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Protto V, Bauget F, Rishmawi L, Nacry P, Maurel C. Primary, seminal and lateral roots of maize show type-specific growth and hydraulic responses to water deficit. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 194:2564-2579. [PMID: 38217868 PMCID: PMC10980523 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
The water uptake capacity of a root system is determined by its architecture and hydraulic properties, which together shape the root hydraulic architecture. Here, we investigated root responses to water deficit (WD) in seedlings of a maize (Zea mays) hybrid line (B73H) grown in hydroponic conditions, taking into account the primary root (PR), the seminal roots (SR), and their respective lateral roots. WD was induced by various polyethylene glycol concentrations and resulted in dose-dependent inhibitions of axial and lateral root growth, lateral root formation, and hydraulic conductivity (Lpr), with slightly distinct sensitivities to WD between PR and SR. Inhibition of Lpr by WD showed a half-time of 5 to 6 min and was fully (SR) or partially (PR) reversible within 40 min. In the two root types, WD resulted in reduced aquaporin expression and activity, as monitored by mRNA abundance of 13 plasma membrane intrinsic protein (ZmPIP) isoforms and inhibition of Lpr by sodium azide, respectively. An enhanced suberization/lignification of the epi- and exodermis was observed under WD in axial roots and in lateral roots of the PR but not in those of SR. Inverse modeling revealed a steep increase in axial conductance in root tips of PR and SR grown under WD that may be due to the decreased growth rate of axial roots in these conditions. Overall, our work reveals that these root types show quantitative differences in their anatomical, architectural, and hydraulic responses to WD, in terms of sensitivity, amplitude and reversibility. This distinct functionalization may contribute to integrative acclimation responses of whole root systems to soil WD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Protto
- Institute for Plant Sciences of Montpellier (IPSiM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Fabrice Bauget
- Institute for Plant Sciences of Montpellier (IPSiM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Louai Rishmawi
- Institute for Plant Sciences of Montpellier (IPSiM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Nacry
- Institute for Plant Sciences of Montpellier (IPSiM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe Maurel
- Institute for Plant Sciences of Montpellier (IPSiM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 2 place Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France
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2
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Blois L, de Miguel M, Bert PF, Ollat N, Rubio B, Voss-Fels KP, Schmid J, Marguerit E. Dissecting the genetic architecture of root-related traits in a grafted wild Vitis berlandieri population for grapevine rootstock breeding. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2023; 136:223. [PMID: 37838631 PMCID: PMC10576685 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04472-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
In woody perennial plants, quantitative genetics and association studies remain scarce for root-related traits, due to the time required to obtain mature plants and the complexity of phenotyping. In grapevine, a grafted cultivated plant, most of the rootstocks used are hybrids between American Vitis species (V. rupestris, V. riparia, and V. berlandieri). In this study, we used a wild population of an American Vitis species (V. berlandieri) to analyze the genetic architecture of the root-related traits of rootstocks in a grafted context. We studied a population consisting of 211 genotypes, with one to five replicates each (n = 846 individuals), plus four commercial rootstocks as control genotypes (110R, 5BB, Börner, and SO4). After two independent years of experimentation, the best linear unbiased estimates method revealed root-related traits with a moderate-to-high heritability (0.36-0.82) and coefficient of genetic variation (0.15-0.45). A genome-wide association study was performed with the BLINK model, leading to the detection of 11 QTL associated with four root-related traits (one QTL was associated with the total number of roots, four were associated with the number of small roots (< 1 mm in diameter), two were associated with the number of medium-sized roots (1 mm < diameter < 2 mm), and four were associated with mean diameter) accounting for up to 25.1% of the variance. Three genotypes were found to have better root-related trait performances than the commercial rootstocks and therefore constitute possible new candidates for use in grapevine rootstock breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Blois
- EGFV, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, Univ. Bordeaux, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
- Department of Grapevine Breeding, Geisenheim University, Von Lade Str. 1, 65366, Geisenheim, Germany.
| | - Marina de Miguel
- EGFV, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, Univ. Bordeaux, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Pierre-François Bert
- EGFV, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, Univ. Bordeaux, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Nathalie Ollat
- EGFV, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, Univ. Bordeaux, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Bernadette Rubio
- EGFV, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, Univ. Bordeaux, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Kai P Voss-Fels
- Department of Grapevine Breeding, Geisenheim University, Von Lade Str. 1, 65366, Geisenheim, Germany
| | - Joachim Schmid
- Department of Grapevine Breeding, Geisenheim University, Von Lade Str. 1, 65366, Geisenheim, Germany
| | - Elisa Marguerit
- EGFV, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, Univ. Bordeaux, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, France
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3
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Murphy KM, Dowd T, Khalil A, Char SN, Yang B, Endelman BJ, Shih PM, Topp C, Schmelz EA, Zerbe P. A dolabralexin-deficient mutant provides insight into specialized diterpenoid metabolism in maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 192:1338-1358. [PMID: 36896653 PMCID: PMC10231366 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Two major groups of specialized metabolites in maize (Zea mays), termed kauralexins and dolabralexins, serve as known or predicted diterpenoid defenses against pathogens, herbivores, and other environmental stressors. To consider the physiological roles of the recently discovered dolabralexin pathway, we examined dolabralexin structural diversity, tissue-specificity, and stress-elicited production in a defined biosynthetic pathway mutant. Metabolomics analyses support a larger number of dolabralexin pathway products than previously known. We identified dolabradienol as a previously undetected pathway metabolite and characterized its enzymatic production. Transcript and metabolite profiling showed that dolabralexin biosynthesis and accumulation predominantly occur in primary roots and show quantitative variation across genetically diverse inbred lines. Generation and analysis of CRISPR-Cas9-derived loss-of-function Kaurene Synthase-Like 4 (Zmksl4) mutants demonstrated dolabralexin production deficiency, thus supporting ZmKSL4 as the diterpene synthase responsible for the conversion of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate precursors into dolabradiene and downstream pathway products. Zmksl4 mutants further display altered root-to-shoot ratios and root architecture in response to water deficit. Collectively, these results demonstrate dolabralexin biosynthesis via ZmKSL4 as a committed pathway node biochemically separating kauralexin and dolabralexin metabolism, and suggest an interactive role of maize dolabralexins in plant vigor during abiotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Murphy
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Tyler Dowd
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Ahmed Khalil
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Si Nian Char
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Bing Yang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Benjamin J Endelman
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | - Eric A Schmelz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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4
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He K, Zhao Z, Ren W, Chen Z, Chen L, Chen F, Mi G, Pan Q, Yuan L. Mining genes regulating root system architecture in maize based on data integration analysis. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2023; 136:127. [PMID: 37188973 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04376-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE A new strategy that integrated multiple public data resources was established to construct root gene co-expression network and mine genes regulating root system architecture in maize. A root gene co-expression network, containing 13,874 genes, was constructed. A total of 53 root hub genes and 16 priority root candidate genes were identified. One priority root candidate was further functionally verified using overexpression transgenic maize lines. Root system architecture (RSA) is crucial for crops productivity and stress tolerance. In maize, few RSA genes are functionally cloned, and effective discovery of RSA genes remains a great of challenge. In this work, we established a strategy to mine maize RSA genes by integrating functionally characterized root genes, root transcriptome, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of RSA traits based on public data resources. A total of 589 maize root genes were collected by searching well-characterized root genes in maize or homologous genes of other species. We performed WGCNA to construct a maize root gene co-expression network containing 13874 genes based on public available root transcriptome data, and further discovered the 53 hub genes related to root traits. In addition, by the prediction function of obtained root gene co-expression network, a total of 1082 new root candidate genes were explored. By further overlapping the obtained new root candidate gene with the root-related GWAS of RSA candidate genes, 16 priority root candidate genes were identified. Finally, a priority root candidate gene, Zm00001d023379 (encodes pyruvate kinase 2), was validated to modulate root open angle and shoot-borne roots number using its overexpression transgenic lines. Our results develop an integration analysis method for effectively exploring regulatory genes of RSA in maize and open a new avenue to mine the candidate genes underlying complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunhui He
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zheng Zhao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Wei Ren
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Limei Chen
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Fanjun Chen
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Guohua Mi
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qingchun Pan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lixing Yuan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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5
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Boter M, Pozas J, Jarillo JA, Piñeiro M, Pernas M. Brassica napus Roots Use Different Strategies to Respond to Warm Temperatures. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021143. [PMID: 36674684 PMCID: PMC9863162 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevated growth temperatures are negatively affecting crop productivity by increasing yield losses. The modulation of root traits associated with improved response to rising temperatures is a promising approach to generate new varieties better suited to face the environmental constraints caused by climate change. In this study, we identified several Brassica napus root traits altered in response to warm ambient temperatures. Different combinations of changes in specific root traits result in an extended and deeper root system. This overall root growth expansion facilitates root response by maximizing root-soil surface interaction and increasing roots' ability to explore extended soil areas. We associated these traits with coordinated cellular events, including changes in cell division and elongation rates that drive root growth increases triggered by warm temperatures. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed the main genetic determinants of these root system architecture (RSA) changes and uncovered the necessity of a tight regulation of the heat-shock stress response to adjusting root growth to warm temperatures. Our work provides a phenotypic, cellular, and genetic framework of root response to warming temperatures that will help to harness root response mechanisms for crop yield improvement under the future climatic scenario.
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6
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Maize root system architecture improvement for high-density planting. NATURE PLANTS 2022; 8:1337-1338. [PMID: 36401001 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-022-01277-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
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7
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Ren W, Zhao L, Liang J, Wang L, Chen L, Li P, Liu Z, Li X, Zhang Z, Li J, He K, Zhao Z, Ali F, Mi G, Yan J, Zhang F, Chen F, Yuan L, Pan Q. Genome-wide dissection of changes in maize root system architecture during modern breeding. NATURE PLANTS 2022; 8:1408-1422. [PMID: 36396706 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-022-01274-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Appropriate root system architecture (RSA) can improve maize yields in densely planted fields, but little is known about its genetic basis in maize. Here we performed root phenotyping of 14,301 field-grown plants from an association mapping panel to study the genetic architecture of maize RSA. A genome-wide association study identified 81 high-confidence RSA-associated candidate genes and revealed that 28 (24.3%) of known root-related genes were selected during maize domestication and improvement. We found that modern maize breeding has selected for a steeply angled root system. Favourable alleles related to steep root system angle have continuously accumulated over the course of modern breeding, and our data pinpoint the root-related genes that have been selected in different breeding eras. We confirm that two auxin-related genes, ZmRSA3.1 and ZmRSA3.2, contribute to the regulation of root angle and depth in maize. Our genome-wide identification of RSA-associated genes provides new strategies and genetic resources for breeding maize suitable for high-density planting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ren
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Longfei Zhao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxing Liang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lifeng Wang
- Cereal Crops Research Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Limei Chen
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhigang Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojie Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihai Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jieping Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Kunhui He
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Zhao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Farhan Ali
- Cereal Crops Research Institute, Pirsabak, Nowshera, Pakistan
| | - Guohua Mi
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fusuo Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Fanjun Chen
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China.
| | - Lixing Yuan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
| | - Qingchun Pan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China.
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8
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Meier MA, Xu G, Lopez-Guerrero MG, Li G, Smith C, Sigmon B, Herr JR, Alfano JR, Ge Y, Schnable JC, Yang J. Association analyses of host genetics, root-colonizing microbes, and plant phenotypes under different nitrogen conditions in maize. eLife 2022; 11:75790. [PMID: 35894213 PMCID: PMC9470161 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The root-associated microbiome (rhizobiome) affects plant health, stress tolerance, and nutrient use efficiency. However, it remains unclear to what extent the composition of the rhizobiome is governed by intraspecific variation in host plant genetics in the field and the degree to which host plant selection can reshape the composition of the rhizobiome. Here we quantify the rhizosphere microbial communities associated with a replicated diversity panel of 230 maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes grown in agronomically relevant conditions under high N (+N) and low N (-N) treatments. We analyze the maize rhizobiome in terms of 150 abundant and consistently reproducible microbial groups and we show that the abundance of many root-associated microbes is explainable by natural genetic variation in the host plant, with a greater proportion of microbial variance attributable to plant genetic variation in -N conditions. Population genetic approaches identify signatures of purifying selection in the maize genome associated with the abundance of several groups of microbes in the maize rhizobiome. Genome-wide association study was conducted using the abundance of microbial groups as rhizobiome traits, and identified n = 622 plant loci that are linked to the abundance of n = 104 microbial groups in the maize rhizosphere. In 62/104 cases, which is more than expected by chance, the abundance of these same microbial groups was correlated with variation in plant vigor indicators derived from high throughput phenotyping of the same field experiment. We provide comprehensive datasets about the three-way interaction of host genetics, microbe abundance, and plant performance under two N treatments to facilitate targeted experiments towards harnessing the full potential of root-associated microbial symbionts in maize production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Meier
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | - Gen Xu
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | | | - Guangyong Li
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | - Christine Smith
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | - Brandi Sigmon
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | - Joshua R Herr
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | - James R Alfano
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | - Yufeng Ge
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | - James C Schnable
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
| | - Jinliang Yang
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
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9
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Genome-Wide Association Study of Root System Architecture in Maize. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020181. [PMID: 35205226 PMCID: PMC8872597 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Roots are important plant organs for the absorption of water and nutrients. To date, there have been few genome-wide association studies of maize root system architecture (RSA) in the field. The genetic basis of maize RSA is poorly understood, and the maize RSA-related genes that have been cloned are very limited. Here, 421 maize inbred lines of an association panel were planted to measure the root systems at the maturity stage, and a genome-wide association study was performed. There was a strong correlation among eight RSA traits, and the RSA traits were highly correlated with the aboveground plant architecture traits (e.g., plant height and ear leaf length, r = 0.13–0.25, p < 0.05). The RSA traits of the stiff stalk subgroup (SS) showed lower values than those of the non-stiff stalk subgroup (NSS) and tropical/subtropical subgroup (TST). Using the RSA traits, the genome-wide association study identified 63 SNPs and 189 candidate genes. Among them, nine candidate genes co-localized between RSA and aboveground architecture traits. A further co-expression analysis identified 88 candidate genes having high confidence levels. Furthermore, we identified four highly reliable RSA candidate genes, GRMZM2G099797, GRMZM2G354338, GRMZM2G085042, and GRMZM5G812926. This research provides theoretical support for the genetic improvement of maize root systems, and it identified candidate genes that may act as genetic resources for breeding.
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10
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Duncan KE, Topp CN. Phenotyping Complex Plant Structures with a Large Format Industrial Scale High-Resolution X-Ray Tomography Instrument. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2539:119-132. [PMID: 35895201 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2537-8_12] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Phenotyping specific plant traits is difficult when the samples to be measured are architecturally complex. Inflorescence and root system traits are of great biological interest, but these structures present unique phenotyping challenges due to their often complicated and three-dimensional (3D) forms. We describe how a large industrial scale X-ray tomography (XRT) instrument can be used to scan architecturally complex plant structures for the goal of rapid and accurate measurement of traits that are otherwise cumbersome or not possible to capture by other means. The combination of a large imaging cabinet that can accommodate a wide range of sample size geometries and a variable microfocus reflection X-ray source allows noninvasive X-ray imaging and 3D volume generation of diverse sample types. Specific sample fixturing (mounting) and scanning conditions are presented. These techniques can be moderate to high throughput and still provide unprecedented levels of accuracy and information content in the 3D volume data they generate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith E Duncan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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11
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Liu S, Barrow CS, Hanlon M, Lynch JP, Bucksch A. DIRT/3D: 3D root phenotyping for field-grown maize (Zea mays). PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:739-757. [PMID: 34608967 PMCID: PMC8491025 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The development of crops with deeper roots holds substantial promise to mitigate the consequences of climate change. Deeper roots are an essential factor to improve water uptake as a way to enhance crop resilience to drought, to increase nitrogen capture, to reduce fertilizer inputs, and to increase carbon sequestration from the atmosphere to improve soil organic fertility. A major bottleneck to achieving these improvements is high-throughput phenotyping to quantify root phenotypes of field-grown roots. We address this bottleneck with Digital Imaging of Root Traits (DIRT)/3D, an image-based 3D root phenotyping platform, which measures 18 architecture traits from mature field-grown maize (Zea mays) root crowns (RCs) excavated with the Shovelomics technique. DIRT/3D reliably computed all 18 traits, including distance between whorls and the number, angles, and diameters of nodal roots, on a test panel of 12 contrasting maize genotypes. The computed results were validated through comparison with manual measurements. Overall, we observed a coefficient of determination of r2>0.84 and a high broad-sense heritability of Hmean2> 0.6 for all but one trait. The average values of the 18 traits and a developed descriptor to characterize complete root architecture distinguished all genotypes. DIRT/3D is a step toward automated quantification of highly occluded maize RCs. Therefore, DIRT/3D supports breeders and root biologists in improving carbon sequestration and food security in the face of the adverse effects of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suxing Liu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | | | - Meredith Hanlon
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Alexander Bucksch
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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12
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Dafna A, Halperin I, Oren E, Isaacson T, Tzuri G, Meir A, Schaffer AA, Burger J, Tadmor Y, Buckler ES, Gur A. Underground heterosis for yield improvement in melon. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:6205-6218. [PMID: 0 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Heterosis, the superiority of hybrids over their parents, is a major genetic force associated with plant fitness and crop yield enhancement. We investigated root-mediated yield heterosis in melons (Cucumis melo) by characterizing a common variety grafted onto 190 hybrid rootstocks, resulting from crossing 20 diverse inbreds in a diallel-mating scheme. Hybrid rootstocks improved yield by more than 40% compared with their parents, and the best hybrid yield outperformed the reference commercial variety by 65% under both optimal and minimal irrigation treatments. To characterize the genetics of underground heterosis we conducted whole genome re-sequencing of the 20 founder lines, and showed that parental genetic distance was no predictor for the level of heterosis. Through inference of the 190 hybrid genotypes from their parental genomes, followed by genome-wide association analysis, we mapped multiple quantitative trait loci for root-mediated yield. Yield enhancement of the four best-performing hybrid rootstocks was validated in multiple experiments with four different scion varieties. Our grafting approach is complementary to the common roots genetic approach that focuses mainly on variation in root system architecture, and is a step towards discovery of candidate genes involved in root function and yield enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asaf Dafna
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ilan Halperin
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elad Oren
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tal Isaacson
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
| | - Galil Tzuri
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
| | - Ayala Meir
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
| | - Arthur A Schaffer
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 15159, Rishon LeZiyyon 7507101, Israel
| | - Joseph Burger
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
| | - Yaakov Tadmor
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
| | - Edward S Buckler
- Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Amit Gur
- Plant Science Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 3009500, Israel
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Ramireddy E, Nelissen H, Leuendorf JE, Van Lijsebettens M, Inzé D, Schmülling T. Root engineering in maize by increasing cytokinin degradation causes enhanced root growth and leaf mineral enrichment. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 106:555-567. [PMID: 34275101 PMCID: PMC8338857 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-021-01173-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Root-specific expression of a cytokinin-degrading CKX gene in maize roots causes formation of a larger root system leading to higher element content in shoot organs. The size and architecture of the root system is functionally relevant for the access to water and soil nutrients. A great number of mostly unknown genes are involved in regulating root architecture complicating targeted breeding of plants with a larger root system. Here, we have explored whether root-specific degradation of the hormone cytokinin, which is a negative regulator of root growth, can be used to genetically engineer maize (Zea mays L.) plants with a larger root system. Root-specific expression of a CYTOKININ OXIDASE/DEHYDROGENASE (CKX) gene of Arabidopsis caused the formation of up to 46% more root dry weight while shoot growth of these transgenic lines was similar as in non-transgenic control plants. The concentration of several elements, in particular of those with low soil mobility (K, P, Mo, Zn), was increased in leaves of transgenic lines. In kernels, the changes in concentration of most elements were less pronounced, but the concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn were significantly increased in at least one of the three independent lines. Our data illustrate the potential of an increased root system as part of efforts towards achieving biofortification. Taken together, this work has shown that root-specific expression of a CKX gene can be used to engineer the root system of maize and alter shoot element composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eswarayya Ramireddy
- Institute of Biology/Applied Genetics, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences (DCPS), Freie Universität Berlin, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
- Biology Division, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati, 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India.
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Erik Leuendorf
- Institute of Biology/Applied Genetics, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences (DCPS), Freie Universität Berlin, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mieke Van Lijsebettens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Schmülling
- Institute of Biology/Applied Genetics, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences (DCPS), Freie Universität Berlin, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Moussa AA, Mandozai A, Jin Y, Qu J, Zhang Q, Zhao H, Anwari G, Khalifa MAS, Lamboro A, Noman M, Bakasso Y, Zhang M, Guan S, Wang P. Genome-wide association screening and verification of potential genes associated with root architectural traits in maize (Zea mays L.) at multiple seedling stages. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:558. [PMID: 34284723 PMCID: PMC8290564 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07874-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Breeding for new maize varieties with propitious root systems has tremendous potential in improving water and nutrients use efficiency and plant adaptation under suboptimal conditions. To date, most of the previously detected root-related trait genes in maize were new without functional verification. In this study, seven seedling root architectural traits were examined at three developmental stages in a recombinant inbred line population (RIL) of 179 RILs and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) panel of 80 elite inbred maize lines through quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association study. Results Using inclusive composite interval mapping, 8 QTLs accounting for 6.44–8.83 % of the phenotypic variation in root traits, were detected on chromosomes 1 (qRDWv3-1-1 and qRDW/SDWv3-1-1), 2 (qRBNv1-2-1), 4 (qSUAv1-4-1, qSUAv2-4-1, and qROVv2-4-1), and 10 (qTRLv1-10-1, qRBNv1-10-1). GWAS analysis involved three models (EMMAX, FarmCPU, and MLM) for a set of 1,490,007 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained via whole genome next-generation sequencing (NGS). Overall, 53 significant SNPs with a phenotypic contribution rate ranging from 5.10 to 30.2 % and spread all over the ten maize chromosomes exhibited associations with the seven root traits. 17 SNPs were repeatedly detected from at least two growth stages, with several SNPs associated with multiple traits stably identified at all evaluated stages. Within the average linkage disequilibrium (LD) distance of 5.2 kb for the significant SNPs, 46 candidate genes harboring substantial SNPs were identified. Five potential genes viz. Zm00001d038676, Zm00001d015379, Zm00001d018496, Zm00001d050783, and Zm00001d017751 were verified for expression levels using maize accessions with extreme root branching differences from the GWAS panel and the RIL population. The results showed significantly (P < 0.001) different expression levels between the outer materials in both panels and at all considered growth stages. Conclusions This study provides a key reference for uncovering the complex genetic mechanism of root development and genetic enhancement of maize root system architecture, thus supporting the breeding of high-yielding maize varieties with propitious root systems. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07874-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdourazak Alio Moussa
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Ajmal Mandozai
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yukun Jin
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jing Qu
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - He Zhao
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Gulaqa Anwari
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | | | - Abraham Lamboro
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Muhammad Noman
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Jilin, 130118, Changchun, China
| | - Yacoubou Bakasso
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, 10662, Niamey, Niger
| | - Mo Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Shuyan Guan
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Piwu Wang
- College of Agronomy, Plant Biotechnology Center, Jilin Agricultural University, 130118, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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15
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Sáenz Rodríguez MN, Cassab GI. Primary Root and Mesocotyl Elongation in Maize Seedlings: Two Organs with Antagonistic Growth below the Soil Surface. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1274. [PMID: 34201525 PMCID: PMC8309072 DOI: 10.3390/plants10071274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Maize illustrates one of the most complex cases of embryogenesis in higher plants that results in the development of early embryo with distinctive organs such as the mesocotyl, seminal and primary roots, coleoptile, and plumule. After seed germination, the elongation of root and mesocotyl follows opposite directions in response to specific tropisms (positive and negative gravitropism and hydrotropism). Tropisms represent the differential growth of an organ directed toward several stimuli. Although the life cycle of roots and mesocotyl takes place in darkness, their growth and functions are controlled by different mechanisms. Roots ramify through the soil following the direction of the gravity vector, spreading their tips into new territories looking for water; when water availability is low, the root hydrotropic response is triggered toward the zone with higher moisture. Nonetheless, there is a high range of hydrotropic curvatures (angles) in maize. The processes that control root hydrotropism and mesocotyl elongation remain unclear; however, they are influenced by genetic and environmental cues to guide their growth for optimizing early seedling vigor. Roots and mesocotyls are crucial for the establishment, growth, and development of the plant since both help to forage water in the soil. Mesocotyl elongation is associated with an ancient agriculture practice known as deep planting. This tradition takes advantage of residual soil humidity and continues to be used in semiarid regions of Mexico and USA. Due to the genetic diversity of maize, some lines have developed long mesocotyls capable of deep planting while others are unable to do it. Hence, the genetic and phenetic interaction of maize lines with a robust hydrotropic response and higher mesocotyl elongation in response to water scarcity in time of global heating might be used for developing more resilient maize plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mery Nair Sáenz Rodríguez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Morelos, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico;
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16
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Wang Y, Sun H, Wang H, Yang X, Xu Y, Yang Z, Xu C, Li P. Integrating transcriptome, co-expression and QTL-seq analysis reveals that primary root growth in maize is regulated via flavonoid biosynthesis and auxin signal transduction. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:4773-4795. [PMID: 33909071 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The primary root is critical for early seedling growth and survival. To understand the molecular mechanisms governing primary root development, we performed a dynamic transcriptome analysis of two maize (Zea mays) inbred lines with contrasting primary root length at nine time points over a 12-day period. A total of 18 702 genes were differentially expressed between two lines or different time points. Gene enrichment, phytohormone content determination, and metabolomics analysis showed that auxin biosynthesis and signal transduction, as well as the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, were associated with root development. Co-expression network analysis revealed that eight modules were associated with lines/stages, as well as primary or lateral root length. In root-related modules, flavonoid metabolism accompanied by auxin biosynthesis and signal transduction constituted a complex gene regulatory network during primary root development. Two candidate genes (rootless concerning crown and seminal roots, rtcs and Zm00001d012781) involved in auxin signaling and flavonoid biosynthesis were identified by co-expression network analysis, QTL-seq and functional annotation. These results increase our understanding of the regulatory network controlling the development of primary and lateral root length, and provide a valuable genetic resource for improvement of root performance in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/ Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/ Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Houmiao Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/ Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyi Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/ Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/ Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zefeng Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/ Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Chenwu Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/ Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/ Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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Dowd T, McInturf S, Li M, Topp CN. Rated-M for mesocosm: allowing the multimodal analysis of mature root systems in 3D. Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 5:249-260. [PMID: 33555320 PMCID: PMC8166344 DOI: 10.1042/etls20200278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A plants' water and nutrients are primarily absorbed through roots, which in a natural setting is highly dependent on the 3-dimensional configuration of the root system, collectively known as root system architecture (RSA). RSA is difficult to study due to a variety of factors, accordingly, an arsenal of methods have been developed to address the challenges of both growing root systems for imaging, and the imaging methods themselves, although there is no 'best' method as each has its own spectrum of trade-offs. Here, we describe several methods for plant growth or imaging. Then, we introduce the adaptation and integration of three complementary methods, root mesocosms, photogrammetry, and electrical resistance tomography (ERT). Mesocosms can allow for unconstrained root growth, excavation and preservation of 3-dimensional RSA, and modularity that facilitates the use of a variety of sensors. The recovered root system can be digitally reconstructed through photogrammetry, which is an inexpensive method requiring only an appropriate studio space and a digital camera. Lastly, we demonstrate how 3-dimensional water availability can be measured using ERT inside of root mesocosms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Dowd
- Topp Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63124 U.S.A
| | - Samuel McInturf
- Topp Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63124 U.S.A
| | - Mao Li
- Topp Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63124 U.S.A
| | - Christopher N Topp
- Topp Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63124 U.S.A
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18
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QMrl-7B Enhances Root System, Biomass, Nitrogen Accumulation and Yield in Bread Wheat. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10040764. [PMID: 33924695 PMCID: PMC8069806 DOI: 10.3390/plants10040764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Genetic improvement of root systems is an efficient approach to improve yield potential and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops. QMrl-7B was a major stable quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling the maximum root length in wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Two types of near isogenic lines (A-NILs with superior and B-NILs with inferior alleles) were used to specify the effects of QMrl-7B on root, grain output and nitrogen-related traits under both low nitrogen (LN) and high nitrogen (HN) environments. Trials in two consecutive growing seasons showed that the root traits, including root length (RL), root area (RA) and root dry weight (RDW), of the A-NILs were higher than those of the B-NILs at seedling stage (SS) before winter, jointing stage (JS), 10 days post anthesis (PA10) and maturity (MS), respectively. Under the LN environment, in particular, all the root traits showed significant differences between the two types of NILs (p < 0.05). In contrast, there were no critical differences in aerial biomass and aerial N accumulation (ANA) between the two types of NILs at SS and JS stages. At PA10 stage, the aerial biomass and ANA of the A-NILs were significantly higher than those of the B-NILs under both LN and HN environments (p < 0.05). At MS stage, the A-NILs also exhibited significantly higher thousand-grain weight (TGW), plot grain yield, harvest index (HI), grain N accumulation (GNA), nitrogen harvest index (NHI) and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP) than the B-NILs under the corresponding environments (p < 0.05). In summary, the QMrl-7B A-NILs manifested larger root systems compared to the B-NILs which is favorable to N uptake and accumulation, and eventually enhanced grain production. This research provides valuable information for genetic improvement of root traits and breeding elite wheat varieties with high yield potential and NPFP.
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19
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Shao MR, Jiang N, Li M, Howard A, Lehner K, Mullen JL, Gunn SL, McKay JK, Topp CN. Complementary Phenotyping of Maize Root System Architecture by Root Pulling Force and X-Ray Imaging. PLANT PHENOMICS (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2021; 2021:9859254. [PMID: 34870229 PMCID: PMC8603028 DOI: 10.34133/2021/9859254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The root system is critical for the survival of nearly all land plants and a key target for improving abiotic stress tolerance, nutrient accumulation, and yield in crop species. Although many methods of root phenotyping exist, within field studies, one of the most popular methods is the extraction and measurement of the upper portion of the root system, known as the root crown, followed by trait quantification based on manual measurements or 2D imaging. However, 2D techniques are inherently limited by the information available from single points of view. Here, we used X-ray computed tomography to generate highly accurate 3D models of maize root crowns and created computational pipelines capable of measuring 71 features from each sample. This approach improves estimates of the genetic contribution to root system architecture and is refined enough to detect various changes in global root system architecture over developmental time as well as more subtle changes in root distributions as a result of environmental differences. We demonstrate that root pulling force, a high-throughput method of root extraction that provides an estimate of root mass, is associated with multiple 3D traits from our pipeline. Our combined methodology can therefore be used to calibrate and interpret root pulling force measurements across a range of experimental contexts or scaled up as a stand-alone approach in large genetic studies of root system architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. R. Shao
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - N. Jiang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - M. Li
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - A. Howard
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - K. Lehner
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - J. L. Mullen
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - S. L. Gunn
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - J. K. McKay
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - C. N. Topp
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
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20
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Guimarães PHR, de Lima IP, de Castro AP, Lanna AC, Guimarães Santos Melo P, de Raïssac M. Phenotyping Root Systems in a Set of Japonica Rice Accessions: Can Structural Traits Predict the Response to Drought? RICE (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 13:67. [PMID: 32930888 PMCID: PMC7492358 DOI: 10.1186/s12284-020-00404-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The root system plays a major role in plant growth and development and root system architecture is reported to be the main trait related to plant adaptation to drought. However, phenotyping root systems in situ is not suited to high-throughput methods, leading to the development of non-destructive methods for evaluations in more or less controlled root environments. This study used a root phenotyping platform with a panel of 20 japonica rice accessions in order to: (i) assess their genetic diversity for a set of structural and morphological root traits and classify the different types; (ii) analyze the plastic response of their root system to a water deficit at reproductive phase and (iii) explore the ability of the platform for high-throughput phenotyping of root structure and morphology. RESULTS High variability for the studied root traits was found in the reduced set of accessions. Using eight selected traits under irrigated conditions, five root clusters were found that differed in root thickness, branching index and the pattern of fine and thick root distribution along the profile. When water deficit occurred at reproductive phase, some accessions significantly reduced root growth compared to the irrigated treatment, while others stimulated it. It was found that root cluster, as defined under irrigated conditions, could not predict the plastic response of roots under drought. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the possibility of reconstructing the structure of root systems from scanned images. It was thus possible to significantly class root systems according to simple structural traits, opening up the way for using such a platform for medium to high-throughput phenotyping. The study also highlighted the uncoupling between root structures under non-limiting water conditions and their response to drought.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabela Pereira de Lima
- Universidade Federal de Lavras, Departamento de Agricultura, Campus Universitário, Lavras, MG, 37200-000, Brazil
| | | | - Anna Cristina Lanna
- Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, Rodovia GO-462, km 12, Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO, 75375-000, Brazil
| | | | - Marcel de Raïssac
- Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, AGAP, Montpellier, France.
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21
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Mochida K, Nishii R, Hirayama T. Decoding Plant-Environment Interactions That Influence Crop Agronomic Traits. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 61:1408-1418. [PMID: 32392328 PMCID: PMC7434589 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
To ensure food security in the face of increasing global demand due to population growth and progressive urbanization, it will be crucial to integrate emerging technologies in multiple disciplines to accelerate overall throughput of gene discovery and crop breeding. Plant agronomic traits often appear during the plants' later growth stages due to the cumulative effects of their lifetime interactions with the environment. Therefore, decoding plant-environment interactions by elucidating plants' temporal physiological responses to environmental changes throughout their lifespans will facilitate the identification of genetic and environmental factors, timing and pathways that influence complex end-point agronomic traits, such as yield. Here, we discuss the expected role of the life-course approach to monitoring plant and crop health status in improving crop productivity by enhancing the understanding of plant-environment interactions. We review recent advances in analytical technologies for monitoring health status in plants based on multi-omics analyses and strategies for integrating heterogeneous datasets from multiple omics areas to identify informative factors associated with traits of interest. In addition, we showcase emerging phenomics techniques that enable the noninvasive and continuous monitoring of plant growth by various means, including three-dimensional phenotyping, plant root phenotyping, implantable/injectable sensors and affordable phenotyping devices. Finally, we present an integrated review of analytical technologies and applications for monitoring plant growth, developed across disciplines, such as plant science, data science and sensors and Internet-of-things technologies, to improve plant productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichi Mochida
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki, Japan
- Corresponding author: E-mail, ; Fax, +81-45-503-9609
| | - Ryuei Nishii
- School of Information and Data Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Hirayama
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki, Japan
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22
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Prunet N, Duncan K. Imaging flowers: a guide to current microscopy and tomography techniques to study flower development. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:2898-2909. [PMID: 32383442 PMCID: PMC7260710 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Developmental biology relies heavily on our ability to generate three-dimensional images of live biological specimens through time, and to map gene expression and hormone response in these specimens as they undergo development. The last two decades have seen an explosion of new bioimaging technologies that have pushed the limits of spatial and temporal resolution and provided biologists with invaluable new tools. However, plant tissues are difficult to image, and no single technology fits all purposes; choosing between many bioimaging techniques is not trivial. Here, we review modern light microscopy and computed projection tomography methods, their capabilities and limitations, and we discuss their current and potential applications to the study of flower development and fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keith Duncan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
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23
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Calleja-Cabrera J, Boter M, Oñate-Sánchez L, Pernas M. Root Growth Adaptation to Climate Change in Crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:544. [PMID: 32457782 PMCID: PMC7227386 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is threatening crop productivity worldwide and new solutions to adapt crops to these environmental changes are urgently needed. Elevated temperatures driven by climate change affect developmental and physiological plant processes that, ultimately, impact on crop yield and quality. Plant roots are responsible for water and nutrients uptake, but changes in soil temperatures alters this process limiting crop growth. With the predicted variable climatic forecast, the development of an efficient root system better adapted to changing soil and environmental conditions is crucial for enhancing crop productivity. Root traits associated with improved adaptation to rising temperatures are increasingly being analyzed to obtain more suitable crop varieties. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge about the effect of increasing temperatures on root growth and their impact on crop yield. First, we will describe the main alterations in root architecture that different crops undergo in response to warmer soils. Then, we will outline the main coordinated physiological and metabolic changes taking place in roots and aerial parts that modulate the global response of the plant to increased temperatures. We will discuss on some of the main regulatory mechanisms controlling root adaptation to warmer soils, including the activation of heat and oxidative pathways to prevent damage of root cells and disruption of root growth; the interplay between hormonal regulatory pathways and the global changes on gene expression and protein homeostasis. We will also consider that in the field, increasing temperatures are usually associated with other abiotic and biotic stresses such as drought, salinity, nutrient deficiencies, and pathogen infections. We will present recent advances on how the root system is able to integrate and respond to complex and different stimuli in order to adapt to an increasingly changing environment. Finally, we will discuss the new prospects and challenges in this field as well as the more promising pathways for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - M. Pernas
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid – Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Madrid, Spain
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Bailey-Serres J, Parker JE, Ainsworth EA, Oldroyd GED, Schroeder JI. Genetic strategies for improving crop yields. Nature 2019; 575:109-118. [PMID: 31695205 PMCID: PMC7024682 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1679-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 495] [Impact Index Per Article: 99.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The current trajectory for crop yields is insufficient to nourish the world's population by 20501. Greater and more consistent crop production must be achieved against a backdrop of climatic stress that limits yields, owing to shifts in pests and pathogens, precipitation, heat-waves and other weather extremes. Here we consider the potential of plant sciences to address post-Green Revolution challenges in agriculture and explore emerging strategies for enhancing sustainable crop production and resilience in a changing climate. Accelerated crop improvement must leverage naturally evolved traits and transformative engineering driven by mechanistic understanding, to yield the resilient production systems that are needed to ensure future harvests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bailey-Serres
- Center for Plant Cell Biology and Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jane E Parker
- Department of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Cologne, Germany
| | - Elizabeth A Ainsworth
- Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Julian I Schroeder
- Cell and Developmental Biology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Food and Fuel for the 21st Century, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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25
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Bailey-Serres J, Parker JE, Ainsworth EA, Oldroyd GED, Schroeder JI. Genetic strategies for improving crop yields. Nature 2019. [PMID: 31695205 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1679-1670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
The current trajectory for crop yields is insufficient to nourish the world's population by 20501. Greater and more consistent crop production must be achieved against a backdrop of climatic stress that limits yields, owing to shifts in pests and pathogens, precipitation, heat-waves and other weather extremes. Here we consider the potential of plant sciences to address post-Green Revolution challenges in agriculture and explore emerging strategies for enhancing sustainable crop production and resilience in a changing climate. Accelerated crop improvement must leverage naturally evolved traits and transformative engineering driven by mechanistic understanding, to yield the resilient production systems that are needed to ensure future harvests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bailey-Serres
- Center for Plant Cell Biology and Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jane E Parker
- Department of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Cologne, Germany
| | - Elizabeth A Ainsworth
- Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Julian I Schroeder
- Cell and Developmental Biology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Food and Fuel for the 21st Century, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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26
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Guo H, York LM. Maize with fewer nodal roots allocates mass to more lateral and deep roots that improve nitrogen uptake and shoot growth. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:5299-5309. [PMID: 31145788 PMCID: PMC6793442 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Simulations indicated that reduced nodal root (NR) number (NRN) was promising for maize breeding, and were partially confirmed by relying on variation in NRN among inbreds. Using maize inbred line B73, experiments were conducted in hydroponics and tall mesocosms containing solid media with treatments involving no NR excision (0% NRE) or excising either 33% or 67% of the NRs as they emerged under high or low levels of nitrogen (N). Reduced NRN was hypothesized to increase elongation of all remaining root classes, N acquisition under low N, and shoot mass. Plants with 67% NRE had 12% and 19% less root mass fraction, 61% and 91% greater lateral to axial root length ratio regardless of N levels, and 61% and 182% greater biomass of embryonic roots under low N, compared with 0% NRE for hydroponics and mesocosms studies, respectively. Under low N in mesocosms, plants with 67% NRE had 52% greater shoot biomass, 450% greater root length at depth, and 232% greater deep-injected 15N content in the shoot relative to 0% NRE. These results reveal the mechanism by which plants with fewer NRs increase N capture and shoot mass by reallocation of biomass to lateral roots, embryonic roots, and first whorl NRs that increases foraging efficiency in solid media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichao Guo
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, Ardmore, OK, USA
| | - Larry M York
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, Ardmore, OK, USA
- Correspondence:
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27
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Integrating GWAS and Gene Expression Analysis Identifies Candidate Genes for Root Morphology Traits in Maize at the Seedling Stage. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10100773. [PMID: 31581635 PMCID: PMC6826382 DOI: 10.3390/genes10100773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Root system plays an essential role in water and nutrient acquisition in plants. Understanding the genetic basis of root development will be beneficial for breeding new cultivars with efficient root system to enhance resource use efficiency in maize. Here, the natural variation of 13 root and 3 shoot traits was evaluated in 297 maize inbred lines and genome-wide association mapping was conducted to identify SNPs associated with target traits. All measured traits exhibited 2.02- to 21.36-fold variations. A total of 34 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for 13 traits, and each individual QTL explained 5.7% to 15.9% of the phenotypic variance. Three pleiotropic QTLs involving five root traits were identified; SNP_2_104416607 was associated with lateral root length (LRL), root surface area (RA), root length between 0 and 0.5mm in diameter (RL005), and total root length (TRL); SNP_2_184016997 was associated with RV and RA, and SNP_4_168917747 was associated with LRL, RA and TRL. The expression levels of candidate genes in root QTLs were evaluated by RNA-seq among three long-root lines and three short-root lines. A total of five genes that showed differential expression between the long- and short-root lines were identified as promising candidate genes for the target traits. These QTLs and the potential candidate genes are important source data to understand root development and genetic improvement of root traits in maize.
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28
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Jiang N, Floro E, Bray AL, Laws B, Duncan KE, Topp CN. Three-Dimensional Time-Lapse Analysis Reveals Multiscale Relationships in Maize Root Systems with Contrasting Architectures. THE PLANT CELL 2019; 31:1708-1722. [PMID: 31123089 PMCID: PMC6713302 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.19.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how an organism's phenotypic traits are conditioned by genetic and environmental variation is a central goal of biology. Root systems are one of the most important but poorly understood aspects of plants, largely due to the three-dimensional (3D), dynamic, and multiscale phenotyping challenge they pose. A critical gap in our knowledge is how root systems build in complexity from a single primary root to a network of thousands of roots that collectively compete for ephemeral, heterogeneous soil resources. We used time-lapse 3D imaging and mathematical modeling to assess root system architectures (RSAs) of two maize (Zea mays) inbred genotypes and their hybrid as they grew in complexity from a few to many roots. Genetically driven differences in root branching zone size and lateral branching densities along a single root, combined with differences in peak growth rate and the relative allocation of carbon resources to new versus existing roots, manifest as sharply distinct global RSAs over time. The 3D imaging of mature field-grown root crowns showed that several genetic differences in seedling architectures could persist throughout development and across environments. This approach connects individual and system-wide scales of root growth dynamics, which could eventually be used to predict genetic variation for complex RSAs and their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Jiang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
| | - Eric Floro
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
| | - Adam L Bray
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211
| | - Benjamin Laws
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
| | - Keith E Duncan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
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29
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Jiang N, Floro E, Bray AL, Laws B, Duncan KE, Topp CN. Three-Dimensional Time-Lapse Analysis Reveals Multiscale Relationships in Maize Root Systems with Contrasting Architectures. THE PLANT CELL 2019; 31:1708-1722. [PMID: 31123089 DOI: 10.1101/381046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how an organism's phenotypic traits are conditioned by genetic and environmental variation is a central goal of biology. Root systems are one of the most important but poorly understood aspects of plants, largely due to the three-dimensional (3D), dynamic, and multiscale phenotyping challenge they pose. A critical gap in our knowledge is how root systems build in complexity from a single primary root to a network of thousands of roots that collectively compete for ephemeral, heterogeneous soil resources. We used time-lapse 3D imaging and mathematical modeling to assess root system architectures (RSAs) of two maize (Zea mays) inbred genotypes and their hybrid as they grew in complexity from a few to many roots. Genetically driven differences in root branching zone size and lateral branching densities along a single root, combined with differences in peak growth rate and the relative allocation of carbon resources to new versus existing roots, manifest as sharply distinct global RSAs over time. The 3D imaging of mature field-grown root crowns showed that several genetic differences in seedling architectures could persist throughout development and across environments. This approach connects individual and system-wide scales of root growth dynamics, which could eventually be used to predict genetic variation for complex RSAs and their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Jiang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
| | - Eric Floro
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
| | - Adam L Bray
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211
| | - Benjamin Laws
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
| | - Keith E Duncan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132
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30
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Kengkanna J, Jakaew P, Amawan S, Busener N, Bucksch A, Saengwilai P. Phenotypic variation of cassava root traits and their responses to drought. APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES 2019; 7:e01238. [PMID: 31024782 PMCID: PMC6476172 DOI: 10.1002/aps3.1238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY The key to increased cassava production is balancing the trade-off between marketable roots and traits that drive nutrient and water uptake. However, only a small number of protocols have been developed for cassava roots. Here, we introduce a set of new variables and methods to phenotype cassava roots and enhance breeding pipelines. METHODS Different cassava genotypes were planted in pot and field conditions under well-watered and drought treatments. We developed cassava shovelomics and used digital imaging of root traits (DIRT) to evaluate geometrical root traits in addition to common traits (e.g., length, number). RESULTS Cassava shovelomics and DIRT were successfully implemented to extract root phenotypes, and a large phenotypic variation for root traits was observed. Significant correlations were found among root traits measured manually and by DIRT. Drought significantly decreased shoot dry weight, total root number, and root length by 84%, 30%, and 25%, respectively. High adventitious root number was associated with increased shoot dry weight (r = 0.44) under drought. DISCUSSION Our methods allow for high-throughput cassava root phenotyping, which makes a breeding program targeting root traits feasible. We suggest that root number is a breeding target for improved cassava production under drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitrana Kengkanna
- Department of BiologyFaculty of ScienceMahidol UniversityRama VI RoadBangkok10400Thailand
| | - Phissinee Jakaew
- Department of BiologyFaculty of ScienceMahidol UniversityRama VI RoadBangkok10400Thailand
| | - Suwaluk Amawan
- Rayong Field Crops Research CenterHuai PongMuang RayongRayong21150Thailand
| | - Natalie Busener
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of Georgia120 West Green StreetAthensGeorgia30602USA
| | - Alexander Bucksch
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of Georgia120 Carlton StreetAthensGeorgia30602USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of Georgia180 East Green StreetAthensGeorgia30602USA
- Institute of BioinformaticsUniversity of Georgia120 West Green StreetAthensGeorgia30602USA
| | - Patompong Saengwilai
- Department of BiologyFaculty of ScienceMahidol UniversityRama VI RoadBangkok10400Thailand
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