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics studies changes in gene activity without changes in the DNA sequence. Methylation is an epigenetic mechanism important in many pathways, such as biotic and abiotic stresses, cell division, and reproduction. Eragrostis curvula is a grass species reproducing by apomixis, a clonal reproduction by seeds. This work employed the MCSeEd technique to identify deferentially methylated positions, regions, and genes in the CG, CHG, and CHH contexts in E. curvula genotypes with similar genomic backgrounds but with different reproductive modes and ploidy levels. In this way, we focused the analysis on the cvs. Tanganyika INTA (4x, apomictic), Victoria (2x, sexual), and Bahiense (4x, apomictic). Victoria was obtained from the diploidization of Tanganyika INTA, while Bahiense was produced from the tetraploidization of Victoria. This study showed that polyploid/apomictic genotypes had more differentially methylated positions and regions than the diploid sexual ones. Interestingly, it was possible to observe fewer differentially methylated positions and regions in CG than in the other contexts, meaning CG methylation is conserved across the genotypes regardless of the ploidy level and reproductive mode. In the comparisons between sexual and apomictic genotypes, we identified differentially methylated genes involved in the reproductive pathways, specifically in meiosis, cell division, and fertilization. Another interesting observation was that several differentially methylated genes between the diploid and the original tetraploid genotype recovered their methylation status after tetraploidization, suggesting that methylation is an important mechanism involved in reproduction and ploidy changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS-CCT-CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de La Carrindanga Km 7, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - A Achilli
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS-CCT-CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de La Carrindanga Km 7, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - F Hernández
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS-CCT-CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de La Carrindanga Km 7, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - M Bocchini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - M C Pasten
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS-CCT-CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de La Carrindanga Km 7, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - G Marconi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - E Albertini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
| | - D Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS-CCT-CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de La Carrindanga Km 7, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
| | - V Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS-CCT-CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de La Carrindanga Km 7, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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3
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Ramírez Gonzales LY, Cannarozzi G, Jäggi L, Assefa K, Chanyalew S, Dell'Acqua M, Tadele Z. The role of omics in improving the orphan crop tef. Trends Genet 2024; 40:449-461. [PMID: 38599921 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.03.003] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Tef or teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a cereal crop indigenous to the Horn of Africa, where it is a staple food for a large population. The popularity of tef arises from its resilience to environmental stresses and its nutritional value. For many years, tef has been considered an orphan crop, but recent research initiatives from across the globe are helping to unravel its undisclosed potential. Advanced omics tools and techniques have been directed toward the exploration of tef's diversity with the aim of increasing its productivity. In this review, we report on the most recent advances in tef omics that brought the crop into the spotlight of international research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gina Cannarozzi
- University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lea Jäggi
- University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kebebew Assefa
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Chanyalew
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
| | | | - Zerihun Tadele
- University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland.
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Rabatseta TP, Fourie P, Nkosi BD, Malebana IMM. Effect of dietary inclusion of Pennisetum purpureum (Napier) grass on growth performance, rumen fermentation and meat quality of feedlot sussex red steers. Trop Anim Health Prod 2024; 56:133. [PMID: 38642221 PMCID: PMC11032278 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-03959-3] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth performance, fermentation indices and meat quality of Sussex steers fed totally mixed rations that composed of graded inclusion levels of Napier grass (NP). Three experimental diets designated as diet 1 (0.0 g kg-1 NP: Control), diet 2 (300 g kg-1 NP grass) and diet 3 (600 g kg-1 NP) were formulated. Twenty-four male steers aged 8 months with an average body weight of 185.0 ± 30 kg were used. In a completely randomized design, the animals were allocated to the diets and fed for 120 days. Dietary NP inclusion reduced (P < 0.05) the animals' average daily gain and increased the feed efficiency. The steers' daily feed intake and final body weight decreased (P < 0.05) with a 600 g kg-1 inclusion level. The fermentation indices were not affected (P > 0.05) by the inclusion. While the inclusion reduced (P < 0.05) warm muscle temperature, it had no effect (P > 0.05) on carcass dressing percentage, warm and cold initial and ultimate pH. However, 600 g kg-1 inclusion level reduced (P > 0.05) warm and cold carcass weights. Meat physical attributes, moisture characteristics and tenderness were not affected (P > 0.05) by dietary treatments, except for the 7-days aged meat thaw loss, which increased at 600 g kg-1 inclusion level. Inclusion of 300 g kg-1 increased meat protein and fat, but dry and organic matter contents decreased with increasing inclusion levels. Dietary inclusion of NP grass up to 300 g kg-1 in steers' diets improved feed intake, carcass traits and yielded meat high in protein and fat.
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Affiliation(s)
- T P Rabatseta
- Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production, Irene Campus, Private Bag X2 - Irene 0062, Pretoria, South Africa
- Central University of Technology, Free State Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - P Fourie
- Central University of Technology, Free State Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - B D Nkosi
- Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production, Irene Campus, Private Bag X2 - Irene 0062, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - I M M Malebana
- Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production, Irene Campus, Private Bag X2 - Irene 0062, Pretoria, South Africa.
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5
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Brabham HJ, Gómez De La Cruz D, Were V, Shimizu M, Saitoh H, Hernández-Pinzón I, Green P, Lorang J, Fujisaki K, Sato K, Molnár I, Šimková H, Doležel J, Russell J, Taylor J, Smoker M, Gupta YK, Wolpert T, Talbot NJ, Terauchi R, Moscou MJ. Barley MLA3 recognizes the host-specificity effector Pwl2 from Magnaporthe oryzae. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:447-470. [PMID: 37820736 PMCID: PMC10827324 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLRs) immune receptors directly or indirectly recognize pathogen-secreted effector molecules to initiate plant defense. Recognition of multiple pathogens by a single NLR is rare and usually occurs via monitoring for changes to host proteins; few characterized NLRs have been shown to recognize multiple effectors. The barley (Hordeum vulgare) NLR gene Mildew locus a (Mla) has undergone functional diversification, and the proteins encoded by different Mla alleles recognize host-adapted isolates of barley powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei [Bgh]). Here, we show that Mla3 also confers resistance to the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae in a dosage-dependent manner. Using a forward genetic screen, we discovered that the recognized effector from M. oryzae is Pathogenicity toward Weeping Lovegrass 2 (Pwl2), a host range determinant factor that prevents M. oryzae from infecting weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). Mla3 has therefore convergently evolved the capacity to recognize effectors from diverse pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen J Brabham
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
- 2Blades, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Diana Gómez De La Cruz
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Vincent Were
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Motoki Shimizu
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Centre, Kitakami 024-0003, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Saitoh
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | | | - Phon Green
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jennifer Lorang
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Koki Fujisaki
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Centre, Kitakami 024-0003, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Sato
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki 710-0046, Japan
| | - István Molnár
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Šimková
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Doležel
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - James Russell
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jodie Taylor
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Matthew Smoker
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Yogesh Kumar Gupta
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
- 2Blades, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Tom Wolpert
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Nicholas J Talbot
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Ryohei Terauchi
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Centre, Kitakami 024-0003, Japan
- Laboratory of Crop Evolution, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 617-0001, Japan
| | - Matthew J Moscou
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
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Wang Y, Abrouk M, Gourdoupis S, Koo DH, Karafiátová M, Molnár I, Holušová K, Doležel J, Athiyannan N, Cavalet-Giorsa E, Jaremko Ł, Poland J, Krattinger SG. An unusual tandem kinase fusion protein confers leaf rust resistance in wheat. Nat Genet 2023:10.1038/s41588-023-01401-2. [PMID: 37217716 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01401-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The introgression of chromosome segments from wild relatives is an established strategy to enrich crop germplasm with disease-resistance genes1. Here we use mutagenesis and transcriptome sequencing to clone the leaf rust resistance gene Lr9, which was introduced into bread wheat from the wild grass species Aegilops umbellulata2. We established that Lr9 encodes an unusual tandem kinase fusion protein. Long-read sequencing of a wheat Lr9 introgression line and the putative Ae. umbellulata Lr9 donor enabled us to assemble the ~28.4-Mb Lr9 translocation and to identify the translocation breakpoint. We likewise cloned Lr58, which was reportedly introgressed from Aegilops triuncialis3, but has an identical coding sequence compared to Lr9. Cytogenetic and haplotype analyses corroborate that the two genes originate from the same translocation event. Our work sheds light on the emerging role of kinase fusion proteins in wheat disease resistance, expanding the repertoire of disease-resistance genes for breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Wang
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael Abrouk
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Spyridon Gourdoupis
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dal-Hoe Koo
- Wheat Genetics Resource Center and Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Miroslava Karafiátová
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - István Molnár
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Martonvásár, Hungary
| | - Kateřina Holušová
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Doležel
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Naveenkumar Athiyannan
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emile Cavalet-Giorsa
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Łukasz Jaremko
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jesse Poland
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Simon G Krattinger
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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Carballo J, Bellido AM, Selva JP, Zappacosta D, Gallo CA, Albertini E, Caccamo M, Echenique V. From tetraploid to diploid, a pangenomic approach to identify genes lost during synthetic diploidization of Eragrostis curvula. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1133986. [PMID: 36993842 PMCID: PMC10040859 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1133986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In Eragrostis curvula, commonly known as weeping lovegrass, a synthetic diploidization event of the facultative apomictic tetraploid Tanganyika INTA cv. originated from the sexual diploid Victoria cv. Apomixis is an asexual reproduction by seeds in which the progeny is genetically identical to the maternal plant. METHODS To assess the genomic changes related to ploidy and to the reproductive mode occurring during diploidization, a mapping approach was followed to obtain the first E. curvula pangenome assembly. In this way, gDNA of Tanganyika INTA was extracted and sequenced in 2x250 Illumina pair-end reads and mapped against the Victoria genome assembly. The unmapped reads were used for variant calling, while the mapped reads were assembled using Masurca software. RESULTS The length of the assembly was 28,982,419 bp distributed in 18,032 contigs, and the variable genes annotated in these contigs rendered 3,952 gene models. Functional annotation of the genes showed that the reproductive pathway was differentially enriched. PCR amplification in gDNA and cDNA of Tanganyika INTA and Victoria was conducted to validate the presence/absence variation in five genes related to reproduction and ploidy. The polyploid nature of the Tanganyika INTA genome was also evaluated through the variant calling analysis showing the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) coverage and allele frequency distribution with a segmental allotetraploid pairing behavior. DISCUSSION The results presented here suggest that the genes were lost in Tanganyika INTA during the diploidization process that was conducted to suppress the apomictic pathway, affecting severely the fertility of Victoria cv.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Andrés Martin Bellido
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Selva
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Cristian Andres Gallo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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8
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Chen Y, Ma T, Zhang T, Ma L. Trends in the evolution of intronless genes in Poaceae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1065631. [PMID: 36875616 PMCID: PMC9978806 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1065631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Intronless genes (IGs), which are a feature of prokaryotes, are a fascinating group of genes that are also present in eukaryotes. In the current study, a comparison of Poaceae genomes revealed that the origin of IGs may have involved ancient intronic splicing, reverse transcription, and retrotranspositions. Additionally, IGs exhibit the typical features of rapid evolution, including recent duplications, variable copy numbers, low divergence between paralogs, and high non-synonymous to synonymous substitution ratios. By tracing IG families along the phylogenetic tree, we determined that the evolutionary dynamics of IGs differed among Poaceae subfamilies. IG families developed rapidly before the divergence of Pooideae and Oryzoideae and expanded slowly after the divergence. In contrast, they emerged gradually and consistently in the Chloridoideae and Panicoideae clades during evolution. Furthermore, IGs are expressed at low levels. Under relaxed selection pressure, retrotranspositions, intron loss, and gene duplications and conversions may promote the evolution of IGs. The comprehensive characterization of IGs is critical for in-depth studies on intron functions and evolution as well as for assessing the importance of introns in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Chen
- *Correspondence: Tingting Zhang, ; Lei Ma,
| | | | | | - Lei Ma
- *Correspondence: Tingting Zhang, ; Lei Ma,
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Herridge R, McCourt T, Jacobs JME, Mace P, Brownfield L, Macknight R. Identification of the genes at S and Z reveals the molecular basis and evolution of grass self-incompatibility. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1011299. [PMID: 36330270 PMCID: PMC9623065 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1011299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Self-incompatibility (SI) is a feature of many flowering plants, whereby self-pollen is recognized and rejected by the stigma. In grasses (Poaceae), the genes controlling this phenomenon have not been fully elucidated. Grasses have a unique two-locus system, in which two independent genetic loci (S and Z) control self-recognition. S and Z are thought to have arisen from an ancient duplication, common to all grasses. With new chromosome-scale genome data, we examined the genes present at S- and Z-loci, firstly in ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and subsequently in ~20 other grass species. We found that two DUF247 genes and a short unstructured protein (SP/ZP) were present at both S- and Z- in all SI species, while in self-compatible species these genes were often lost or mutated. Expression data suggested that DUF247 genes acted as the male components and SP/ZP were the female components. Consistent with their role in distinguishing self- from non-self, all genes were hypervariable, although key secondary structure features were conserved, including the predicted N-terminal cleavage site of SP/ZP. The evolutionary history of these genes was probed, revealing that specificity groups at the Z-locus arose before the advent of various grass subfamilies/species, while specificity groups at the S-locus arose after the split of Panicoideae, Chloridoideae, Oryzoideae and Pooideae. Finally, we propose a model explaining how the proteins encoded at the S and Z loci might function to specify self-incompatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Herridge
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Tyler McCourt
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Peter Mace
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Richard Macknight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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10
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Pasten MC, Carballo J, Gallardo J, Zappacosta D, Selva JP, Rodrigo JM, Echenique V, Garbus I. A combined transcriptome - miRNAome approach revealed that a kinesin gene is differentially targeted by a novel miRNA in an apomictic genotype of Eragrostis curvula. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1012682. [PMID: 36247597 PMCID: PMC9563718 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1012682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula [Shrad.] Nees) is a perennial grass typically established in semi-arid regions, with good adaptability to dry conditions and sandy soils. This polymorphic complex includes both sexual and apomictic cytotypes, with different ploidy levels (2x-8x). Diploids are known to be sexual, while most polyploids are facultative apomicts, and full apomicts have also been reported. Plant breeding studies throughout the years have focused on achieving the introgression of apomixis into species of agricultural relevance, but, given the complexity of the trait, a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of regulatory mechanisms of apomixis is still required. Apomixis is thought to be associated with silencing or disruption of the sexual pathway, and studies have shown it is influenced by epigenetic mechanisms. In a previous study, we explored the role of miRNA-mRNA interactions using two contrasting E. curvula phenotypes. Here, the sexual OTA-S, the facultative Don Walter and the obligate apomictic Tanganyika cDNA and sRNA libraries were inquired, searching for miRNA discovery and miRNA expression regulation of genes related to the reproductive mode. This allowed for the characterization of seven miRNAs and the validation of their miRNA-target interactions. Interestingly, a kinesin gene was found to be repressed in the apomictic cultivar Tanganyika, targeted by a novel miRNA that was found to be overexpressed in this genotype, suggestive of an involvement in the reproductive mode expression. Our work provided additional evidence of the contribution of the epigenetic regulation of the apomictic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cielo Pasten
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - José Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Jimena Gallardo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Selva
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Rodrigo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ingrid Garbus
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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11
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Yang Q, Liu T, Wu T, Lei T, Li Y, Wang X. GGDB: A Grameneae genome alignment database of homologous genes hierarchically related to evolutionary events. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:340-351. [PMID: 35789395 PMCID: PMC9434254 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The genomes of Gramineae plants have been preferentially sequenced owing to their economic value. These genomes are often quite complex, for example harboring many duplicated genes, and are the main source of genetic innovation and often the result of recurrent polyploidization. Deciphering these complex genome structures and linking duplicated genes to specific polyploidization events are important for understanding the biology and evolution of plants. However, efforts have been hampered by the complexity of analyzing these genomes. Here, we analyzed 29 well-assembled and up-to-date Gramineae genome sequences by hierarchically relating duplicated genes in collinear regions to specific polyploidization or speciation events. We separated duplicated genes produced by each event, established lists of paralogous and orthologous genes, and ultimately constructed an online database, GGDB (http://www.grassgenome.com/). Homologous gene lists from each plant and between plants can be displayed, searched, and downloaded from the database. Interactive comparison tools are deployed to demonstrate homology among user-selected plants and to draw genome-scale or local alignment figures and gene-based phylogenetic trees corrected by exploiting gene collinearity. Using these tools and figures, users can easily detect structural changes in genomes and explore the effects of paleo-polyploidy on crop genome structure and function. The GGDB will provide a useful platform for improving our understanding of genome changes and functional innovation in Gramineae plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihang Yang
- School of Life Science, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
- Center for Genomics and Bio-computing, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
| | - Tao Liu
- School of Life Science, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
- College of Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
| | - Tong Wu
- School of Life Science, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
- Center for Genomics and Bio-computing, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
| | - Tianyu Lei
- School of Life Science, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
- Center for Genomics and Bio-computing, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
| | - Yuxian Li
- School of Life Science, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
- Center for Genomics and Bio-computing, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, China
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12
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High-quality chromosome-scale de novo assembly of the Paspalum notatum 'Flugge' genome. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:293. [PMID: 35410159 PMCID: PMC9004155 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08489-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paspalum notatum 'Flugge' is a diploid with 20 chromosomes (2n = 20) multi-purpose subtropical herb native to South America and has a high ecological significance. It is currently widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions. Despite the gene pool of P. notatum 'Flugge' being unearthed to a large extent in the past decade, no details about the genomic information of relevant species in Paspalum have been reported. In this study, the complete genome information of P. notatum was established and annotated through sequencing and de novo assembly of its genome. RESULTS The latest PacBio third-generation HiFi assembly and sequencing revealed that the genome size of P. notatum 'Flugge' is 541 M. The assembly result is the higher index among the genomes of the gramineous family published so far, with a contig N50 = 52Mbp, scaffold N50 = 49Mbp, and BUSCOs = 98.1%, accounting for 98.5% of the estimated genome. Genome annotation revealed 36,511 high-confidence gene models, thus providing an important resource for future molecular breeding and evolutionary research. A comparison of the genome annotation results of P. notatum 'Flugge' with other closely related species revealed that it had a close relationship with Zea mays but not close compared to Brachypodium distachyon, Setaria viridis, Oryza sativa, Puccinellia tenuiflora, Echinochloa crusgalli. An analysis of the expansion and contraction of gene families suggested that P. notatum 'Flugge' contains gene families associated with environmental resistance, increased reproductive ability, and molecular evolution, which explained its excellent agronomic traits. CONCLUSION This study is the first to report the high-quality chromosome-scale-based genome of P. notatum 'Flugge' assembled using the latest PacBio third-generation HiFi sequencing reads. The study provides an excellent genetic resource bank for gramineous crops and invaluable perspectives regarding the evolution of gramineous plants.
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13
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Di Marsico M, Paytuvi Gallart A, Sanseverino W, Aiese Cigliano R. GreeNC 2.0: a comprehensive database of plant long non-coding RNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:D1442-D1447. [PMID: 34723326 PMCID: PMC8728176 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Green Non-Coding Database (GreeNC) is one of the reference databases for the study of plant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Here we present our most recent update where 16 species have been updated, while 78 species have been added, resulting in the annotation of more than 495 000 lncRNAs. Moreover, sequence clustering was applied providing information about sequence conservation and gene families. The current version of the database is available at: http://greenc.sequentiabiotech.com/wiki2/Main_Page.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Di Marsico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
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14
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Tello-Ruiz MK, Jaiswal P, Ware D. Gramene: A Resource for Comparative Analysis of Plants Genomes and Pathways. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2443:101-131. [PMID: 35037202 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2067-0_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Gramene is an integrated bioinformatics resource for accessing, visualizing, and comparing plant genomes and biological pathways. Originally targeting grasses, Gramene has grown to host annotations for over 90 plant genomes including agronomically important cereals (e.g., maize, sorghum, wheat, teff), fruits and vegetables (e.g., apple, watermelon, clementine, tomato, cassava), specialty crops (e.g., coffee, olive tree, pistachio, almond), and plants of special or emerging interest (e.g., cotton, tobacco, cannabis, or hemp). For some species, the resource includes multiple varieties of the same species, which has paved the road for the creation of species-specific pan-genome browsers. The resource also features plant research models, including Arabidopsis and C4 warm-season grasses and brassicas, as well as other species that fill phylogenetic gaps for plant evolution studies. Its strength derives from the application of a phylogenetic framework for genome comparison and the use of ontologies to integrate structural and functional annotation data. This chapter outlines system requirements for end-users and database hosting, data types and basic navigation within Gramene, and provides examples of how to (1) explore Gramene's search results, (2) explore gene-centric comparative genomics data visualizations in Gramene, and (3) explore genetic variation associated with a gene locus. This is the first publication describing in detail Gramene's integrated search interface-intended to provide a simplified entry portal for the resource's main data categories (genomic location, phylogeny, gene expression, pathways, and external references) to the most complete and up-to-date set of plant genome and pathway annotations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pankaj Jaiswal
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Doreen Ware
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA.
- USDA-ARS NAA Plant, Soil & Nutrition Laboratory Research Unit, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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15
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Bellido AM, Souza Canadá ED, Permingeat HR, Echenique V. Genetic Transformation of Apomictic Grasses: Progress and Constraints. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:768393. [PMID: 34804102 PMCID: PMC8602796 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.768393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The available methods for plant transformation and expansion beyond its limits remain especially critical for crop improvement. For grass species, this is even more critical, mainly due to drawbacks in in vitro regeneration. Despite the existence of many protocols in grasses to achieve genetic transformation through Agrobacterium or biolistic gene delivery, their efficiencies are genotype-dependent and still very low due to the recalcitrance of these species to in vitro regeneration. Many plant transformation facilities for cereals and other important crops may be found around the world in universities and enterprises, but this is not the case for apomictic species, many of which are C4 grasses. Moreover, apomixis (asexual reproduction by seeds) represents an additional constraint for breeding. However, the transformation of an apomictic clone is an attractive strategy, as the transgene is immediately fixed in a highly adapted genetic background, capable of large-scale clonal propagation. With the exception of some species like Brachiaria brizantha which is planted in approximately 100 M ha in Brazil, apomixis is almost non-present in economically important crops. However, as it is sometimes present in their wild relatives, the main goal is to transfer this trait to crops to fix heterosis. Until now this has been a difficult task, mainly because many aspects of apomixis are unknown. Over the last few years, many candidate genes have been identified and attempts have been made to characterize them functionally in Arabidopsis and rice. However, functional analysis in true apomictic species lags far behind, mainly due to the complexity of its genomes, of the trait itself, and the lack of efficient genetic transformation protocols. In this study, we review the current status of the in vitro culture and genetic transformation methods focusing on apomictic grasses, and the prospects for the application of new tools assayed in other related species, with two aims: to pave the way for discovering the molecular pathways involved in apomixis and to develop new capacities for breeding purposes because many of these grasses are important forage or biofuel resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés M. Bellido
- Departamento de Agronomía, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS – CCT – CONICET Bahía Blanca), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | | | | | - Viviana Echenique
- Departamento de Agronomía, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS – CCT – CONICET Bahía Blanca), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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16
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Haas M, Kono T, Macchietto M, Millas R, McGilp L, Shao M, Duquette J, Qiu Y, Hirsch CN, Kimball J. Whole-genome assembly and annotation of northern wild rice, Zizania palustris L., supports a whole-genome duplication in the Zizania genus. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 107:1802-1818. [PMID: 34310794 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Zizania palustris L. (northern wild rice, NWR) is an aquatic grass native to North America that is notable for its nutritious grain. This is an important species with ecological, cultural and agricultural significance, specifically in the Great Lakes region of the USA. Using flow cytometry, we first estimated the NWR genome size to be 1.8 Gb. Using long- and short-range sequencing, Hi-C scaffolding and RNA-seq data from eight tissues, we generated an annotated whole-genome de novo assembly of NWR. The assembly was 1.29 Gb in length, highly repetitive (approx. 76.0%) and contained 46 421 putative protein-coding genes. The expansion of retrotransposons within the genome and a whole-genome duplication (WGD) after the Zizania-Oryza speciation event have both led to an increase in the genome size of NWR in comparison with Oryza sativa L. and Zizania latifolia. Both events depict a genome rapidly undergoing change over a short evolutionary time. Comparative analyses revealed the conservation of large syntenic blocks between NWR and O. sativa, which were used to identify putative seed-shattering genes. Estimates of divergence times revealed that the Zizania genus diverged from Oryza approximately 26-30 million years ago (26-30 MYA), whereas NWR and Z. latifolia diverged from one another approximately 6-8 MYA. Comparative genomics confirmed evidence of a WGD in the Zizania genus and provided support that the event occurred prior to the NWR-Z. latifolia speciation event. This genome assembly and annotation provides a valuable resource for comparative genomics in the Oryzeae tribe and provides an important resource for future conservation and breeding efforts of NWR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Haas
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Thomas Kono
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Marissa Macchietto
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Reneth Millas
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Lillian McGilp
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Mingqin Shao
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Jacques Duquette
- North Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Grand Rapids, MN, 55744, USA
| | - Yinjie Qiu
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Candice N Hirsch
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Jennifer Kimball
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
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Carballo J, Zappacosta D, Selva JP, Caccamo M, Echenique V. Eragrostis curvula, a Model Species for Diplosporous Apomixis. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1818. [PMID: 34579351 PMCID: PMC8472828 DOI: 10.3390/plants10091818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Ness is a grass with a particular apomictic embryo sac development called Eragrostis type. Apomixis is a type of asexual reproduction that produces seeds without fertilization in which the resulting progeny is genetically identical to the mother plant and with the potential to fix the hybrid vigour from more than one generation, among other advantages. The absence of meiosis and the occurrence of only two rounds of mitosis instead of three during embryo sac development make this model unique and suitable to be transferred to economically important crops. Throughout this review, we highlight the advances in the knowledge of apomixis in E. curvula using different techniques such as cytoembryology, DNA methylation analyses, small-RNA-seq, RNA-seq, genome assembly, and genotyping by sequencing. The main bulk of evidence points out that apomixis is inherited as a single Mendelian factor, and it is regulated by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms controlled by a complex network. With all this information, we propose a model of the mechanisms involved in diplosporous apomixis in this grass. All the genetic and epigenetic resources generated in E. curvula to study the reproductive mode changed its status from an orphan to a well-characterised species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; (J.C.); (J.P.S.); (V.E.)
| | - Diego Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; (J.C.); (J.P.S.); (V.E.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Selva
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; (J.C.); (J.P.S.); (V.E.)
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Juan 670, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina
| | - Mario Caccamo
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK;
| | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; (J.C.); (J.P.S.); (V.E.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina
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18
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Baiakhmetov E, Guyomar C, Shelest E, Nobis M, Gudkova PD. The first draft genome of feather grasses using SMRT sequencing and its implications in molecular studies of Stipa. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15345. [PMID: 34321531 PMCID: PMC8319324 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94068-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eurasian plant Stipa capillata is the most widespread species within feather grasses. Many taxa of the genus are dominants in steppe plant communities and can be used for their classification and in studies related to climate change. Moreover, some species are of economic importance mainly as fodder plants and can be used for soil remediation processes. Although large-scale molecular data has begun to appear, there is still no complete or draft genome for any Stipa species. Thus, here we present a single-molecule long-read sequencing dataset generated using the Pacific Biosciences Sequel System. A draft genome of about 1004 Mb was obtained with a contig N50 length of 351 kb. Importantly, here we report 81,224 annotated protein-coding genes, present 77,614 perfect and 58 unique imperfect SSRs, reveal the putative allopolyploid nature of S. capillata, investigate the evolutionary history of the genus, demonstrate structural heteroplasmy of the chloroplast genome and announce for the first time the mitochondrial genome in Stipa. The assembled nuclear, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes provide a significant source of genetic data for further works on phylogeny, hybridisation and population studies within Stipa and the grass family Poaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenii Baiakhmetov
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387, Kraków, Poland. .,Research Laboratory 'Herbarium', National Research Tomsk State University, Lenin 36 Ave., Tomsk, 634050, Russia.
| | - Cervin Guyomar
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Genetics, Environment and Plant Protection (IGEPP), Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, University of Rennes 1, 35650, Le Rheu, France
| | - Ekaterina Shelest
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.,Centre for Enzyme Innovation, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2UP, UK
| | - Marcin Nobis
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387, Kraków, Poland. .,Research Laboratory 'Herbarium', National Research Tomsk State University, Lenin 36 Ave., Tomsk, 634050, Russia.
| | - Polina D Gudkova
- Research Laboratory 'Herbarium', National Research Tomsk State University, Lenin 36 Ave., Tomsk, 634050, Russia.,Department of Biology, Altai State University, Lenin 61 Ave., Barnaul, Russia, 656049
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19
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Wróbel A, Klichowska E, Baiakhmetov E, Nowak A, Nobis M. Invasion of Eragrostis albensis in Central Europe: distribution patterns, taxonomy and phylogenetic insight into the Eragrostis pilosa complex. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02507-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe Eragrostis pilosa complex (Poaceae) comprises five widely distributed and regionally invasive species—E. albensis, E. amurensis, E. imberbis, E. multicaulis, and E. pilosa, distinguished by tiny and variable morphological characters and with so far unknown phylogenetic relationships. Recently, some doubts have been raised about the status of an invasive glandular morphotype occurring in Central Europe assigned either to E. amurensis or to E. albensis. Here, we addressed this issue by analysing morphology, internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA, and five inter-simple sequence repeat markers. The genetic evidence supported closer relationship of this glandular morphotype to eglandular E. albensis, widely established in Central Europe, than to glandular E. amurensis described from Asia. We propose to adopt a new taxonomic treatment that E. albensis includes both eglandular and glandular individuals, and to classify the glandular ones as E. albensis var. scholziana M. Nobis & A. Wróbel var. nova. Currently this new taxon is known from a dozen of localities in Central Europe and is invasive in the lower section of the Oder River valley, whereas Eragrostis albensis var. albensis has already spread widely across Europe in riparian phytocenoses and anthropogenic habitats. Since probably the first registered records in 1940s, it has been observed in European part of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and its further invasion is likely to proceed. We provided distribution maps concerning spread dynamics of E. albensis in Europe from 1947 to 2020. In total, the species has been observed on over 1300 localities so far, most of which were found after 2000.
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Carballo J, Zappacosta D, Marconi G, Gallardo J, Di Marsico M, Gallo CA, Caccamo M, Albertini E, Echenique V. Differential Methylation Patterns in Apomictic vs. Sexual Genotypes of the Diplosporous Grass Eragrostis curvula. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10050946. [PMID: 34068493 PMCID: PMC8150776 DOI: 10.3390/plants10050946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism by which a methyl group is added to a cytosine or an adenine. When located in a gene/regulatory sequence it may repress or de-repress genes, depending on the context and species. Eragrostis curvula is an apomictic grass in which facultative genotypes increases the frequency of sexual pistils triggered by epigenetic mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to look for correlations between the reproductive mode and specific methylated genes or genomic regions. To do so, plants with contrasting reproductive modes were investigated through MCSeEd (Methylation Context Sensitive Enzyme ddRad) showing higher levels of DNA methylation in apomictic genotypes. Moreover, an increased proportion of differentially methylated positions over the regulatory regions were observed, suggesting its possible role in regulation of gene expression. Interestingly, the methylation pathway was also found to be self-regulated since two of the main genes (ROS1 and ROS4), involved in de-methylation, were found differentially methylated between genotypes with different reproductive behavior. Moreover, this work allowed us to detect several genes regulated by methylation that were previously found as differentially expressed in the comparisons between apomictic and sexual genotypes, linking DNA methylation to differences in reproductive mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Gianpiero Marconi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Jimena Gallardo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Marco Di Marsico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Cristian A. Gallo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
| | - Mario Caccamo
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK;
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
- Correspondence: (E.A.); (V.E.); Tel.: +39-075-585-6206 (E.A.); +54-291-486-1124 (V.E.)
| | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; (J.C.); (D.Z.); (J.G.); (C.A.G.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Correspondence: (E.A.); (V.E.); Tel.: +39-075-585-6206 (E.A.); +54-291-486-1124 (V.E.)
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Cui F, Taier G, Li M, Dai X, Hang N, Zhang X, Wang X, Wang K. The genome of the warm-season turfgrass African bermudagrass (Cynodon transvaalensis). HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2021; 8:93. [PMID: 33931599 PMCID: PMC8087826 DOI: 10.1038/s41438-021-00519-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cynodon species can be used for multiple purposes and have high economic and ecological significance. However, the genetic basis of the favorable agronomic traits of Cynodon species is poorly understood, partially due to the limited availability of genomic resources. In this study, we report a chromosome-scale genome assembly of a diploid Cynodon species, C. transvaalensis, obtained by combining Illumina and Nanopore sequencing, BioNano, and Hi-C. The assembly contains 282 scaffolds (~423.42 Mb, N50 = 5.37 Mb), which cover ~93.2% of the estimated genome of C. transvaalensis (~454.4 Mb). Furthermore, 90.48% of the scaffolds (~383.08 Mb) were anchored to nine pseudomolecules, of which the largest was 60.78 Mb in length. Evolutionary analysis along with transcriptome comparison provided a preliminary genomic basis for the adaptation of this species to tropical and/or subtropical climates, typically with dry summers. The genomic resources generated in this study will not only facilitate evolutionary studies of the Chloridoideae subfamily, in particular, the Cynodonteae tribe, but also facilitate functional genomic research and genetic breeding in Cynodon species for new leading turfgrass cultivars in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchao Cui
- Department of Turfgrass Science and Engineering, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Geli Taier
- Department of Turfgrass Science and Engineering, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Manli Li
- Department of Breeding and Seed Science, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaoxia Dai
- Department of Turfgrass Science and Engineering, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Nan Hang
- Department of Turfgrass Science and Engineering, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xunzhong Zhang
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Xiangfeng Wang
- National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100913, China.
| | - Kehua Wang
- Department of Turfgrass Science and Engineering, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Ye CY, Fan L. Orphan Crops and their Wild Relatives in the Genomic Era. MOLECULAR PLANT 2021; 14:27-39. [PMID: 33346062 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2020.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
More than half of the calories consumed by humans are provided by three major cereal crops (rice, maize, and wheat). Orphan crops are usually well adapted to low-input agricultural conditions, and they not only play vital roles in local areas but can also contribute to food and nutritional needs worldwide. Interestingly, many wild relatives of orphan crops are important weeds of major crops. Although orphan crops and their wild relatives have received little attentions from researchers for many years, genomic studies have recently been performed on these plants. Here, we provide an overview of genomic studies on orphan crops, with a focus on orphan cereals and their wild relatives. The genomes of at least 12 orphan cereals and/or their wild relatives have been sequenced. In addition to genomic benefits for orphan crop breeding, we discuss the potential ways for mutual utilization of genomic data from major crops, orphan crops, and their wild relatives (including weeds) and provide perspectives on genetic improvement of both orphan and major crops (including de novo domestication of orphan crops) in the coming genomic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu-Yu Ye
- Institute of Crop Sciences & Institute of Bioinformatics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Longjiang Fan
- Institute of Crop Sciences & Institute of Bioinformatics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572024, China.
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Ortiz JPA, Pupilli F, Acuña CA, Leblanc O, Pessino SC. How to Become an Apomixis Model: The Multifaceted Case of Paspalum. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E974. [PMID: 32839398 PMCID: PMC7564465 DOI: 10.3390/genes11090974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decades, the grasses of the Paspalum genus have emerged as a versatile model allowing evolutionary, genetic, molecular, and developmental studies on apomixis as well as successful breeding applications. The rise of such an archetypal system progressed through integrative phases, which were essential to draw conclusions based on solid standards. Here, we review the steps adopted in Paspalum to establish the current body of knowledge on apomixis and provide model breeding programs for other agronomically important apomictic crops. In particular, we discuss the need for previous detailed cytoembryological and cytogenetic germplasm characterization; the establishment of sexual and apomictic materials of identical ploidy level; the development of segregating populations useful for inheritance analysis, positional mapping, and epigenetic control studies; the development of omics data resources; the identification of key molecular pathways via comparative gene expression studies; the accurate molecular characterization of genomic loci governing apomixis; the in-depth functional analysis of selected candidate genes in apomictic and model species; the successful building of a sexual/apomictic combined breeding scheme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo A. Ortiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA Zavalla, Argentina;
| | - Fulvio Pupilli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR-CNR), 06128 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Carlos A. Acuña
- Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, 3400 Corrientes, Argentina;
| | - Olivier Leblanc
- UMR DIADE, IRD, Univ. Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France;
| | - Silvina C. Pessino
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA Zavalla, Argentina;
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Genes Modulating the Increase in Sexuality in the Facultative Diplosporous Grass Eragrostis curvula under Water Stress Conditions. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11090969. [PMID: 32825586 PMCID: PMC7564825 DOI: 10.3390/genes11090969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Eragrostis curvula presents mainly facultative genotypes that reproduce by diplosporous apomixis, retaining a percentage of sexual pistils that increase under drought and other stressful situations, indicating that some regulators activated by stress could be affecting the apomixis/sexual switch. Water stress experiments were performed in order to associate the increase in sexual embryo sacs with the differential expression of genes in a facultative apomictic cultivar using cytoembryology and RNA sequencing. The percentage of sexual embryo sacs increased from 4 to 24% and 501 out of the 201,011 transcripts were differentially expressed (DE) between control and stressed plants. DE transcripts were compared with previous transcriptomes where apomictic and sexual genotypes were contrasted. The results point as candidates to transcripts related to methylation, ubiquitination, hormone and signal transduction pathways, transcription regulation and cell wall biosynthesis, some acting as a general response to stress and some that are specific to the reproductive mode. We suggest that a DNA glycosylase EcROS1-like could be demethylating, thus de-repressing a gene or genes involved in the sexuality pathways. Many of the other DE transcripts could be part of a complex mechanism that regulates apomixis and sexuality in this grass, the ones in the intersection between control/stress and apo/sex being the strongest candidates.
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Hojsgaard D. Apomixis Technology: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E411. [PMID: 32290084 PMCID: PMC7231277 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Projections indicate that current plant breeding approaches will be unable to incorporate the global crop yields needed to deliver global food security. Apomixis is a disruptive innovation by which a plant produces clonal seeds capturing heterosis and gene combinations of elite phenotypes. Introducing apomixis into hybrid cultivars is a game-changing development in the current plant breeding paradigm that will accelerate the generation of high-yield cultivars. However, apomixis is a developmentally complex and genetically multifaceted trait. The central problem behind current constraints to apomixis breeding is that the genomic configuration and molecular mechanism that initiate apomixis and guide the formation of a clonal seed are still unknown. Today, not a single explanation about the origin of apomixis offer full empirical coverage, and synthesizing apomixis by manipulating individual genes has failed or produced little success. Overall evidence suggests apomixis arise from a still unknown single event molecular mechanism with multigenic effects. Disentangling the genomic basis and complex genetics behind the emergence of apomixis in plants will require the use of novel experimental approaches benefiting from Next Generation Sequencing technologies and targeting not only reproductive genes, but also the epigenetic and genomic configurations associated with reproductive phenotypes in homoploid sexual and apomictic carriers. A comprehensive picture of most regulatory changes guiding apomixis emergence will be central for successfully installing apomixis into the target species by exploiting genetic modification techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Hojsgaard
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, D-37073-1 Göttingen, Germany
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Garbus I, Selva JP, Pasten MC, Bellido AM, Carballo J, Albertini E, Echenique V. Characterization and discovery of miRNA and miRNA targets from apomictic and sexual genotypes of Eragrostis curvula. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:839. [PMID: 31718556 PMCID: PMC6852985 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6169-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula [Shrad.] Nees) is a perennial grass found in semi-arid regions that is well adapted for growth in sandy soils and drought conditions. E. curvula constitutes a polymorphic complex that includes cytotypes with different ploidy levels (from 2x to 8x), where most polyploids are facultative apomicts, although both sexual reproduction and full apomixis have been reported in this species. Apomixis is thought to be associated with silencing of the sexual pathway, which would involve epigenetic mechanisms. However, a correlation between small RNAs and apomixis has not yet been conclusively established. Results Aiming to contribute to the elucidation of their role in the expression of apomixis, we constructed small RNA libraries from sexual and apomictic E. curvula genotypes via Illumina technology, characterized the small RNA populations, and conducted differential expression analysis by comparing these small RNAs with the E. curvula reference transcriptome. We found that the expression of two genes is repressed in the sexual genotype, which is associated with specific microRNA expression. Conclusion Our results support the hypothesis that in E. curvula the expression of apomixis leads to sexual repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Garbus
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS); CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
| | - Juan Pablo Selva
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS); CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María Cielo Pasten
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS); CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Andrés Martín Bellido
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS); CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - José Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS); CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS); CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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