Root transcriptome of two contrasting indica rice cultivars uncovers regulators of root development and physiological responses

Comparative transcriptome profiling to unravel the key molecular signalling pathways and drought adaptive plasticity in shoot borne root system of sugarcane

Sugarcane root system comprises of superficial sett roots as well as deeply-penetrating shoot borne roots (SBR) with latter being the permanent root system. In sugarcane, the healthy SBR contributes to a better crop yield and it also helps to produce multiple ratoon crops after the harvest. There is a dearth of in-depth knowledge on SBR system architecture and its functional role in modern day commercial hybrids. A comprehensive phenotypic, anatomical and whole transcriptome profiling, conducted between the commercial sugarcane hybrids and a wild germplasm Erianthus, found a developmental delay in both initiation and establishment of the SBR in commercial hybrid compared to Erianthus. The SBR system in Erianthus proved to be an extensive drought-adaptive root system architecture that significantly contributes to drought tolerance. On the other hand, SBRs in the commercial hybrids showed an irreversible collapse and damage of the root cells under drought stress. The outcomes from the comparative analysis of the transcriptome data showed a significant upregulation of the genes that regulate important stress signalling pathways viz., sugar, calcium, hormone signalling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in the SBRs of Erianthus. It was found that through these key signalling pathways, Erianthus SBRs triggered the downstream signalling cascade to impart physiological responses like osmoprotection, modification of the cell walls, detoxification of reactive oxygen species, expression of drought responsive transcription factors, maintenance of cell stability and lateral root development. The current study forms a basis for further exploration of the Shoot Borne Root system as a valuable breeding target to develop drought tolerant sugarcane genotypes.

The influence of endophytes on rice fitness under environmental stresses

KEY MESSAGE

Endophytes are crucial for the promotion of rice growth and stress tolerance and can be used to increase rice crop yield. Endophytes can thus be exploited in biotechnology and genetic engineering as eco-friendly and cost-effective means for the development of high-yielding and stress-tolerant rice plants. Rice (Oryza sativa) crop is continuously subjected to biotic and abiotic stresses, compromising growth and consequently yield. The situation is exacerbated by climate change impacting on ecosystems and biodiversity. Genetic engineering has been used to develop stress-tolerant rice, alongside physical and chemical methods to mitigate the effect of these stresses. However, the success of these strategies has been hindered by short-lived field success and public concern on adverse effects associated. The limited success in the field of stress-tolerant cultivars developed through breeding or transgenic approaches is due to the complex nature of stress tolerance as well as to the resistance breakdown caused by accelerated evolution of pathogens. It is therefore necessary to develop novel and acceptable strategies to enhance rice stress tolerance and durable resistance and consequently improve yield. In the last decade, plant growth promoting (PGP) microbes, especially endophytes, have drawn the attention of agricultural scientists worldwide, due to their ability to mitigate environmental stresses in crops, without causing adverse effects. Increasing evidence indicates that endophytes effectively confer fitness benefits also to rice under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Endophyte-produced metabolites can control the expression of stress-responsive genes and improve the physiological performance and growth of rice plants. This review highlights the current evidence available for PGP microbe-promoted tolerance of rice to abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought and to biotic ones, with special emphasis on endophytes. Associated molecular mechanisms are illustrated, and prospects for sustainable rice production also in the light of the impending climate change, discussed.

Genome-Wide Expression Analysis of Root Tips in Contrasting Rice Genotypes Revealed Novel Candidate Genes for Water Stress Adaptation

Root system architecture (RSA) is an important agronomic trait with vital roles in plant productivity under water stress conditions. A deep and branched root system may help plants to avoid water stress by enabling them to acquire more water and nutrient resources. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the genetics and molecular control mechanisms of RSA is still relatively limited. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome response of root tips to water stress in two well-known genotypes of rice: IR64, a high-yielding lowland genotype, which represents a drought-susceptible and shallow-rooting genotype; and Azucena, a traditional, upland, drought-tolerant and deep-rooting genotype. We collected samples from three zones (Z) of root tip: two consecutive 5 mm sections (Z1 and Z2) and the following next 10 mm section (Z3), which mainly includes meristematic and maturation regions. Our results showed that Z1 of Azucena was enriched for genes involved in cell cycle and division and root growth and development whereas in IR64 root, responses to oxidative stress were strongly enriched. While the expansion of the lateral root system was used as a strategy by both genotypes when facing water shortage, it was more pronounced in Azucena. Our results also suggested that by enhancing meristematic cell wall thickening for insulation purposes as a means of confronting stress, the sensitive IR64 genotype may have reduced its capacity for root elongation to extract water from deeper layers of the soil. Furthermore, several members of gene families such as NAC, AP2/ERF, AUX/IAA, EXPANSIN, WRKY, and MYB emerged as main players in RSA and drought adaptation. We also found that HSP and HSF gene families participated in oxidative stress inhibition in IR64 root tip. Meta-quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis revealed that 288 differentially expressed genes were colocalized with RSA QTLs previously reported under drought and normal conditions. This finding warrants further research into their possible roles in drought adaptation. Overall, our analyses presented several major molecular differences between Azucena and IR64, which may partly explain their differential root growth responses to water stress. It appears that Azucena avoided water stress through enhancing growth and root exploration to access water, whereas IR64 might mainly rely on cell insulation to maintain water and antioxidant system to withstand stress. We identified a large number of novel RSA and drought associated candidate genes, which should encourage further exploration of their potential to enhance drought adaptation in rice.

Root-Derived Endophytic Diazotrophic Bacteria Pantoea cypripedii AF1 and Kosakonia arachidis EF1 Promote Nitrogen Assimilation and Growth in Sugarcane

Excessive, long-term application of chemical fertilizers in sugarcane crops disrupts soil microbial flora and causes environmental pollution and yield decline. The role of endophytic bacteria in improving crop production is now well-documented. In this study, we have isolated and identified several endophytic bacterial strains from the root tissues of five sugarcane species. Among them, eleven Gram-negative isolates were selected and screened for plant growth-promoting characteristics, i.e., production of siderophores, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), ammonia, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and hydrolytic enzymes, phosphorus solubilization, antifungal activity against plant pathogens, nitrogen-fixation, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity, and improving tolerance to different abiotic stresses. These isolates had nifH (11 isolates), acdS (8 isolates), and HCN (11 isolates) genes involved in N-fixation, stress tolerance, and pathogen biocontrol, respectively. Two isolates Pantoea cypripedii AF1and Kosakonia arachidis EF1 were the most potent strains and they colonized and grew in sugarcane plants. Both strains readily colonized the leading Chinese sugarcane variety GT42 and significantly increased the activity of nitrogen assimilation enzymes (glutamine synthetase, NADH glutamate dehydrogenase, and nitrate reductase), chitinase, and endo-glucanase and the content of phytohormones gibberellic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, and abscisic acid. The gene expression analysis of GT42 inoculated with isolates of P. cypripedii AF1 or K. arachidis EF1 showed increased activity of nifH and nitrogen assimilation genes. Also, the inoculated diazotrophs significantly increased plant nitrogen content, which was corroborated by the 15N isotope dilution analysis. Collectively, these findings suggest that P. cypripedii and K. arachidis are beneficial endophytes that could be used as a biofertilizer to improve plant nitrogen nutrition and growth of sugarcane. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of sugarcane growth enhancement and nitrogen fixation by Gram-negative sugarcane root-associated endophytic bacteria P. cypripedii and K. arachidis. These strains have the potential to be utilized as sugarcane biofertilizers, thus reducing nitrogen fertilizer use and improving disease management.

Yield, Grain Quality, and Starch Physicochemical Properties of 2 Elite Thai Rice Cultivars Grown under Varying Production Systems and Soil Characteristics

Rice production systems and soil characteristics play a crucial role in determining its yield and grain quality. Two elite Thai rice cultivars, namely, KDML105 and RD6, were cultivated in two production systems with distinct soil characteristics, including net-house pot production and open-field production. Under open-field system, KDML105 and RD6 had greater panicle number, total grain weight, 100-grain weight, grain size, and dimension than those grown in the net-house. The amounts of reducing sugar and long amylopectin branch chains (DP 25–36) of the RD6 grains along with the amounts of long branch chains (DP 25–36 and DP ≥ 37), C-type starch granules, and average chain length of the KDML105 were substantially enhanced by the open-field cultivation. Contrastingly, the relative crystallinity of RD6 starch and the amounts of short branch chains (DP 6–12 and DP 13–24), B- and A-type granules, and median granule size of KDML105 starch were significantly suppressed. Consequently, the open-field-grown RD6 starch displayed significant changes in its gelatinization and retrogradation properties, whereas, certain retrogradation parameters and peak viscosity (PV) of KDML105 starches were differentially affected by the distinct cultivating conditions. This study demonstrated the influences of production systems and soil characteristics on the physicochemical properties of rice starches.

The Metabolic Response of Brachypodium Roots to the Interaction with Beneficial Bacteria Is Affected by the Plant Nutritional Status

The potential of plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria in improving the performance of plants in suboptimal environments is increasingly acknowledged, but little information is available on the mechanisms underlying this interaction, particularly when plants are subjected to a combination of stresses. In this study, we investigated the effects of the inoculation with the PGP bacteria Azospirillum brasilense (Azospirillum) on the metabolism of the model cereal Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) grown at low temperatures and supplied with insufficient phosphorus. Investigating polar metabolite and lipid fluctuations during early plant development, we found that the bacteria initially elicited a defense response in Brachypodium roots, while at later stages Azospirillum reduced the stress caused by phosphorus deficiency and improved root development of inoculated plants, particularly by stimulating the growth of branch roots. We propose that the interaction of the plant with Azospirillum was influenced by its nutritional status: bacteria were sensed as pathogens while plants were still phosphorus sufficient, but the interaction became increasingly beneficial for the plants as their phosphorus levels decreased. Our results provide new insights on the dynamics of the cereal-PGP bacteria interaction, and contribute to our understanding of the role of beneficial microorganisms in the growth of cereal crops in suboptimal environments.

Identification of tomato root growth regulatory genes and transcription factors through comparative transcriptomic profiling of different tissues

Tomato is an economically important vegetable crop and a model for development and stress response studies. Although studied extensively for understanding fruit ripening and pathogen responses, its role as a model for root development remains less explored. In this study, an Illumina-based comparative differential transcriptomic analysis of tomato root with different aerial tissues was carried out to identify genes that are predominantly expressed during root growth. Sequential comparisons revealed ~ 15,000 commonly expressed genes and ~ 3000 genes of several classes that were mainly expressed or regulated in roots. These included 1069 transcription factors (TFs) of which 100 were differentially regulated. Prominent amongst these were members of families encoding Zn finger, MYB, ARM, bHLH, AP2/ERF, WRKY and NAC proteins. A large number of kinases, phosphatases and F-box proteins were also expressed in the root transcriptome. The major hormones regulating root growth were represented by the auxin, ethylene, JA, ABA and GA pathways with root-specific expression of certain components. Genes encoding carbon metabolism and photosynthetic components showed reduced expression while several protease inhibitors were amongst the most highly expressed. Overall, the study sheds light on genes governing root growth in tomato and provides a resource for manipulation of root growth for plant improvement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01015-0.

Identifying key regulatory genes of maize root growth and development by RNA sequencing

Root system architecture (RSA), the spatio-temporal configuration of roots, plays vital roles in maize (Zea mays L.) development and productivity. We sequenced the maize root transcriptome of four key growth and development stages: the 6th leaf stage, the 12th leaf stage, the tasseling stage and the milk-ripe stage. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected. 81 DEGs involved in plant hormone signal transduction pathway and 26 transcription factor (TF) genes were screened. These DEGs and TFs were predicted to be potential candidate genes during maize root growth and development. Several of these genes are homologous to well-known genes regulating root architecture or development in Arabidopsis or rice, such as, Zm00001d005892 (AtERF109), Zm00001d027925 (AtERF73/HRE1), Zm00001d047017 (AtMYC2, OsMYC2), Zm00001d039245 (AtWRKY6). Identification of these key genes will provide a further understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for maize root growth and development, it will be beneficial to increase maize production and improve stress resistance by altering RSA traits in modern breeding.

Low Nitrogen Enhances Nitrogen Use Efficiency by Triggering NO3- Uptake and Its Long-Distance Translocation

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth and crop productivity; however, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) decreases with increasing N supply, resulting in a waste of resources. Molecular mechanisms underlying low-nitrogen (LN)-mediated enhancement of NUE are not clear. We used high-NUE Brassica napus genotype H (Xiangyou 15), low-NUE B. napus genotype L (814), and Arabidopsis mutant aux1 to elucidate the mechanism underlying the changes in NUE under different rates of N fertilizer application. NUE of B. napus increased under LN, which enhanced N uptake ability by regulating root system architecture and plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase activity; AUX1 was involved in this process. Additionally, BnNRT1.5 was upregulated and BnNRT1.8 was downregulated under LN, whereby more N was transferred to the shoot through enhanced N transport. Observed changes in photosynthesis under LN were associated with N assimilation efficiency. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms of plant adaptation to the environment.

Giberellic Acid-Stimulated Transcript Proteins Evolved through Successive Conjugation of Novel Motifs and Their Subfunctionalization

Gibberellic Acid Stimulated Transcript (GAST)-like genes encode small polypeptides, some of which have been implicated in diverse biological processes regulating plant growth and development. However, the occurrence of GASTs among plants, their protein structures, and the mechanisms by which they evolved remain elusive. Here, using a customized workflow, we report genes encoding GAST proteins, identify novel motifs and evolutionary patterns contributing to the subfunctionalization of GAST domains, and explore functional conservation across diverse plant groups. We show that GAST-like sequences evolved initially in the vascular plant Selaginella moellendorffii, after the divergence from bryophytes, and later emerged in gymnosperms and angiosperms. GASTs in angiosperms are characterized by four conserved novel motifs; however, relatively fewer conserved motifs exist in pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the GAST-Cysteine Rich1 motif evolved early in the S. moellendorffii GAST, which further acquired subfunctionalization through successive conjugation of other motifs and remained conserved across plants, as supported by their collinearity. Functional characterization of two orthologs from the dicot Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis 10) and the monocot rice (Oryza sativa; Gibberellic Acid Stimulated Transcript-Related 9) suggests hormonal regulation, novel roles in seed germination, and functional conservation among diverse plant groups. Computational modeling predicts that these GAST genes are regulated by several factors, including the phytohormones gibberellin and abscisic acid, through conserved cis-motifs present in their promoters, and that they might act as signaling molecules in a complex feedback loop. Thus, our study identifies GASTs and their encoded proteins, uncovers their structure, novel motifs, and evolutionary pattern among plants, and suggests their functional conservation.

Draft Genome Analysis Offers Insights Into the Mechanism by Which Streptomyces chartreusis WZS021 Increases Drought Tolerance in Sugarcane

Drought directly affects sugarcane production. Plant growth-promoting bacteria have gained attention as growth promoters of plants under abiotic stresses. The present study focused on genome assessment of the plant-beneficial endophyte Streptomyces chartreusis WZS021 and its vital role in sugarcane plants under drought stress. Based on in vitro plant growth-promoting trait analyses, WZS021 had multiple abilities, including tolerance to drought and production of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic deaminase, siderophores, and indole acetic acid. We confirmed root colonization of sugarcane transplants by WZS021 by a sterile sand assay and scanning electron microscopy. Plants inoculated with strain WZS021 had a positive influence on the root parameters such as length and biomass when compared to the control plants. A comparative study of the responses of two sugarcane varieties (ROC22 and B8) to different levels of drought stress in the presence or absence of WZS021 was conducted by assessing the plant chemistry. The expression of antioxidants in sugarcane leaves varied with water stress level. WZS021 inoculation improved the contents of chlorophyll, proline, and phytohormones, revealing some potential for the mechanisms by which this strain improves drought tolerance in sugarcane plants. We identified several genes that might be involved in the plant growth- and drought tolerance-promoting effects of this strain.

Genetic basis of drought tolerance during seed germination in barley

Drought is one of the harshest abiotic stresses hindering seed germination, plant growth, and crop productivity. A high rate and uniformity of germination under stressful conditions are vital for crop establishment and growth; thus, for productivity. A better understanding of the genetic architecture of seed germination under drought stress is a prerequisite for further increasing yield potential. Barley is considered one of the most abiotic stresses-tolerant cereals. Elucidating the drought tolerance of barley during seed germination would indeed pave the way towards improving the performance of all cereals. However, we still know relatively little about the genetic control of drought tolerance during the seed germination phase. In our study, 218 worldwide spring barley accessions were subjected to PEG-induced drought during seed germination. Induced drought stress "20% PEG" significantly reduced the seed germination parameters and seedling related traits. A genome-wide association scan (GWAS) was used to identify genomic regions associated with our trait of interest. In total, 338 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found to be associated with several traits distributed across seven barley chromosomes, of which 26 genomic regions were associated with candidate genes. The current study found some of the quantitative trait loci (QTL) that have previously been reported to be linked to seed germination-related traits under drought conditions, as well as some new associations. Noteworthy, the identified QTL colocalized with a number of genes (within interval ±0.5 Mbp) that are exclusively distributed on chromosomes 1H, 2H, and 5H. The annotation of these genes in barley shows their roles in drought tolerance through encoding different transcription factors. The function of the identified genes during seed germination was also confirmed by the annotation of their counterparts in Arabidopsis. The current analyses show the power of the GWAS both for identifying putative candidate genes and for improving plant adaptive traits in barley.

Genes encoding membrane proteins showed stable expression in rice under aerobic condition: novel set of reference genes for expression studies

A set of reference genes expressing stably under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in rice is essential to execute omics studies relating to aerobic adaptations. Stability of expression of ten rice reference genes, viz. Actin, eEF-1a, eIF-5C, Exp1, Exp2, Memp, SKP1A, TF-SUI1, TPH, and UBQ5 was validated across six experimental sets in shoot and root tissues at seedling, tillering, and panicle initiation stages. Comprehensively, Memp (Membrane protein), TPH (Tumor protein homolog), and Exp1 (Expressed protein) were revealed as the most stable set with acceptable M and V value according to the gold standards of qRT-PCR using various algorithms/tools. The identified set of reference genes was validated using root trait genes, which showed concurrence with the functional expression patterns in the aerobic and anaerobic adapted cultivars. The Memp (Membrane protein), TPH (Tumor protein homolog), and Exp1 (Expressed protein) genes are the most stable reference genes across the root and shoot at various developmental stages under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in rice. This is the first study for accurate and reliable relative gene expression analysis in rice grown in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Integrated omics analysis of root-preferred genes across diverse rice varieties including Japonica and indica cultivars

Plant root systems play essential roles in developmental processes, such as the absorption of water and inorganic nutrients, and structural support. Gene expression is affected by growth conditions and the genetic background of plants. To identify highly conserved root-preferred genes in rice across diverse growth conditions and varieties, we used two independent meta-anatomical expression profiles based on a large collection of Affymetrix and Agilent 44K microarray data sets available for public use. We then identified 684 loci with root-preferred expression, which were validated with in silico analysis using both meta-expression profiles. The expression patterns of four candidate genes were confirmed in vivo by monitoring expression of β-glucuronidase under control of the candidate-gene promoters, providing new tools to manipulate agronomic traits associated with roots. We also utilized real-time PCR to examine the root-preferential expression of 14 genes across four rice varieties, including japonica and indica cultivars. Using a database of rice genes with known functions, we identified the reported functions of 39 out of the 684 candidate genes. Sixteen genes are directly involved in root development, while the remaining are involved in processes indirectly related to root development (i.e., soil-stress tolerance or growth retardation). This indicates the importance of our candidate genes for studies on root development and function. Gene ontology enrichment analysis in the 'biological processes' category revealed that root-preferred genes in rice are closely associated with nutrient transport-related genes, indicating that the primary role of roots is the uptake of nutrients from soil. In addition, predicted protein-protein interaction analysis suggested a molecular network for root development composed of 215 interactions associated with 44 root-preferred or root development-related genes. Taken together, our data provide an important foundation for future research on root development in rice.

Cross-talk between Phosphate Starvation and Other Environmental Stress Signaling Pathways in Plants

The maintenance of inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is essential for plant growth and yield. Plants have evolved strategies to cope with Pi starvation at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels, which maximizes its availability. Many transcription factors, miRNAs, and transporters participate in the Pi starvation signaling pathway where their activities are modulated by sugar and phytohormone signaling. Environmental stresses significantly affect the uptake and utilization of nutrients by plants, but their effects on the Pi starvation response remain unclear. Recently, we reported that Pi starvation signaling is affected by abiotic stresses such as salt, abscisic acid, and drought. In this review, we identified transcription factors, such as MYB, WRKY, and zinc finger transcription factors with functions in Pi starvation and other environmental stress signaling. In silico analysis of the promoter regions of Pi starvation-responsive genes, including phosphate transporters, microRNAs, and phosphate starvation-induced genes, suggest that their expression may be regulated by other environmental stresses, such as hormones, drought, cold, heat, and pathogens as well as by Pi starvation. Thus, we suggest the possibility of cross-talk between Pi starvation signaling and other environmental stress signaling pathways.

Phytohormonal crosstalk modulates the expression of miR166/165s, target Class III HD-ZIPs, and KANADI genes during root growth in Arabidopsis thaliana

Both phytohormones and non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) play important role in root development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mature miR166/165 s, which are derived from precursor transcripts of concerned genes, regulate developmental processes, including leaf and root patterning, by targeting Class III HOMEODOMAIN LEUCINE-ZIPPER (HD-ZIP III) transcription factors (TFs). However, their regulation through hormones remained poorly understood. Here, we show that several phytohormones dynamically regulate the spatio-temporal expression pattern of miR166/165 and target HD-ZIP IIIs in developing roots. Hormone signaling pathway mutants show differential expression pattern of miR166/165, providing further genetic evidence for multilayered regulation of these genes through phytohormones. We further show that a crosstalk of at least six different phytohormones regulate the miR166/165, their target HD-ZIP IIIs, and KANADI (KANs). Our results suggest that HD-ZIP IIIs mediated root development is modulated both transcriptionally through phytohormones and KANs, and post-transcriptionally by miR166/165 that in turn are also regulated by the phytohormonal crosstalk.