Molecular networks regulating cell division during Arabidopsis leaf growth

The Multifunctional Anaphase Promoting Complex 7 (APC7) Gene Is Associated With Increased Plant Growth and Improved Resistance to DNA and RNA Viruses

The anaphase promoting complex 7 (AtAPC7) is an APC/C subunit expressed in different organs of Arabidopsis thaliana and conserved among eukaryotes. A variant of the complete APC7 protein, containing its C-terminal region (named APC-CT), shows a high homology with a tobacco viral replication inhibitor (IVR-like) protein that reduces plant susceptibility to RNA viruses. Here, the role of the AtAPC7 gene was investigated by characterizing Arabidopsis plants overexpressing the full-length AtAPC7 (APC7OE) and the C-terminal portion (APC7-CTOE), by phenotypical, physiological and molecular approaches. APC7OE plants showed improved growth of vegetative organs, earlier flowering and increased photosynthetic efficiency, CO2 assimilation and productivity, compared with Col-0 control plants. Conversely, APC7-CTOE plants showed reduced susceptibility to both RNA and DNA viruses, along with an improvement in plant growth, although not surpassing APC7OE plants. Altogether, the data provide evidence for the role of the AtAPC7 in regulating cell division, expansion and differentiation, accompanied by an increase in photosynthetic capacity, resulting in enhanced plant biomass and seed yield. AtAPC7-CT might reduce growth-defence trade-offs, enabling plants to simultaneously defend themselves while promoting better growth. Our findings highlight the multifunctional role of AtAPC7, unveiling the potential of its orthologous genes as valuable biotechnological tools in important crops.

Individual leaf microbiota tunes a genetic regulatory network to promote leaf growth

In natural ecosystems, microbes have the ability to stably colonize plant leaves, overcoming the fluctuating environmental conditions that the leaves represent. How the phyllosphere microbiota influences the growth of individual leaves remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the growth of Zea mays (maize/corn) leaves in plants grown in three soils with differing amounts of nutrients and water and identify a leaf-growth-promoting effect driven by the leaf microbiota, which we also validate in field studies. We built and used a bacterial strain collection for recolonization experiments to study the microbiota-mediated mechanisms involved in leaf growth promotion. We demonstrate that prevalent bacteria inhabiting young leaves promote individual leaf growth. Using transcriptomic analyses, we reveal a defense-related genetic network that integrates the beneficial effect of the phyllosphere microbiota into the leaf development program. We demonstrate that the individual leaf microbiota differentially represses this genetic network to modulate the growth-defense trade-off at single-leaf resolution.

Exogenous bacterial cellulose induces plant tissue regeneration through the regulation of cytokinin and defense networks

Regeneration is a unique feature of postembryonic development extensively observed in plants. The capacity to induce regeneration exogenously is limited and usually confined to meristematic-like tissues. We show that bacterial cellulose (BC), but not other structurally similar matrixes, induces postwounding regeneration in nonmeristematic plant tissues via a distinctive route to callus-mediated regenerative programs. The BC-specific program involves cytokinin operating concurrently with strongly activated plant biotic response genes to induce plant regeneration. A reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, normally associated with defense responses, is sustained upon BC application, involving a network of tightly interconnected transcription factors, where WRKY8, known for regulating stress responses, shows a clustering and hierarchical prevalence. WRKY8 regulates BC-mediated plant regeneration and ROS homeostasis, including superoxide anion accumulation, to potentially promote cell proliferation after wounding. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the cytokinin- and ROS-associated defense responses can be targeted by BC application to promote plant wound regeneration through alternative regenerative programs.

Identification and Functional Analysis of Candidate Genes Influencing Citrus Leaf Size Through Transcriptome and Coexpression Network Approaches

BACKGROUND

Leaves are the main organs involved in photosynthesis. They capture light energy and promote gas exchange, and their size and shape affect yield. Identifying the regulatory networks and key genes that control citrus leaf size is essential for increasing citrus crop yield.

METHODS

In this study, transcriptome sequencing was performed on three leaf materials: the 'Cuimi' kumquat (Nor) variety and its leaf variants, larger-leaf (VarB) and smaller-leaf (VarS) varieties.

RESULTS

Correlation and principal component analyses revealed a relatively close correlation between Nor and VarS. A total of 7264 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 2374 transcription factors (TFs), were identified, and 254 DEGs were common among the three materials. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed significant enrichment in glucose metabolism, cell wall composition, starch biosynthesis, and photosynthesis pathways. WGCNA identified three specific modules related to the different leaf sizes of these three citrus materials. Fifteen candidate genes related to leaf size, including three transcription factors, Fh5g30470 (MYB), Fh7g07360 (AP2/ERF), and Fh5g02470 (SAP), were identified on the basis of connectivity and functional annotations.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide a theoretical foundation for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying citrus leaf size and offer new genetic resources for the study of citrus leaf size.

Identification of a potential homeodomain-like gene governing leaf size and venation architecture in birch

Leaf vein, an essential part of leaf architecture, plays significant roles in shaping the proper leaf size. To date, the molecular mechanisms governing leaf development including leaf venation patterning remains poorly understood in birch. Here, we performed the genome-wide identification of homeodomain-like (HD-like) superfamily genes using phylogenetic analysis and revealed the functional role of a potential HD-like gene in leaf growth and development using transgenic technology and transcriptomic sequencing. A total of 267 HD-like genes were identified based on Arabidopsis HD-containing transcription factors, which were members of KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) family, BELL1-like homeobox (BLH) family, Zinc finger-HD (ZHD) family, HD-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) family, Golden2, ARR-B, Psr1 (GARP) family, WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) family, and Myeloblastosis (MYB) and MYB-like family. Further, 41 HD-like genes showing co-expression with marker genes related to leaf vascular tissues exhibited differential expression during primary vein development. Among them, a potential HD-like gene (BpPHD4) of GARP family served as a negative factor in governing leaf size and venation patterning. Compared to non-transgenic plants, BpPHD4 repression transgenic plants showed increased leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf thickness, spongy tissue thickness, stomata number, epidermal cell size, primary vein length, the distance between the secondary veins, and primary vein diameter, which was opposite to those of BpPHD4 overexpression transgenic plants. Meanwhile, reduced expression levels of BpPHD4 could remarkably promote phloem tissue development. Transcriptome analysis of BpPHD4 overexpression transgenic plants showed two candidate genes (Bpev01.c0518.g0018 and Bpev01.c2797.g0002) probably regulated by BpPHD4. To conclude, our findings contribute to a better understanding of HD-like superfamily genes and unravel the role of a potential HD-like gene in genetically controlling leaf size and venation patterning in birch, which provides clues to genetic improvement of woody plants with diverse geometric and topological properties of leaf vascular network.

Comparative transcriptome analysis and heterologous overexpression indicate that the ZjZOG gene may positively regulate the size of jujube fruit

BACKGROUND

Fruit size is a crucial economic trait that impacts the quality of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), however, research in this area remains limited. This study utilized two jujube cultivars with similar genetic backgrounds but differing fruit sizes to investigate the regulatory mechanisms affecting fruit size through cytological observations, transcriptome sequencing, and heterologous overexpression.

RESULTS

The findings reveal that variations in mesocarp cell numbers during early fruit development significantly influence final fruit size. Comparative transcriptome sequencing identified 16,778 differentially expressed genes across five developmental stages. Co-expression network analysis identified 16 co-expression modules. KEGG enrichment analysis of these modules indicated the significant role of plant hormone-related pathways in fruit development. A detailed analysis of the 'sky blue' module revealed candidate genes associated with the regulation of mesocarp cells, leading to the construction of a regulatory network. Heterologous overexpression of the candidate gene ZjZOG in tomato confirmed its positive role in fruit size enhancement. Transcriptomic analysis of these overexpression lines further validated the regulatory network and identified reliable candidate genes for fruit size control.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms of fruit size, which may facilitate the breeding of larger jujube cultivars.

The C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor ZmDi19-7 regulates plant height and organ size by promoting cell size in maize

The drought-induced protein 19 (Di19) gene family encodes a Cys2/His2 zinc-finger protein implicated in responses to diverse plant stressors. To date, potential roles of these proteins as transcription factors remain largely elusive in maize. Here, we show that ZmDi19-7 gene exerts pivotal functions in regulation of plant height and organ growth by modulating the cell size in maize. ZmDi19-7 physically interacts with ubiquitin receptor protein ZmDAR1b, which is indispensable in ubiquitination of ZmDi19-7 and affects its protein stability. Further genetic analysis demonstrated that ZmDAR1b act in a common pathway with ZmDi19-7 to regulate cell size in maize. ZmDi19-7, severing as a transcriptional factor, is significantly enriched in conserved DiBS element in the promoter region of ZmHSP22, ZmHSP18c, ZmSAUR25, ZmSAUR55, ZmSAUR7 and ZmXTH23 and orchestrates the expression of these genes involving in auxin-mediated cell expansion and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, our findings demonstrate that ZmDi19-7 is an important newfound component of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in regulation of plant height and organ size in maize. These discoveries highlight potential targets for the genetic improvement of maize in the future.

The interplay of growth-regulating factor 5 and BZR1 in coregulating chlorophyll degradation in poplar

Chlorophyll (Chl) is essential for plants to carry out photosynthesis, growth and development processes. Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) play a vital role in regulating Chl degradation in plants. However, the molecular mechanism by which GRF5 regulates Chl degradation in poplar remains unknown. Here we found that overexpression of PpnGRF5-1 increased Chl content in leaves and promoted chloroplast development in poplar. Overexpression of PpnGRF5-1 in poplar delayed Chl degradation induced by external factors, such as hormones, darkness and salt stress. PpnGRF5-1 responded to brassinosteroid (BR) signalling during BR-induced Chl degradation and reduced the expression levels of Chl degradation and senescence-related genes. PpnGRF5-1 inhibited the expression of Chl b reductases PagNYC1 and PagNOL. PpnGRF5-1 could interact with PagBZR1 in the nucleus. PagBZR1 also inhibited the expression of PagNYC1. In addition, we found that the protein-protein interaction between PagBZR1 and PpnGRF5-1 enhanced the inhibitory effect of PpnGRF5-1 on the Chl b reductases PagNYC1 and PagNOL. BZR1 and GRF5-1 were upregulated, and NOL and NYC1 were downregulated in triploid poplars compared to diploids. This study revealed a new mechanism by which PpnGRF5-1 regulates Chl degradation in poplars and lays the foundation for comprehensively analysing the molecular mechanism of Chl metabolism in triploid poplars.

Characterization of the Arabidopsis Mutant oligocellula6-D Reveals the Importance of Leaf Initiation in Determining the Final Leaf Size

The leaf is a determinate organ with a final size under genetic control. Numerous factors that regulate the final leaf size have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana; although most of these factors play their roles during the growth of leaf primordia, much less is known about leaf initiation and its effects on the final leaf size. In this study, we characterized oligocellula6-D (oli6-D), a semidominant mutant of A. thaliana with smaller leaves than the wild type (WT) due to its reduced leaf cell numbers. A time-course analysis showed that oli6-D had approximately 50% fewer leaf cells even immediately after leaf initiation; this difference was maintained throughout leaf development. Next-generation sequencing showed that oli6-D had chromosomal duplications involving 2-kb and 3-Mb regions of chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively. Several duplicated genes examined had approximately 2-fold higher expression levels, and at least one gene acquired a new intron/exon structure due to a chromosome fusion event. oli6-D showed reduced auxin responses in leaf primordia, primary roots and embryos, as well as reduced apical dominance and partial auxin-resistant root growth. CRISPR-associated protein-9-mediated genome editing enabled the removal of a 3-Mb duplicated segment, the largest targeted deletion in plants thus far. As a result, oli6-D restored the WT leaf phenotypes, demonstrating that oli6-D is a gain-of-function mutant. Our results suggest a new regulatory point of leaf size determination that functions at a very early stage of leaf development and is negatively regulated by one or more genes located in the duplicated chromosomal segments.

Molecular mechanisms regulating GROWTH-REGULATING FACTORS activity in plant growth, development, and environmental responses

Plants rely on complex regulatory mechanisms to ensure proper growth and development. As plants are sessile organisms, these mechanisms must be flexible enough to adapt to changes in the environment. GROWTH-REGULATING FACTORS (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that act as a central hub controlling plant growth and development, which offer promising biotechnological applications to enhance plant performance. Here, we analyze the complex molecular mechanisms that regulate GRFs activity, and how their natural and synthetic variants can impact on plant growth and development. We describe the biological roles of the GRFs and examine how they regulate gene expression and contribute to the control of organ growth and plant responses to a changing environment. This review focuses on the premise that unlocking the full biotechnological potential of GRFs requires a thorough understanding of the various regulatory layers governing GRF activity, the functional divergence among GRF family members, and the gene networks that they regulate.

Temporal dynamics of genetic architecture governing leaf development in Populus

Leaf development is a multifaceted and dynamic process orchestrated by a myriad of genes to shape the proper size and morphology. The dynamic genetic network underlying leaf development remains largely unknown. Utilizing a synergistic genetic approach encompassing dynamic genome-wide association study (GWAS), time-ordered gene co-expression network (TO-GCN) analyses and gene manipulation, we explored the temporal genetic architecture and regulatory network governing leaf development in Populus. We identified 42 time-specific and 18 consecutive genes that displayed different patterns of expression at various time points. We then constructed eight TO-GCNs that covered the cell proliferation, transition, and cell expansion stages of leaf development. Integrating GWAS and TO-GCN, we postulated the functions of 27 causative genes for GWAS and identified PtoGRF9 as a key player in leaf development. Genetic manipulation via overexpression and suppression of PtoGRF9 revealed its primary influence on leaf development by modulating cell proliferation. Furthermore, we elucidated that PtoGRF9 governs leaf development by activating PtoHB21 during the cell proliferation stage and attenuating PtoLD during the transition stage. Our study provides insights into the dynamic genetic underpinnings of leaf development and understanding the regulatory mechanism of PtoGRF9 in this dynamic process.

A mutation in CsGME encoding GDP-mannose 3,5-epimerase results in little and wrinkled leaf in cucumber

KEY MESSAGE

Map-based cloning revealed that a mutation in a highly conserved amino acid of the CsGME gene encoding GDP-mannose 3,5-epimerase, causes the phenotype of little and wrinkled leaves in cucumbers. Leaf size is a critical determinant of plant architecture in cucumbers, yet only a few genes associated with this trait have been mapped or cloned. Here, we identified and characterized a mutant with little and wrinkled leaves, named lwl-1. Genetic analysis revealed that the phenotype of the lwl-1 was controlled by a single recessive gene. Through map-based cloning, the lwl-1 locus was narrowed down to a 12.22-kb region exclusively containing one fully annotated gene CsGME (CsaV3_2G004170). CsGME encodes GDP-mannose 3,5-epimerase, which is involved in the synthesis of ascorbic acid (ASA) and one of the components of pectin, RG-II. Whole-length sequencing of the 12.22 kb DNA fragment revealed the presence of only a non-synonymous mutation located in the sixth exon of CsGME in lwl-1, resulting in an amino acid alteration from Pro363 to Leu363. This mutation was unique among 118 inbred lines from cucumber natural populations. CsGME expression significantly reduced in various organs of lwl-1, accompanied by a significant decrease in ASA and pectin content in leaves. Both CsGME and Csgme proteins were localized to the cytoplasm. The mutant phenotype exhibited partial recovery after the application of exogenous boric acid. Silencing CsGME in cucumber through VIGS confirmed its role as the causal gene for lwl-1. Transcriptome profiling revealed that CsGME greatly affected the expression of genes related to the cell division process and cell plate formation. This study represents the first report to characterize and clone the CsGME in cucumber, indicating its crucial role in regulating leaf size and development.

Precocious cell differentiation occurs in proliferating cells in leaf primordia in Arabidopsis angustifolia3 mutant

During leaf development, the timing of transition from cell proliferation to expansion is an important factor in determining the final organ size. However, the regulatory system involved in this transition remains less understood. To get an insight into this system, we investigated the compensation phenomenon, in which the cell number decreases while the cell size increases in organs with determinate growth. Compensation is observed in several plant species suggesting coordination between cell proliferation and expansion. In this study, we examined an Arabidopsis mutant of ANGUSTIFOLIA 3 (AN3)/GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1, a positive regulator of cell proliferation, which exhibits the compensation. Though the AN3 role has been extensively investigated, the mechanism underlying excess cell expansion in the an3 mutant remains unknown. Focusing on the early stage of leaf development, we performed kinematic, cytological, biochemical, and transcriptome analyses, and found that the cell size had already increased during the proliferation phase, with active cell proliferation in the an3 mutant. Moreover, at this stage, chloroplasts, vacuoles, and xylem cells developed earlier than in the wild-type cells. Transcriptome data showed that photosynthetic activity and secondary cell wall biosynthesis were activated in an3 proliferating cells. These results indicated that precocious cell differentiation occurs in an3 cells. Therefore, we suggest a novel AN3 role in the suppression of cell expansion/differentiation during the cell proliferation phase.

A K homology (KH) domain protein identified by a forward genetic screen affects bundle sheath anatomy in Arabidopsis thaliana

Because of their photosynthetic capacity, leaves function as solar panels providing the basis for the growth of the entire plant. Although the molecular mechanisms of leaf development have been well studied in model dicot and monocot species, a lot of information is still needed about the interplay of the genes that regulate cell division and differentiation and thereby affect the photosynthetic performance of the leaf. We were specifically interested in understanding the differentiation of mesophyll and bundle sheath cells in Arabidopsis thaliana and aimed to identify genes that are involved in determining bundle sheath anatomy. To this end, we established a forward genetic screen by using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) for mutagenizing a reporter line expressing a chloroplast-targeted green fluorescent protein (sGFP) under the control of a bundle sheath-specific promoter. Based on the GFP fluorescence phenotype, numerous mutants were produced, and by pursuing a mapping-by-sequencing approach, the genomic segments containing mutated candidate genes were identified. One of the lines with an enhanced GFP fluorescence phenotype (named ELEVATED BUNDLE SHEATH CELLS SIGNAL 1 [ebss1]) was selected for further study, and the responsible gene was verified by CRISPR/Cas9-based mutagenesis of candidate genes located in the mapped genomic segment. The verified gene, At2g25970, encodes a K homology (KH) domain-containing protein.

Overexpression of SLIM1 transcription factor accelerates vegetative development in Arabidopsis thaliana

The transcription factor Sulfur Limitation 1 (SLIM1) belongs to the plant-specific Ethylene Insenstive3-Like transcription factor family and is known to coordinate gene expression in response to sulfur deficiency. However, the roles of SLIM1 in nutrient-sufficient conditions have not been characterized. Employing constitutive SLIM1 overexpression (35S::SLIM1) and CRISPR/Cas9 mutant plants (slim1-cr), we identified several distinct phenotypes in nutrient-sufficient conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana. Overexpression of SLIM1 results in plants with approximately twofold greater rosette area throughout vegetative development. 35S::SLIM1 plants also bolt earlier and exhibit earlier downregulation of photosynthesis-associated genes and earlier upregulation of senescence-associated genes than Col-0 and slim1-cr plants. This suggests that overexpression of SLIM1 accelerates development in A. thaliana. Genome-wide differential gene expression analysis relative to Col-0 at three time points with slim1-cr and two 35S::SLIM1 lines allowed us to identify 1,731 genes regulated directly or indirectly by SLIM1 in vivo.

Mechanism underlying the rapid growth of Phalaenopsis equestris induced by 60Co-γ-ray irradiation

Gamma (γ)-ray irradiation is one of the important modern breeding methods. Gamma-ray irradiation can affect the growth rate and other characteristics of plants. Plant growth rate is crucial for plants. In horticultural crops, the growth rate of plants is closely related to the growth of leaves and flowering time, both of which have important ornamental value. In this study, 60Co-γ-ray was used to treat P. equestris plants. After irradiation, the plant's leaf growth rate increased, and sugar content and antioxidant enzyme activity increased. Therefore, we used RNA-seq technology to analyze the differential gene expression and pathways of control leaves and irradiated leaves. Through transcriptome analysis, we investigated the reasons for the rapid growth of P. equestris leaves after irradiation. In the analysis, genes related to cell wall relaxation and glucose metabolism showed differential expression. In addition, the expression level of genes encoding ROS scavenging enzyme synthesis regulatory genes increased after irradiation. We identified two genes related to P. equestris leaf growth using VIGS technology: PeNGA and PeEXPA10. The expression of PeEXPA10, a gene related to cell wall expansion, was down-regulated, cell wall expansion ability decreased, cell size decreased, and leaf growth rate slowed down. The TCP-NGATHA (NGA) molecular regulatory module plays a crucial role in cell proliferation. When the expression of the PeNGA gene decreases, the leaf growth rate increases, and the number of cells increases. After irradiation, PeNGA and PeEXPA10 affect the growth of P. equestris leaves by influencing cell proliferation and cell expansion, respectively. In addition, many genes in the plant hormone signaling pathway show differential expression after irradiation, indicating the crucial role of plant hormones in plant leaf growth. This provides a theoretical basis for future research on leaf development and biological breeding.

Leaf growth - complex regulation of a seemingly simple process

Understanding the underlying mechanisms of plant development is crucial to successfully steer or manipulate plant growth in a targeted manner. Leaves, the primary sites of photosynthesis, are vital organs for many plant species, and leaf growth is controlled by a tight temporal and spatial regulatory network. In this review, we focus on the genetic networks governing leaf cell proliferation, one major contributor to final leaf size. First, we provide an overview of six regulator families of leaf growth in Arabidopsis: DA1, PEAPODs, KLU, GRFs, the SWI/SNF complexes, and DELLAs, together with their surrounding genetic networks. Next, we discuss their evolutionary conservation to highlight similarities and differences among species, because knowledge transfer between species remains a big challenge. Finally, we focus on the increase in knowledge of the interconnectedness between these genetic pathways, the function of the cell cycle machinery as their central convergence point, and other internal and environmental cues.

Genome-wide identification of GROWTH-REGULATING FACTORs in Liriodendron chinense and functional characterization of LcGRF2 in leaf size regulation

GROWTH-REGULATING FACTORs (GRFs) play a pivotal role in the regulation of leaf size in plants and have been widely reported in plants. However, their specific functions in leaf size regulation in Liriodendron chinense remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we identified GRF genes on a genome-wide scale in L. chinense to characterize the roles of LcGRFs in regulating leaf size. A total of nine LcGRF genes were identified, and these genes exhibited weak expression in mature leaves but strong expression in shoot apex. Notably, LcGRF2 exhibited the highest expression level in the shoot apex of L. chinense. Further RT-qPCR assay revealed that the expression level of LcGRF2 gradually decreased along with the leaf development process, and also displayed a gradient along the leaf proximo-distal and medio-lateral axes. Furthermore, overexpression of LcGRF2 in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in increased leaf size, and significantly up-regulated the expression of genes involved in cell division like AtCYCD3;1, AtKNOLLE, and AtCYCB1;1, indicating that LcGRF2 may influence leaf size by promoting cell proliferation. This work contributes to a better understanding of the roles and molecular mechanisms of LcGRFs in the regulation of leaf size in L. chinense.

MINI-AC: inference of plant gene regulatory networks using bulk or single-cell accessible chromatin profiles

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) represent the interactions between transcription factors (TF) and their target genes. Plant GRNs control transcriptional programs involved in growth, development, and stress responses, ultimately affecting diverse agricultural traits. While recent developments in accessible chromatin (AC) profiling technologies make it possible to identify context-specific regulatory DNA, learning the underlying GRNs remains a major challenge. We developed MINI-AC (Motif-Informed Network Inference based on Accessible Chromatin), a method that combines AC data from bulk or single-cell experiments with TF binding site (TFBS) information to learn GRNs in plants. We benchmarked MINI-AC using bulk AC datasets from different Arabidopsis thaliana tissues and showed that it outperforms other methods to identify correct TFBS. In maize, a crop with a complex genome and abundant distal AC regions, MINI-AC successfully inferred leaf GRNs with experimentally confirmed, both proximal and distal, TF-target gene interactions. Furthermore, we showed that both AC regions and footprints are valid alternatives to infer AC-based GRNs with MINI-AC. Finally, we combined MINI-AC predictions from bulk and single-cell AC datasets to identify general and cell-type specific maize leaf regulators. Focusing on C4 metabolism, we identified diverse regulatory interactions in specialized cell types for this photosynthetic pathway. MINI-AC represents a powerful tool for inferring accurate AC-derived GRNs in plants and identifying known and novel candidate regulators, improving our understanding of gene regulation in plants.

Single-cell RNA-sequencing profiles reveal the developmental landscape of the Manihot esculenta Crantz leaves

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important crop with a high photosynthetic rate and high yield. It is classified as a C3-C4 plant based on its photosynthetic and structural characteristics. To investigate the structural and photosynthetic characteristics of cassava leaves at the cellular level, we created a single-cell transcriptome atlas of cassava leaves. A total of 11,177 high-quality leaf cells were divided into 15 cell clusters. Based on leaf cell marker genes, we identified 3 major tissues of cassava leaves, which were mesophyll, epidermis, and vascular tissue, and analyzed their distinctive properties and metabolic activity. To supplement the genes for identifying the types of leaf cells, we screened 120 candidate marker genes. We constructed a leaf cell development trajectory map and discovered 6 genes related to cell differentiation fate. The structural and photosynthetic properties of cassava leaves analyzed at the single cellular level provide a theoretical foundation for further enhancing cassava yield and nutrition.

Cellular insights of beech leaf disease reveal abnormal ectopic cell division of symptomatic interveinal leaf areas

The beech leaf disease nematode, Litylenchus crenatae subsp. mccannii, is recognized as a newly emergent nematode species that causes beech leaf disease (BLD) in beech trees (Fagus spp.) in North America. Changes of leaf morphology before emergence from the bud induced by BLD can provoke dramatic effects on the leaf architecture and consequently to tree performance and development. The initial symptoms of BLD appear as dark green, interveinal banding patterns of the leaf. Despite the fast progression of this disease, the cellular mechanisms leading to the formation of such aberrant leaf phenotype remains totally unknown. To understand the cellular basis of BLD, we employed several types of microscopy to provide an exhaustive characterization of nematode-infected buds and leaves. Histological sections revealed a dramatic cell change composition of these nematode-infected tissues. Diseased bud scale cells were typically hypertrophied and showed a high variability of size. Moreover, while altered cell division had no influence on leaf organogenesis, induction of cell proliferation on young leaf primordia led to a dramatic change in cell layer architecture. Hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the different leaf cell layers, coupled with an abnormal proliferation of chloroplasts especially in the mesophyll cell layers, resulted in the typical interveinal leaf banding. These discrepancies in leaf cell structure were depicted by an abnormal rate of cellular division of the leaf interveinal areas infected by the nematode, promoting significant increase of cell size and leaf thickness. The formation of symptomatic BLD leaves is therefore orchestrated by distinct cellular processes, to enhance the value of these feeding sites and to improve their nutrition status for the nematode. Our findings thus uncover relevant cellular events and provide a structural framework to understand this important disease.

Tapping into the plasticity of plant architecture for increased stress resilience

Plant architecture develops post-embryonically and emerges from a dialogue between the developmental signals and environmental cues. Length and branching of the vegetative and reproductive tissues were the focus of improvement of plant performance from the early days of plant breeding. Current breeding priorities are changing, as we need to prioritize plant productivity under increasingly challenging environmental conditions. While it has been widely recognized that plant architecture changes in response to the environment, its contribution to plant productivity in the changing climate remains to be fully explored. This review will summarize prior discoveries of genetic control of plant architecture traits and their effect on plant performance under environmental stress. We review new tools in phenotyping that will guide future discoveries of genes contributing to plant architecture, its plasticity, and its contributions to stress resilience. Subsequently, we provide a perspective into how integrating the study of new species, modern phenotyping techniques, and modeling can lead to discovering new genetic targets underlying the plasticity of plant architecture and stress resilience. Altogether, this review provides a new perspective on the plasticity of plant architecture and how it can be harnessed for increased performance under environmental stress.

Spatiotemporal miRNA and transcriptomic network dynamically regulate the developmental and senescence processes of poplar leaves

Poplar is an important afforestation and urban greening species. Poplar leaf development occurs in stages, from young to mature and then from mature to senescent; these are accompanied by various phenotypic and physiological changes. However, the associated transcriptional regulatory network is relatively unexplored. We first used principal component analysis to classify poplar leaves at different leaf positions into two stages: developmental maturity (the stage of maximum photosynthetic capacity); and the stage when photosynthetic capacity started to decline and gradually changed to senescence. The two stages were then further subdivided into five intervals by gene expression clustering analysis: young leaves, the period of cell genesis and functional differentiation (L1); young leaves, the period of development and initial formation of photosynthetic capacity (L3-L7); the period of maximum photosynthetic capacity of functional leaves (L9-L13); the period of decreasing photosynthetic capacity of functional leaves (L15-L27); and the period of senescent leaves (L29). Using a weighted co-expression gene network analysis of regulatory genes, high-resolution spatiotemporal transcriptional regulatory networks were constructed to reveal the core regulators that regulate leaf development. Spatiotemporal transcriptome data of poplar leaves revealed dynamic changes in genes and miRNAs during leaf development and identified several core regulators of leaf development, such as GRF5 and MYB5. This in-depth analysis of transcriptional regulation during leaf development provides a theoretical basis for exploring the biological basis of the transcriptional regulation of leaf development and the molecular design of breeding for delaying leaf senescence.

Anisotropic cell growth at the leaf base promotes age-related changes in leaf shape in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants undergo extended morphogenesis. The shoot apical meristem (SAM) allows for reiterative development and the formation of new structures throughout the life of the plant. Intriguingly, the SAM produces morphologically different leaves in an age-dependent manner, a phenomenon known as heteroblasty. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the SAM produces small orbicular leaves in the juvenile phase, but gives rise to large elliptical leaves in the adult phase. Previous studies have established that a developmental decline of microRNA156 (miR156) is necessary and sufficient to trigger this leaf shape switch, although the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here we show that the gradual increase in miR156-targeted SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE transcription factors with age promotes cell growth anisotropy in the abaxial epidermis at the base of the leaf blade, evident by the formation of elongated giant cells. Time-lapse imaging and developmental genetics further revealed that the establishment of adult leaf shape is tightly associated with the longitudinal cell expansion of giant cells, accompanied by a prolonged cell proliferation phase in their vicinity. Our results thus provide a plausible cellular mechanism for heteroblasty in Arabidopsis, and contribute to our understanding of anisotropic growth in plants.

Comprehensive evolutionary analysis of growth-regulating factor gene family revealing the potential molecular basis under multiple hormonal stress in Gramineae crops

Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that contain two highly conserved QLQ and WRC domains, which control a range of biological functions, including leaf growth, floral organ development, and phytohormone signaling. However, knowledge of the evolutionary patterns and driving forces of GRFs in Gramineae crops is limited and poorly characterized. In this study, a total of 96 GRFs were identified from eight crops of Brachypodium distachyon, Hordeum vulgare, Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica, Oryza rufipogon, Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica, Setaria italic, Sorghum bicolor and Zea mays. Based on their protein sequences, the GRFs were classified into three groups. Evolutionary analysis indicated that the whole-genome or segmental duplication plays an essential role in the GRFs expansion, and the GRFs were negatively selected during the evolution of Gramineae crops. The GRFs protein function as transcriptional activators with distinctive structural motifs in different groups. In addition, the expression of GRFs was induced under multiple hormonal stress, including IAA, BR, GA3, 6BA, ABA, and MeJ treatments. Specifically, OjGRF11 was significantly induced by IAA at 6 h after phytohormone treatment. Transgenic experiments showed that roots overexpressing OjGRF11 were more sensitive to IAA and affect root elongation. This study will broaden our insights into the origin and evolution of the GRF family in Gramineae crops and will facilitate further research on GRF function.

Whole transcriptome analysis and construction of a ceRNA regulatory network related to leaf and petiole development in Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis)

BACKGROUND

The growth and development of leaves and petioles have a significant effect on photosynthesis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf and petiole development is necessary for improving photosynthetic efficiency, cultivating varieties with high photosynthetic efficiency, and improving the yield of crops of which the leaves are foodstuffs. This study aimed to identify the mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) related to leaf and petiole development in Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis). The data were used to construct a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network to obtain insights into the mechanisms underlying leaf and petiole development.

RESULTS

The leaves and petioles of the 'PHL' inbred line of Chinese cabbage were used as research materials for whole transcriptome sequencing. A total of 10,646 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, 303 DElncRNAs, 7 DEcircRNAs, and 195 DEmiRNAs were identified between leaves and petioles. Transcription factors and proteins that play important roles in leaf and petiole development were identified, including xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase, expansion proteins and their precursors, transcription factors TCP15 and bHLH, lateral organ boundary domain protein, cellulose synthase, MOR1-like protein, and proteins related to plant hormone biosynthesis. A ceRNA regulatory network related to leaf and petiole development was constructed, and 85 pairs of ceRNA relationships were identified, including 71 DEmiRNA-DEmRNA, 12 DEmiRNA-DElncRNA, and 2 DEmiRNA-DEcircRNA pairs. Three LSH genes (BrLSH1, BrLSH2 and BrLSH3) with significant differential expression between leaves and petioles were screened from transcriptome data, and their functions were explored through subcellular localization analysis and transgenic overexpression verification. BrLSH1, BrLSH2 and BrLSH3 were nuclear proteins, and BrLSH2 inhibited the growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies mRNAs and non-coding RNAs that may be involved in the development of leaves and petioles in Chinese cabbage, and establishes a ceRNA regulatory network related to development of the leaves and petioles, providing valuable genomic resources for further research on the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf and petiole development in this crop species.

Interplay among ZF-HD and GRF transcription factors during Arabidopsis leaf development

The growth-regulating factor (GRF) family of transcriptional factors are involved in the control of leaf size and senescence, inflorescence and root growth, grain size, and plant regeneration. However, there is limited information about the genes regulated by these transcriptional factors, which are in turn responsible for their functions. Using a meta-analysis approach, we identified genes encoding Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) zinc-finger homeodomain (ZF-HD) transcriptional factors, as potential targets of the GRFs. We further showed that GRF3 binds to the promoter of one of the members of the ZF-HD family, HOMEOBOX PROTEIN 33 (HB33), and activates its transcription. Increased levels of HB33 led to different modifications in leaf cell number and size that were dependent on its expression levels. Furthermore, we found that expression of HB33 for an extended period during leaf development increased leaf longevity. To cope with the functional redundancy among ZF-HD family members, we generated a dominant repressor version of HB33, HB33-SRDX. Expression of HB33-SRDX from HB33 regulatory regions was seedling-lethal, revealing the importance of the ZF-HD family in plant development. Misexpression of HB33-SRDX in early leaf development caused a reduction in both cell size and number. Interestingly, the loss-of-function of HB33 in lines carrying a GRF3 allele insensitive to miR396 reverted the delay in leaf senescence characteristic of these plants. Our results revealed functions for ZF-HDs in leaf development and linked them to the GRF pathway.

Model-based reconstruction of whole organ growth dynamics reveals invariant patterns in leaf morphogenesis

Plant organ morphogenesis spans several orders of magnitude in time and space. Because of limitations in live-imaging, analysing whole organ growth from initiation to mature stages typically rely on static data sampled from different timepoints and individuals. We introduce a new model-based strategy for dating organs and for reconstructing morphogenetic trajectories over unlimited time windows based on static data. Using this approach, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana leaves are initiated at regular 1-day intervals. Despite contrasted adult morphologies, leaves of different ranks exhibited shared growth dynamics, with linear gradations of growth parameters according to leaf rank. At the sub-organ scale, successive serrations from same or different leaves also followed shared growth dynamics, suggesting that global and local leaf growth patterns are decoupled. Analysing mutants leaves with altered morphology highlighted the decorrelation between adult shapes and morphogenetic trajectories, thus stressing the benefits of our approach in identifying determinants and critical timepoints during organ morphogenesis.

Altered expression levels of long non-coding natural antisense transcripts overlapping the UGT73C6 gene affect rosette size in Arabidopsis thaliana

Natural antisense long non-coding RNAs (lncNATs) are involved in the regulation of gene expression in plants, modulating different relevant developmental processes and responses to various stimuli. We have identified and characterized two lncNATs (NAT1_UGT73C6 and NAT2_UGT73C6 , collectively NATs_UGT73C6 ) from Arabidopsis thaliana that are transcribed from a gene fully overlapping UGT73C6, a member of the UGT73C subfamily of genes encoding UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Expression of both NATs_UGT73C6 is developmentally controlled and occurs independently of the transcription of UGT73C6 in cis. Downregulation of NATs_UGT73C6 levels through artificial microRNAs results in a reduction of the rosette area, while constitutive overexpression of NAT1_UGT73C6 or NAT2_UGT73C6 leads to the opposite phenotype, an increase in rosette size. This activity of NATs_UGT73C6 relies on its RNA sequence and, although modulation of UGT73C6 in cis cannot be excluded, the observed phenotypes are not a consequence of the regulation of UGT73C6 in trans. The NATs_UGT73C6 levels were shown to affect cell proliferation and thus individual leaf size. Consistent with this concept, our data suggest that the NATs_UGT73C6 influence the expression levels of key transcription factors involved in regulating leaf growth by modulating cell proliferation. These findings thus reveal an additional regulatory layer on the process of leaf growth. In this work, we characterized at the molecular level two long non-coding RNAs (NATs_UGT73C6 ) that are transcribed in the opposite direction to UGT73C6, a gene encoding a glucosyltransferase involved in brassinosteroid homeostasis in A. thaliana. Our results indicate that NATs_UGT73C6 expression influences leaf growth by acting in trans and by modulating the levels of transcription factors that are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation.

Leaf-size control beyond transcription factors: Compensatory mechanisms

Plant leaves display abundant morphological richness yet grow to characteristic sizes and shapes. Beginning with a small number of undifferentiated founder cells, leaves evolve via a complex interplay of regulatory factors that ultimately influence cell proliferation and subsequent post-mitotic cell enlargement. During their development, a sequence of key events that shape leaves is both robustly executed spatiotemporally following a genomic molecular network and flexibly tuned by a variety of environmental stimuli. Decades of work on Arabidopsis thaliana have revisited the compensatory phenomena that might reflect a general and primary size-regulatory mechanism in leaves. This review focuses on key molecular and cellular events behind the organ-wide scale regulation of compensatory mechanisms. Lastly, emerging novel mechanisms of metabolic and hormonal regulation are discussed, based on recent advances in the field that have provided insights into, among other phenomena, leaf-size regulation.

BREEDIT: a multiplex genome editing strategy to improve complex quantitative traits in maize

Ensuring food security for an ever-growing global population while adapting to climate change is the main challenge for agriculture in the 21st century. Although new technologies are being applied to tackle this problem, we are approaching a plateau in crop improvement using conventional breeding. Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene engineering have paved the way to accelerate plant breeding to meet this increasing demand. However, many traits are governed by multiple small-effect genes operating in complex interactive networks. Here, we present the gene discovery pipeline BREEDIT, which combines multiplex genome editing of whole gene families with crossing schemes to improve complex traits such as yield and drought tolerance. We induced gene knockouts in 48 growth-related genes into maize (Zea mays) using CRISPR/Cas9 and generated a collection of over 1,000 gene-edited plants. The edited populations displayed (on average) 5%-10% increases in leaf length and up to 20% increases in leaf width compared with the controls. For each gene family, edits in subsets of genes could be associated with enhanced traits, allowing us to reduce the gene space to be considered for trait improvement. BREEDIT could be rapidly applied to generate a diverse collection of mutants to identify promising gene modifications for later use in breeding programs.

Understanding the mode of action of AgroGain®, a biostimulant derived from the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in the stimulation of cotyledon expansion and growth of Cucumis sativa (cucumber)

Seaweed-based biostimulants are sustainable agriculture inputs that are known to have a multitude of beneficial effects on plant growth and productivity. This study demonstrates that Agrogain^® (Product code: LBS6), a Kappaphycus alvarezii-derived biostimulant induced the expansion of cucumber cotyledons. Seven days treatment of LBS6-supplementation showed a 29.2% increase in area of expanded cotyledons, as compared to the control. LBS6-treated cotyledons also showed higher amylase activity, suggesting starch to sucrose conversion was used efficiently as an energy source during expansion. To understand the mechanisms of LBS6-induced expansion, real time gene expression analysis was carried out. This revealed that LBS6-treated cotyledons differentially modulated the expression of genes involved in cell division, cell number, cell expansion and cell size. LBS6 treatment also differentially regulated the expression of those genes involved in auxin and cytokinin metabolism. Further, foliar application of LBS6 on cucumber plants being grown under hydroponic conditions showed improved plant growth as compared to the control. The total leaf area of LBS6-sprayed plants increased by 19.1%, as compared to control. LBS6-sprayed plants efficiently regulated photosynthetic quenching by reducing loss via non-photochemical and non-regulatory quenching. LBS6 applications also modulated changes in the steady-state photosynthetic parameters of the cucumber leaves. It was demonstrated that LBS6 treatment modulated the electron and proton transport related pathways which help plants to efficiently utilize the photosynthetic radiation for optimal growth. These results provide clear evidence that bioactive compounds present in LBS6 improved the growth of cucumber plants by regulating the physiological as well as developmental pathways.

Understanding the molecular mechanism of leaf morphogenesis in vegetable crops conduces to breeding process

Leaf morphology can affect the development and yield of plants by regulating plant architecture and photosynthesis. Several factors can determine the final leaf morphology, including the leaf complexity, size, shape, and margin type, which suggests that leaf morphogenesis is a complex regulation network. The formation of diverse leaf morphology is precisely controlled by gene regulation on translation and transcription levels. To further reveal this, more and more genome data has been published for different kinds of vegetable crops and advanced genotyping approaches have also been applied to identify the causal genes for the target traits. Therefore, the studies on the molecular regulation of leaf morphogenesis in vegetable crops have also been largely improved. This review will summarize the progress on identified genes or regulatory mechanisms of leaf morphogenesis and development in vegetable crops. These identified markers can be applied for further molecular-assisted selection (MAS) in vegetable crops. Overall, the review will contribute to understanding the leaf morphology of different crops from the perspective of molecular regulation and shortening the breeding cycle for vegetable crops.

Improving crop yield potential: Underlying biological processes and future prospects

The growing world population and global increases in the standard of living both result in an increasing demand for food, feed and other plant-derived products. In the coming years, plant-based research will be among the major drivers ensuring food security and the expansion of the bio-based economy. Crop productivity is determined by several factors, including the available physical and agricultural resources, crop management, and the resource use efficiency, quality and intrinsic yield potential of the chosen crop. This review focuses on intrinsic yield potential, since understanding its determinants and their biological basis will allow to maximize the plant's potential in food and energy production. Yield potential is determined by a variety of complex traits that integrate strictly regulated processes and their underlying gene regulatory networks. Due to this inherent complexity, numerous potential targets have been identified that could be exploited to increase crop yield. These encompass diverse metabolic and physical processes at the cellular, organ and canopy level. We present an overview of some of the distinct biological processes considered to be crucial for yield determination that could further be exploited to improve future crop productivity.

Identification of growth regulators using cross-species network analysis in plants

With the need to increase plant productivity, one of the challenges plant scientists are facing is to identify genes that play a role in beneficial plant traits. Moreover, even when such genes are found, it is generally not trivial to transfer this knowledge about gene function across species to identify functional orthologs. Here, we focused on the leaf to study plant growth. First, we built leaf growth transcriptional networks in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), maize (Zea mays), and aspen (Populus tremula). Next, known growth regulators, here defined as genes that when mutated or ectopically expressed alter plant growth, together with cross-species conserved networks, were used as guides to predict novel Arabidopsis growth regulators. Using an in-depth literature screening, 34 out of 100 top predicted growth regulators were confirmed to affect leaf phenotype when mutated or overexpressed and thus represent novel potential growth regulators. Globally, these growth regulators were involved in cell cycle, plant defense responses, gibberellin, auxin, and brassinosteroid signaling. Phenotypic characterization of loss-of-function lines confirmed two predicted growth regulators to be involved in leaf growth (NPF6.4 and LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY2). In conclusion, the presented network approach offers an integrative cross-species strategy to identify genes involved in plant growth and development.

Genetic Determinants of Fiber-Associated Traits in Flax Identified by Omics Data Integration

In this paper, we explore potential genetic factors in control of flax phenotypes associated with fiber by mining a collection of 306 flax accessions from the Federal Research Centre of the Bast Fiber Crops, Torzhok, Russia. In total, 11 traits were assessed in the course of 3 successive years. A genome-wide association study was performed for each phenotype independently using six different single-locus models implemented in the GAPIT3 R package. Moreover, we applied a multivariate linear mixed model implemented in the GEMMA package to account for trait correlations and potential pleiotropic effects of polymorphisms. The analyses revealed a number of genomic variants associated with different fiber traits, implying the complex and polygenic control. All stable variants demonstrate a statistically significant allelic effect across all 3 years of the experiment. We tested the validity of the predicted variants using gene expression data available for the flax fiber studies. The results shed new light on the processes and pathways associated with the complex fiber traits, while the pinpointed candidate genes may be further used for marker-assisted selection.

Arabidopsis thaliana Accessions from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Show Decreased Sensitivity to Additional Acute Irradiation

Chronic ionising radiation exposure is a main consequence of radioactive pollution of the environment. The development of functional genomics approaches coupled with morphological and physiological studies allows new insights into plant adaptation to life under chronic irradiation. Using morphological, reproductive, physiological, and transcriptomic experiments, we evaluated the way in which Arabidopsis thaliana natural accessions from the Chernobyl exclusion zone recover from chronic low-dose and acute high-dose γ-irradiation of seeds. Plants from radioactively contaminated areas were characterized by lower germination efficiency, suppressed growth, decreased chlorophyll fluorescence, and phytohormonal changes. The transcriptomes of plants chronically exposed to low-dose radiation indicated the repression of mobile genetic elements and deregulation of genes related to abiotic stress tolerance. Furthermore, these chronically irradiated natural accessions showed higher tolerance to acute 150 Gy γ-irradiation of seeds, according to transcriptome and phytohormonal profiles. Overall, the lower sensitivity of the accessions from radioactively contaminated areas to acute high-dose irradiation may come at the cost of their growth performance under normal conditions.

Combining QTL mapping and RNA-Seq Unravels candidate genes for Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) leaf development

BACKGROUND

Leaf size affects crop canopy morphology and photosynthetic efficiency, which can influence forage yield and quality. It is of great significance to mine the key genes controlling leaf development for breeding new alfalfa varieties. In this study, we mapped leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), and leaf area (LA) in an F1 mapping population derived from a cultivar named ZhongmuNo.1 with larger leaf area and a landrace named Cangzhou with smaller leaf area.

RESULTS

This study showed that the larger LW was more conducive to increasing LA. A total of 24 significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with leaf size were identified on both the paternal and maternal linkage maps. Among them, nine QTL explained about 11.50-22.45% phenotypic variation. RNA-seq analysis identified 2,443 leaf-specific genes and 3,770 differentially expressed genes. Combining QTL mapping, RNA-seq alalysis, and qRT-PCR, we identified seven candidate genes associated with leaf development in five major QTL regions.

CONCLUSION

Our study will provide a theoretical basis for marker-assisted breeding and lay a foundation for further revealing molecular mechanism of leaf development in alfalfa.

The translatability of genetic networks from model to crop species: lessons from the past and perspectives for the future

Comparative analyses of growth-regulatory mechanisms between Arabidopsis and maize revealed that even when the gene space is conserved, the translation of knowledge from model species to crops is not trivial. Based on these insights, we formulate future opportunities to improve the interpretation of curiosity-driven research towards crop improvement.

Constitutive expression of JASMONATE RESISTANT 1 induces molecular changes that prime the plants to better withstand drought

In this study, we investigated Arabidopsis thaliana plants with altered levels of the enzyme JASMONATE RESISTANT 1 (JAR1), which converts jasmonic acid (JA) to jasmonoyl-l-isoleucine (JA-Ile). Analysis of a newly generated overexpression line (35S::JAR1) revealed that constitutively increased JA-Ile production in 35S::JAR1 alters plant development, resulting in stunted growth and delayed flowering. Under drought-stress conditions, 35S::JAR1 plants showed reduced wilting and recovered better from desiccation than the wild type. By contrast, jar1-11 plants with a strong reduction in JA-Ile content were hypersensitive to drought. RNA-sequencing analysis and hormonal profiling of plants under normal and drought conditions provided insights into the molecular reprogramming caused by the alteration in JA-Ile content. Especially 35S::JAR1 plants displayed changes in expression of developmental genes related to growth and flowering. Further transcriptional differences pertained to drought-related adaptive systems, including stomatal density and aperture, but also reactive oxygen species production and detoxification. Analysis of wild type and jar1-11 plants carrying the roGFP-Orp1 sensor support a role of JA-Ile in the alleviation of methyl viologen-induced H₂ O₂ production. Our data substantiate a role of JA-Ile in abiotic stress response and suggest that JAR1-mediated increase in JA-Ile content primes Arabidopsis towards improved drought stress tolerance.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Growth-Regulating Factor (GRF) Family in Aquatic Plants and Their Roles in the ABA-Induced Turion Formation of Spirodela polyrhiza

Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that play essential roles in regulating plant growth and stress response. The GRF gene families have been described in several terrestrial plants, but a comprehensive analysis of these genes in diverse aquatic species has not been reported yet. In this study, we identified 130 GRF genes in 13 aquatic plants, including floating plants (Azolla filiculoides, Wolffia australiana, Lemna minuta, Spirodela intermedia, and Spirodela polyrhiza), floating-leaved plants (Nymphaea colorata and Euryale ferox), submersed plants (Zostera marina, Ceratophyllum demersum, Aldrovanda vesiculosa, and Utricularia gibba), an emergent plant (Nelumbo nucifera), and an amphibious plant (Cladopus chinensis). The gene structures, motifs, and cis-acting regulatory elements of these genes were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis divided these GRFs into five clusters, and ABRE cis-elements were highly enriched in the promoter region of the GRFs in floating plants. We found that abscisic acid (ABA) is efficient at inducing the turion of Spirodela polyrhiza (giant duckweed), accompanied by the fluctuated expression of SpGRF genes in their fronds. Our results provide information about the GRF gene family in aquatic species and lay the foundation for future studies on the functions of these genes.

Research Progress on the Leaf Morphology, Fruit Development and Plant Architecture of the Cucumber

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an annual climbing herb that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is one of the most important economic crops in the world. The breeding of cucumber varieties with excellent agronomic characteristics has gained more attention in recent years. The size and shape of the leaves or fruit and the plant architecture are important agronomic traits that influence crop management and productivity, thus determining the crop yields and consumer preferences. The growth of the plant is precisely regulated by both environmental stimuli and internal signals. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the plant morphological regulation of Arabidopsis, rice, and maize, our understanding of the control mechanisms of the growth and development of cucumber is still limited. This paper reviews the regulation of phytohormones in plant growth and expounds the latest progress in research regarding the genetic regulation pathways in leaf development, fruit size and shape, branching, and plant type in cucumber, so as to provide a theoretical basis for improving cucumber productivity and cultivation efficiency.

Comparative transcriptomics of tropical woody plants supports fast and furious strategy along the leaf economics spectrum in lianas

Lianas, climbing woody plants, influence the structure and function of tropical forests. Climbing traits have evolved multiple times, including ancestral groups such as gymnosperms and pteridophytes, but the genetic basis of the liana strategy is largely unknown. Here, we use a comparative transcriptomic approach for 47 tropical plant species, including ten lianas of diverse taxonomic origins, to identify genes that are consistently expressed or downregulated only in lianas. Our comparative analysis of full-length transcripts enabled the identification of a core interactomic network common to lianas. Sets of transcripts identified from our analysis reveal features related to functional traits pertinent to leaf economics spectrum in lianas, include upregulation of genes controlling epidermal cuticular properties, cell wall remodeling, carbon concentrating mechanism, cell cycle progression, DNA repair and a large suit of downregulated transcription factors and enzymes involved in ABA-mediated stress response as well as lignin and suberin synthesis. All together, these genes are known to be significant in shaping plant morphologies through responses such as gravitropism, phyllotaxy and shade avoidance.

Summary: The full-length fraction of liana transcriptomes mapped on a protein–protein interactome revealed the nature of their convergence through distinct sets of expressed and downregulated genes not observed in free-standing plants.

My favorite flowering image: 'giant' Arabidopsis flowers

A fascinating aspect of floral diversity is the dramatic difference in flower size observed in nature. The largest flowers in the world, Rafflesia arnoldii, span several feet while flowers of the genus Wolffia are microscopic. My own particular interest in flower size started when I overexpressed the Arabidopsis gene AINTEGUMENTA (ANT) and observed a larger flower phenotype.

Potassium deficiency inhibits leaf growth and promotes leaf necrotic spots in Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser

Leaves, being a key plant organ involved in photosynthesis, play an important role in plant growth and development. Although there have been a few studies on the effects of potassium (K+) deficiency on the leaves of woody plants, knowledge about mechanism of necrotic spot formation on leaves during K+ deficiency is scarce. We used a hydroponics setup to understand the effects of K+ deficiency on Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser. K+ deficiency resulted in smaller leaves and necrotic spots on the older leaves, whereas regulatory modules of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell expansion were downregulated. K+ deficiency increased the activity of reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidases and malondialdehyde, and expression of DEGs related to these was also upregulated. Strong diaminobenzidine staining was observed on the older leaves showing accumulation of H2O2 during K+ deficiency treatment. In addition, putrescine and ethylene synthesis genes were upregulated. Fifteen DEGs in response to ethylene signaling, including ETR1, ETR2, EBF1, ERF1 and ERF2, were upregulated in the third week. The leaf growth changes caused by K+ deficiency in N. cadamba were well demonstrated by our findings.

Conserved and distinct roles of H3K27me3 demethylases regulating flowering time in Brassica rapa

Epigenetic regulation is necessary for optimal organism development and preservation of gene expression profiles in the cell. In plants, the trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) is a silencing epigenetic mark relevant for developmental transitions like flowering. The floral transition is a key agronomic trait; however, the epigenetic mechanisms of flowering time regulation in crops remain poorly understood. Here we study the Jumonji H3K27me3 demethylases BraA.REF6 and BraA.ELF6 in Brassica rapa. Phenotypic characterization of novel mutant lines and genome-wide H3K27me3 chromatin immunoprecipitation and transcriptomic analyses indicated that BraA.REF6 plays a greater role than BraA.ELF6 in fine-tuning H3K27me3 levels. In addition, we found that braA.elf6 mutants were early flowering due to high H3K27me3 levels at B. rapa homologs of the floral repressor FLC. Unlike mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana, braA.ref6 mutants were late flowering without altering the expression of B. rapa FLC genes. Remarkably, we found that BraA.REF6 regulated a number of gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthetic genes, including a homolog of GA1, and that GA-treatment complemented the late flowering mutant phenotype. This study increases our understanding of the epigenetic regulation of flowering time in B. rapa, highlighting conserved and distinct regulatory mechanisms between model and crop species.

Spatial control of cell division by GA-OsGRF7/8 module in a leaf explaining the leaf length variation between cultivated and wild rice

Cellular and genetic understanding of the rice leaf size regulation is limited, despite rice being the staple food of more than half of the global population. We investigated the mechanism controlling the rice leaf length using cultivated and wild rice accessions that remarkably differed for leaf size. Comparative transcriptomics, gibberellic acid (GA) quantification and leaf kinematics of the contrasting accessions suggested the involvement of GA, cell cycle and growth-regulating factors (GRFs) in the rice leaf size regulation. Zone-specific expression analysis and VIGS established the functions of specific GRFs in the process. The leaf length of the selected accessions was strongly correlated with GA levels. Higher GA content in wild rice accessions with longer leaves and GA-induced increase in the leaf length via an increase in cell division confirmed a GA-mediated regulation of division zone in rice. Downstream to GA, OsGRF7 and OsGRF8 function for controlling cell division to determine the rice leaf length. Spatial control of cell division to determine the division zone size mediated by GA and downstream OsGRF7 and OsGRF8 explains the leaf length differences between the cultivated and wild rice. This mechanism to control the rice leaf length might have contributed to optimizing leaf size during domestication.

Action of Salicylic Acid on Plant Growth

The phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) not only is a well-known signal molecule mediating plant immunity, but also is involved in plant growth regulation. However, while its role in plant immunity has been well elucidated, its action on plant growth has not been clearly described to date. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that SA plays crucial roles in regulating cell division and cell expansion, the key processes that determines the final stature of plant. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the action and molecular mechanisms through which SA regulates plant growth via multiple pathways. It is here highlighted that SA mediates growth regulation by affecting cell division and expansion. In addition, the interactions of SA with other hormones and their role in plant growth determination were also discussed. Further understanding of the mechanism underlying SA-mediated growth will be instrumental for future crop improvement.

PIF7 controls leaf cell proliferation through an AN3 substitution repression mechanism

Phytochrome photoreceptors can markedly alter leaf blade growth in response to far-red (FR) rich neighbor shade, yet we have a limited understanding of how this is accomplished. This study identifies ANGUSTIFOLIA3 (AN3) as a central component in phytochrome promotion of leaf cell proliferation and PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 7 (PIF7) as a potent repressor. AN3 and PIF7 impose opposing regulation on a shared suite of genes through common cis-acting promoter elements. In response to FR light, activated PIF7 blocks AN3 action by evicting and substituting for AN3 at target promoters. This molecular switch module provides a mechanism through which changes in external light quality can dynamically manipulate gene expression, cell division, and leaf size.

Plants are agile, plastic organisms able to adapt to everchanging circumstances. Responding to far-red (FR) wavelengths from nearby vegetation, shade-intolerant species elicit the adaptive shade-avoidance syndrome (SAS), characterized by elongated petioles, leaf hyponasty, and smaller leaves. We utilized end-of-day FR (EODFR) treatments to interrogate molecular processes that underlie the SAS leaf response. Genetic analysis established that PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 7 (PIF7) is required for EODFR-mediated constraint of leaf blade cell division, while EODFR messenger RNA sequencing data identified ANGUSTIFOLIA3 (AN3) as a potential PIF7 target. We show that PIF7 can suppress AN3 transcription by directly interacting with and sequestering AN3. We also establish that PIF7 and AN3 impose antagonistic control of gene expression via common cis-acting promoter motifs in several cell-cycle regulator genes. EODFR triggers the molecular substitution of AN3 to PIF7 at G-box/PBE-box promoter regions and a switch from promotion to repression of gene expression.

SlKIX8 and SlKIX9 are negative regulators of leaf and fruit growth in tomato

Plant organ size and shape are major agronomic traits that depend on cell division and expansion, which are both regulated by complex gene networks. In several eudicot species belonging to the rosid clade, organ growth is controlled by a repressor complex consisting of PEAPOD (PPD) and KINASE-INDUCIBLE DOMAIN INTERACTING (KIX) proteins. The role of these proteins in asterids, which together with the rosids constitute most of the core eudicot species, is unknown. We used Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR-associated protein 9 genome editing to target SlKIX8 and SlKIX9 in the asterid model species tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and analyzed loss-of-function phenotypes. Loss-of-function of SlKIX8 and SlKIX9 led to the production of enlarged, dome-shaped leaves and these leaves exhibited increased expression of putative Solanum lycopersicum PPD (SlPPD target genes. Unexpectedly, kix8 kix9 mutants carried enlarged fruits with increased pericarp thickness due to cell expansion. At the molecular level, protein interaction assays indicated that SlKIX8 and SlKIX9 act as adaptors between the SlPPD and SlTOPLESS co-repressor proteins. Our results show that KIX8 and KIX9 are regulators of organ growth in asterids and can be used in strategies to improve important traits in produce such as thickness of the fruit flesh.