The NAC transcription factor RIM1 of rice is a new regulator of jasmonate signaling

A NAC transcription factor MNAC3-centered regulatory network negatively modulates rice immunity against blast disease

NAC transcription factors (TFs) are pivotal in plant immunity against diverse pathogens. Here, we report the functional and regulatory network of MNAC3, a novel NAC TF, in rice immunity. MNAC3, a transcriptional activator, negatively modulates rice immunity against blast and bacterial leaf blight diseases and pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immune responses. MNAC3 binds to a CACG cis-element and activates the transcription of immune-negative target genes OsINO80, OsJAZ10, and OsJAZ11. The negative function of MNAC3 in rice immunity depends on its transcription of downstream genes such as OsINO80 and OsJAZ10. MNAC3 interacts with immunity-related OsPP2C41 (a protein phosphatase), ONAC066 (a NAC TF), and OsDjA6 (a DnaJ chaperone). ONAC066 and OsPP2C41 attenuate MNAC3 transcriptional activity, while OsDjA6 promotes it. Phosphorylation of MNAC3 at S163 is critical for its negative functions in rice immunity. OsPP2C41, which plays positive roles in rice blast resistance and chitin-triggered immune responses, dephosphorylates MNAC3, suppressing its transcriptional activity on the target genes OsINO80, OsJAZ10, and OsJAZ11 and promoting the translocation of MNAC3 from nucleus to cytoplasm. These results establish a MNAC3-centered regulatory network in which OsPP2C41 dephosphorylates MNAC3, attenuating its transcriptional activity on downstream immune-negative target genes in rice. Together, these findings deepen our understanding of molecular mechanisms in rice immunity and offer a novel strategy for genetic improvement of rice disease resistance.

OsNAC103, a NAC Transcription Factor, Positively Regulates Leaf Senescence and Plant Architecture in Rice

Leaf senescence, the last stage of leaf development, is essential for crop yield by promoting nutrition relocation from senescence leaves to new leaves and seeds. NAC (NAM/ATAF1/ATAF2/CUC2) proteins, one of the plant-specific transcription factors, widely distribute in plants and play important roles in plant growth and development. Here, we identified a new NAC member OsNAC103 and found that it plays critical roles in leaf senescence and plant architecture in rice. OsNAC103 mRNA levels were dramatically induced by leaf senescence as well as different phytohormones such as ABA, MeJA and ACC and abiotic stresses including dark, drought and high salinity. OsNAC103 acts as a transcription factor with nuclear localization signals at the N terminal and a transcriptional activation signal at the C terminal. Overexpression of OsNAC103 promoted leaf senescence while osnac103 mutants delayed leaf senescence under natural condition and dark-induced condition, meanwhile, senescence-associated genes (SAGs) were up-regulated in OsNAC103 overexpression (OsNAC103-OE) lines, indicating that OsNAC103 positively regulates leaf senescence in rice. Moreover, OsNAC103-OE lines exhibited loose plant architecture with larger tiller angles while tiller angles of osnac103 mutants decreased during the vegetative and reproductive growth stages due to the response of shoot gravitropism, suggesting that OsNAC103 can regulate the plant architecture in rice. Taken together, our results reveal that OsNAC103 plays crucial roles in the regulation of leaf senescence and plant architecture in rice.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of greenbug-inducible NAC transcription factors in sorghum

BACKGROUND

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an important cereal crop grown worldwide because of its multipurpose uses such as food, forage, and bioenergy feedstock and its wide range of adaption even in marginal environments. Greenbug can cause severe damage to sorghum plants and yield loss. Plant NAC transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to have diverse functions in plant development and plant defense but has not been studied in sorghum yet.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the sorghum NAC (SbNAC) gene family was conducted through genome-wide analysis. A total of 112 NAC genes has been identified in the sorghum genome. These SbNAC genes are phylogenetically clustered into 15 distinct subfamilies and unevenly distribute in clusters at the telomeric ends of each chromosome. Twelve pairs of SbNAC genes are possibly involved in the segmental duplication among nine chromosomes except chromosome 10. Structure analysis showed the diverse structures with a highly variable number of exons in the SbNAC genes. Furthermore, most of the SbNAC genes showed specific temporal and spatial expression patterns according to the results of RNA-seq analysis, suggesting their diverse functions during sorghum growth and development. We have also identified nine greenbug-inducible SbNAC genes by comparing the expression profiles between two sorghum genotypes (susceptible BTx623 and resistant PI607900) in response to greenbug infestation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic analysis of the NAC gene expression profiles provides both a preliminary survey into their roles in plant defense against insect pests and a useful reference for in-depth characterization of the SbNAC genes and the regulatory network that contributes genetic resistance to aphids.

Effects of drought stress on photosynthetic physiological characteristics, leaf microstructure, and related gene expression of yellow horn

Yellow horn grows in northern China and has a high tolerance to drought and poor soil. Improving photosynthetic efficiency and increasing plant growth and yield under drought conditions have become important research content for researchers worldwide. Our study goal is to provide comprehensive information on photosynthesis and some candidate genes breeding of yellow horn under drought stress. In this study, seedlings' stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and fluorescence parameters decreased under drought stress, but non-photochemical quenching increased. The leaf microstructure showed that stomata underwent a process from opening to closing, guard cells from complete to dry, and surrounding leaf cells from smooth to severe shrinkage. The chloroplast ultrastructure showed that the changes of starch granules were different under different drought stress, while plastoglobules increased and expanded continuously. In addition, we found some differentially expressed genes related to photosystem, electron transport component, oxidative phosphate ATPase, stomatal closure, and chloroplast ultrastructure. These results laid a foundation for further genetic improvement and deficit resistance breeding of yellow horn under drought stress.

Metabolic characteristics of self-pollinated wheat seed under red and blue light during early development

MAIN CONCLUSION

Blue light has a greater effect on jasmonic acid and flavonoid accumulation in wheat seeds than red light; blue light reduces starch synthesis and the size of starch granules and seeds. This study sought to elucidate the effects of blue and red light on seed metabolism to provide important insights regarding the role of light quality in regulating seed growth and development. We used combined multi-omics analysis to investigate the impact of red and blue light (BL) on the induction of secondary metabolite accumulation in the hexaploid wheat Dianmai 3 after pollination. Flavonoids and alkaloids were the most differentially abundant metabolites detected under different treatments. Additionally, we used multi-omics and weighted correlation network analysis to screen multiple candidate genes associated with jasmonic acid (JA) and flavonoids. Expression regulatory networks were constructed based on RNA-sequencing data and their potential binding sites. The results revealed that BL had a greater effect on JA and flavonoid accumulation in wheat seeds than red light. Furthermore, BL reduced starch synthesis and stunted the size of starch granules and seeds. Collectively, these findings clarify the role of BL in the metabolic regulation of early seed development in wheat.

The NAC transcription factor ONAC083 negatively regulates rice immunity against Magnaporthe oryzae by directly activating transcription of the RING-H2 gene OsRFPH2-6

NAC transcription factors (TFs) play critical roles in plant immunity by modulating the expression of downstream genes via binding to specific cis-elements in promoters. Here, we report the function and regulatory network of a pathogen- and defense phytohormone-inducible NAC TF gene, ONAC083, in rice (Oryza sativa) immunity. ONAC083 localizes to the nucleus and exhibits transcriptional activation activity that depends on its C-terminal region. Knockout of ONAC083 enhances rice immunity against Magnaporthe oryzae, strengthening pathogen-induced defense responses, and boosting chitin-induced pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), whereas ONAC083 overexpression has opposite effects. We identified ONAC083-binding sites in the promoters of 82 genes, and showed that ONAC083 specifically binds to a conserved element with the core sequence ACGCAA. ONAC083 activated the transcription of the genes OsRFPH2-6, OsTrx1, and OsPUP4 by directly binding to the ACGCAA element. OsRFPH2-6, encoding a RING-H2 protein with an N-terminal transmembrane region and a C-terminal typical RING domain, negatively regulated rice immunity against M. oryzae and chitin-triggered PTI. These data demonstrate that ONAC083 negatively contributes to rice immunity against M. oryzae by directly activating the transcription of OsRFPH2-6 through the ACGCAA element in its promoter. Overall, our study provides new insight into the molecular regulatory network of NAC TFs in rice immunity.

Genome-Wide Expression Analysis of Root Tips in Contrasting Rice Genotypes Revealed Novel Candidate Genes for Water Stress Adaptation

Root system architecture (RSA) is an important agronomic trait with vital roles in plant productivity under water stress conditions. A deep and branched root system may help plants to avoid water stress by enabling them to acquire more water and nutrient resources. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the genetics and molecular control mechanisms of RSA is still relatively limited. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome response of root tips to water stress in two well-known genotypes of rice: IR64, a high-yielding lowland genotype, which represents a drought-susceptible and shallow-rooting genotype; and Azucena, a traditional, upland, drought-tolerant and deep-rooting genotype. We collected samples from three zones (Z) of root tip: two consecutive 5 mm sections (Z1 and Z2) and the following next 10 mm section (Z3), which mainly includes meristematic and maturation regions. Our results showed that Z1 of Azucena was enriched for genes involved in cell cycle and division and root growth and development whereas in IR64 root, responses to oxidative stress were strongly enriched. While the expansion of the lateral root system was used as a strategy by both genotypes when facing water shortage, it was more pronounced in Azucena. Our results also suggested that by enhancing meristematic cell wall thickening for insulation purposes as a means of confronting stress, the sensitive IR64 genotype may have reduced its capacity for root elongation to extract water from deeper layers of the soil. Furthermore, several members of gene families such as NAC, AP2/ERF, AUX/IAA, EXPANSIN, WRKY, and MYB emerged as main players in RSA and drought adaptation. We also found that HSP and HSF gene families participated in oxidative stress inhibition in IR64 root tip. Meta-quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis revealed that 288 differentially expressed genes were colocalized with RSA QTLs previously reported under drought and normal conditions. This finding warrants further research into their possible roles in drought adaptation. Overall, our analyses presented several major molecular differences between Azucena and IR64, which may partly explain their differential root growth responses to water stress. It appears that Azucena avoided water stress through enhancing growth and root exploration to access water, whereas IR64 might mainly rely on cell insulation to maintain water and antioxidant system to withstand stress. We identified a large number of novel RSA and drought associated candidate genes, which should encourage further exploration of their potential to enhance drought adaptation in rice.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Differentially Expressed Genes That Regulate Biosynthesis of the Active Compounds with Methyl Jasmonate in Rosemary Suspension Cells

To study the effects of Methyl jasmonates (MeJA) on rosemary suspension cells, the antioxidant enzymes’ change of activities under different concentrations of MeJA, including 0 (CK), 10 (M10), 50 (M50) and 100 μM MeJA (M100). The results demonstrated that MeJA treatments increased the activities of phenylalanine ammonla-lyase (PAL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and reduced the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA), thus accelerating the ROS scavenging. Comparative transcriptome analysis of different concentrations of MeJA showed that a total of 7836, 6797 and 8310 genes were differentially expressed in the comparisons of CKvsM10, CKvsM50, CKvsM100, respectively. The analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, vitamin B6, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism-related genes were significantly enriched. The transcripts of flavonoid and terpenoid metabolism pathways and plant hormone signal transduction, especially the jasmonic acid (JA) signal-related genes, were differentially expressed in CKvsM50 and CKvsM100 comparisons. In addition, the transcription factors (TFs), e.g., MYC2, DELLA, MYB111 played a key role in rosemary suspension cells under MeJA treatments. qRT-PCR of eleven DEGs showed a high correlation between the RNA-seq and the qRT-PCR result. Taken together, MeJA alleviated peroxidative damage of the rosemary suspension cells in a wide concentration range via concentration-dependent differential expression patterns. This study provided a transcriptome sequence resource responding to MeJA and a valuable resource for the genetic and genomic studies of the active compounds engineering in rosemary.

A Pathogen-Inducible Rice NAC Transcription Factor ONAC096 Contributes to Immunity Against Magnaprothe oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae by Direct Binding to the Promoters of OsRap2.6, OsWRKY62, and OsPAL1

The rice NAC transcriptional factor family harbors 151 members, and some of them play important roles in rice immunity. Here, we report the function and molecular mechanism of a pathogen-inducible NAC transcription factor, ONAC096, in rice immunity against Magnaprothe oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Expression of ONAC096 was induced by M. oryzae and by abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate. ONAC096 had the DNA binding ability to NAC recognition sequence and was found to be a nucleus-localized transcriptional activator whose activity depended on its C-terminal. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of ONAC096 attenuated rice immunity against M. oryzae and X. oryzae pv. oryzae as well as suppressed chitin- and flg22-induced reactive oxygen species burst and expression of PTI marker genes OsWRKY45 and OsPAL4; by contrast, overexpression of ONAC096 enhanced rice immunity against these two pathogens and strengthened chitin- or flg22-induced PTI. RNA-seq transcriptomic profiling and qRT-PCR analysis identified a small set of defense and signaling genes that are putatively regulated by ONAC096, and further biochemical analysis validated that ONAC096 could directly bind to the promoters of OsRap2.6, OsWRKY62, and OsPAL1, three known defense and signaling genes that regulate rice immunity. ONAC096 interacts with ONAC066, which is a positive regulator of rice immunity. These results demonstrate that ONAC096 positively contributes to rice immunity against M. oryzae and X. oryzae pv. oryzae through direct binding to the promoters of downstream target genes including OsRap2.6, OsWRKY62, and OsPAL1.

Two TOBAMOVIRUS MULTIPLICATION 2A homologs in tobacco control asymptomatic response to tobacco mosaic virus

The most common response of a host to pathogens is arguably the asymptomatic response. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for asymptomatic responses to pathogens are poorly understood. Here we report on the genetic cloning of two genes controlling the asymptomatic response to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in cultivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). These two genes are homologous to tobamovirus multiplication 2A (TOM2A) from Arabidopsis, which was shown to be critical for the accumulation of TMV. Expression analysis indicates that the TOM2A genes might play fundamental roles in plant development or in responses to stresses. Consistent with this hypothesis, a null allele of the TOM2A ortholog in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) led to the development of bent branches and a high tolerance to both TMV and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV). However, the TOM2A ortholog in Nicotiana glauca did not account for the asymptomatic response to TMV in N. glauca. We showed that TOM2A family is plant-specific and originated from Chlorophyte, and the biological functions of TOM2A orthologs to promote TMV accumulation are highly conserved in the plant kingdom-in both TMV host and nonhost species. In addition, we showed that the interaction between tobacco TOM1 and TOM2A orthologs in plant species is conserved, suggesting a conserved nature of TOM1-TOM2A module in promoting TMV multiplication in plants. The tradeoff between host development, the resistance of hosts to pathogens, and their influence on gene evolution are discussed. Our results shed light on mechanisms that contribute to asymptomatic responses to viruses in plants and provide approaches for developing TMV/ToMV-resistant crops.

ONAC066, A Stress-Responsive NAC Transcription Activator, Positively Contributes to Rice Immunity Against Magnaprothe oryzae Through Modulating Expression of OsWRKY62 and Three Cytochrome P450 Genes

NAC transcriptional factors constitute a large family in rice and some of them have been demonstrated to play crucial roles in rice immunity. The present study investigated the function and mechanism of ONAC066 in rice immunity. ONAC066 shows transcription activator activity that depends on its C-terminal region in rice cells. ONAC066-OE plants exhibited enhanced resistance while ONAC066-Ri and onac066-1 plants showed attenuated resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae. A total of 81 genes were found to be up-regulated in ONAC066-OE plants, and 26 of them were predicted to be induced by M. oryzae. Four OsWRKY genes, including OsWRKY45 and OsWRKY62, were up-regulated in ONAC066-OE plants but down-regulated in ONAC066-Ri plants. ONAC066 bound to NAC core-binding site in OsWRKY62 promoter and activated OsWRKY62 expression, indicating that OsWRKY62 is a ONAC066 target. A set of cytochrome P450 genes were found to be co-expressed with ONAC066 and 5 of them were up-regulated in ONAC066-OE plants but down-regulated in ONAC066-Ri plants. ONAC066 bound to promoters of cytochrome P450 genes LOC_Os02g30110, LOC_Os06g37300, and LOC_Os02g36150 and activated their transcription, indicating that these three cytochrome P450 genes are ONAC066 targets. These results suggest that ONAC066, as a transcription activator, positively contributes to rice immunity through modulating the expression of OsWRKY62 and a set of cytochrome P450 genes to activate defense response.

Promoter Architecture and Transcriptional Regulation of Genes Upregulated in Germination and Coleoptile Elongation of Diverse Rice Genotypes Tolerant to Submergence

Rice has the natural morphological adaptation to germinate and elongate its coleoptile under submerged flooding conditions. The phenotypic deviation associated with the tolerance to submergence at the germination stage could be due to natural variation. However, the molecular basis of this variation is still largely unknown. A comprehensive understanding of gene regulation of different genotypes that have diverse rates of coleoptile elongation can provide significant insights into improved rice varieties. To do so, publicly available transcriptome data of five rice genotypes, which have different lengths of coleoptile elongation under submergence tolerance, were analyzed. The aim was to identify the correlation between promoter architecture, associated with transcriptional and hormonal regulation, in diverse genotype groups of rice that have different rates of coleoptile elongation. This was achieved by identifying the putative cis-elements present in the promoter sequences of genes upregulated in each group of genotypes (tolerant, highly tolerant, and extremely tolerant genotypes). Promoter analysis identified transcription factors (TFs) that are common and unique to each group of genotypes. The candidate TFs that are common in all genotypes are MYB, bZIP, AP2/ERF, ARF, WRKY, ZnF, MADS-box, NAC, AS2, DOF, E2F, ARR-B, and HSF. However, the highly tolerant genotypes interestingly possess binding sites associated with HY5 (bZIP), GBF3, GBF4 and GBF5 (bZIP), DPBF-3 (bZIP), ABF2, ABI5, bHLH, and BES/BZR, in addition to the common TFs. Besides, the extremely tolerant genotypes possess binding sites associated with bHLH TFs such as BEE2, BIM1, BIM3, BM8 and BAM8, and ABF1, in addition to the TFs identified in the tolerant and highly tolerant genotypes. The transcriptional regulation of these TFs could be linked to phenotypic variation in coleoptile elongation in response to submergence tolerance. Moreover, the results indicate a cross-talk between the key TFs and phytohormones such as gibberellic acid, abscisic acid, ethylene, auxin, jasmonic acid, and brassinosteroids, for an altered transcriptional regulation leading to differences in germination and coleoptile elongation under submergence. The information derived from the current in silico analysis can potentially assist in developing new rice breeding targets for direct seeding.

NAC Transcription Factors as Positive or Negative Regulators during Ongoing Battle between Pathogens and Our Food Crops

The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) family of proteins is one of the largest plant-specific transcription factor (TF) families and its members play varied roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. In recent years, NAC TFs have been demonstrated to participate in crop-pathogen interactions, as positive or negative regulators of the downstream defense-related genes. NAC TFs link signaling pathways between plant hormones, including salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET), and abscisic acid (ABA), or other signals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), to regulate the resistance against pathogens. Remarkably, NAC TFs can also contribute to hypersensitive response and stomatal immunity or can be hijacked as virulence targets of pathogen effectors. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the structure, biological functions and signaling networks of NAC TFs in response to pathogens in several main food crops, such as rice, wheat, barley, and tomato, and explore the directions needed to further elucidate the function and mechanisms of these key signaling molecules.

The ATP-binding cassette transporter OsPDR1 regulates plant growth and pathogen resistance by affecting jasmonates biosynthesis in rice

Jasmonates (JAs) are important regulators of plant growth, development, and defense. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters participate in disease resistance by transporting JAs or antimicrobial secondary metabolites in dicotyledons. Here, we functionally characterized a JAs-inducible rice gene (OsPDR1) that encodes a member of the pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) subfamily of ABC transporters. By affecting JAs biosynthesis, overexpression of OsPDR1 resulted in constitutive activation of defense-related genes and enhanced resistance to bacterial blight, whereas its mutation decreased pathogen resistance. In addition, overexpression and mutation of OsPDR1 resulted in decreased and increased plant growth at seedling stage, respectively, but eventually led to decreased grain yield. OsPDR1 encodes three splice isoforms, of which OsPDR1.2 and OsPDR1.3 contain a conserved glutamate residue in the "ENI-motif" of the first nucleotide-binding domain, while OsPDR1.1 does not. The three OsPDR1 transcripts are developmentally controlled and differentially regulated by JAs and pathogen infection. The OsPDR1.2- and OsPDR1.3-overexpressing plants exhibited higher JAs content and stronger growth inhibition and disease resistance than OsPDR1.1-overexpressing plants. These results indicated that alternative splicing affects the function of OsPDR1 gene in regulation of growth, development and disease resistance.

The Role of Stress-Responsive Transcription Factors in Modulating Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants

Abiotic stresses, such as drought, high temperature, and salinity, affect plant growth and productivity. Furthermore, global climate change may increase the frequency and severity of abiotic stresses, suggesting that development of varieties with improved stress tolerance is critical for future sustainable crop production. Improving stress tolerance requires a detailed understanding of the hormone signaling and transcriptional pathways involved in stress responses. Abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are key stress-response hormones in plants, and some stress-responsive transcription factors such as ABFs and MYCs function as direct components of ABA and JA signaling, playing a pivotal role in plant tolerance to abiotic stress. In addition, extensive studies have identified other stress-responsive transcription factors belonging to the NAC, AP2/ERF, MYB, and WRKY families that mediate plant response and tolerance to abiotic stress. These suggest that transcriptional regulation of stress-responsive genes is an essential step to determine the mechanisms underlying plant stress responses and tolerance to abiotic stress, and that these transcription factors may be important targets for development of crops with enhanced abiotic stress tolerance. In this review, we briefly describe the mechanisms underlying plant abiotic stress responses, focusing on ABA and JA metabolism and signaling pathways. We then summarize the diverse array of transcription factors involved in plant responses to abiotic stress, while noting their potential applications for improvement of stress tolerance.

Gibberellin mediates spermidine-induced salt tolerance and the expression of GT-3b in cucumber

Numerous studies have demonstrated that spermidine (Spd) plays a critical role in salt tolerance in plants, but the associated mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of gibberellin (GA) in Spd-induced salt tolerance and the expression of GT-3b transcription factor in cucumber. The results showed that exogenous Spd significantly increased the salt tolerance of cucumber plants, while its effects were compromised in the presence of methylglyoxal bis-guanylhydrazone (MGBG), an inhibitor of Spd biosynthesis. Interestingly, the expression of GT-3b was significantly induced by Spd under salt stress, and the promoter sequence of GT-3b was predicted to contain cis-acting regulatory elements that could respond to phytohormones, such as GA, salicylic acid (SA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). The application of GA3, SA and MeJA as foliar spray could induce the expression of GT-3b. In addition, exogenous Spd dramatically increased the expression of genes related to GA biosynthesis, the activity of gibberellin oxidase, and the accumulation of GA3, whereas these effects were attenuated in the MGBG-treated plants. Furthermore, the application of GA3 increased GT-3b expression and salt tolerance, whereas these effects were blocked when the plants were treated with paclobutrazol (PAZ), a GA biosynthesis inhibitor. Similarly, the Spd-induced salt tolerance was compromised in the PAZ-treated plants. Our results suggest that GA mediates Spd-induced salt tolerance and the expression of GT-3b in cucumber. These results provide a new perspective for understanding the molecular mechanism of Spd-regulated salt tolerance in plants.

Cloning, sequencing, and expression analysis of 32 NAC transcription factors (MdNAC) in apple

BACKGROUND

NAC transcription factors play important roles in the regulation of plant growth, development, abiotic and biotic stress responses. The transcriptional level of MdNACs in different tissues and under various biotic and abiotic stress treatments was determined to provide a solid foundation for studying the function of MdNACs.

METHODS

Thirty-two full-length cDNA sequences of Md NACs were isolated by homologous comparison and RT-PCR confirmation, and the obtained cDNA sequences and the deduced amino acid sequences were analyzed with bioinformatics methods. The prediction of subcellular locations of MdNAC proteins was performed using CELLO v.2.5, PSORT, and SoftBerry ProtComp 9.0. Expression levels of MdNACs were detected in 16 different tissues using an array. Expression patterns of MdNACs were detected in response to Alternaria alternata apple pathotype (AAAP) infection using RNA-seq, and the expression of MdNACs was analyzed under NaCl and mannitol treatments using RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

The sequencing results produced 32 cDNAs (designated as MdNAC24-39, MdNAC54-65, and MdNAC67-70 with GenBank accession No. MG099861-MG099876, MG099891-MG099902, and MG099904-MG099907, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MdNAC34 belonged to the ATAF group, MdNAC63 belonged to the AtNAC3 group, MdNAC24, MdNAC26-30, MdNAC32-33, MdNAC35, MdNAC37-39, MdNAC56-57, MdNAC59-62, MdNAC64-65, and MdNAC67-70 belonged to the NAM group, and MdNAC25, MdNAC36, MdNAC54-55, and MdNAC58 belonged to the VND group. Predictions of subcellular localization showed that MdNAC24-27, MdNAC29-30, MdNAC33-37, MdNAC39, MdNAC54-65, and MdNAC67-70 proteins were located in the nucleus, MdNAC28 proteins were located in the cytoplasm, MdNAC31-32 proteins were located in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and MdNAC38 proteins were located in the nucleus and plasma membrane. Array results indicated that 32 MdNACs were expressed in all examined tissues at various expression levels. RNA-seq results showed that expression levels of MdNAC26-28, MdNAC33-34, MdNAC60, MdNAC62-65, and MdNAC68 were induced, but MdNAC24, MdNAC32, and MdNAC58 were down-regulated in response to AAAP infection. Under salt treatment, MdNAC24, MdNAC27, MdNAC29, MdNAC34, MdNAC37, MdNAC39, MdNAC54, MdNAC59, and MdNAC63 transcription levels were induced. Under mannitol treatment, MdNAC32 and MdNAC54 transcription levels were induced, but MdNAC24, MdNAC28, MdNAC30, MdNAC33, MdNAC35, MdNAC37, MdNAC55, MdNAC56, MdNAC58, and MdNAC59 were down-regulated. Taken together, the results indicated that the cloned MdNAC genes were expressed constitutively in all examined tissues. These genes were up-regulated or down-regulated in response to AAAP infection and to salt or mannitol, which suggested they may be involved in the regulation of growth, development, and stress response in apple.

The transcription factor VaNAC17 from grapevine (Vitis amurensis) enhances drought tolerance by modulating jasmonic acid biosynthesis in transgenic Arabidopsis

Expression of VaNAC17 improved drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis by upregulating stress-responsive genes, modulating JA biosynthesis, and enhancing ROS scavenging. Water deficit severely affects the growth and development of plants such as grapevine (Vitis spp.). Members of the NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factor (TF) family participate in drought-stress-induced signal transduction in plants, but little is known about the roles of NAC genes in drought tolerance in grapevine. Here, we explored the role of VaNAC17 in Vitis amurensis, a cold-hardy, drought-tolerant species of grapevine. VaNAC17 was strongly induced in grapevine by drought, exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). A transient expression assay in yeast indicated that VaNAC17 functions as a transcriptional activator. Notably, heterologous expression of VaNAC17 in Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced drought tolerance. VaNAC17-expressing Arabidopsis plants showed decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation compared to wild-type plants under drought conditions. RNA-seq analysis indicated that VaNAC17 expression increased the transcription of downstream stress-responsive genes after 5 days of drought treatment, especially genes involved in jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis (such as LOX3, AOC1 and OPR3) and signaling (such as MYC2, JAZ1, VSP1 and CORI3) pathways. Endogenous JA levels increased in VaNAC17-OE plants under drought stress. Taken together, these results indicate that VaNAC17 plays a positive role in drought tolerance by modulating endogenous JA biosynthesis and ROS scavenging.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the NAC Transcription Factor Family in Musa Acuminata and Expression Analysis during Fruit Ripening

Banana (Musa acuminata, AAA group) is a representative climacteric fruit with essential nutrients and pleasant flavors. Control of its ripening determines both the fruit quality and the shelf life. NAC (NAM, ATAF, CUC2) proteins, as one of the largest superfamilies of transcription factors, play crucial roles in various functions, especially developmental processes. Thus, it is important to conduct a comprehensive identification and characterization of the NAC transcription factor family at the genomic level in M. acuminata. In this article, a total of 181 banana NAC genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that NAC genes in M. acuminata, Arabidopsis, and rice were clustered into 18 groups (S1–S18), and MCScanX analysis disclosed that the evolution of MaNAC genes was promoted by segmental duplication events. Expression patterns of NAC genes during banana fruit ripening induced by ethylene were investigated using RNA-Seq data, and 10 MaNAC genes were identified as related to fruit ripening. A subcellular localization assay of selected MaNACs revealed that they were all localized to the nucleus. These results lay a good foundation for the investigation of NAC genes in banana toward the biological functions and evolution.

The Soybean GmNAC019 Transcription Factor Mediates Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis in an Abscisic Acid-Dependent Manner

Being master regulators of gene expression, transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in determining plant growth, development and reproduction. To date, many TFs have been shown to positively mediate plant responses to environmental stresses. In the current study, the biological functions of a stress-responsive NAC [NAM (No Apical Meristem), ATAF1/2 (Arabidopsis Transcription Activation Factor1/2), CUC2 (Cup-shaped Cotyledon2)]-TF encoding gene isolated from soybean (GmNAC019) in relation to plant drought tolerance and abscisic acid (ABA) responses were investigated. By using a heterologous transgenic system, we revealed that transgenic Arabidopsis plants constitutively expressing the GmNAC019 gene exhibited higher survival rates in a soil-drying assay, which was associated with lower water loss rate in detached leaves, lower cellular hydrogen peroxide content and stronger antioxidant defense under water-stressed conditions. Additionally, the exogenous treatment of transgenic plants with ABA showed their hypersensitivity to this phytohormone, exhibiting lower rates of seed germination and green cotyledons. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that GmNAC019 functions as a positive regulator of ABA-mediated plant response to drought, and thus, it has potential utility for improving plant tolerance through molecular biotechnology.

The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Iron Deficiency Responses in Rice

Iron (Fe) is an essential element required for plant growth and development. Under Fe-deficientconditions, plants have developed two distinct strategies (designated as strategy I and II) to acquire Fe from soil. As a graminaceous species, rice is not a typical strategy II plant, as it not only synthesizes DMA (2'-deoxymugineic acid) in roots to chelate Fe3+ but also acquires Fe2+ through transporters OsIRT1 and OsIRT2. During the synthesis of DMA in rice, there are three sequential enzymatic reactions catalyzed by enzymes NAS (nicotianamine synthase), NAAT (nicotianamine aminotransferase), and DMAS (deoxymugineic acid synthase). Many transporters required for Fe uptake from the rhizosphere and internal translocation have also been identified in rice. In addition, the signaling networks composed of various transcription factors (such as IDEF1, IDEF2, and members of the bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) family), phytohormones, and signaling molecules are demonstrated to regulate Fe uptake and translocation. This knowledge greatly contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying iron deficiency responses in rice.

A Novel Sweetpotato Transcription Factor Gene IbMYB116 Enhances Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis

Several members of the MYB transcription factor family have been found to regulate growth, developmental processes, metabolism, and biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants. However, the role of MYB116 in plants is still unclear. In this study, a MYB transcription factor gene IbMYB116 was cloned and characterized from the sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] line Xushu55-2, a line that is considered to be drought resistant. We show here that IbMYB116 is a nuclear protein and that it possesses a transactivation domain at the C terminus. This gene exhibited a high expression level in the leaf tissues of Xushu55-2 and was strongly induced by PEG6000 and methyl-jasmonate (MeJA). The IbMYB116-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants showed significantly enhanced drought tolerance, increased MeJA content, and a decreased H₂O₂ level under drought stress. The overexpression of IbMYB116 in Arabidopsis systematically upregulated jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis genes and activated the JA signaling pathway as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging system genes under drought stress conditions. The overall results suggest that the IbMYB116 gene might enhance drought tolerance by activating a ROS-scavenging system through the JA signaling pathway in transgenic Arabidopsis. These findings reveal, for the first time, the crucial role of IbMYB116 in the drought tolerance of plants.

Susceptibility Genes to Plant Viruses

Plant viruses use cellular factors and resources to replicate and move. Plants respond to viral infection by several mechanisms, including innate immunity, autophagy, and gene silencing, that viruses must evade or suppress. Thus, the establishment of infection is genetically determined by the availability of host factors necessary for virus replication and movement and by the balance between plant defense and viral suppression of defense responses. Host factors may have antiviral or proviral activities. Proviral factors condition susceptibility to viruses by participating in processes essential to the virus. Here, we review current advances in the identification and characterization of host factors that condition susceptibility to plant viruses. Host factors with proviral activity have been identified for all parts of the virus infection cycle: viral RNA translation, viral replication complex formation, accumulation or activity of virus replication proteins, virus movement, and virion assembly. These factors could be targets of gene editing to engineer resistance to plant viruses.

A viral protein promotes host SAMS1 activity and ethylene production for the benefit of virus infection

Ethylene plays critical roles in plant development and biotic stress response, but the mechanism of ethylene in host antiviral response remains unclear. Here, we report that Rice dwarf virus (RDV) triggers ethylene production by stimulating the activity of S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase (SAMS), a key component of the ethylene synthesis pathway, resulting in elevated susceptibility to RDV. RDV-encoded Pns11 protein specifically interacted with OsSAMS1 to enhance its enzymatic activity, leading to higher ethylene levels in both RDV-infected and Pns11-overexpressing rice. Consistent with a counter-defense role for ethylene, Pns11-overexpressing rice, as well as those overexpressing OsSAMS1, were substantially more susceptible to RDV infection, and a similar effect was observed in rice plants treated with an ethylene precursor. Conversely, OsSAMS1-knockout mutants, as well as an osein2 mutant defective in ethylene signaling, resisted RDV infection more robustly. Our findings uncover a novel mechanism which RDV manipulates ethylene biosynthesis in the host plants to achieve efficient infection.

Rice provides food for billions of people all over the world, but diseases caused by plant-infecting viruses cause serious risks to the production of rice. As a result, there is an urgent demand for developing new and impactful ways to help defend rice plants from harmful viruses. Toward this goal, it will be important to better understand how viruses actually cause diseases in plants.

Plants make chemicals known as hormones to control their own development, and hormone production is often disturbed when viruses infect rice plants. Many viruses cause infected plants to make more of a gaseous hormone called ethylene, which benefits the viruses. Yet, it is still not known how virus infection induces the production of more ethylene.

Zhao, Hong et al. have exposed rice plants to infection with a virus called rice dwarf virus. Infected plants made more ethylene than normal, which did indeed help the virus to infect. Further experiments then showed that an enzyme that makes one of the building blocks needed to produce ethylene became more active after infection with this virus. Next, Zhao, Hong et al. engineered rice plants to make more or less of this building block – which is known as S-adenosyl-L-methionine or SAM for short. Plants with too much SAM were less able to defend themselves against the virus, while plants that lacked SAM were better able to fight off viral infection.

Zhao, Hong et al. suggest that engineering rice plants to make less of the SAM-producing enzyme could make them more resistant to viruses. Further work will also be needed to find out why ethylene benefits viral infection, and to confirm whether ethylene also performs similar roles when rice is infected with other viruses.

Stunted Growth Caused by Blast Disease in Rice Seedlings Is Associated with Changes in Phytohormone Signaling Pathways

In response to pathogen attack, plants prioritize defense reactions generally at the expense of plant growth. In this work, we report that changes in phytohormone signaling pathways are associated with the stunted plant growth caused by blast disease in rice seedlings. Infection of rice seedlings with blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (race 007.0) at the four-leaf stage (three true leaves) resulted in considerable inhibition of the growth of the upper uninfected distal leaves; the length of leaf blade and leaf sheath of the sixth and seventh leaf was reduced by 27 and 82%, and 88 and 72%, respectively, compared to that in the uninoculated plant control. Interestingly, cutting off the blast-infected fourth leaf blade within 2 days post inoculation (dpi) significantly rescued the inhibition of leaf growth, implying that an inhibitory substance(s) and/or signal was generated in the blast-infected leaves (fourth leaf) and transmitted to the upper distal leaves (sixth and seventh) during the 2-dpi period that induced growth inhibition. Expression analysis of marker genes for phytohormone pathways revealed acute activation of the jasmonate (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathways, and repression of auxin, gibberellic acid (GA) and salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathways, in the sixth leaf. The genes related to cell wall expansion were also significantly downregulated. In the blast-infected fourth leaf, JA pathway was activated within 2 dpi, followed by activation of ABA pathway 3 dpi. Further, leaf inhibition caused by blast infection was partially rescued in the rice mutant line coleoptile photomorphogenesis 2 (cpm2), which is defective in the gene encoding allene oxide cyclase (OsAOC). These results indicate that the JA signaling pathway is at least partly involved in the growth inhibition processes. Collectively, our data suggest that, upon pathogen attack, rice seedlings prioritize defense reactions against the infecting pathogen by temporarily ceasing plant growth through the systemic control of phytohormone pathways.

Divergent Evolutionary Patterns of NAC Transcription Factors Are Associated with Diversification and Gene Duplications in Angiosperm

NAC (NAM/ATAF/CUC) proteins constitute one of the biggest plant-specific transcription factor (TF) families and have crucial roles in diverse developmental programs during plant growth. Phylogenetic analyses have revealed both conserved and lineage-specific NAC subfamilies, among which various origins and distinct features were observed. It is reasonable to hypothesize that there should be divergent evolutionary patterns of NAC TFs both between dicots and monocots, and among NAC subfamilies. In this study, we compared the gene duplication and loss, evolutionary rate, and selective pattern among non-lineage specific NAC subfamilies, as well as those between dicots and monocots, through genome-wide analyses of sequence and functional data in six dicot and five grass lineages. The number of genes gained in the dicot lineages was much larger than that in the grass lineages, while fewer gene losses were observed in the grass than that in the dicots. We revealed (1) uneven constitution of Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COGs) and contrasting birth/death rates among subfamilies, and (2) two distinct evolutionary scenarios of NAC TFs between dicots and grasses. Our results demonstrated that relaxed selection, resulting from concerted gene duplications, may have permitted substitutions responsible for functional divergence of NAC genes into new lineages. The underlying mechanism of distinct evolutionary fates of NAC TFs shed lights on how evolutionary divergence contributes to differences in establishing NAC gene subfamilies and thus impacts the distinct features between dicots and grasses.

Transcriptome profiling revealed novel transcriptional regulators in maize responses to Ostrinia furnacalis and jasmonic acid

Chewing insects cause severe yield losses in crop production worldwide. Crop plants counteract chewing insects by transcriptionally promoting a repertoire of defense gene products that are either toxic to, or attractive to the natural enemies of, pest insects. However, the complexity of the transcriptional reprogramming in plant defense response against chewing insects is still not well understood. In this study, the genome-wide early responses in maize seedlings to Asian corn borer (ACB, Ostrinia furnacalis) and also to jasmonic acid(JA), the pivotal phytohormone controlling plant defense response against herbivory, were transcriptionally profiled by RNA-Seq. Clustering of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) along with functional enrichment analysis revealed important biological processes regulated in response to ACB infestation and/or jasmonic acid. Moreover, DEGs with distinct expression patterns were differentially enriched with diverse families of cis-elements on their promoters. Multiple inventories of differentially expressed transcription factors (DETFs) in each DEG group were also analyzed. A transient expression assay using transfected maize protoplastswas established to examine the potential roles of DETFs in maize defense response and JA signaling, and this was used to show that ZmNAC60, an ACB- and JA-inducible DETF, represented a novel positive regulator of JA and defense pathway genes. This study provided a comprehensive transcriptional picture for the early dynamics of maize defense responses and JA signaling, and the identification of DETFs offered potential targets for further functional genomics investigation of master regulators in maize defense responses against herbivory.

Genome-wide analysis and expression patterns of the NAC transcription factor family in Medicago truncatula

NAC transcription factor (TF) family proteins are expressed in various developmental stages and following various stresses. NAC TFs are involved in mediating various physiological functions of plants and participate in various signaling pathways under biotic or abiotic stress. The present study provided a comprehensive functional analysis of members of the MtNAC TF family. Via screening of Medicago truncatula genome information, we identified 97 MtNAC TFs in M. truncatula and compared the phylogenetic analysis of 14 conserved groups with their Arabidopsis and rice counterparts. The NAC TFs were categorized into 14 groups based on their conserved motifs and gene structure. The predicted M. truncatula NAC genes were distributed among eight chromosomes, and in addition, we found that these genes showed mass gene duplication. Through expression profiling of RNA-seq data analysis, we determined that NAC family members were expressed significantly under different abiotic stresses. This indicates that the NAC TF shows different functions in M. truncatula. Together, this genome-wide analysis of the NAC gene family in M. truncatula, could be applied to improving stress tolerance in plants.

Jasmonic acid-mediated defense suppresses brassinosteroid-mediated susceptibility to Rice black streaked dwarf virus infection in rice

Plant hormones play a vital role in plant immune responses. However, in contrast to the relative wealth of information on hormone-mediated immunity in dicot plants, little information is available on monocot-virus defense systems. We used a high-throughput-sequencing approach to compare the global gene expression of Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV)-infected rice plants with that of healthy plants. Exogenous hormone applications and transgenic rice were used to test RBSDV infectivity and pathogenicity. Our results revealed that the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway was induced while the brassinosteroid (BR) pathway was suppressed in infected plants. Foliar application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or brassinazole (BRZ) resulted in a significant reduction in RBSDV incidence, while epibrassinolide (BL) treatment increased RBSDV infection. Infection studies using coi1-13 and Go mutants demonstrated JA-mediated resistance and BR-mediated susceptibility to RBSDV infection. A mixture of MeJA and BL treatment resulted in a significant reduction in RBSDV infection compared with a single BL treatment. MeJA application efficiently suppressed the expression of BR pathway genes, and this inhibition depended on the JA coreceptor OsCOI1. Collectively, our results reveal that JA-mediated defense can suppress the BR-mediated susceptibility to RBSDV infection.

The Rice Dynamin-Related Protein OsDRP1E Negatively Regulates Programmed Cell Death by Controlling the Release of Cytochrome c from Mitochondria

Programmed cell death (PCD) mediated by mitochondrial processes has emerged as an important mechanism for plant development and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, the role of translocation of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol during PCD remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the rice dynamin-related protein 1E (OsDRP1E) negatively regulates PCD by controlling mitochondrial structure and cytochrome c release. We used a map-based cloning strategy to isolate OsDRP1E from the lesion mimic mutant dj-lm and confirmed that the E409V mutation in OsDRP1E causes spontaneous cell death in rice. Pathogen inoculation showed that dj-lm significantly enhances resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens. Functional analysis of the E409V mutation showed that the mutant protein impairs OsDRP1E self-association and formation of a higher-order complex; this in turn reduces the GTPase activity of OsDRP1E. Furthermore, confocal microscopy showed that the E409V mutation impairs localization of OsDRP1E to the mitochondria. The E409V mutation significantly affects the morphogenesis of cristae in mitochondria and causes the abnormal release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytoplasm. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the mitochondria-localized protein OsDRP1E functions as a negative regulator of cytochrome c release and PCD in plants.

Plants have developed a hypersensitive response (HR) that shows rapid programed cell death (PCD) around the infection site, which in turn limits pathogen invasion and restricts the spread of pathogens. Although many studies reported the characterization of PCD in different pathosystems in the last decade, the molecular mechanisms on how PCD is initiated and how it regulates host resistance are still unclear. Lesion mimic mutants exhibit spontaneous HR-like cell death without pathogen invasion and are ideal genetic materials for dissecting the PCD pathway. In this study, we characterized the lesion mimic gene OsDRP1E that negatively regulates plant PCD through the control of cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Our results suggest that the E409V point mutation in the dynamin-related protein OsDRP1E affects the morphogenesis of mitochondrial cristae that leads to the cytochrome c release into cytoplasm. This study provides new insights into the function of dynamin-related proteins in plant immunity.

Characterization, Expression, and Functional Analysis of a Novel NAC Gene Associated with Resistance to Verticillium Wilt and Abiotic Stress in Cotton

Elucidating the mechanism of resistance to biotic and abiotic stress is of great importance in cotton. In this study, a gene containing the NAC domain, designated GbNAC1, was identified from Gossypium barbadense L. Homologous sequence alignment indicated that GbNAC1 belongs to the TERN subgroup. GbNAC1 protein localized to the cell nucleus. GbNAC1 was expressed in roots, stems, and leaves, and was especially highly expressed in vascular bundles. Functional analysis showed that cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt was reduced when the GbNAC1 gene was silenced using the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method. GbNAC1-overexpressing Arabidopsis showed enhanced resistance to Verticillium dahliae compared to wild-type. Thus, GbNAC1 is involved in the positive regulation of resistance to Verticillium wilt. In addition, analysis of GbNAC1-overexpressing Arabidopsis under different stress treatments indicated that it is involved in plant growth, development, and response to various abiotic stresses (ABA, mannitol, and NaCl). This suggests that GbNAC1 plays an important role in resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in cotton. This study provides a foundation for further study of the function of NAC genes in cotton and other plants.

Recessive Resistance to Plant Viruses: Potential Resistance Genes Beyond Translation Initiation Factors

The ability of plant viruses to propagate their genomes in host cells depends on many host factors. In the absence of an agrochemical that specifically targets plant viral infection cycles, one of the most effective methods for controlling viral diseases in plants is taking advantage of the host plant’s resistance machinery. Recessive resistance is conferred by a recessive gene mutation that encodes a host factor critical for viral infection. It is a branch of the resistance machinery and, as an inherited characteristic, is very durable. Moreover, recessive resistance may be acquired by a deficiency in a negative regulator of plant defense responses, possibly due to the autoactivation of defense signaling. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF) 4E and eIF4G and their isoforms are the most widely exploited recessive resistance genes in several crop species, and they are effective against a subset of viral species. However, the establishment of efficient, recessive resistance-type antiviral control strategies against a wider range of plant viral diseases requires genetic resources other than eIF4Es. In this review, we focus on recent advances related to antiviral recessive resistance genes evaluated in model plants and several crop species. We also address the roles of next-generation sequencing and genome editing technologies in improving plant genetic resources for recessive resistance-based antiviral breeding in various crop species.

Jasmonate signaling is activated in the very early stages of iron deficiency responses in rice roots

Under low iron availability, plants induce the expression of various genes involved in iron uptake and translocation at the transcriptional level. This iron deficiency response is affected by various plant hormones, but the roles of jasmonates in this response are not well-known. We investigated the involvement of jasmonates in rice iron deficiency responses. High rates of jasmonate-inducible genes were induced during the very early stages of iron deficiency treatment in rice roots. Many jasmonate-inducible genes were also negatively regulated by the ubiquitin ligases OsHRZ1 and OsHRZ2 and positively regulated by the transcription factor IDEF1. Ten out of 35 genes involved in jasmonate biosynthesis and signaling were rapidly induced at 3 h of iron deficiency treatment, and this induction preceded that of known iron deficiency-inducible genes involved in iron uptake and translocation. Twelve genes involved in jasmonate biosynthesis and signaling were also upregulated in HRZ-knockdown roots. Endogenous concentrations of jasmonic acid and jasmonoyl isoleucine tended to be rapidly increased in roots in response to iron deficiency treatment, whereas these concentrations were higher in HRZ-knockdown roots under iron-sufficient conditions. Analysis of the jasmonate-deficient cpm2 mutant revealed that jasmonates repress the expression of many iron deficiency-inducible genes involved in iron uptake and translocation under iron sufficiency, but this repression is partly canceled under an early stage of iron deficiency. These results indicate that jasmonate signaling is activated during the very early stages of iron deficiency, which is partly regulated by IDEF1 and OsHRZs.

Functional diversity of jasmonates in rice

Phytohormone jasmonates (JA) play essential roles in plants, such as regulating development and growth, responding to environmental changes, and resisting abiotic and biotic stresses. During signaling, JA interacts, either synergistically or antagonistically, with other hormones, such as salicylic acid (SA), gibberellin (GA), ethylene (ET), auxin, brassinosteroid (BR), and abscisic acid (ABA), to regulate gene expression in regulatory networks, conferring physiological and metabolic adjustments in plants. As an important staple crop, rice is a major nutritional source for human beings and feeds one third of the world's population. Recent years have seen significant progress in the understanding of the JA pathway in rice. In this review, we summarize the diverse functions of JA, and discuss the JA interplay with other hormones, as well as light, in this economically important crop. We believe that a better understanding of the JA pathway will lead to practical biotechnological applications in rice breeding and cultivation.

Mutation of Oryza sativa CORONATINE INSENSITIVE 1b (OsCOI1b) delays leaf senescence

Jasmonic acid (JA) functions in plant development, including senescence and immunity. Arabidopsis thaliana CORONATINE INSENSITIVE 1 encodes a JA receptor and functions in the JA-responsive signaling pathway. The Arabidopsis genome harbors a single COI gene, but the rice (Oryza sativa) genome harbors three COI homologs, OsCOI1a, OsCOI1b, and OsCOI2. Thus, it remains unclear whether each OsCOI has distinct, additive, synergistic, or redundant functions in development. Here, we use the oscoi1b-1 knockout mutants to show that OsCOI1b mainly affects leaf senescence under senescence-promoting conditions. oscoi1b-1 mutants stayed green during dark-induced and natural senescence, with substantial retention of chlorophylls and photosynthetic capacity. Furthermore, several senescence-associated genes were downregulated in oscoi1b-1 mutants, including homologs of Arabidopsis thaliana ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 and ORESARA 1, important regulators of leaf senescence. These results suggest that crosstalk between JA signaling and ethylene signaling affects leaf senescence. The Arabidopsis coi1-1 plants containing 35S:OsCOI1a or 35S:OsCOI1b rescued the delayed leaf senescence during dark incubation, suggesting that both OsCOI1a and OsCOI1b are required for promoting leaf senescence in rice. oscoi1b-1 mutants showed significant decreases in spikelet fertility and grain weight, leading to severe reduction of grain yield, indicating that OsCOI1-mediated JA signaling affects spikelet fertility and grain filling.

Brome mosaic virus Infection of Rice Results in Decreased Accumulation of RNA1

Brome mosaic virus (BMV) (the Russian strain) infects monocot plants and has been studied extensively in barley and wheat. Here, we report BMV can systemically infect rice (Oryza sativa var. japonica), including cultivars in which the genomes have been determined. The BMV capsid protein can be found throughout the inoculated plants. However, infection in rice exhibits delayed symptom expression or no symptoms when compared with wheat (Triticum aestivum). The sequences of BMV RNAs isolated from rice did not reveal any nucleotide changes in RNA1 or RNA2, while RNA3 had only one synonymous nucleotide change from the inoculum sequence. Preparations of purified BMV virions contained RNA1 at a significantly reduced level relative to the other two RNAs. Analysis of BMV RNA replication in rice revealed that minus-strand RNA1 was replicated at a reduced rate when compared with RNA2. Thus, rice appears to either inhibit RNA1 replication or lacks a sufficient amount of a factor needed to support efficient RNA1 replication.

An ent-kaurene-derived diterpenoid virulence factor from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola

Both plants and fungi produce ent-kaurene as a precursor to the gibberellin plant hormones. A number of rhizobia contain functionally conserved, sequentially acting ent-copalyl diphosphate and ent-kaurene synthases (CPS and KS, respectively), which are found within a well-conserved operon that may lead to the production of gibberellins. Intriguingly, the rice bacterial leaf streak pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) contains a homologous operon. Here, we report biochemical characterization of the encoded CPS and KS, and the impact of insertional mutagenesis on virulence and the plant defense response for these genes, as well as that for one of the cytochromes P450 (CYP112) found in the operon. Activity of the CPS and KS found in this phytopathogen was verified - that is, Xoc is capable of producing ent-kaurene. Moreover, knocking out CPS, KS or CYP112 led to mutant Xoc that exhibited reduced virulence. Investigation of the effect on marker gene transcript levels suggests that the Xoc diterpenoid affects the plant defense response, most directly that mediated by jasmonic acid (JA). Xoc produces an ent-kaurene-derived diterpenoid as a virulence factor, potentially a gibberellin phytohormone, which is antagonistic to JA, consistent with the recent recognition of opposing effects for these phytohormones on the microbial defense response.

Iron deficiency responses in rice roots

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for most living organisms. To acquire sparingly soluble Fe from the rhizosphere, rice roots rely on two Fe acquisition pathways. The first of these pathways involves Fe(III) chelators specific to graminaceous plants, the mugineic acid family phytosiderophores, and the second involves absorption of Fe(2+). Key components in this response include enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of deoxymugineic acid (OsNAS1, OsNAS2, OsNAAT1, and OsDMAS1), the deoxymugineic acid efflux transporter (TOM1), the Fe(III)-deoxymugineic acid transporter (OsYSL15), and Fe(2+) transporters (OsIRT1, OsIRT2, and OsNRAMP1). In whole roots, these proteins are expressed in a coordinated manner with strong transcriptional induction in response to Fe deficiency. Radial transport of Fe to xylem and phloem is also mediated by the mugineic acid family phytosiderophores, as well as other chelators and their transporters, including Fe(II)-nicotianamine transporter (OsYSL2), phenolics efflux transporters (PEZ1 and PEZ2), and citrate efflux transporter (OsFRDL1). Among these, OsYSL2 is strongly induced under conditions of Fe deficiency. Both transcriptional induction and potential feedback repression mediate the expressional regulation of the genes involved in Fe uptake and translocation in response to Fe deficiency. The transcription factors IDEF1, IDEF2, and OsIRO2 are responsible for transcriptional induction, whereas the ubiquitin ligases OsHRZ1 and OsHRZ2, as well as the transcription factors OsIRO3 and OsbHLH133, are thought to mediate negative regulation. Furthermore, IDEF1 and OsHRZs bind Fe and other metals, and are therefore candidate Fe sensors. The interacting functions of these regulators are thought to fine tune the expression of proteins involved in Fe uptake and translocation.

α-linolenic acid concentration and not wounding per se is the key regulator of octadecanoid (oxylipin) pathway activity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaves

Using an in vitro system composed of crushed leaf tissues to simulate the wounding response in rice leaves, we established that synthesis of jasmonic acid (JA) and jasmonic acid-isoleucine (JA-Ile) can only occur in unwounded tissue and, in wounded tissue, that only the chloroplast-located section of the octadecanoid pathway is active, resulting in the accumulation of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA). We further showed that OPDA accumulation in vitro was inhibited by 90% using the general lipase inhibitor, tetrahydrolipstatin, indicating that production of α-linolenic acid was the rate-limiting step in octadecanoid pathway activity in rice following wounding and the enzyme capacity for an active pathway was already present. We confirmed this result by showing that added α-linolenic acid stimulated OPDA synthesis in vitro and stimulated OPDA, JA and JA-Ile synthesis in vivo in unwounded tissue. Thus, the response to wounding can be mimicked by the provision of free α-linolenic acid. Our results draw attention to the key importance of lipase activity in initiation of JA and JA-Ile biosynthesis and our lack of knowledge of the cognate lipase(s), lipase substrate identity and mechanism(s) of activation in wounded and unwounded tissue.

Tomato NAC transcription factor SlSRN1 positively regulates defense response against biotic stress but negatively regulates abiotic stress response

Biotic and abiotic stresses are major unfavorable factors that affect crop productivity worldwide. NAC proteins comprise a large family of transcription factors that play important roles in plant growth and development as well as in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In a virus-induced gene silencing-based screening to identify genes that are involved in defense response against Botrytis cinerea, we identified a tomato NAC gene SlSRN1 (Solanum lycopersicumStress-related NAC1). SlSRN1 is a plasma membrane-localized protein with transactivation activity in yeast. Expression of SlSRN1 was significantly induced by infection with B. cinerea or Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000, leading to 6–8 folds higher than that in the mock-inoculated plants. Expression of SlSRN1 was also induced by salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and 1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and by drought stress. Silencing of SlSRN1 resulted in increased severity of diseases caused by B. cinerea and Pst DC3000. However, silencing of SlSRN1 resulted in increased tolerance against oxidative and drought stresses. Furthermore, silencing of SlSRN1 accelerated accumulation of reactive oxygen species but attenuated expression of defense genes after infection by B. cinerea. Our results demonstrate that SlSRN1 is a positive regulator of defense response against B. cinerea and Pst DC3000 but is a negative regulator for oxidative and drought stress response in tomato.

Genomic analysis of NAC transcription factors in banana (Musa acuminata) and definition of NAC orthologous groups for monocots and dicots

Identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance to abiotic stresses is important in crop breeding. A comprehensive understanding of the gene families associated with drought tolerance is therefore highly relevant. NAC transcription factors form a large plant-specific gene family involved in the regulation of tissue development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The main goal of this study was to set up a framework of orthologous groups determined by an expert sequence comparison of NAC genes from both monocots and dicots. In order to clarify the orthologous relationships among NAC genes of different species, we performed an in-depth comparative study of four divergent taxa, in dicots and monocots, whose genomes have already been completely sequenced: Arabidopsis thaliana, Vitis vinifera, Musa acuminata and Oryza sativa. Due to independent evolution, NAC copy number is highly variable in these plant genomes. Based on an expert NAC sequence comparison, we propose forty orthologous groups of NAC sequences that were probably derived from an ancestor gene present in the most recent common ancestor of dicots and monocots. These orthologous groups provide a curated resource for large-scale protein sequence annotation of NAC transcription factors. The established orthology relationships also provide a useful reference for NAC function studies in newly sequenced genomes such as M. acuminata and other plant species.

Roles of NAC transcription factors in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants

NAC transcription factors are one of the largest families of transcriptional regulators in plants, and members of the NAC gene family have been suggested to play important roles in the regulation of the transcriptional reprogramming associated with plant stress responses. A phylogenetic analysis of NAC genes, with a focus on rice and Arabidopsis, was performed. Herein, we present an overview of the regulation of the stress responsive NAC SNAC/(IX) group of genes that are implicated in the resistance to different stresses. SNAC factors have important roles for the control of biotic and abiotic stresses tolerance and that their overexpression can improve stress tolerance via biotechnological approaches. We also review the recent progress in elucidating the roles of NAC transcription factors in plant biotic and abiotic stresses. Modification of the expression pattern of transcription factor genes and/or changes in their activity contribute to the elaboration of various signaling pathways and regulatory networks. However, a single NAC gene often responds to several stress factors, and their protein products may participate in the regulation of several seemingly disparate processes as negative or positive regulators. Additionally, the NAC proteins function via auto-regulation or cross-regulation is extensively found among NAC genes. These observations assist in the understanding of the complex mechanisms of signaling and transcriptional reprogramming controlled by NAC proteins.

Jasmonate biosynthesis and signaling in monocots: a comparative overview

The plant hormone jasmonate (JA) fulfils essential roles in plant defense and development. While most of our current understanding of the JA pathway comes from the dicotyledonous model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, new studies in monocotyledonous plants are providing additional insights into this important hormone signaling pathway. In this review, we present a comparative overview of the JA biosynthetic and signaling pathways in monocots. We highlight recent studies that have revealed molecular mechanisms (mostly conserved but also diverged) underlying JA signaling and biosynthesis in the economically important plants: maize and rice. A better understanding of the JA pathway in monocots should lead to significant improvements in pest and pathogen resistance in cereal crops, which provide the bulk of the world's food and feed supply.

Plant defense against insect herbivores

Plants have been interacting with insects for several hundred million years, leading to complex defense approaches against various insect feeding strategies. Some defenses are constitutive while others are induced, although the insecticidal defense compound or protein classes are often similar. Insect herbivory induce several internal signals from the wounded tissues, including calcium ion fluxes, phosphorylation cascades and systemic- and jasmonate signaling. These are perceived in undamaged tissues, which thereafter reinforce their defense by producing different, mostly low molecular weight, defense compounds. These bioactive specialized plant defense compounds may repel or intoxicate insects, while defense proteins often interfere with their digestion. Volatiles are released upon herbivory to repel herbivores, attract predators or for communication between leaves or plants, and to induce defense responses. Plants also apply morphological features like waxes, trichomes and latices to make the feeding more difficult for the insects. Extrafloral nectar, food bodies and nesting or refuge sites are produced to accommodate and feed the predators of the herbivores. Meanwhile, herbivorous insects have adapted to resist plant defenses, and in some cases even sequester the compounds and reuse them in their own defense. Both plant defense and insect adaptation involve metabolic costs, so most plant-insect interactions reach a stand-off, where both host and herbivore survive although their development is suboptimal.

RiceSRTFDB: a database of rice transcription factors containing comprehensive expression, cis-regulatory element and mutant information to facilitate gene function analysis

Rice is one of the most important crop plants, representing the staple food for more than half the world’s population. However, its productivity is challenged by various stresses, including drought and salinity. Transcription factors (TFs) represent a regulatory component of the genome and are the most important targets for engineering stress tolerance. Here, we constructed a database, RiceSRTFDB, which provides comprehensive expression information for rice TFs during drought and salinity stress conditions and various stages of development. This information will be useful to identify the target TF(s) involved in stress response at a particular stage of development. The curated information for cis-regulatory elements present in their promoters has also been provided, which will be important to study the binding proteins. In addition, we have provided the available mutants and their phenotype information for rice TFs. All these information have been integrated in the database to facilitate the selection of target TFs of interest for functional analysis. This database aims to accelerate functional genomics research of rice TFs and understand the regulatory mechanisms underlying abiotic stress responses.

Database URL:http://www.nipgr.res.in/RiceSRTFDB.html

Functional analysis and expressional characterization of rice ankyrin repeat-containing protein, OsPIANK1, in basal defense against Magnaporthe oryzae attack

The ankyrin repeat-containing protein gene OsPIANK1 (AK068021) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) was previously shown to be upregulated following infection with the rice leaf blight pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo). In this study, we further characterized the role of OsPIANK1 in basal defense against Magnaporthe oryzae (M.oryzae) by 5' deletion analysis of its promoter and overexpression of the gene. The promoter of OsPIANK1 with 1,985 bps in length was sufficient to induce the OsPIANK1 response to inoculation with M.oryzae and to exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or salicylic acid (SA), but not to exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA). A TCA-element present in the region between -563 bp and -249 bp may be responsible for the OsPIANK1 response to both M.oryzae infection and exogenous SA application. The JERE box, CGTCA-box, and two MYB binding sites locating in the region between -1985 bp and -907 bp may be responsible for the response of OsPIANK1 to exogenous MeJA. OsPIANK1 expression was upregulated after inoculation with M.oryzae and after treatment with exogenous SA and MeJA. Overexpression of OsPIANK1 enhanced resistance of rice to M.oryzae, although it did not confer complete resistance. The enhanced resistance to M.oryzae was accompanied by enhanced transcriptional expression of SA- and JA-dependent genes such as NH1, WKRY13, PAL, AOS2, PR1b, and PR5. This evidence suggests that OsPIANK1 acted as a positive regulator in rice basal defense mediated by SA- and JA-signaling pathways.

SlNAC1, a stress-related transcription factor, is fine-tuned on both the transcriptional and the post-translational level

The plant-specific NAC (NAM, ATAF1,2, CUC2) transcription factors play significant roles in diverse physiological processes. In this study, we determined the regulation of a stress-related tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) NAC1 (SlNAC1) transcription factor at both the transcriptional and the post-translational level. The SlNAC1 protein was found to be stable in the presence of proteasome-specific inhibitor MG132 or MG115 and ubiquitinated in plant cells, suggesting that the SlNAC1 is subject to the ubiquitin-proteasome system-mediated degradation. Deletion analysis identified a short segment of 10 amino acids (aa261-270) that was required for ubiquitin-proteasome system-mediated degradation, among which two leucine residues (L268 and L269) were critical for the protein instability of SlNAC1. Fusion of the degron (SlNAC1(191-270) ) containing these 10 amino acids to green fluorescent protein was found to be sufficient to trigger the degradation of the fusion protein. In addition, the SlNAC1 gene is strongly upregulated during Pseudomonas infection, while repression of the NAC1 ortholog in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in enhanced susceptibility to Pseudomonas bacteria. These results suggest that rapid upregulation of the NAC1 gene resulting in more protein production is likely one of the strategies plants use to defend themselves against pathogen infection.

[Functions of NAC transcription factors in biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants]

NAC transcription factors belong to a unique class of transcription factors in plants. The common characteristics of the NAC proteins are the presence of a conserved NAC domain, comprising of about 150 amino acids in N-terminals and a highly variable transcriptional regulation region in C-terminals. Extensive studies have revealed that NAC transcription factors not only play important roles in plant growth and development, but also have functions in regulation of responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this minireview, we summarized the functions and mechanisms of the NAC transcriptional factors in plant abiotic and biotic stress responses. We also discussed future directions towards understanding the biological functions of the members of the NAC transcriptional factors in plants.

Molecular characterization of banana NAC transcription factors and their interactions with ethylene signalling component EIL during fruit ripening

The plant-specific NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, the precise role of NAC TFs in relation to fruit ripening is poorly understood. In this study, six NAC genes, designated MaNAC1-MaNAC6, were isolated and characterized from banana fruit. Subcellular localization showed that MaNAC1-MaNAC5 proteins localized preferentially to the nucleus, while MaNAC6 was distributed throughout the entire cell. A transactivation assay in yeast demonstrated that MaNAC4 and MaNAC6, as well as their C-terminal regions, possessed trans-activation activity. Gene expression profiles in fruit with four different ripening characteristics, including natural, ethylene-induced, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)-delayed, and a combination of 1-MCP with ethylene treatment, revealed that the MaNAC genes were differentially expressed in peel and pulp during post-harvest ripening. MaNAC1 and MaNAC2 were apparently upregulated by ethylene in peel and pulp, consistent with the increase in ethylene production. In contrast, MaNAC3 in peel and pulp and MaNAC5 in peel were constitutively expressed, and transcripts of MaNAC4 in peel and pulp and MaNAC6 in peel decreased, while MaNAC5 or MaNAC6 in pulp increased slightly during fruit ripening. Furthermore, the MaNAC2 promoter was activated after ethylene application, further enhancing the involvement of MaNAC2 in fruit ripening. More importantly, yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation analyses confirmed that MaNAC1/2 physically interacted with a downstream component of ethylene signalling, ethylene insensitive 3 (EIN3)-like protein, termed MaEIL5, which was downregulated during ripening. Taken together, these results suggest that MaNACs such as MaNAC1/MaNAC2, may be involved in banana fruit ripening via interaction with ethylene signalling components.