Novel flavin-containing monooxygenase protein FMO1 interacts with CAT2 to negatively regulate drought tolerance through ROS homeostasis and ABA signaling pathway in tomato

Association mapping unravels the genetic basis for drought related traits in different developmental stages of barley

Drought stress significantly reduces crop yields at all stages of plant development. Barley, known for its abiotic-stress adaptation among cereals was used to examine the genetic basis of drought tolerance. A population of 164 spring barley lines was subjected to polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced drought stress during germination and seedling development. Six traits were measured, including germination percentage and rate, seedling length and weight, and root-to-shoot ratios. Seedling area, volume, and root and shoot diameter was acquired with a flatbed scanner. This population was also subjected to short-term drought during the heading stage in the greenhouse. Root and shoot weight and grain yield data were collected from well watered and droughted plants. Significant variation within traits were observed and several of them exhibited strong correlations with each other. In this population, two genotypes had 100% germination under PEG-induced drought and drought tolerance throughout the heading stage of plant development. A genome-wide association scan (GWAS) revealed 64 significant marker-trait associations across all seven barley chromosomes. Candidate genes related to abiotic stress and germination were identified within a 0.5Mbp interval around these SNPs. In silico analysis indicated a high frequency of differential expression of the candidate genes in response to stress. This study enabled identification of barley lines useful for drought tolerance breeding and pinpointed candidate genes for enhancing drought resiliency in barley.

A truncated B-box zinc finger transcription factor confers drought sensitivity in modern cultivated tomatoes

Enhancing drought tolerance in crops and understanding the underlying mechanisms have been subject of intense research. The precise function and molecular mechanisms of B-box zinc finger proteins (BBX) remain elusive. Here, we report a natural allele of BBX18 (BBX18TT) that encodes a C-terminal truncated protein. While most wild tomato germplasms contain the BBX18CC allele and show more drought tolerant, modern cultivated tomatoes mostly carry BBX18TT allele and are more drought sensitive. Knockout of BBX18 leads to improved drought tolerance in transgenic plants of cultivated tomato. Ascorbate peroxidase 1 (APX1) is identified as a BBX18-interacting protein that acts as a positive regulator of drought resistance in tomato. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses reveal that BBX18 binds to a unique cis-acting element of the APX1 promoter and represses its gene expression. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism underlying drought resistance mediated by the BBX18-APX1 module in plants.

Enhancement of Apple Stress Resistance via Proline Elevation by Sugar Substitutes

Plants encounter numerous adversities during growth, necessitating the identification of common stress activators to bolster their resistance. However, the current understanding of these activators' mechanisms remains limited. This study identified three anti-stress activators applicable to apple trees, all of which elevate plant proline content to enhance resistance against various adversities. The results showed that the application of these sugar substitutes increased apple proline content by two to three times compared to the untreated group. Even at a lower concentration, these activators triggered plant stress resistance without compromising apple fruit quality. Therefore, these three sugar substitutes can be exogenously sprayed on apple trees to augment proline content and fortify stress resistance. Given their effectiveness and low production cost, these activators possess significant application value. Since they have been widely used in the food industry, they hold potential for broader application in plants, fostering apple industry development.

Redox signaling and oxidative stress in systemic acquired resistance

Plants fully depend on their immune systems to defend against pathogens. Upon pathogen attack, plants not only activate immune responses at the infection site but also trigger a defense mechanism known as systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in distal systemic tissues to prevent subsequent infections by a broad-spectrum of pathogens. SAR is induced by mobile signals produced at the infection site. Accumulating evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a central role in SAR signaling. ROS burst at the infection site is one of the earliest cellular responses following pathogen infection and can spread to systemic tissues through membrane-associated NADPH oxidase-dependent relay production of ROS. It is well known that ROS ignite redox signaling and, when in excess, cause oxidative stress, damaging cellular components. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on redox regulation of several SAR signaling components. We discuss the ROS amplification loop in systemic tissues involving multiple SAR mobile signals. Moreover, we highlight the essential role of oxidative stress in generating SAR signals including azelaic acid and extracellular NAD(P) [eNAD(P)]. Finally, we propose that eNAD(P) is a damage-associated molecular pattern serving as a converging point of SAR mobile signals in systemic tissues.

The AGAMOUS-LIKE 16-GENERAL REGULATORY FACTOR 1 module regulates axillary bud outgrowth via catabolism of abscisic acid in cucumber

Lateral branches are important components of shoot architecture and directly affect crop yield and production cost. Although sporadic studies have implicated abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis in axillary bud outgrowth, the function of ABA catabolism and its upstream regulators in shoot branching remain elusive. Here, we showed that the MADS-box transcription factor AGAMOUS-LIKE 16 (CsAGL16) is a positive regulator of axillary bud outgrowth in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Functional disruption of CsAGL16 led to reduced bud outgrowth, whereas overexpression of CsAGL16 resulted in enhanced branching. CsAGL16 directly binds to the promoter of the ABA 8'-hydroxylase gene CsCYP707A4 and promotes its expression. Loss of CsCYP707A4 function inhibited axillary bud outgrowth and increased ABA levels. Elevated expression of CsCYP707A4 or treatment with an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor largely rescued the Csagl16 mutant phenotype. Moreover, cucumber General Regulatory Factor 1 (CsGRF1) interacts with CsAGL16 and antagonizes CsAGL16-mediated CsCYP707A4 activation. Disruption of CsGRF1 resulted in elongated branches and decreased ABA levels in the axillary buds. The Csagl16 Csgrf1 double mutant exhibited a branching phenotype resembling that of the Csagl16 single mutant. Therefore, our data suggest that the CsAGL16-CsGRF1 module regulates axillary bud outgrowth via CsCYP707A4-mediated ABA catabolism in cucumber. Our findings provide a strategy to manipulate ABA levels in axillary buds during crop breeding to produce desirable branching phenotypes.

Integration of transcriptomics, metabolomics, and hormone analysis revealed the formation of lesion spots inhibited by GA and CTK was related to cell death and disease resistance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

BACKGROUND

Wheat is one of the important grain crops in the world. The formation of lesion spots related to cell death is involved in disease resistance, whereas the regulatory pathway of lesion spot production and resistance mechanism to pathogens in wheat is largely unknown.

RESULTS

In this study, a pair of NILs (NIL-Lm5W and NIL-Lm5M) was constructed from the BC1F4 population by the wheat lesion mimic mutant MC21 and its wild genotype Chuannong 16. The formation of lesion spots in NIL-Lm5M significantly increased its resistance to stripe rust, and NIL-Lm5M showed superiour agronomic traits than NIL-Lm5W under stripe rust infection.Whereafter, the NILs were subjected to transcriptomic (stage N: no spots; stage S, only a few spots; and stage M, numerous spots), metabolomic (stage N and S), and hormone analysis (stage S), with samples taken from normal plants in the field. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were enriched in plant-pathogen interaction, and defense-related genes were significantly upregulated following the formation of lesion spots. Metabolomic analysis showed that the differentially accumulated metabolites were enriched in energy metabolism, including amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Correlation network diagrams of transcriptomic and metabolomic showed that they were both enriched in energy metabolism. Additionally, the contents of gibberellin A7, cis-Zeatin, and abscisic acid were decreased in leaves upon lesion spot formation, whereas the lesion spots in NIL-Lm5M leaves were restrained by spaying GA and cytokinin (CTK, trans-zeatin) in the field.

CONCLUSION

The formation of lesion spots can result in cell death and enhance strip rust resistance by protein degradation pathway and defense-related genes overexpression in wheat. Besides, the formation of lesion spots was significantly affected by GA and CTK. Altogether, these results may contribute to the understanding of lesion spot formation in wheat and laid a foundation for regulating the resistance mechanism to stripe rust.

Hepatotoxicity assessment of innovative nutritional supplements based on olive-oil formulations enriched with natural antioxidants

Introduction

This study focuses on the assessment of extra virgin olive-oil and olive fruit-based formulations enriched with natural antioxidants as potential nutritional supplements for alleviating symptoms and long-term consequences of illnesses whose molecular pathophysiology is affected by oxidative stress and inflammation, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

Besides evaluating cell viability and proliferation capacity of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells exposed to formulations in culture, hepatotoxicity was also considered as an additional safety measure using quantitative real-time PCR on RNA samples isolated from the cell cultures and applying approaches of targeted molecular analysis to uncover potential pathway effects through gene expression profiling. Furthermore, the formulations investigated in this work contrast the addition of natural extract with chemical forms and evaluate the antioxidant delivery mode on cell toxicity.

Results

The results indicate minimal cellular toxicity and a significant beneficial impact on metabolic molecular pathways in HepG2 cell cultures, thus paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies using olive-oil and antioxidants in dietary supplements to minimize the long-term effects of oxidative stress and inflammatory signals in individuals being suffered by disorders like AD.

Discussion

Overall, the experimental design and the data obtained support the notion of applying innovative molecular methodologies and research techniques to evidently advance the delivery, as well as the scientific impact and validation of nutritional supplements and dietary products to improve public health and healthcare outcomes.

NAC61 regulates late- and post-ripening osmotic, oxidative, and biotic stress responses in grapevine

During late- and post-ripening stages, grape berry undergoes profound biochemical and physiological changes whose molecular control is poorly understood. Here, we report the role of NAC61, a grapevine NAC transcription factor, in regulating different processes involved in berry ripening progression. NAC61 is highly expressed during post-harvest berry dehydration and its expression pattern is closely related to sugar concentration. The ectopic expression of NAC61 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves resulted in low stomatal conductance, high leaf temperature, tissue collapse and a higher relative water content. Transcriptome analysis of grapevine leaves transiently overexpressing NAC61 and DNA affinity purification and sequencing analyses allowed us to narrow down a list of NAC61-regulated genes. Direct regulation of the stilbene synthase regulator MYB14, the osmotic stress-related gene DHN1b, the Botrytis cinerea susceptibility gene WRKY52, and NAC61 itself was validated. We also demonstrate that NAC61 interacts with NAC60, a proposed master regulator of grapevine organ maturation, in the activation of MYB14 and NAC61 expression. Overall, our findings establish NAC61 as a key player in a regulatory network that governs stilbenoid metabolism and osmotic, oxidative, and biotic stress responses that are the hallmark of late- and post-ripening grape stages.

Genome-Wide Identification of Catalase Gene Family and the Function of SmCAT4 in Eggplant Response to Salt Stress

Salinity is an important abiotic stress, damaging plant tissues by causing a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Catalase (CAT) enzyme coded by Catalase (CAT) genes are potent in reducing harmful ROS and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced. Herein, we performed bioinformatics and functional characterization of four SmCAT genes, retrieved from the eggplant genome database. Evolutionary analysis CAT genes revealed that they are divided into subgroups I and II. The RT-qPCR analysis of SmCAT displayed a differential expression pattern in response to abiotic stresses. All the CAT proteins of eggplant were localized in the peroxisome, except for SmCAT4, which localized in the cytomembrane and nucleus. Silencing of SmCAT4 compromised the tolerance of eggplant to salt stress. Suppressed expression levels of salt stress defense related genes SmTAS14 and SmDHN1, as well as increase of H2O2 content and decrease of CAT enzyme activity was observed in the SmCAT4 silenced eggplants. Our data provided insightful knowledge of CAT gene family in eggplant. Positive regulation of eggplant response to salinity by SmCAT4 provides resource for future breeding programs.