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Shi Y, Ackah M, Amoako FK, Zhao M, van der Puije GC, Zhao W. The Mechanism of the Development and Maintenance of Sexual Dimorphism in the Dioecious Mulberry Plant ( Morus alba). BIOLOGY 2024; 13:622. [PMID: 39194560 DOI: 10.3390/biology13080622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Intersexual differentiation is crucial for the speciation and maintenance of dioecious plants, but the underlying mechanisms, including the genes involved, are still poorly understood. Here, we focused on a typical dioicous plant Morus alba, to explore the molecular footprints relevant to sex evolution by revealing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two sexes and the testing signals of selection for these DEGs. From the results, we found a total of 1543 DEGs. Interestingly, 333 and 66 genes expression were detected only in male and female inflorescences, respectively. Using comparative transcriptomics, the expression of 841 genes were found to be significantly higher in male than in female inflorescences and were mainly enriched in defense-related pathways including the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, cutin, suberine and waxes. Meanwhile, the expression of 702 genes was female-biased and largely enriched in pathways related to growth and development, such as carbohydrate metabolism, auxin signaling and cellular responses. In addition, 16.7% and 17.6% signals of selection were significantly detected in female- and male-biased genes, respectively, suggesting their non-negligible role in evolution. Our findings expanded the understanding of the molecular basis of intersexual differentiation and contribute to further research on sex evolution in dioecious plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisu Shi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericulture Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang 212100, China
| | - Michael Ackah
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericulture Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang 212100, China
| | - Frank Kwarteng Amoako
- Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Kiel University, Hermann-Rodewald-Straße 2, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Mengdi Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215011, China
| | - Grace C van der Puije
- Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast P.O. Box 5007, Ghana
| | - Weiguo Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericulture Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang 212100, China
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2
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Osterman WHA, Hill A, Hagan JG, Whitton J, Bacon CD, Bjorkman AD. Rethinking pathways to the dioecy-polyploidy association: Genera with many dioecious species have fewer polyploids. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024; 111:e16318. [PMID: 38654555 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
PREMISE Numerous studies have found a positive association between dioecy and polyploidy; however, this association presents a theoretical conflict: While polyploids are predicted to benefit from self-reproduction for successful establishment, dioecious species cannot self-reproduce. We propose a theoretical framework to resolve this apparent conflict. We hypothesize that the inability of dioecious species to self-reproduce hinders their establishment as polyploids. We therefore expect that genera with many dioecious species have fewer polyploids, leading to a negative association between polyploidy and dioecy across genera. METHODS We used three publicly available databases to determine ploidy and sexual systems for 131 genera and 546 species. We quantified (1) the relationship between the frequency of polyploid species and the frequency of dioecious species across genera, and (2) the proportion of polyploids with hermaphroditism and dioecy across species, adjusting for phylogenetic history. RESULTS Across genera, we found a negative relationship between the proportion of polyploids and the proportion of dioecious species, a consistent trend across clades. Across all species, we found that sexual system (dioecious or not) was not associated with polyploidy. CONCLUSIONS Polyploids are rare in genera in which the majority of species are dioecious, consistent with the theory that self-reproduction favors polyploid establishment. The low frequency of polyploidy among dioecious species indicates the association is not as widespread as previously suggested. Our findings are consistent with previous studies identifying a positive relationship between the two traits, but only if polyploidy promotes a transition to dioecy, and not the reverse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelm H A Osterman
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Adrian Hill
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - James G Hagan
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeannette Whitton
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Christine D Bacon
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anne D Bjorkman
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
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3
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Santos RS, Santos PCS, Carvalho Junior CRN, Leite JA, Silva MAD, Pereira HN, Gallo R. Floral Morphometry and Sexual System Determination in Pink Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia - Anacardiaceae). BRAZ J BIOL 2024; 84:e278836. [PMID: 38865565 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.278836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing global importance of pink peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia, Anacardiaceae) as a high-value commercial crop and its potential for expansion in production demand appropriate management due to uncertainties regarding its sexual system. This study focused on evaluating the morphology of sterile and fertile floral whorls, as well as analyzing the sexual system of pink pepper in two populations in northeastern Brazil. The results revealed no significant differences in the morphological characteristics of the flowers between the studied areas, suggesting that the species possesses notable adaptability to environmental conditions. However, a significant difference in the proportion of staminate individuals was observed in both areas, representing over 88% and 72%, respectively. A correlation was observed between the size of the stamens and the presence of apparently atrophied pistils (r=0.275; df=178; p<0.001), along with the occurrence of fruits in these hermaphroditic plants. In this context, the species should be considered gynodioecious due to the presence of plants with hermaphroditic flowers and plants with pistillate flowers. However, further research is essential to elucidate the role of pollinators, especially bees and wasps, and to better understand the fruiting process in hermaphroditic flowers. These insights have the potential to significantly enhance management aiming for efficient fruit production, promoting its economic and ecological relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Santos
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Florestais, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - P C S Santos
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Florestais, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - C R N Carvalho Junior
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Florestais, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - J A Leite
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Florestais, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - M A D Silva
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Graduação em Engenharia Florestal, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - H N Pereira
- Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Jardim Botânico da UEPB, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
| | - R Gallo
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Recife, PE, Brasil
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4
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Hewett AM, Sánchez Vilas J, Hailer F. Two novel PCR-based assays for sexing of Silene latifolia and Silene dioica plants. MethodsX 2024; 12:102708. [PMID: 38651001 PMCID: PMC11033195 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Silene latifolia and S. dioica are model systems in studies of plant reproduction, chromosome evolution and sexual dimorphism, but sexing of plants based on morphology is only possible from flowering stage onwards. Both species show homogametic females (XX) and heterogametic males (XY).•Here we developed two assays (primer pairs ss816 and ss441) for molecular sexing of S. latifolia and S. dioica, targeting length polymorphisms between the X and Y-linked copies of the spermidine synthase gene.The two assays were successful in identifying known (flowering-stage) males and females from UK and Spanish populations, with an error rate of 3.1% (ss816; successful for both species) and 0% (ss441, only successful for S. latifolia). Our assays therefore represent novel tools for rapid, robust and simple determination of the genotypic sex of S. latifolia and S. dioica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Hewett
- School of Biosciences, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Julia Sánchez Vilas
- School of Biosciences, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional (Área de Ecoloxía) Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostelac/ Lope Gómez de Marzoa, s/n15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Frank Hailer
- School of Biosciences, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- Cardiff University-Institute of Zoology Joint Laboratory for Biocomplexity Research, Beijing, China
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5
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Xia Z, Chen BJW, Korpelainen H, Niinemets Ü, Li C. Belowground ecological interactions in dioecious plants: why do opposites attract but similar ones repel? TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 29:630-637. [PMID: 38485646 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Dioecious plant species exhibit sexual dimorphism in various aspects, including morphology, physiology, life history, and behavior, potentially influencing sex-specific interactions. While it is generally accepted that intersexual interactions in dioecious species are less intense compared with intrasexual interactions, the mechanisms underlying belowground facilitation in intersexual combinations remain less understood. Here, we explore these mechanisms, which encompass resource complementarity, mycorrhizal fungal networks, root exudate-mediated belowground chemical communication, as well as plant-soil feedback. We address the reason for the lack of consistency in the strength of inter- and intrasexual interactions. We also propose that a comprehensive understanding of the potential positive consequences of sex-specific interactions can contribute to maintaining ecological equilibrium, conserving biodiversity, and enhancing the productivity of agroforestry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Xia
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; School of Forestry & Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Bin J W Chen
- College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Helena Korpelainen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51006, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Chunyang Li
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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González‐Ramírez I, López‐Gómez V, Cano‐Santana Z, Romero Pérez A, Hernández Cumplido J. Host-plant sex and phenology of Buddleja cordata Kunth interact to influence arthropod communities. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11555. [PMID: 38895571 PMCID: PMC11183185 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific variation in plants is expected to have profound impacts on the arthropod communities associated with them. Because sexual dimorphism in plants is expected to provide consistent variation among individuals of the same species, researchers have often studied the effect it has on associated arthropods. Nevertheless, most studies have focused on the effect of sexual dimorphism in a single or a few herbivores, thus overlooking the potential effects on the whole arthropod community. Our main objective was to evaluate effects of Buddleja cordata's plant-sex on its associated arthropod community. We surveyed 13 pairs of male and female plants every 2 months during a year (June 2010 to April 2011). Every sampling date, we measured plant traits (water content and leaf thickness), herbivory, and the arthropod community. We did not find differences in herbivory between plant sex or through time. However, we found differences in water content through time, with leaf water-content matching the environmental seasonality. For arthropod richness, we found 68 morphospecies associated with female and 72 with male plants, from which 53 were shared by both sexes. We did not observe differences in morphospecies richness; however, we found sex-associated differences in the diversity of all species and differences on the diversity of the most abundant species with an interesting temporal component. During peak flowering season, male plants showed higher values on both parameters, but during the peak fructification season female plants showed the higher values on both diversity parameters. Our research exemplifies the interaction between plant-phenology and plant-sex as drivers of arthropod communities' diversity, even when plant sexual-dimorphism is inconspicuous, and highlighting the importance of accounting for seasonal variation. We stress the need of conducting more studies that test this time-dependent framework in other dioecious systems, as it has the potential to reconcile previous contrasting observations reported in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- I. González‐Ramírez
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of California BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - V. López‐Gómez
- Instituto Nacional de Ecología y Cambio ClimáticoCoordinación General de Contaminación y Salud AmbientalCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Z. Cano‐Santana
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos NaturalesUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - A. Romero Pérez
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos NaturalesUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - J. Hernández Cumplido
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos NaturalesUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de MéxicoMexico
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7
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Jhajhariya M, Mangla Y, Chandra A, Goel S, Tandon R. Variable resource allocation pattern, biased sex-ratio, and extent of sexual dimorphism in subdioecious Hippophae rhamnoides. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302211. [PMID: 38635726 PMCID: PMC11025892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary maintenance of dioecy is a complex phenomenon and varies by species and underlying pathways. Also, different sexes may exhibit variable resource allocation (RA) patterns among the vegetative and reproductive functions. Such differences are reflected in the extent of sexual dimorphism. Though rarely pursued, investigation on plant species harbouring intermediate sexual phenotypes may reveal useful information on the strategy pertaining to sex-ratios and evolutionary pathways. We studied H. rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica, a subdioecious species with polygamomonoecious (PGM) plants, in western Himalaya. The species naturally inhabits a wide range of habitats ranging from river deltas to hill slopes. These attributes of the species are conducive to test the influence of abiotic factors on sexual dimorphism, and RA strategy among different sexes. The study demonstrates sexual dimorphism in vegetative and reproductive traits. The sexual dimorphism index, aligned the traits like height, number of branches, flower production, and dry-weight of flowers with males while others including fresh-weight of leaves, number of thorns, fruit production were significantly associated with females. The difference in RA pattern is more pronounced in reproductive traits of the male and female plants, while in the PGM plants the traits overlap. In general, habitat conditions did not influence either the extent of sexual dimorphism or RA pattern. However, it seems to influence secondary sex-ratio as females show their significant association with soil moisture. Our findings on sexual dimorphism and RA pattern supports attributes of wind-pollination in the species. The observed extent of sexual dimorphism in the species reiterates limited genomic differences among the sexes and the ongoing evolution of dioecy via monoecy in the species. The dynamics of RA in the species appears to be independent of resource availability in the habitats as the species grows in a resource-limited and extreme environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yash Mangla
- Department of Botany, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Atika Chandra
- Department of Botany, Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | - Rajesh Tandon
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
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He D, Liu XY, Zheng LT. Sex-specific scaling of leaf phosphorus vs. nitrogen under unequal reproductive requirements in Eurya japonica, a dioecious plant. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024; 111:e16311. [PMID: 38571288 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
PREMISE Previous work searching for sexual dimorphism has largely relied on the comparison of trait mean vectors between sexes in dioecious plants. Whether trait scaling (i.e., the ratio of proportional changes in covarying traits) differs between sexes, along with its functional significance, remains unclear. METHODS We measured 10 vegetative traits pertaining to carbon, water, and nutrient economics across 337 individuals (157 males and 180 females) of the diocious species Eurya japonica during the fruiting season in eastern China. Piecewise structural equation modeling was employed to reveal the scaling relationships of multiple interacting traits, and multivariate analysis of (co)variance was conducted to test for intersexual differences. RESULTS There was no sexual dimorphism in terms of trait mean vectors across the 10 vegetative traits in E. japonica. Moreover, most relationships for covarying trait pairs (17 out of 19) exhibited common scaling slopes between sexes. However, the scaling slopes for leaf phosphorus (P) vs. nitrogen (N) differed between sexes, with 5.6- and 3.0-fold increases of P coinciding with a 10-fold increase of N in male and female plants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The lower ratio of proportional changes in P vs. N for females likely reflects stronger P limitation for their vegetative growth, as they require greater P investments in fruiting. Therefore, P vs. N scaling can be a key avenue allowing for sex-specific strategic optimization under unequal reproductive requirements. This study uncovers a hidden aspect of secondary sex character in dioecious plants, and highlights the use of trait scaling to understand sex-defined economic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong He
- College of Ecology and the Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumchi, PR China
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiang-Yu Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China
- Plant Ecology and Phytochemistry Group, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Li-Ting Zheng
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China
- Institute for Global Change Biology, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, Michigan, USA
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9
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García‐Guzmán P, Carvajal DE, Carozzi‐Figueroa G, Loayza AP. Lonesome plants: How isolation affects seed set of a threatened dioecious shrub. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11158. [PMID: 38516571 PMCID: PMC10955460 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant reproductive failure is a critical concern for conserving rare and endangered species that typically have low-density and sparse populations. One important factor contributing to reproductive failure is the spatial arrangement of plants within a population, which can lead to isolation and negatively affect seed production, particularly in obligate outcrossers. Additionally, plant size can compound this effect, influencing seed production via multiple processes. Here, we investigate how spatial distribution and size influence the reproductive success of Vasconcellea chilensis, an endemic-threatened papaya species in Chile. We first examined whether V. chilensis can produce seeds via apomixis using pollinator exclusion experiments. We then used Spatial Point Pattern Analysis (SPPA) in three populations to explore the spatial arrangement of plants. Finally, we assessed whether plant size and neighbor distance influence the reproductive success V. chilensis is a dioecious shrub unable to produce fruits through apomixis. The SPPA revealed significant clustering of female and male plants at different spatial scales, indicating a non-random distribution. Moreover, a significant spatial association between the sexes was observed. In two populations, closer proximity to male plants was linked to higher seed production. Our study revealed that the reproductive system of V. chilensis is susceptible to distance-dependent reproductive failure due to pollen limitation. While the species' spatial structure may partially mitigate this risk, female plants isolated from male counterparts will likely experience reduced seed set.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danny E. Carvajal
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB)SantiagoChile
- Departamento de BiologíaUniversidad de La SerenaLa SerenaChile
| | | | - Andrea P. Loayza
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB)SantiagoChile
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigación y PostgradoUniversidad de La SerenaLa SerenaChile
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Han N, Li F, Zhu H, Li T, Wang X, Li T, Kang J, Zhang Z. Comprehensive analysis of WOX transcription factors provide insight into genes related to the regulation of unisexual flowers development in Akebia trifoliata. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 260:129486. [PMID: 38237833 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129486] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Akebia trifoliata is a fascinating economic and medicinal plant that produces functionally unisexual flowers due to stamen/pistil abortion during flower development, and the genetic regulation pathway of this process remain completely unknown. Here, 10 AktWOXs were identified for the first time, all contained a highly conserved homeodomain. AktWOXs were divided into three clades, each with the same or similar intron, exon, and motifs distribution. Many cis-elements related to stress response, growth and development, and hormone response were found in the AktWOXs promoter region. In addition, four candidate genes AktWOX8, AktWOX11, AktWOX13.2 and AktWUS that might be involved in unisexual flowers development were screened, all of which were located in the nucleus and showed transcriptional activation activity. Yeast one-hybrid showed that both AktKNU and AktAG1, the potential core transcription factors in the activity termination pathway of flower meristem stem cells, could bind to the promoter region of AktWUS. Dual-luciferase assay further confirmed that only AktKNU inhibited the expression of AktWUS. Collectively, this study revealed the mechanism of AktWUS that might affect the formation of unisexual flowers by regulating the timely termination of flower meristem in A. trifoliata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Han
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Fengjiao Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Huiqin Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Tian Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Xiuting Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Tao Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Juqing Kang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China.
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11
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Zhao L, Zhou W, He J, Li DZ, Li HT. Positive selection and relaxed purifying selection contribute to rapid evolution of male-biased genes in a dioecious flowering plant. eLife 2024; 12:RP89941. [PMID: 38353667 PMCID: PMC10942601 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89941] [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] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex-biased genes offer insights into the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Sex-biased genes, especially those with male bias, show elevated evolutionary rates of protein sequences driven by positive selection and relaxed purifying selection in animals. Although rapid sequence evolution of sex-biased genes and evolutionary forces have been investigated in animals and brown algae, less is known about evolutionary forces in dioecious angiosperms. In this study, we separately compared the expression of sex-biased genes between female and male floral buds and between female and male flowers at anthesis in dioecious Trichosanthes pilosa (Cucurbitaceae). In floral buds, sex-biased gene expression was pervasive, and had significantly different roles in sexual dimorphism such as physiology. We observed higher rates of sequence evolution for male-biased genes in floral buds compared to female-biased and unbiased genes. Male-biased genes under positive selection were mainly associated with functions to abiotic stress and immune responses, suggesting that high evolutionary rates are driven by adaptive evolution. Additionally, relaxed purifying selection may contribute to accelerated evolution in male-biased genes generated by gene duplication. Our findings, for the first time in angiosperms, suggest evident rapid evolution of male-biased genes, advance our understanding of the patterns and forces driving the evolution of sexual dimorphism in dioecious plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhao
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, YunnanChina
| | - Wei Zhou
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, YunnanChina
| | - Jun He
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, YunnanChina
| | - De-Zhu Li
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, YunnanChina
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Hong-Tao Li
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, YunnanChina
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
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12
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Yan K, Lu DS, Ding CJ, Wang Y, Tian YR, Su XH, Dong YF, Wang YP. Rare and abundant bacterial communities in poplar rhizosphere soils respond differently to genetic effects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168216. [PMID: 37923276 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between plants and soil microbes are important to plant hybrid breeding under global change. However, the relationship between host plants and rhizosphere soil microorganisms has not been fully elucidated. Understanding the rhizosphere microbial structure of parents and progenies would provide a deeper insight into how genetic effects modulate the relationship between plants and soil. In this study, two family groups of poplar trees (A: parents and their two progenies; B: parents and their one progeny) with different genetic backgrounds (including seven genotypes) were selected from a common garden, and their rhizobacterial communities were analyzed to explore parent-progeny relationships. Our results showed significant differences in phylogenetic diversity, the number of 16S genes and the structure of rhizosphere bacterial communities (Adonis: R2 = 0.166, P < 0.01) between different family groups. Rhizosphere bacterial community structure was significantly dominated by genetic effects. Compared with abundant taxa, genetic effects were more powerful drivers of rare taxa. In addition, bacterial communities of hybrid progenies were all significantly more similar to their parents compared to the other group of parents, especially among rare taxa. The two poplar family groups exhibited differences between their rhizosphere bacterial co-occurrence networks. Group B had a relatively complex network with 2380 edges and 468 nodes, while group A had 1829 edges and 304 nodes. Soil organic carbon and carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) also influenced the rhizosphere bacterial community assembly. This was especially true for soil C/N, which explained 23 % of the β-nearest taxon index (βNTI) variation in rare taxa. Our results reveal the relationship of rhizosphere microorganisms between parents and progenies. This can help facilitate an understanding of the combination of plant breeding with microbes resource utilization and provide a theoretical basis for scientific advancement to support the development of forestry industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yan
- Key Laboratory of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration for the Cultivation of Forests in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - De Shan Lu
- Key Laboratory of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration for the Cultivation of Forests in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Chang Jun Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration for the Cultivation of Forests in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Yong Ren Tian
- Key Laboratory of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration for the Cultivation of Forests in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Xiao Hua Su
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | | | - Yan Ping Wang
- Key Laboratory of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration for the Cultivation of Forests in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.
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13
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Ramadoss N, Steele S, Flores-Rentería L. Influence of sexual dimorphism and dichromatism on reproductive success in a rare native cactus. Oecologia 2023; 203:383-394. [PMID: 37955714 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05473-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Identifying plant sexual dimorphic traits is critical in advancing our knowledge on plant-pollinator interactions. For example, dimorphism in floral colors, or sexual dichromatism, is a crucial mediator of pollinator choice on foraging decisions. We studied Cylindropuntia wolfii, a model system, with diverse flower colors and a functionally dioecious sexual system. However, evidence suggests that sexual reproduction is limited in this species as it has a low seed set especially in naturally pollinated fruits. Thus, it is critical to this native species' conservation to investigate its relationship with pollinators. Our goals were to: (a) investigate the sexual dimorphism including the sexual dichromatism in the flowers of the cactus, and (b) determine whether sexually dimorphic traits affect the pollinator attraction of both the sexes. We measured several quantitative and qualitative traits and compared them between male and female flowers. Then we recorded the pollinator visitation rate in nature for both sexes and tracked pollinator color preference using fluorescent dyes as pollen analogues. Our study showed that male flowers of C. wolfii are bigger and brighter, and they attract more potential pollinators than females, supporting the hypothesis that sexual dimorphism influences pollinator visitation preference. Fluorescence dichromatism, in which female flowers' anthers fluoresce more than male flower anthers suggest this could be female flowers' strategy to compensate for their dark colors and small size. The results from this study showed that C. wolfii exhibits sexual dichromatism and fluorescence dichromatism, which is a novel finding in plant research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scarlet Steele
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
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14
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Xie Y, Thammavong HT, Berry LG, Huang CH, Park DS. Sex-dependent phenological responses to climate vary across species' ranges. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306723120. [PMID: 37956437 PMCID: PMC10691327 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306723120] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change has significantly altered the flowering times (i.e., phenology) of plants worldwide, affecting their reproduction, survival, and interactions. Recent studies utilizing herbarium specimens have uncovered significant intra- and inter-specific variation in flowering phenology and its response to changes in climate but have mostly been limited to animal-pollinated species. Thus, despite their economic and ecological importance, variation in phenological responses to climate remain largely unexplored among and within wind-pollinated dioecious species and across their sexes. Using both herbarium specimens and volunteer observations of cottonwood (Populus) species, we examined how phenological sensitivity to climate varies across species, their ranges, sexes, and phenophases. The timing of flowering varied significantly across and within species, as did their sensitivity to spring temperature. In particular, male flowering generally happened earlier in the season and was more sensitive to warming than female flowering. Further, the onset of flowering was more sensitive to changes in temperature than leaf out. Increased temporal gaps between male and female flowering time and between the first open flower date and leaf out date were predicted for the future under two climate change scenarios. These shifts will impact the efficacy of sexual reproduction and gene flow among species. Our study demonstrates significant inter- and intra-specific variation in phenology and its responses to environmental cues, across species' ranges, phenophases, and sex, in wind-pollinated species. These variations need to be considered to predict accurately the effects of climate change and assess their ecological and evolutionary consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Xie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY41099
| | - Hanna T. Thammavong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Lily G. Berry
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Chingyan H. Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - Daniel S. Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
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15
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Xia Z, He Y, Korpelainen H, Niinemets Ü, Li C. Allelochemicals and soil microorganisms jointly mediate sex-specific belowground interactions in dioecious Populus cathayana. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:1519-1533. [PMID: 37615210 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about how sex differences in root zone characteristics, such as contents of allelochemicals and soil microbial composition, mediate intra- and intersexual interactions in dioecious plants. We examined the processes and mechanisms of sex-specific belowground interactions mediated by allelochemicals and soil microorganisms in Populus cathayana females and males in replicated 30-yr-old experimental stands in situ and in a series of controlled experiments. Female roots released a greater amount and more diverse phenolic allelochemicals into the soil environment, resulting in growth inhibition of the same sex neighbors and deterioration of the community of soil microorganisms. When grown with males, the growth of females was consistently enhanced, especially the root growth. Compared with female monocultures, the presence of males reduced the total phenolic accumulation in the soil, resulting in a shift from allelopathic inhibition to chemical facilitation. This association was enhanced by a favorable soil bacterial community and increased bacterial diversity, and it induced changes in the orientation of female roots. Our study highlighted a novel mechanism that enhances female performance by males through alterations in the allelochemical content and soil microbial composition. The possibility to improve productivity by chemical mediation provides novel opportunities for managing plantations of dioecious plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Xia
- School of Forestry & Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Yue He
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Helena Korpelainen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51006, Tartu, Estonia
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, Kohtu 6, 10130, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Chunyang Li
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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16
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Muñoz-Gallego R, Wiegand T, Traveset A, Fedriani JM. Sex-driven neighborhood effects on herbivory in the dioecious Mediterranean palm Chamaerops humilis L. Oecologia 2023; 203:151-165. [PMID: 37794240 PMCID: PMC10615982 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05457-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Although it is well recognized that the strength of plant-herbivore interactions can vary with the plant sex, the distance, and the density of conspecific neighbors, no study has yet assessed their combined influence. Here, we filled this knowledge gap by focusing on the dioecious palm Chamaerops humilis L., and its two main herbivores, the invasive moth Paysandisia archon Burmeister and the feral goat Capra hircus L. We evaluated levels and spatial patterns of herbivory, as well as those of plant size and number of inflorescences in two palm populations in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). Our spatial point pattern analyses revealed that palms not affected by moth herbivory or goat florivory were spatially aggregated, goats fed more strongly upon inflorescences in palms with more neighbors, but they consumed more leaves in isolated palms. Interestingly, we could reveal for the first time that plant sex is a key plant trait modulating neighborhood effects. For instance, whereas aggregated female palms experienced lower intensity of goat florivory than isolated ones, male palms showed the opposite pattern. Palm size and number of inflorescences also showed sex-related differences, suggesting that sexual dimorphism is a key driver of the observed neighborhood effects on herbivory. Our study highlights the importance of considering relevant plant traits such as sex when investigating plant neighborhood effects, calling for further research to fully understand the dynamics governing plant-herbivore interactions in dioecious systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Muñoz-Gallego
- Global Change Research Group, Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMCDEA, CSIC-UIB), C/ Miquel Marquès, 21, 07190, Esporles, Balearic Islands, Spain.
| | - Thorsten Wiegand
- Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Traveset
- Global Change Research Group, Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMCDEA, CSIC-UIB), C/ Miquel Marquès, 21, 07190, Esporles, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Jose M Fedriani
- Desertification Research Centre (CIDE, CSIC), Crta. Moncada-Náquera, Km 4.5, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
- Doñana Biological Station (EBD, CSIC), C/Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain.
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17
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Cui H, Li Y, Wang W, Chen L, Han Z, Ma S, Wang W. Effects of Male and Female Strains of Salix linearistipularis on Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Community Structure in Saline-Alkali Soil. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2455. [PMID: 37894113 PMCID: PMC10609370 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The woody plant gender difference may lead to alteration in rhizosphere microbial communities and soil physicochemical properties. In this study, we investigated the differences in rhizosphere soil properties and microbial community structures of S. linearistipularis. Rhizosphere microorganisms were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that there were significant differences in rhizosphere soil nutrition between male and female S. linearistipularis plants in saline-alkali soil. The female S. linearistipularis plants significantly reduce soil pH values and significantly increase the soil water content (SWC), available total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), and soil urease activity (S-UE) compared to the male plant. The ACE, Chao, and Shannon index of the female plant was significantly higher than that of the male strain. At the level of Bacteriophyta, the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota in male and female S. linearistipularis was the highest, with 34.26% and 31.03%, respectively. Among the named bacterial genera, the relative abundance of Defluviicoccus of male and female plants was the highest, with 2.67% and 5.27%, respectively. At the level of Eumycophyta, the relative abundance of Ascomycetes in male and female plants was the highest, with 54.93% and 52.10%, respectively. Among the named fungi genera, the relative abundance of male and female plants of Mortierella was the highest, with 6.18% and 9.31%, respectively. In addition, soil pH, SOM, SWC, and S-UE activities were the main driving factors of soil microbial community structures. In the process of restoring saline-alkali land in the Songnen Plain, we may prioritise the planting of female S. linearistipularis, which also provides a theoretical basis for the microorganisms restoration of saline-alkali land in the Songnen plain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shurong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Weidong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
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18
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Cui Y, Hisanaga T, Kajiwara T, Yamaoka S, Kohchi T, Goh T, Nakajima K. Three-Dimensional Morphological Analysis Revealed the Cell Patterning Bases for the Sexual Dimorphism Development in the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 64:866-879. [PMID: 37225421 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In land plants, sexual dimorphism can develop in both diploid sporophytes and haploid gametophytes. While developmental processes of sexual dimorphism have been extensively studied in the sporophytic reproductive organs of model flowering plants such as stamens and carpels of Arabidopsis thaliana, those occurring in gametophyte generation are less well characterized due to the lack of amenable model systems. In this study, we performed three-dimensional morphological analyses of gametophytic sexual branch differentiation in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, using high-depth confocal imaging and a computational cell segmentation technique. Our analysis revealed that the specification of germline precursors initiates in a very early stage of sexual branch development, where incipient branch primordia are barely recognizable in the apical notch region. Moreover, spatial distribution patterns of germline precursors differ between males and females from the initial stage of primordium development in a manner dependent on the master sexual differentiation regulator MpFGMYB. At later stages, distribution patterns of germline precursors predict the sex-specific gametangia arrangement and receptacle morphologies seen in mature sexual branches. Taken together, our data suggest a tightly coupled progression of germline segregation and sexual dimorphism development in M. polymorpha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Cui
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, 630-0192 Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hisanaga
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, 630-0192 Japan
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tomoaki Kajiwara
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Shohei Yamaoka
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Takayuki Kohchi
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Tatsuaki Goh
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, 630-0192 Japan
| | - Keiji Nakajima
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, 630-0192 Japan
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19
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Nowak S, Olędrzyńska N, Szlachetko DL, Dudek M. Notes to the Taxonomic Affiliation of the Bulbophyllym Sect. Physometra (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae) Based on Molecular Phylogenetic Analyses. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119709. [PMID: 37298660 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
To solve the taxonomic affiliation of Bulbophyllum physometrum, the only known species of the Bulbophyllym sect. Physometra (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), we conducted phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear markers, i.e., ITS and the low-copy gene Xdh, and the plastid region matK. We used Asian Bulbophyllum taxa, with a special focus on species from the sections Lemniscata and Blepharistes, i.e., the only Asian sections of this genus with bifoliate pseudobulbs, as in B. physometrum. Unexpectedly, the results of molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that B. physometrum is most probably more related to the representatives of the sections Hirtula and Sestochilos than Blepharistes or Lemniscata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sławomir Nowak
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, The University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Natalia Olędrzyńska
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, The University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dariusz L Szlachetko
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, The University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Dudek
- Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, The University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
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20
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Rakocevic M, Maia ADHN, de Liz MV, Imoski R, Helm CV, Cardozo Junior EL, Wendling I. Stability of Leaf Yerba Mate ( Ilex paraguariensis) Metabolite Concentrations over the Time from the Prism of Secondary Sexual Dimorphism. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12112199. [PMID: 37299178 DOI: 10.3390/plants12112199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The yerba mate leaf metabolic composition depends mainly on genetics, sex, plant and leaf age, light intensity, harvest time, climate, and fertilization. In yerba mate, the secondary sexual dimorphism (SSD), the leaf metabolic SSD association with the frequency of leaf harvests, and the stability of the metabolites in the two genders over the years is not known. It was hypothesized that (1) the SSD in the metabolite segregation would differ among the winter and summer growth pauses, (2) females would show lower metabolite concentrations, and (3) the metabolic concentrations would show stability over the years on the same plants, not obligatorily associated with the SSD stability expression. Variations in theobromine, caffeine, chlorogenic and caffeic acids were correlated to the increasing time since the previous harvest, especially in females. However, the frequency of the metabolic SSD were associated with the studied growth pauses, rejecting the first hypothesis. No regular gender superiority was expressed in the yerba mate leaf secondary metabolites, rejecting our second hypothesis, even though more cases of superior female metabolite accumulation were identified. The stability of the leaf protein was preserved over the four years, with no SSD cases observed. The leaf methylxanthines were time stable, while the decrease in the phenolic content occurred with tree aging, which was not associated with the SSD expression, partially proving our third hypothesis. The novelty was related to the time stability of the leaf metabolic SSD observed over the winter and summer growth pauses, and over the four consecutive years without a regular expression of the male- or female-biased concentrations in the studied metabolites. To demystify the random metabolic gender responses in yerba mate, gender-orientated experiments with a high number of tree repetitions must be conducted, including clonal plants grown in various environments, such as monoculture and agroforestry, or on plantations in different climates and altitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Rakocevic
- Department of Research and Development, Embrapa Florestas, Colombo 83411-000, PR, Brazil
- Statistical Research Group, Embrapa Meio Ambiente, Jaguariúna 13918-110, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Marcus Vinicius de Liz
- Research Group on Water and Wastewater Advanced Treatment Technologies, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Curitiba 81280-340, PR, Brazil
| | - Rafaela Imoski
- Research Group on Water and Wastewater Advanced Treatment Technologies, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Curitiba 81280-340, PR, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Vieira Helm
- Department of Research and Development, Embrapa Florestas, Colombo 83411-000, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Ivar Wendling
- Department of Research and Development, Embrapa Florestas, Colombo 83411-000, PR, Brazil
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21
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Gintoron CS, Mohammed MA, Sazali SN, Deka EQ, Ong KH, Shamsi IH, King PJH. Factors Affecting Pollination and Pollinators in Oil Palm Plantations: A Review with an Emphasis on the Elaeidobius kamerunicus Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). INSECTS 2023; 14:insects14050454. [PMID: 37233082 DOI: 10.3390/insects14050454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Pollination is crucial for oil palm yield, and its efficiency is influenced by multiple factors, including the effectiveness of Elaeidobius kamerunicus weevils as pollinators in Southeast Asia. Weevils transfer pollen between male and female flowers, leading to successful fertilization and fruit development, which contributes to higher oil palm yields and increased production of valuable oil. Understanding and conserving the weevil population is important for sustainable oil palm cultivation practices. The interaction between pollinators, including weevils, and environmental factors is complex, involving aspects such as pollinator behavior, abundance, diversity, and effectiveness, which are influenced by weather, landscape composition, and pesticide use. Understanding these interactions is critical for promoting sustainable pollination practices, including effective pest management and maintaining optimal pollinator populations. This review discusses various abiotic and biotic factors that affect pollination and pollinators in oil palm plantations, with a particular focus on weevils as primary pollinators. Factors such as rainfall, humidity, oil palm species, temperature, endogamy, parasitic nematodes, insecticides, predators, and proximity to natural forests can impact the weevil population. Further research is recommended to fill knowledge gaps and promote sustainable pollination practices in the oil palm industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christharina S Gintoron
- Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak, Jalan Nyabau, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Institute Ecosystem Science Borneo, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak, Jalan Nyabau, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Center for Pre-University Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Azmi Mohammed
- Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak, Jalan Nyabau, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Siti Nurlydia Sazali
- Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Elvy Quatrin Deka
- Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Kian Huat Ong
- Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak, Jalan Nyabau, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Imran Haider Shamsi
- Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resource, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Patricia Jie Hung King
- Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak, Jalan Nyabau, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Institute Ecosystem Science Borneo, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak, Jalan Nyabau, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
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Ushimaru A, Seo N, Sakagami K, Funamoto D. Sexual dimorphism in a dioecious species with complex, specialist-pollinated flowers. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023; 110:e16148. [PMID: 36852530 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Pollinators with flower constancy and long nectar-feeding organs should favor less or no sexual dimorphism in the individual flowers of dioecious plants. This hypothesis is deduced because such pollinators can discriminate between intersexual flower size differences, and morphological differences between male and female flowers often diminish pollen transfer. METHODS We compared floral traits and pollinator behavior between male and female flowers in the hawkmoth-pollinated species, Trichosanthes cucumeroides. In field studies, we removed petal fringes on both sexes and observed pollinators to assess the role of elaborate petal fringes in pollinator attraction and pollination success for each flower sex. RESULTS Female flowers had a similar front flower size and fringe extension as male flowers, supporting our hypothesis. In contrast, females allocated fewer resources to floral biomass. Additionally, they had smaller and narrower petal lobes, lower fringe density, shorter tubes with inferior nectar rewards, and lower display size than males, which is inconsistent with the hypothesis. Nocturnal hawkmoths prefer flowers with long fringe extensions. Fringe removal significantly decreased hawkmoth visitations to both female and male flowers but reduced success only in females. A literature survey indicated that female flowers of specialist-pollinated species are similar in size or larger than the males and thus tend to attract more pollinators compared with female flowers of generalist-pollinated species. CONCLUSIONS Female flowers have evolved fringe extensions that are similar to those of male flowers, likely increasing pollinator attraction even slightly, and had less biomass in other floral parts and produced less nectar compared with male flowers. Our findings imply that female-biased resource limitation and flower-size sensitivity of pollinators together exert sex-specific selection of floral traits in T. cucumeroides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atushi Ushimaru
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
- Faculty of Human Development, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Natsumi Seo
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
- Faculty of Human Development, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Kota Sakagami
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Daichi Funamoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
- The Botanical Gardens, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
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Zhang Y, Lin W, Chu C, Ni M. Sex-specific outbreeding advantages and sexual dimorphism in the seedlings of dioecious trees. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023; 110:e16153. [PMID: 36905311 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Dioecious trees are important components of many forest ecosystems. Outbreeding advantage and sexual dimorphism are two major mechanisms that explain the persistence of dioecious plants; however, they have rarely been studied in dioecious trees. METHODS We investigated the influence of sex and genetic distance between parental trees (GDPT) on the growth and functional traits of multiple seedlings of a dioecious tree, Diospyros morrisiana. RESULTS We found significant positive relationships between GDPT and seedling sizes and tissue density. However, the positive outbreeding effects on seedling growth mainly manifested in female seedlings, but were not prominent in males. Among seedlings, the male ones generally had higher biomass and leaf area than female seedlings, but such differences diminished as GDPT increased. CONCLUSIONS Our research highlights that outbreeding advantage in plants can be sex-specific and that sexual dimorphism begins from the seedling stage of dioecious trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Wei Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengjin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Ni
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Masuda K, Akagi T. Evolution of sex in crops: recurrent scrap and rebuild. BREEDING SCIENCE 2023; 73:95-107. [PMID: 37404348 PMCID: PMC10316312 DOI: 10.1270/jsbbs.22082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Sexuality is the main strategy for maintaining genetic diversity within a species. In flowering plants (angiosperms), sexuality is derived from ancestral hermaphroditism and multiple sexualities can be expressed in an individual. The mechanisms conferring chromosomal sex determination in plants (or dioecy) have been studied for over a century by both biologists and agricultural scientists, given the importance of this field for crop cultivation and breeding. Despite extensive research, the sex determining gene(s) in plants had not been identified until recently. In this review, we dissect plant sex evolution and determining systems, with a focus on crop species. We introduced classic studies with theoretical, genetic, and cytogenic approaches, as well as more recent research using advanced molecular and genomic techniques. Plants have undergone very frequent transitions into, and out of, dioecy. Although only a few sex determinants have been identified in plants, an integrative viewpoint on their evolutionary trends suggests that recurrent neofunctionalization events are potentially common, in a "scrap and (re)build" cycle. We also discuss the potential association between crop domestication and transitions in sexual systems. We focus on the contribution of duplication events, which are particularly frequent in plant taxa, as a trigger for the creation of new sexual systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanae Masuda
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takashi Akagi
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- JST, PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
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Du Q, Wu Z, Liu P, Qing J, He F, Du L, Sun Z, Zhu L, Zheng H, Sun Z, Yang L, Wang L, Du H. The chromosome-level genome of Eucommia ulmoides provides insights into sex differentiation and α-linolenic acid biosynthesis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1118363. [PMID: 37063180 PMCID: PMC10102601 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1118363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Eucommia ulmoides Oliver is a typical dioecious plant endemic to China that has great medicinal and economic value. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-level female genome of E. ulmoides obtained by PacBio and Hi-C technologies. The size of the female genome assembly was 1.01 Gb with 17 pseudochromosomes and 31,665 protein coding genes. In addition, Hi-C technology was used to reassemble the male genome released in 2018. The reassembled male genome was 1.24 Gb with the superscaffold N50 (48.30 Mb), which was increased 25.69 times, and the number of predicted genes increased by 11,266. Genome evolution analysis indicated that E. ulmoides has undergone two whole-genome duplication events before the divergence of female and male, including core eudicot γ whole-genome triplication event (γ-WGT) and a recent whole genome duplication (WGD) at approximately 27.3 million years ago (Mya). Based on transcriptome analysis, EuAP3 and EuAG may be the key genes involved in regulating the sex differentiation of E. ulmoides. Pathway analysis showed that the high expression of ω-3 fatty acid desaturase coding gene EU0103017 was an important reason for the high α-linolenic acid content in E. ulmoides. The genome of female and male E. ulmoides presented here is a valuable resource for the molecular biological study of sex differentiation of E. ulmoides and also will provide assistance for the breeding of superior varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxin Du
- Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Non-timber Forest Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Eucommia ulmoides, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zixian Wu
- Agricultural Big-Data Research Center and College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Panfeng Liu
- Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Non-timber Forest Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Eucommia ulmoides, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jun Qing
- Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Non-timber Forest Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Eucommia ulmoides, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Feng He
- Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Non-timber Forest Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Eucommia ulmoides, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lanying Du
- Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Non-timber Forest Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Eucommia ulmoides, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Sun
- Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Non-timber Forest Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Eucommia ulmoides, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lili Zhu
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongchu Zheng
- Product Department, Henan Jinduzhong Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Yanling, China
| | - Zongyi Sun
- Operation Department, Grandomics Biosciences Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China
| | - Long Yang
- Agricultural Big-Data Research Center and College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Non-timber Forest Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Eucommia ulmoides, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongyan Du
- Research Institute of Non-timber Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Non-timber Forest Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Eucommia ulmoides, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhengzhou, China
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Akagi T, Varkonyi-Gasic E, Shirasawa K, Catanach A, Henry IM, Mertten D, Datson P, Masuda K, Fujita N, Kuwada E, Ushijima K, Beppu K, Allan AC, Charlesworth D, Kataoka I. Recurrent neo-sex chromosome evolution in kiwifruit. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:393-402. [PMID: 36879018 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01361-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Sex chromosome evolution is thought to be tightly associated with the acquisition and maintenance of sexual dimorphisms. Plant sex chromosomes have evolved independently in many lineages1,2 and can provide a powerful comparative framework to study this. We assembled and annotated genome sequences of three kiwifruit species (genus Actinidia) and uncovered recurrent sex chromosome turnovers in multiple lineages. Specifically, we observed structural evolution of the neo-Y chromosomes, which was driven via rapid bursts of transposable element insertions. Surprisingly, sexual dimorphisms were conserved in the different species studied, despite the fact that the partially sex-linked genes differ between them. Using gene editing in kiwifruit, we demonstrated that one of the two Y-chromosome-encoded sex-determining genes, Shy Girl, shows pleiotropic effects that can explain the conserved sexual dimorphisms. These plant sex chromosomes therefore maintain sexual dimorphisms through the conservation of a single gene, without a process involving interactions between separate sex-determining genes and genes for sexually dimorphic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Akagi
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
- Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), PRESTO, Kawaguchi-shi, Japan.
| | - Erika Varkonyi-Gasic
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kenta Shirasawa
- Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Kazusa-Kamatari, Kisarazu, Japan
| | - Andrew Catanach
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Isabelle M Henry
- Department of Plant Biology and Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Mertten
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Paul Datson
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
- The Kiwifruit Breeding Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kanae Masuda
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Naoko Fujita
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Eriko Kuwada
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Koichiro Ushijima
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kenji Beppu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Andrew C Allan
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Ikuo Kataoka
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan
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He Q, Queenborough SA, Zhang Y, Wang W, Li B, Zhao K, Luo W, Tang H, Lin W, Chu C. Effects of tree sex, maturity, local abiotic, and biotic neighborhoods on the growth of a subtropical dioecious tree species Diospyros morrisiana. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023; 110:e16124. [PMID: 36652334 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Understanding the drivers of the growth in long-lived woody trees is the key to predicting their responses to and maintaining their populations under global change. However, the role of tree sex and differential investment to reproduction are often not considered in models of individual tree growth, despite many gymnosperm and angiosperm species having separate male and female sexes. Thus, better models of tree growth should include tree sex and life stage along with the abiotic and biotic neighborhoods. METHODS We used a sex-specific molecular marker to determine the sex of 2188 individual trees >1 cm DBH of the dioecious tree species Diospyros morrisiana in a 50-ha subtropical forest plot in China. We used long-term census data from about 300,000 trees, together with 625 soil samples and 2352 hemispherical photographs to characterize the spatially explicit biotic and abiotic neighborhoods. RESULTS We found a male-biased effective sex ratio and a female-biased overall population sex ratio of D. morrisiana. No sex spatial segregation was detected for the overall population, mature, or immature trees. Immature trees grew faster than mature trees and females grew slower than males. Further, conspecific neighbors significantly decreased tree growth, while the abiotic neighborhood showed no significant effect. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that variation in resource allocation patterns within and across individual trees of different sexes and life-history stages should be more widely accounted for in models of tree growth. In addition, our study highlights the importance of sex-specific molecular markers for studying populations of long-lived dioecious tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences and School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Simon A Queenborough
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, USA
| | - Yonghua Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Weitao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences and School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Buhang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences and School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Kangning Zhao
- School of Architecture, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Wenqi Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences and School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Hui Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences and School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Wei Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences and School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chengjin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences and School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
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28
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Impacts of bisphenol A on growth and reproductive traits of submerged macrophyte Vallisneria natans. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:46383-46393. [PMID: 36719573 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25521-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is considered a contaminant of emerging concern and interferes with the normal activities of living organisms. The toxicity of BPA is evident in animals and terrestrial plants. However, the response of aquatic plants to low BPA concentrations is still unclear. In the present study, effects of varying BPA loadings (targeting at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/L) on the growth and reproductive traits of the dioecious annual submerged macrophyte Vallisneria natans were assessed through a 5-month experiment. The results showed that BPA inhibited the elongation of V. natans leaves but resulted in an increase in leaf number and ramet number under the highest BPA loading treatment (targeting at 1 mg/L). In addition, detectable biochemical changes in the total carbon and soluble sugar contents were found, which both were significantly higher at the highest BPA loading treatment. However, the total biomass did not alter significantly after the BPA treatments, indicating that BPA did not induce direct toxic effects on the growth of V. natans. At the highest BPA loading treatment, female individuals of V. natans allocated less number for ramet than male ones, showing a clear sexual dimorphism. No significant differences between the five treatments were found for the flower or fruit traits, while the germination rate was significantly inhibited for the seeds collected from the highest BPA loading treatment. In conclusion, V. natans tolerated low concentrations of BPA by making a trade-off between ramet (leaf) number and leaf elongation, as well as modulating the total carbon and soluble sugar contents. However, serious consequence of decline in seed viability implied that the impact of BPA on plant reproduction were usually underestimated.
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Sex ratios, damage and distribution of Myrianthus holstii Engl.: a dioecious afromontane forest tree. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467422000499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Male and female dioecious tropical trees are subjected to distinct demands that may influence their ecology. An example is Myrianthus holstii Engl. that produces persistent fruit eaten by elephants and other large mammals that frequently damage the trees. Myrianthus holstii populations were assessed with 24 2-km transects, spanning an elevation range of 1435–2495 m in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Of 1089 stems ≥ 5 cm diameter 449 were female, 383 were male and the rest were non-fertile. We also noted one apparently monoecious individual. Males produced flowers at smaller sizes than did females (minimum recorded diameters 5.5 cm and 6.8 cm, respectively). Both sexes had similar distributions, favouring moderately closed forest and mid-slope locations. Female trees were more frequently damaged and typically slightly shorter than males at large diameters. Seedling densities were positively associated with the presence of larger female trees. Our results are consistent with a life history where both sexes have similar requirements, but fruiting females experience a greater frequency of severe damage.
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Soininen JOS, Kytöviita M. Geranium sylvaticum increases pollination probability by sexually dimorphic flowers. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9670. [PMID: 36590340 PMCID: PMC9797467 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is expressed as different morphologies between the sexes of a species. Dimorphism is pronounced in gynodioecious populations which consist of female and hermaphrodite individuals. The small size of female flowers in gynodioecious species is often explained by resource re-allocation to seed production instead of large flowers. However, pollinator attraction is critical to female fitness, and factors other than resource savings are needed to explain the small size of female flowers. We hypothesized that the floral size dimorphism in the perennial gynodioecious Geranium sylvaticum (L.) is adaptive in terms of pollination. To test this "pollination hypothesis," we video recorded the small female and large hermaphrodite G. sylvaticum flowers. We parameterized floral visitor behavior when visiting a flower and calculated pollination probabilities by a floral visitor as the probability of touching anther and stigma with the same body part. Pollination probability differed in terms of flower sex and pollinator species. Bumblebees had the highest pollination probability. The small female flowers were more likely to receive pollen via several pollinator groups than the large hermaphrodite flowers. The pollen display of hermaphrodites matched poorly with the stigma display of hermaphrodites, but well with that of females. Although the small size of female flowers is commonly explained by resource re-allocation, we show that sexual dimorphism in flower size may increase the main reproductive functions of the females and hermaphrodites. Dimorphism increases pollination probability in females and fathering probability of the hermaphrodites likely driving G. sylvaticum populations towards dioecy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaakko O. S. Soininen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Minna‐Maarit Kytöviita
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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Auffray T, Montúfar R, Uquillas SXP, Barragán A, Pincebourde S, Gibernau M, Dangles O. Fine‐scale temporal dynamics of flower visitors sheds light on insect‐assemblage overlap between sexes in a dioecious Ecuadorian palm. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Auffray
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Rommel Montúfar
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
| | - Santiago Xavier Palacios Uquillas
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
| | - Alvaro Barragán
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
| | - Sylvain Pincebourde
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS ‐ Université de Tours Tours France
| | - Marc Gibernau
- CNRS – Université de Corse, Laboratoire Sciences Pour l'Environnement, UMR 6134, Route des Sanguinaires Ajaccio France
| | - Olivier Dangles
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
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Barbot E, Dufaÿ M, Tonnabel J, Godé C, De Cauwer I. On the function of flower number: disentangling fertility from pollinator-mediated selection. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221987. [PMID: 36448279 PMCID: PMC9709571 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In animal-pollinated angiosperms, the 'male-function' hypothesis claims that male reproductive success (RS) should benefit from large floral displays, through pollinator attraction, while female RS is expected to be mainly limited by resource availability. As appealing as this theory might be, studies comparing selection strength on flower number in both sexes rarely document the expected asymmetry. This discrepancy could arise because flower number impacts both pollinator attraction and overall gamete number. In this study, we artificially manipulate floral displays to disentangle the fertility versus pollinator attraction components of selection, both in terms of mating and RS. In females, flower number was under strong fertility selection, as predicted in the absence of pollen limitation. By contrast, in males, flower number was mainly under sexual selection, which in turn increased male RS. However, these selection patterns were not different in males with artificially increased floral displays. This suggests that sexual selection acting on flower number in males does not occur because flower number increases pollinator attraction, but rather because more pollen is available to disperse on more mates. Our study illustrates the power of disentangling various components of selection with potentially sex-specific effects for understanding the evolution of sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Barbot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 - Evo-Eco-Paleo, F-59000 Lille, France
- ISEM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Mathilde Dufaÿ
- CEFE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Univ. Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jeanne Tonnabel
- ISEM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
- CEFE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Univ. Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Cécile Godé
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 - Evo-Eco-Paleo, F-59000 Lille, France
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Kwok A, Dorken ME. Sexual selection on male but not female function in monoecious and dioecious populations of broadleaf arrowhead ( Sagittaria latifolia). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220919. [PMID: 36350202 PMCID: PMC9653219 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct measures of sexual selection in plants are rare and complicated by immobility and modular growth. For plants, instantaneous measures of fitness typically scale with size, but covariances between size and mating success could obscure the detection of sexual selection. We measured the magnitude of sexual selection in a monoecious and a dioecious population of the clonal plant Sagittaria latifolia using Bateman gradients (ßss). These gradients were calculated using parentage analysis and residual regression to account for the effects of shoot and clone size on mating and reproductive success. In both populations, (i) there was greater promiscuity via male function than via female function and (ii) ßss were positive, with significant associations between mating and reproductive success for male but not female function. Moreover, estimated βss were similar for the monoecious and dioecious populations, possibly because non-overlapping female and male sex phases in hermaphroditic S. latifolia reduced the scope for interference between sex functions during mating. This study builds on previous studies of selection on plant mating traits, and of sexual selection under experimental conditions, by showing that sexual selection can operate in natural populations of plants, including populations of hermaphrodites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Kwok
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 0G2
| | - Marcel E. Dorken
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 0G2
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Zhang S, Wu Z, Ma D, Zhai J, Han X, Jiang Z, Liu S, Xu J, Jiao P, Li Z. Chromosome-scale assemblies of the male and female Populus euphratica genomes reveal the molecular basis of sex determination and sexual dimorphism. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1186. [PMCID: PMC9636151 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04145-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Reference-quality genomes of both sexes are essential for studying sex determination and sex-chromosome evolution, as their gene contents and expression profiles differ. Here, we present independent chromosome-level genome assemblies for the female (XX) and male (XY) genomes of desert poplar (Populus euphratica), resolving a 22.7-Mb X and 24.8-Mb Y chromosome. We also identified a relatively complete 761-kb sex-linked region (SLR) in the peritelomeric region on chromosome 14 (Y). Within the SLR, recombination around the partial repeats for the feminizing factor ARR17 (ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR 17) was potentially suppressed by flanking palindromic arms and the dense accumulation of retrotransposons. The inverted small segments S1 and S2 of ARR17 exhibited relaxed selective pressure and triggered sex determination by generating 24-nt small interfering RNAs that induce male-specific hyper-methylation at the promoter of the autosomal targeted ARR17. We also detected two male-specific fusion genes encoding proteins with NB-ARC domains at the breakpoint region of an inversion in the SLR that may be responsible for the observed sexual dimorphism in immune responses. Our results show that the SLR appears to follow proposed evolutionary dynamics for sex chromosomes and advance our understanding of sex determination and the evolution of sex chromosomes in Populus. Reference-quality genomes of both sexes of the dioecious tree species, Populus euphratica, provide further insight into the evolution of Populus sex chromosomes and highlight male-specific fusion genes that may contribute to sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanhe Zhang
- grid.443240.50000 0004 1760 4679College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University/Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps/Research Center of Populus Euphratica, Aral, 843300 China
| | - Zhihua Wu
- grid.453534.00000 0001 2219 2654College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004 China
| | - De Ma
- grid.410753.4Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, 100083 China
| | - Juntuan Zhai
- grid.443240.50000 0004 1760 4679College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University/Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps/Research Center of Populus Euphratica, Aral, 843300 China
| | - Xiaoli Han
- grid.443240.50000 0004 1760 4679College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University/Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps/Research Center of Populus Euphratica, Aral, 843300 China
| | - Zhenbo Jiang
- grid.443240.50000 0004 1760 4679College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University/Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps/Research Center of Populus Euphratica, Aral, 843300 China
| | - Shuo Liu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plant Germplasm in Wuling Area of China, College of Life Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074 China
| | - Jingdong Xu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plant Germplasm in Wuling Area of China, College of Life Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074 China
| | - Peipei Jiao
- grid.443240.50000 0004 1760 4679College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University/Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps/Research Center of Populus Euphratica, Aral, 843300 China
| | - Zhijun Li
- grid.443240.50000 0004 1760 4679College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University/Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps/Research Center of Populus Euphratica, Aral, 843300 China
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35
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Zhou Y, Pang Z, Yuan Z, Fallah N, Jia H, Ming R. Sex-based metabolic and microbiota differences in roots and rhizosphere soils of dioecious papaya ( Carica papaya L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:991114. [PMID: 36311075 PMCID: PMC9612958 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.991114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Dioecious plant species have a high genetic variation that is important for coping with or adapting to environmental stress through natural selection. Intensive studies have reported dimorphism morphism in morphology, physiology, as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses in dioecious plants. Here, we demonstrated the dimorphism of metabolic profile and the preference of some microorganisms in the roots and rhizosphere soils of male and female papaya. The metabolic composition of roots were significantly different between the males and females. Some sex hormones occurred in the differential metabolites in roots and rhizosphere soils. For example, testosterone was up-regulated in male papaya roots and rhizosphere soils, whereas norgestrel was up-regulated in the female papaya roots, indicating a possible balance in papaya roots to control the sexual differentiation. Plant hormones such as BRs, JAs, SA and GAs were also detected among the differential metabolites in the roots and rhizosphere soils of dioecious papaya. In addition, some metabolites that have medicinal values, such as ecliptasaponin A, crocin, berberine and sapindoside A were also expressed differentially between the two sexes. Numerous differential metabolites from the papaya roots were secreted in the soil, resulting in the differences in microbial community structure in the roots and rhizosphere soils. Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium, Brevundimonas and Microvirga were enriched in the male papaya roots or rhizosphere soils. While Candidatus Solibacter and Tumebacillus, which utilize organic matters, were enriched in the roots or rhizosphere soils of the female papaya. Some differences in the fungi abundance were also observed in both male and female papaya roots. These findings uncovered the effect of sex types on the metabolic and microbiota differences in roots and rhizosphere soils in papaya and will lead to investigations of underlining genomic and molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongmei Zhou
- FAFU and UIUC Joint Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ziqin Pang
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhaonian Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Nyumah Fallah
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Haifeng Jia
- FAFU and UIUC Joint Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ray Ming
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
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36
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Sexual Differences in Eurya loquaiana Dunn Floral Scent and How Pollinators Respond. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11192560. [PMID: 36235425 PMCID: PMC9571124 DOI: 10.3390/plants11192560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Eurya plants are usually dioecious or subdioecious with small fragrant flowers. Here, we investigate the floral scent components of the subdioecious species Eurya loquaiana Dunn and how floral scent affects pollinators. Headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was used to compare the floral scents of male, female, and hermaphrodite flowers. We also test whether differences in floral scent affect the foraging behaviors of pollinators and describe the flower morphological traits of the three sexes. Twenty-eight floral scent compounds were tentatively identified, and four monoterpenoids were tentatively identified as the most abundant compounds: linalool oxide (pyranoid), linalool, lilac aldehyde, and linalool oxide (furanoid). There were floral scent differences among the sex types, and male flowers were more attractive to pollinators in the wild, even when visual factors were excluded, indicating that pollinators likely distinguish sexual differences by floral scent. In the competition for pollinators, the advantage that male flowers have over female and hermaphrodite flowers can likely be accounted for the differences in floral scent and display size.
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37
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Phenology and Floral Biology of Diospyros sericea A. DC. (Ebenaceae): Inconstant Males May Be behind an Enigma of Dioecy. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11192535. [PMID: 36235401 PMCID: PMC9572608 DOI: 10.3390/plants11192535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Diospyros sericea is a tree/shrub species considered dioecious and broadly distributed in Brazil. Despite its importance for niche composition in a range of ecosystems, there is little knowledge about this species, and so far no study has analyzed its sexual system. We aimed to investigate dioecy expression in D. sericea through sexual dimorphisms in its phenology and floral biology. We analyzed the phenological events over a year and studied floral biology traits (morphology, flower development, floral resource, floral attractants supply, viability of pollen, and stigma receptivity) in both male and female plants. D. sericea presents typical features of dioecious plants like well-established primary and secondary dimorphisms that contribute to its reproductive success. However, we also identified fruit development in what should be structurally male individuals. We suggest that the evolutionary pathway leading to the observed phenomenon may be the existence of subdioecious populations with “inconstant males”. Although our data prevented us from making further assumptions about the origin of this trait, the study contributes to future analyses towards unraveling the enigma of dioecy not only in D. sericea but in other Diospyros species.
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38
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Silva DM, Luna ALL, Souza CS, Nunes YRF, Fonseca RS, Azevedo IFPD. Sexual and reproductive systems of woody species in
vereda
are distributed according to the life form and habitat occurrence. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Danila Moreira Silva
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
| | - Andressa Laís Lacerda Luna
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
| | - Camila Silveira Souza
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Biologia Geral Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Montes Claros Brazil
| | - Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Biologia Geral Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Montes Claros Brazil
| | - Rúbia Santos Fonseca
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Bairro Universitário Montes Claros Brazil
| | - Islaine Franciely Pinheiro de Azevedo
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Biologia Geral Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Montes Claros Brazil
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39
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Wang J, Yang Z, Wang G, Shang S, Tang X, Xiao H. Diversity of epiphytic bacterial communities on male and female Sargassum thunbergii. AMB Express 2022; 12:97. [PMID: 35841460 PMCID: PMC9288574 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-022-01439-1] [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: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The epiphytic bacteria are the most abundant microorganisms on marine macroalga. However, there are few studies on the distribution of these epiphytic bacteria on male and female Sargassum thunbergii. In this study, the composition and diversity of epiphytic bacterial communities on male and female S. thunbergii were investigated by using the traditional culture-based method and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla and genera were the same on both male and female S. thunbergii. However, there were significant differences in the relative abundance of epiphytic bacteria at the genus level. Furthermore, male and female S. thunbergii had their own indicative species and specific bacteria. In addition, the predicted functions of the epiphytic bacteria mainly differed in transport and metabolism, environmental adaptation and spore development. This study enriches the baseline knowledge of epiphytic bacteria related to dioecious algae and paves the way for further studies of the relationships between epiphytic microbial communities and the sex of algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Zhibo Yang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Gaoge Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Shuai Shang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.,College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Binzhou University, Binzhou, 256600, China
| | - Xuexi Tang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.,Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Hui Xiao
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China. .,Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266000, China.
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40
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Dioecy and chromosomal sex determination are maintained through allopolyploid speciation in the plant genus Mercurialis. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010226. [PMID: 35793353 PMCID: PMC9292114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyploidization may precipitate dramatic changes to the genome, including chromosome rearrangements, gene loss, and changes in gene expression. In dioecious plants, the sex-determining mechanism may also be disrupted by polyploidization, with the potential evolution of hermaphroditism. However, while dioecy appears to have persisted through a ploidy transition in some species, it is unknown whether the newly formed polyploid maintained its sex-determining system uninterrupted, or whether dioecy re-evolved after a period of hermaphroditism. Here, we develop a bioinformatic pipeline using RNA-sequencing data from natural populations to demonstrate that the allopolyploid plant Mercurialis canariensis directly inherited its sex-determining region from one of its diploid progenitor species, M. annua, and likely remained dioecious through the transition. The sex-determining region of M. canariensis is smaller than that of its diploid progenitor, suggesting that the non-recombining region of M. annua expanded subsequent to the polyploid origin of M. canariensis. Homeologous pairs show partial sexual subfunctionalization. We discuss the possibility that gene duplicates created by polyploidization might contribute to resolving sexual antagonism.
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41
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van Blerk JJ, West AG, Skelton RP, Midgley JJ. Phenological asynchrony between sexes of Restionaceae can explain culm
δ
13
C
differences. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin J. van Blerk
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
| | - Adam G. West
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
| | - Robert P. Skelton
- Fynbos Node South African Environmental Observation Network Claremont South Africa
| | - Jeremy J. Midgley
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
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42
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Variability in Functional Traits along an Environmental Gradient in the South African Resurrection Plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11101332. [PMID: 35631757 PMCID: PMC9143701 DOI: 10.3390/plants11101332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Many desiccation-tolerant plants are widely distributed and exposed to substantial environmental variation across their native range. These environmental differences generate site-specific selective pressures that could drive natural variation in desiccation tolerance across populations. If identified, such natural variation can be used to target tolerance-enhancing characteristics and identify trait associations within a common genetic background. Here, we tested for natural variation in desiccation tolerance across wild populations of the South African resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia. We surveyed a suite of functional traits related to desiccation tolerance, leaf economics, and reproductive allocation in M. flabellifolia to test for trait associations and tradeoffs. Despite considerable environmental variation across the study area, M. flabellifolia plants were extremely desiccation tolerant at all sites, suggesting that tolerance is either maintained by selection or fixed in these populations. However, we detected notable associations between environmental variation, population characteristics, and fitness traits. Relative to mesic sites, plants in xeric sites were more abundant and larger, but were slower growing and less reproductive. The negative association between growth and reproduction with plant size and abundance pointed towards a potential growth–abundance tradeoff. The finding that M. flabellifolia is more common in xeric sites despite reductions in growth rate and reproduction suggests that these plants thrive in extreme aridity.
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43
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Cronk Q. The distribution of sexual function in the flowering plant: from monoecy to dioecy. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210486. [PMID: 35306897 PMCID: PMC8935304 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In flowering plants, male and female functions are usually closely associated in the same flowers, as predicted by resource allocation theory. However, the benefits of outbreeding can lead to unisexual flowers and the physiological control of their distribution across the plant (monoecy). Monoecy is thought to be a major route to dioecy (separation of sexual function of different individuals). The developmental and functional problems associated with unisexual flowers may thus be solved at the level of the evolution of monoecy. Consequently, the evolution of dioecy from monoecy requires mutations in only a single gene. Here various scenarios (conceptual models) are presented for the evolution of monoecy and dioecy, including scenarios consistent with known cases of single-gene control of dioecy, such as in Populus, and the artificial breeding of dioecy from monoecy experimentally achieved in Zea and Cucumis. Attention is also drawn here to the phenomenon of pleogamy, the minor or occasional occurrence of additional sex morphs within a species, which may provide important information about the genetic and developmental control of various sexual systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sex determination and sex chromosome evolution in land plants'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Cronk
- Department of Botany and Beaty Biodiversity Museum, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
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44
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Mank JE. Are plant and animal sex chromosomes really all that different? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210218. [PMID: 35306885 PMCID: PMC8935310 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex chromosomes in plants have often been contrasted with those in animals with the goal of identifying key differences that can be used to elucidate fundamental evolutionary properties. For example, the often homomorphic sex chromosomes in plants have been compared to the highly divergent systems in some animal model systems, such as birds, Drosophila and therian mammals, with many hypotheses offered to explain the apparent dissimilarities, including the younger age of plant sex chromosomes, the lesser prevalence of sexual dimorphism, or the greater extent of haploid selection. Furthermore, many plant sex chromosomes lack complete sex chromosome dosage compensation observed in some animals, including therian mammals, Drosophila, some poeciliids, and Anolis, and plant dosage compensation, where it exists, appears to be incomplete. Even the canonical theoretical models of sex chromosome formation differ somewhat between plants and animals. However, the highly divergent sex chromosomes observed in some animal groups are actually the exception, not the norm, and many animal clades are far more similar to plants in their sex chromosome patterns. This begs the question of how different are plant and animal sex chromosomes, and which of the many unique properties of plants would be expected to affect sex chromosome evolution differently than animals? In fact, plant and animal sex chromosomes exhibit more similarities than differences, and it is not at all clear that they differ in terms of sexual conflict, dosage compensation, or even degree of divergence. Overall, the largest difference between these two groups is the greater potential for haploid selection in plants compared to animals. This may act to accelerate the expansion of the non-recombining region at the same time that it maintains gene function within it. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sex determination and sex chromosome evolution in land plants'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith E. Mank
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
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45
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Marais GAB, Lemaître JF. Sex chromosomes, sex ratios and sex gaps in longevity in plants. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210219. [PMID: 35306888 PMCID: PMC8935291 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In animals, males and females can display markedly different longevity (also called sex gaps in longevity, SGL). Sex chromosomes contribute to establishing these SGLs. X-hemizygosity and toxicity of the Y chromosomes are two mechanisms that have been suggested to reduce male longevity (Z-hemizygosity and W toxicity in females in ZW systems). In plants, SGLs are known to exist, but the role of sex chromosomes remains to be established. Here, by using adult sex ratio as a proxy for measuring SGLs, we explored the relationship between sex chromosomes and SGLs across 43 plant species. Based on the knowledge accumulated in animals, we specifically asked whether: (i) species with XY systems tend to have female-biased sex ratios (reduced male longevity) and species with ZW ones tend to have male-biased sex ratios (reduced female longevity); and (ii) this pattern was stronger in heteromorphic systems compared to homomorphic ones. Our results tend to support these predictions although we lack statistical power because of a small number of ZW systems and the absence of any heteromorphic ZW system in the dataset. We discuss the implications of these findings, which we hope will stimulate further research on sex differences in lifespan and ageing across plants. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sex determination and sex chromosome evolution in land plants'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A. B. Marais
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- LBBE, CNRS/Univ. Lyon 1, Campus de la Doua, Villeurbanne, France
| | - J-F. Lemaître
- LBBE, CNRS/Univ. Lyon 1, Campus de la Doua, Villeurbanne, France
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46
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Bürli S, Pannell JR, Tonnabel J. Environmental variation in sex ratios and sexual dimorphism in three wind‐pollinated dioecious plant species. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bürli
- Dept of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, UNIL‐SORGE, Univ. of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
- Botanical Garden&Inst. of Plant Sciences of the Univ. of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - John R. Pannell
- Dept of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, UNIL‐SORGE, Univ. of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Jeanne Tonnabel
- Dept of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, UNIL‐SORGE, Univ. of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
- CEFE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Univ. Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
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Pereira JP, Garbin ML, Carrijo TT, da Silva JA, Bourguignon TP, Cavatte PC. Lack of coordination between stomatal and vein traits provides functional benefits to the dioecious tropical tree Myrsine coriacea. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2022; 174:e13719. [PMID: 35587454 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Climate change will affect the distribution of many tropical plant species. However, the understanding of how dioecious tropical species cope with different environmental conditions is still limited. To address this issue, we investigated how secondary trait attributes in populations of the dioecious tropical tree Myrsine coriacea change along an altitudinal gradient. Eighty individual plants (40 male and 40 female) were selected among seven natural populations. Leaf variation in morphological and stomatal traits, and carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions were analyzed. Female plants had greater isotopic leaf carbon composition (δ13 C) and nitrogen content than male plants, increasing their carboxylation capacity. Plants of both sexes had smaller stomata, greater water-use efficiency (greater δ13 C), and greater nitrogen isotopic composition (δ15 N) at higher altitudes. They also showed lower δ15 N and had greater carbon: nitrogen ratios at lower altitudes. There was a lack of coordination between stomatal and vein traits, which was compensated for by variation in specific leaf areas. This mechanism was essential for increasing plant performance under the limiting conditions found by the species at higher altitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Priscilla Pereira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Mário Luís Garbin
- Laboratório de Botânica, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Tavares Carrijo
- Laboratório de Botânica, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Josimar Aleixo da Silva
- Laboratório de Botânica, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
- Instituto Capixaba de Pesquisa, Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Tayna Poppe Bourguignon
- Laboratório de Botânica, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Paulo Cezar Cavatte
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
- Laboratório de Botânica, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil
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Population Variability of Almond-Leaved Willow (Salix triandra L.) Based on the Leaf Morphometry: Isolation by Distance and Environment Explain Phenotypic Diversity. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13030420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Almond-leaved willow (Salix triandra L., Salicaceae) is a dioecious shrub, rarely a small tree that grows under various environmental conditions. We examined the population structure of 12 populations of almond-leaved willow using nine leaf morphological traits and specific leaf area. Populations were selected from a range of habitats, from continental to the sub-Mediterranean zone, to examine the influence of environmental conditions (climate and altitude) and geographic distance on leaf variability. Significant differences were confirmed among all populations for all traits, with significant correlations between geographic location of populations and morphological traits, and between environmental conditions and morphological traits. Large-leaved populations were found in continental and sub-Mediterranean climates, while small-leaved populations were found in higher elevations and smaller karstic rivers. In addition, populations from floodplains showed greater variability than populations from the karstic habitats, indicating a positive influence of lowland habitats and possible underlying differences in gene pool size. In conclusion, we found that environmental conditions and geographical distances in addition to genetic drift, are the main influences on the variability in almond-leaved willow, with the species showing a high level of plasticity and adaptation to local environmental conditions.
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Murakami K, Katsuhara KR, Ushimaru A. Intersexual flower differences in an andromonoecious species: small pollen-rich staminate flowers under resource limitation. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2022; 24:259-265. [PMID: 34990065 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Andromonoecy, the presence of perfect and staminate flowers in the same individual, has evolved repeatedly in angiosperms. The staminate flowers are generally smaller than the perfect flowers in species that produce staminate flowers plastically when resources are limited. The smaller staminate flowers are expected to be less attractive to pollinators and have reduced size-matching with pollinators than perfect flowers. We hypothesized that these potential disadvantages of staminate versus perfect flowers facilitate the evolution of sex-specific floral morphology, such as allometric relationship between flower size and male reproductive organ. We compared six floral morphology traits, pollen production, pollinator visits and pollen removal from anthers between staminate and perfect flowers in several natural Commelina communis populations. Nectarless and zygomorphic C. communis flowers have polymorphic stamens with attracting, feeding and pollinating anthers and were visited by diverse pollinators. Staminate flowers were significantly smaller than perfect flowers, despite a large overlap in size between sexes. The lengths of pollinating stamens did not differ between staminate and perfect flowers, and staminate flowers produced significantly more pollen. We observed significantly more pollinator visits to perfect flowers than to staminate flowers. By contrast, pollen removal from pollinating stamens was significantly higher in staminate flowers than in perfect flowers. There is sexual dimorphism in flower morphology in C. communis. Staminate flowers with smaller attraction organs, similar pollinating stamens and higher pollen production assure higher pollen donor success relative to perfect flowers. Our results suggest that the morphological changes in staminate flowers enhance pollination success, even with limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Murakami
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - K R Katsuhara
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - A Ushimaru
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
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Ekwealor JTB, Benjamin SD, Jomsky JZ, Bowker MA, Stark LR, McLetchie DN, Mishler BD, Fisher KM. Genotypic confirmation of a biased phenotypic sex ratio in a dryland moss using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES 2022; 10:e11467. [PMID: 35495199 PMCID: PMC9039795 DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE In dioicous mosses, sex is determined by a single U (female, ♀) or V (male, ♂) chromosome. Although a 1 : 1 sex ratio is expected following meiosis, phenotypic sex ratios based on the production of gametangia are often female-biased. The dryland moss Syntrichia caninervis (Pottiaceae) is notable for its low frequency of sex expression and strong phenotypic female bias. Here we present a technique to determine genotypic sex in a single shoot of S. caninervis, and report results of a case study examining genotypic and phenotypic sex ratios. METHODS We reanalyzed 271 non-expressing gametophyte shoots from a previous study on S. caninervis sex expression across microhabitats using a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. RESULTS We recovered a genotypic sex ratio in non-expressing shoots of 18.4♀ : 1♂, which exceeds the female bias of the phenotypic ratio (5.3♀ : 1♂; P = 0.013). We also found that the distribution of male and female genotypes across microsites with different levels of sun exposure was not predicted by patterns of sex expression in these microsites. DISCUSSION These findings contribute to our understanding of how the environment may modulate sex ratios in S. caninervis, either through its direct influence on sex expression or through selection on genotypes with particular sex expression phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna T. B. Ekwealor
- Department of Integrative Biology and University and Jepson HerbariaUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyUSA
- Data Science Lab, Office of the Chief Information OfficerSmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonD.C.USA
| | - Simone D. Benjamin
- Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State UniversityLos Angeles, CaliforniaUSA
| | - Jordan Z. Jomsky
- Department of Integrative Biology and University and Jepson HerbariaUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyUSA
| | | | - Lloyd R. Stark
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of NevadaLas VegasNevadaUSA
| | | | - Brent D. Mishler
- Department of Integrative Biology and University and Jepson HerbariaUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyUSA
| | - Kirsten M. Fisher
- Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State UniversityLos Angeles, CaliforniaUSA
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