1
|
Aguiar BADS, Lopes CGR, de Sousa GM, E Medeiros MJL, da Silva KA, Araújo EDL. Effect of simulated extreme rainfall on the vegetative phenology of perennial and annual herbaceous plants from a Brazilian dry forest. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2024. [PMID: 38967326 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Detecting changes in the phenological responses of herbaceous species as a function of predicted climate change is important for forecasting future scenarios for the functioning of dry tropical forests, especially when predicting an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme droughts. Because of the sensitivity of plants to water availability, our study hypothesizes that if years become drier or wetter, herbaceous plants will synchronously change the onset, duration, and intensity of their vegetative phenophases. We used a historical series of 60 years of precipitation observations for the Caatinga vegetation to define daily average of precipitation for rainy (Twet), median (Tcontrol), and dry (Tdry) years. We simulated past average daily rainfall (Twet, Tcontrol, and Tdry) while growing two herbaceous perennials and two herbaceous annuals. We monitored plant growth and measured the activity (absence or presence) and intensity of vegetative phenophases. We used circular statistical analysis to assess differences between treatments. Our results revealed that leaf production was seasonal but relatively uniform for perennial species and highly seasonal (wet season) for annual species. Simulated dry years induced lower leaf emergence concentrated over a few months in annual species, but this effect was more strongly significant in one of the two perennial species. Both annual and perennial species can experience delayed and less intense leaf abscission during the rainy season in years with below-average precipitation. In contrast, large voluminous rains in years with above-average precipitation can accelerate and intensify the process of leaf renewal. If future precipitation reductions occur, the changes in phenological response indicate that the cover of annual and perennial herbaceous species in this study will likely decrease, altering the landscape and functioning of dry tropical forests. However, the potential trade-offs observed may help populations of these species to persist during years of severe drought in the Caatinga.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B A de S Aguiar
- Centro de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Brazil
| | - C G R Lopes
- Centro de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Brazil
| | - G M de Sousa
- Centro de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Brazil
| | - M J L E Medeiros
- Centro de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Brazil
| | - K A da Silva
- Centro Acadêmico de Vitória (CAV), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - E de L Araújo
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kavka M, Balles A, Böhm C, Dehmer KJ, Fella C, Rose F, Saal B, Schulze S, Willner E, Melzer M. Phenotypic screening of seed retention and histological analysis of the abscission zone in Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:577. [PMID: 38890560 PMCID: PMC11184695 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05231-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seed retention is the basic prerequisite for seed harvest. However, only little breeding progress has been achieved for this trait in the major forage grasses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of plant genetic resources of the important fodder grasses Festuca pratensis Huds. and Lolium perenne L. as source for seed retention in the breeding process. Furthermore, the morphology of the abscission zone, where shattering occurs, was studied on the cell tissue level in different developmental stages of contrasting accessions. RESULTS 150 and 286 accessions of Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne were screened for seed retention, respectively. Contrasting accessions were selected to be tested in a second year. We found a great variation in seed retention in Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne, ranging from 13 to 71% (average: 35%) and 12 to 94% (average: 49%), respectively, in the first year. Seed retention was generally lower in the second year. Cultivars were within the accessions with highest seed retention in Festuca pratensis, but had lower seed retention than ecotypes in Lolium perenne. Field-shattered seeds had a lower thousand grain weight than retained seeds. Cell layers of the abscission zone appeared already in early seed stages and were nested within each other in accessions with high seed retention, while there were two to three superimposed layers in accessions with low seed retention. CONCLUSIONS Plant genetic resources of Lolium perenne might be a valuable source for breeding varieties with high seed retention. However, simultaneous selection for high seed weight is necessary for developing successful commercial cultivars.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Kavka
- Genebank, Satellite Collections North, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Inselstraße 9, 23999, Malchow/Poel, Germany.
| | - Andreas Balles
- Development Center X-Ray Technology, Magnetic Resonance and X-Ray Imaging, Fraunhofer IIS, Josef- Martin-Weg 63, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christof Böhm
- Saatzucht Steinach GmbH und Co. KG, Wittelsbacherstraße 15, 94377, Steinach, Germany
| | - Klaus J Dehmer
- Genebank, Satellite Collections North, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Inselstraße 9, 23999, Malchow/Poel, Germany
| | - Christian Fella
- Development Center X-Ray Technology, Magnetic Resonance and X-Ray Imaging, Fraunhofer IIS, Josef- Martin-Weg 63, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Felix Rose
- Physiology and Cell Biology, Structural Cell Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstraße 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Bernhard Saal
- PlantaServ GmbH, Erdinger Straße 82a, 85356, Freising, Germany
| | - Sabine Schulze
- Saatzucht Steinach GmbH und Co. KG, Klockower Straße 1, 17219, Ankershagen, Germany
| | - Evelin Willner
- Genebank, Satellite Collections North, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Inselstraße 9, 23999, Malchow/Poel, Germany
| | - Michael Melzer
- Physiology and Cell Biology, Structural Cell Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstraße 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ergon Å, Amdahl H. Winter survival in red clover: experimental evidence for interactions among stresses. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:467. [PMID: 38807057 PMCID: PMC11131274 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05167-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a lack of knowledge on the combined effects of different stresses on plants, in particular different stresses that occur during winter in temperate climates. Perennial herbaceous plants in temperate regions are exposed to many different stresses during winter, but except for the fact that cold temperatures induce resistance to a number of them, very little is known about their interaction effects. Knowledge about stress interactions is needed in order to predict effects of climate change on both agricultural production and natural ecosystems, and to develop adaptation strategies, e.g., through plant breeding. Here, we conducted a series of experiments under controlled conditions to study the interactions between cold (low positive temperature), clover rot infection (caused by Sclerotinia trifoliorum) and freezing, in red clover (Trifolium pratense) accessions. We also compared our results with winter survival in field experiments and studied associations between stress and shoot growth. RESULTS Exposure to low positive temperatures (cold acclimation) induced resistance to clover rot. There was a clear negative interaction effect between freezing stress and clover rot infection, resulting in up to 37% lower survival rate compared to what would have been expected from the additive effect of freezing and infection alone. Freezing tolerance could continue to improve during incubation under artificial snow cover at 3 °C in spite of darkness, and we observed compensatory shoot growth following freezing after prolonged incubation. At the accession level, resistance to clover rot was negatively correlated with growth in the field during the previous year at a Norwegian location. It was also negatively correlated with the shoot regrowth of control plants after incubation. Clover rot resistance tests under controlled conditions showed limited correlation with clover rot resistance observed in the field, suggesting that they may reveal variation in more specific resistance mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS We here demonstrate, for the first time, a strong negative interaction between freezing and infection with a winter pathogen. We also characterize the effects of cold acclimation and incubation in darkness at different temperatures on winter stress tolerance, and present data that support the notion that annual cycles of growth and stress resistance are associated at the genetic level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Åshild Ergon
- Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, Ås, N-1432, Norway.
| | - Helga Amdahl
- Graminor AS, Hommelstadvegen 60, Ridabu, 2322, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wingler A, Sandel B. Relationships of the competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal functional strategies of grass species with lifespan, photosynthetic type, naturalization and climate. AOB PLANTS 2023; 15:plad021. [PMID: 37197712 PMCID: PMC10184452 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plad021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Grass species (family Poaceae) are globally distributed, adapted to a wide range of climates and express a diversity of functional strategies. We explored the functional strategies of grass species using the competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal (CSR) system and asked how a species' strategy relates to its functional traits, climatic distribution and propensity to become naturalized outside its native range. We used a global set of trait data for grass species to classify functional strategies according to the CSR system based on leaf traits. Differences in strategies in relation to lifespan (annual or perennial), photosynthetic type (C3 or C4), or naturalisation (native or introduced) were investigated. In addition, correlations with traits not included in the CSR classification were analyzed, and a model was fitted to predict a species' average mean annual temperature and annual precipitation across its range as a function of CSR scores. Values for competitiveness were higher in C4 species than in C3 species, values for stress tolerance were higher in perennials than in annuals, and introduced species had more pronounced competitive-ruderal strategies than native species. Relationships between the CSR classification, based on leaf traits, and other functional traits were analyzed. Competitiveness was positively correlated with height, while ruderality was correlated with specific root length, indicating that both above- and belowground traits underlying leaf and root economics contribute to realized CSR strategies. Further, relationships between climate and CSR classification showed that species with competitive strategies were more common in warm climates and at high precipitation, whereas species with stress tolerance strategies were more common in cold climates and at low precipitation. The findings presented here demonstrate that CSR classification of functional strategies based on leaf traits matches expectations for the adaptations of grass species that underlie lifespan, photosynthetic type, naturalization and climate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brody Sandel
- Department of Biology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barkaoui K, Volaire F. Drought survival and recovery in grasses: Stress intensity and plant-plant interactions impact plant dehydration tolerance. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:1489-1503. [PMID: 36655754 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant dehydration tolerance confers drought survival in grasses, but the mortality thresholds according to soil water content (SWC), vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and plant-plant interactions are little explored. We compared the dehydration dynamics of leaf meristems, which are the key surviving organs, plant mortality, and recovery of Mediterranean and temperate populations of two perennial grass species, Dactylis glomerata and Festuca arundinacea, grown in monocultures and mixtures under a low-VPD (1.5 kPa) versus a high-VPD drought (2.2 kPa). The lethal drought index (LD50 ), that is, SWC associated with 50% plant mortality, ranged from 2.87% (ψs = -1.68 MPa) to 2.19% (ψs = -4.47 MPa) and reached the lowest values under the low-VPD drought. Populations of D. glomerata were more dehydration-tolerant (lower LD50 ), survived and recovered better than F. arundinacea populations. Plant-plant interactions modified dehydration tolerance and improved post-drought recovery in mixtures compared with monocultures. Water content as low as 20.7%-36.1% in leaf meristems allowed 50% of plants to survive. We conclude that meristem dehydration causes plant mortality and that drought acclimation can increase dehydration tolerance. Genetic diversity, acclimation and plant-plant interactions are essential sources of dehydration tolerance variability to consider when predicting drought-induced mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karim Barkaoui
- CIRAD, UMR ABSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- ABSys, Univ Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Florence Volaire
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chandregowda MH, Tjoelker MG, Pendall E, Zhang H, Churchill AC, Power SA. Belowground carbon allocation, root trait plasticity, and productivity during drought and warming in a pasture grass. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:2127-2145. [PMID: 36640126 PMCID: PMC10084810 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sustaining grassland production in a changing climate requires an understanding of plant adaptation strategies, including trait plasticity under warmer and drier conditions. However, our knowledge to date disproportionately relies on aboveground responses, despite the importance of belowground traits in maintaining aboveground growth, especially in grazed systems. We subjected a perennial pasture grass, Festuca arundinacea, to year-round warming (+3 °C) and cool-season drought (60% rainfall reduction) in a factorial field experiment to test the hypotheses that: (i) drought and warming increase carbon allocation belowground and shift root traits towards greater resource acquisition and (ii) increased belowground carbon reserves support post-drought aboveground recovery. Drought and warming reduced plant production and biomass allocation belowground. Drought increased specific root length and reduced root diameter in warmed plots but increased root starch concentrations under ambient temperature. Higher diameter and soluble sugar concentrations of roots and starch storage in crowns explained aboveground production under climate extremes. However, the lack of association between post-drought aboveground biomass and belowground carbon and nitrogen reserves contrasted with our predictions. These findings demonstrate that root trait plasticity and belowground carbon reserves play a key role in aboveground production during climate stress, helping predict pasture responses and inform management decisions under future climates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark G Tjoelker
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Elise Pendall
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Haiyang Zhang
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Amber C Churchill
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, University of Minnesota, 140 Gortner Laboratory, 1479 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Sally A Power
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Volaire F, Barkaoui K, Grémillet D, Charrier G, Dangles O, Lamarque LJ, Martin-StPaul N, Chuine I. Is a seasonally reduced growth potential a convergent strategy to survive drought and frost in plants? ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 131:245-254. [PMID: 36567631 PMCID: PMC9992932 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants have adapted to survive seasonal life-threatening frost and drought. However, the timing and frequency of such events are impacted by climate change, jeopardizing plant survival. Understanding better the strategies of survival to dehydration stress is therefore timely and can be enhanced by the cross-fertilization of research between disciplines (ecology, physiology), models (woody, herbaceous species) and types of stress (drought, frost). SCOPE We build upon the 'growth-stress survival' trade-off, which underpins the identification of global plant strategies across environments along a 'fast-slow' economics spectrum. Although phenological adaptations such as dormancy are crucial to survive stress, plant global strategies along the fast-slow economic spectrum rarely integrate growth variations across seasons. We argue that the growth-stress survival trade-off can be a useful framework to identify convergent plant ecophysiological strategies to survive both frost and drought. We review evidence that reduced physiological activity, embolism resistance and dehydration tolerance of meristematic tissues are interdependent strategies that determine thresholds of mortality among plants under severe frost and drought. We show that complete dormancy, i.e. programmed growth cessation, before stress occurrence, minimizes water flows and maximizes dehydration tolerance during seasonal life-threatening stresses. We propose that incomplete dormancy, i.e. the programmed reduction of growth potential during the harshest seasons, could be an overlooked but major adaptation across plants. Quantifying stress survival in a range of non-dormant versus winter- or summer-dormant plants, should reveal to what extent incomplete to complete dormancy could represent a proxy for dehydration tolerance and stress survival. CONCLUSIONS Our review of the strategies involved in dehydration stress survival suggests that winter and summer dormancy are insufficiently acknowledged as plant ecological strategies. Incorporating a seasonal fast-slow economics spectrum into global plant strategies improves our understanding of plant resilience to seasonal stress and refines our prevision of plant adaptation to extreme climatic events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florence Volaire
- CEFE, Université Montpellier, INRAE, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, F-34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Karim Barkaoui
- CIRAD, UMR ABSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- ABSys, Université F-34060 Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - David Grémillet
- CEFE, Université Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, F-34090 Montpellier, France
- Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Guillaume Charrier
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, PIAF, F-63000 Clermont Ferrand, France
| | - Olivier Dangles
- CEFE, Université Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, F-34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent J Lamarque
- Département des Sciences de l’Environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, G9A 5H7, Canada
| | - Nicolas Martin-StPaul
- INRAE, URFM, Domaine Saint Paul, Centre de recherche PACA, 228 route de l’Aérodrome, CS 40509, Domaine Saint-Paul, Site Agroparc, France
| | - Isabelle Chuine
- CEFE, Université Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, F-34090 Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Effects of the Rhizosphere Fungus Cunninghamella bertholletiae on the Solanum lycopersicum Response to Diverse Abiotic Stresses. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168909. [PMID: 36012179 PMCID: PMC9408995 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examined the efficiency of fungal strain (Cunninghamella bertholletiae) isolated from the rhizosphere of Solanum lycopersicum to reduce symptoms of salinity, drought and heavy metal stresses in tomato plants. In vitro evaluation of C. bertholletiae demonstrated its ability to produce indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA), ammonia and tolerate varied abiotic stresses on solid media. Tomato plants at 33 days’ old, inoculated with or without C. bertholletiae, were treated with 1.5% sodium chloride, 25% polyethylene glycol, 3 mM cadmium and 3 mM lead for 10 days, and the impact of C. bertholletiae on plant performance was investigated. Inoculation with C. bertholletiae enhanced plant biomass and growth attributes in stressed plants. In addition, C. bertholletiae modulated the physiochemical apparatus of stressed plants by raising chlorophyll, carotenoid, glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents, and reducing hydrogen peroxide, protein, lipid metabolism, amino acid, antioxidant activities, and abscisic acid. Gene expression analysis showed enhanced expression of SlCDF3 and SlICS genes and reduced expression of SlACCase, SlAOS, SlGRAS6, SlRBOHD, SlRING1, SlTAF1, and SlZH13 genes following C. bertholletiae application. In conclusion, our study supports the potential of C. bertholletiae as a biofertilizer to reduce plant damage, improve crop endurance and remediation under stress conditions.
Collapse
|
9
|
Actinomucor elegans and Podospora bulbillosa Positively Improves Endurance to Water Deficit and Salinity Stresses in Tomato Plants. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080785. [PMID: 36012774 PMCID: PMC9409863 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal strains isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy Solanum lycopersicum were examined to mitigate symptoms of drought and salinity stresses. The fungal strains were identified as Actinomucor elegans and Podospora bulbillosa based on their DNA sequencing and morphological analysis. Additionally, the fungal strains were assayed for a number of plant growth promoting traits and abiotic stresses on solid media. Moreover, a greenhouse experiment was conducted and tomato seedlings were treated with 25% PEG or 1.5% NaCl for 12 days, and the impact of plant growth promoting fungi (PGPF) on tomato seedling performance under these conditions was examined. PGPF application raised the survival of the stressed tomato plants, which was evidenced by higher physiological and biochemical processes. The PGPF-inoculated plants exhibited higher chlorophyll, carotenoid, protein, amino acid, antioxidant activities, salicylic acid, glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents, and showed lower hydrogen peroxide, and lipid metabolism relative to control plants under stress. Analysis using gene expression showed enhanced expression of SlF3H gene and reduced expression of SlNCED1, SlDEAD31, SlbZIP38, and SlGRAS10 genes following PGPFs application. Overall, the outcomes of this study elucidate the function of these fungal strains and present candidates with potential implementation as biofertilizers and in promoting plant stress endurance.
Collapse
|
10
|
Blanco Pastor JL. Alternative modes of introgression-mediated selection shaped crop adaptation to novel climates. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6647590. [PMID: 35859297 PMCID: PMC9348624 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent plant genomic studies provide fine-grained details on the evolutionary consequences of adaptive introgression during crop domestication. Modern genomic approaches and analytical methods now make it possible to better separate the introgression signal from the demographic signal thus providing a more comprehensive and complex picture of the role of introgression in local adaptation. Adaptive introgression has been fundamental for crop expansion and has involved complex patterns of gene flow. In addition to providing new and more favorable alleles of large effect, introgression during the early stages of domestication also increased allelic diversity at adaptive loci. Previous studies have largely underestimated the effect of such increased diversity following introgression. Recent genomic studies in wheat, potato, maize, grapevine, and ryegrass show that introgression of multiple genes, of as yet unknown effect, increased the effectiveness of purifying selection, and promoted disruptive or fluctuating selection in early cultivars and landraces. Historical selection processes associated with introgression from crop wild relatives provide an instructive analog for adaptation to current climate change and offer new avenues for crop breeding research that are expected to be instrumental for strengthening food security in the coming years.
Collapse
|
11
|
Nagy I, Veeckman E, Liu C, Bel MV, Vandepoele K, Jensen CS, Ruttink T, Asp T. Chromosome-scale assembly and annotation of the perennial ryegrass genome. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:505. [PMID: 35831814 PMCID: PMC9281035 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08697-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The availability of chromosome-scale genome assemblies is fundamentally important to advance genetics and breeding in crops, as well as for evolutionary and comparative genomics. The improvement of long-read sequencing technologies and the advent of optical mapping and chromosome conformation capture technologies in the last few years, significantly promoted the development of chromosome-scale genome assemblies of model plants and crop species. In grasses, chromosome-scale genome assemblies recently became available for cultivated and wild species of the Triticeae subfamily. Development of state-of-the-art genomic resources in species of the Poeae subfamily, which includes important crops like fescues and ryegrasses, is lagging behind the progress in the cereal species. RESULTS Here, we report a new chromosome-scale genome sequence assembly for perennial ryegrass, obtained by combining PacBio long-read sequencing, Illumina short-read polishing, BioNano optical mapping and Hi-C scaffolding. More than 90% of the total genome size of perennial ryegrass (approximately 2.55 Gb) is covered by seven pseudo-chromosomes that show high levels of collinearity to the orthologous chromosomes of Triticeae species. The transposon fraction of perennial ryegrass was found to be relatively low, approximately 35% of the total genome content, which is less than half of the genome repeat content of cultivated cereal species. We predicted 54,629 high-confidence gene models, 10,287 long non-coding RNAs and a total of 8,393 short non-coding RNAs in the perennial ryegrass genome. CONCLUSIONS The new reference genome sequence and annotation presented here are valuable resources for comparative genomic studies in grasses, as well as for breeding applications and will expedite the development of productive varieties in perennial ryegrass and related species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Istvan Nagy
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, Slagelse, DK-4200, Denmark.
| | - Elisabeth Veeckman
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, Caritasstraat 39, Melle, B-9090, Belgium.,Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium.,Present address: DLF Seeds A/S, Denmark, Højerupvej 31, Store Heddinge, DK-4660, Denmark
| | - Chang Liu
- Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Pflanzen (ZMBP), Eberhard Karls Universität, Auf der Morgenstelle 32, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,Present address: Institut für Biologie, Universität Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 30, Stuttgart, 70599, Germany
| | - Michiel Van Bel
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium.,Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
| | - Klaas Vandepoele
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium.,Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
| | | | - Tom Ruttink
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, Caritasstraat 39, Melle, B-9090, Belgium
| | - Torben Asp
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, Slagelse, DK-4200, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kazerooni EA, Al-Sadi AM, Rashid U, Kim ID, Kang SM, Lee IJ. Salvianolic Acid Modulates Physiological Responses and Stress-Related Genes That Affect Osmotic Stress Tolerance in Glycine max and Zea mays. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:904037. [PMID: 35783988 PMCID: PMC9240475 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.904037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Drought is a serious threat worldwide to soybean and maize production. This study was conducted to discern the impact of salvianolic acid treatment on osmotic-stressed soybean (Glycine max L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings from the perspective of physiochemical and molecular reactions. Examination of varied salvianolic acid concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, and 25 μM) on soybean and maize seedling growth confirmed that the 0.1 and 1 μM concentrations, respectively, showed an improvement in agronomic traits. Likewise, the investigation ascertained how salvianolic acid application could retrieve osmotic-stressed plants. Soybean and maize seedlings were irrigated with water or 25% PEG for 8 days. The results indicated that salvianolic acid application promoted the survival of the 39-day-old osmotic-stressed soybean and maize plants. The salvianolic acid-treated plants retained high photosynthetic pigments, protein, amino acid, fatty acid, sugar, and antioxidant contents, and demonstrated low hydrogen peroxide and lipid contents under osmotic stress conditions. Gene transcription pattern certified that salvianolic acid application led to an increased expression of GmGOGAT, GmUBC2, ZmpsbA, ZmNAGK, ZmVPP1, and ZmSCE1d genes, and a diminished expression of GmMIPS2, GmSOG1, GmACS, GmCKX, ZmPIS, and ZmNAC48 genes. Together, our results indicate the utility of salvianolic acid to enhance the osmotic endurance of soybean and maize plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elham Ahmed Kazerooni
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi
- Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Umer Rashid
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ION2), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Il-Doo Kim
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Sang-Mo Kang
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - In-Jung Lee
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Water Uptake Pattern by Coniferous Forests in Two Habitats Linked to Precipitation Changes in Subtropical Monsoon Climate Region, China. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13050708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Variations in precipitation patterns under climate changes influence water availability, which has important implications for plants’ water use and the sustainability of vegetation. However, the water uptake patterns of the main forest species under different temporal spatial conditions of water availability remain poorly understood, especially in areas of high temporal spatial heterogeneity, such as the subtropical monsoon climate region of China. We investigated the water uptake patterns and physiological factors of the most widespread and coniferous forest species, Cunninghamia lanceolata L. and Pinus massoniana L., in the early wet season with short drought (NP), high antecedent precipitation (HP), and low antecedent precipitation (LP), as well as in the early dry season (DP), in edaphic and rocky habitats. The results showed that the two species mainly absorbed soil water from shallow layers, even in the short drought period in the wet season and switched to deeper layers in the early dry season in both habitats. It was noted that the trees utilized deep layers water in edaphic habitats when the antecedent rainfall was high. The two species showed no significant differences in water uptake depth, but exhibited notably distinct leaf water potential behavior. C. lanceolata maintained less negative predawn and midday water potential, whereas P. massoniana showed higher diurnal water potential ranges. Moreover, the water potential of P. massoniana was negatively associated with the antecedent precipitation amount. These results indicate that for co-existing species in these communities, there is significant eco-physiological niche segregation but no eco-hydrological segregation. For tree species in two habitats, the water uptake depth was influenced by the avaliable soil water but the physiological factors were unchanged, and were determined by the species’ genes. Furthermore, during the long drought in the growing season, we observed probable divergent responses of C. lanceolata and P. massoniana, such as growth restriction for the former and hydraulic failure for the latter. However, when the precipitation was heavy and long, these natural species were able to increase the ecohydrological linkages between the ecosystem and the deep-layer system in this edaphic habitat.
Collapse
|
14
|
Calone R, Mircea DM, González-Orenga S, Boscaiu M, Lambertini C, Barbanti L, Vicente O. Recovery from Salinity and Drought Stress in the Perennial Sarcocornia fruticosa vs. the Annual Salicornia europaea and S. veneta. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11081058. [PMID: 35448785 PMCID: PMC9031041 DOI: 10.3390/plants11081058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Current agricultural problems, such as the decline of freshwater and fertile land, foster saline agriculture development. Salicornia and Sarcocornia species, with a long history of human consumption, are ideal models for developing halophyte crops. A greenhouse experiment was set up to compare the response of the perennial Sarcocornia fruticosa and the two annual Salicornia europaea and S. veneta to 30 days of salt stress (watering with 700 mM NaCl) and water deficit (complete withholding of irrigation) separate treatments, followed by 15 days of recovery. The three species showed high tolerance to salt stress, based on the accumulation of ions (Na+, Cl-, Ca2+) in the shoots and the synthesis of organic osmolytes. These defence mechanisms were partly constitutive, as active ion transport to the shoots and high levels of glycine betaine were also observed in non-stressed plants. The three halophytes were sensitive to water stress, albeit S. fruticosa to a lesser extent. In fact, S. fruticosa showed a lower reduction in shoot fresh weight than S. europaea or S. veneta, no degradation of photosynthetic pigments, a significant increase in glycine betaine contents, and full recovery after the water stress treatment. The observed differences could be due to a better adaptation of S. fruticosa to a drier natural habitat, as compared to the two Salicornia species. However, a more gradual stress-induced senescence in the perennial S. fruticosa may contribute to greater drought tolerance in this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Calone
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy;
- Institute for Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (D.-M.M.); (S.G.-O.); (O.V.)
| | - Diana-Maria Mircea
- Institute for Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (D.-M.M.); (S.G.-O.); (O.V.)
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Sara González-Orenga
- Institute for Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (D.-M.M.); (S.G.-O.); (O.V.)
| | - Monica Boscaiu
- Mediterranean Agroforestry Institute (IAM), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, 46022 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Carla Lambertini
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Barbanti
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Oscar Vicente
- Institute for Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (D.-M.M.); (S.G.-O.); (O.V.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bao XY, Wang ZX, He ZS, He WM. Enhanced precipitation offsets climate warming inhibition on Solidago canadensis growth and sustains its high tolerance. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
|
16
|
Kazerooni EA, Al-Sadi AM, Kim ID, Imran M, Lee IJ. Ampelopsin Confers Endurance and Rehabilitation Mechanisms in Glycine max cv. Sowonkong under Multiple Abiotic Stresses. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10943. [PMID: 34681604 PMCID: PMC8536110 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222010943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The present investigation aims to perceive the effect of exogenous ampelopsin treatment on salinity and heavy metal damaged soybean seedlings (Glycine max L.) in terms of physiochemical and molecular responses. Screening of numerous ampelopsin concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10 and 25 μM) on soybean seedling growth indicated that the 1 μM concentration displayed an increase in agronomic traits. The study also determined how ampelopsin application could recover salinity and heavy metal damaged plants. Soybean seedlings were irrigated with water, 1.5% NaCl or 3 mM chosen heavy metals for 12 days. Our results showed that the application of ampelopsin raised survival of the 45-day old salinity and heavy metal stressed soybean plants. The ampelopsin treated plants sustained high chlorophyll, protein, amino acid, fatty acid, salicylic acid, sugar, antioxidant activities and proline contents, and displayed low hydrogen peroxide, lipid metabolism, and abscisic acid contents under unfavorable status. A gene expression survey revealed that ampelopsin application led to the improved expression of GmNAC109, GmFDL19, GmFAD3, GmAPX, GmWRKY12, GmWRKY142, and GmSAP16 genes, and reduced the expression of the GmERF75 gene. This study suggests irrigation with ampelopsin can alleviate plant damage and improve plant yield under stress conditions, especially those including salinity and heavy metals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elham Ahmed Kazerooni
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (E.A.K.); (I.-D.K.); (M.I.)
| | - Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi
- Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khod 123, Oman;
| | - Il-Doo Kim
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (E.A.K.); (I.-D.K.); (M.I.)
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (E.A.K.); (I.-D.K.); (M.I.)
| | - In-Jung Lee
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea; (E.A.K.); (I.-D.K.); (M.I.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Keep T, Rouet S, Blanco-Pastor JL, Barre P, Ruttink T, Dehmer KJ, Hegarty M, Ledauphin T, Litrico I, Muylle H, Roldán-Ruiz I, Surault F, Veron R, Willner E, Sampoux JP. Inter-annual and spatial climatic variability have led to a balance between local fluctuating selection and wide-range directional selection in a perennial grass species. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 128:357-369. [PMID: 33949648 PMCID: PMC8389464 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The persistence of a plant population under a specific local climatic regime requires phenotypic adaptation with underlying particular combinations of alleles at adaptive loci. The level of allele diversity at adaptive loci within a natural plant population conditions its potential to evolve, notably towards adaptation to a change in climate. Investigating the environmental factors that contribute to the maintenance of adaptive diversity in populations is thus worthwhile. Within-population allele diversity at adaptive loci can be partly driven by the mean climate at the population site but also by its temporal variability. METHODS The effects of climate temporal mean and variability on within-population allele diversity at putatively adaptive quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were evaluated using 385 natural populations of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) collected right across Europe. For seven adaptive traits related to reproductive phenology and vegetative potential growth seasonality, the average within-population allele diversity at major QTLs (HeA) was computed. KEY RESULTS Significant relationships were found between HeA of these traits and the temporal mean and variability of the local climate. These relationships were consistent with functional ecology theory. CONCLUSIONS Results indicated that temporal variability of local climate has likely led to fluctuating directional selection, which has contributed to the maintenance of allele diversity at adaptive loci and thus potential for further adaptation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Keep
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| | - S Rouet
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| | - J L Blanco-Pastor
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| | - P Barre
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| | - T Ruttink
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) - Plant Sciences Unit, Caritasstraat 39, 9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - K J Dehmer
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Inselstr. 9, 23999 Malchow/Poel, Germany
| | - M Hegarty
- IBERS-Aberystwyth University, Plas Goggerdan, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - T Ledauphin
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| | - I Litrico
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| | - H Muylle
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) - Plant Sciences Unit, Caritasstraat 39, 9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - I Roldán-Ruiz
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) - Plant Sciences Unit, Caritasstraat 39, 9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - F Surault
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| | - R Veron
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| | - E Willner
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Inselstr. 9, 23999 Malchow/Poel, Germany
| | - J P Sampoux
- INRAE, Centre Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Poitiers, UR4 (UR P3F), F-86600 Lusignan, France
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Tardieu F. Different avenues for progress apply to drought tolerance, water use efficiency and yield in dry areas. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 73:128-134. [PMID: 34365080 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Drought tolerance, water use efficiency (WUE) and yield in dry areas are often considered as synonyms. However, they correspond to markedly different suites of physiological mechanisms, based on combinations of alleles constrained by evolution into consistent strategies. Improving (i) drought tolerance, sensu stricto, involves extreme conservative strategy with protection and repair mechanisms; (ii) WUE most often results in small plants but avenues exist with lower penalties for growth, that is, by reducing night transpiration; (iii) yield for drought prone areas involves both constititutive traits (e.g. phenology or plant architecture), favourable for most environmental scenarios, and adaptive physiological traits whose effects suited to a given scenario. Genetic improvement of the latter would requires identification of scenario-dependent combinations of alleles, involving phenomics, modelling and genomic prediction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francois Tardieu
- LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Kazerooni EA, Maharachchikumbura SSN, Adhikari A, Al-Sadi AM, Kang SM, Kim LR, Lee IJ. Rhizospheric Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Protects Capsicum annuum cv. Geumsugangsan From Multiple Abiotic Stresses via Multifarious Plant Growth-Promoting Attributes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:669693. [PMID: 34113368 PMCID: PMC8185346 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.669693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial microorganisms that can be utilized to improve plant responses against biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we investigated whether PGPR (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) isolated from the endorhizosphere of Sasamorpha borealis have the potential to sustain pepper growth under drought, salinity, and heavy metal stresses. The bacterial strain was determined based on 16S rDNA and gyrB gene sequencing and characterized based on the following biochemical traits: nitrogen fixation; 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity; indole acetic acid production; inorganic phosphate, potassium, zinc, and silicon solubilization; and siderophore production. Various abiotic stresses were applied to 28-day-old pepper seedlings, and the influence of the PGPR strain on pepper seedling growth under these stress conditions was evaluated. The application of PGPR improved survival of the inoculated pepper plants under stress conditions, which was reflected by higher seedling growth rate and improved physiochemical traits. The PGPR-treated plants maintained high chlorophyll, salicylic acid, sugar, amino acid, and proline contents and showed low lipid metabolism, abscisic acid, protein, hydrogen peroxide contents, and antioxidant activities under stress conditions. Gene expression studies confirmed our physiological and biochemical findings. PGPR inoculation led to enhanced expression of XTH genes and reduced expression of WRKY2, BI-1, PTI1, and binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) genes. We conclude that the PGPR strain described in this study has great potential for use in the phytoremediation of heavy metals and for enhancing pepper plant productivity under stress conditions, particularly those involving salinity and drought.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elham Ahmed Kazerooni
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | | | - Arjun Adhikari
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi
- Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, Oman
| | - Sang-Mo Kang
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Lee-Rang Kim
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - In-Jung Lee
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|