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Inzé D, Nelissen H. The translatability of genetic networks from model to crop species: lessons from the past and perspectives for the future. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:43-48. [PMID: 35801919 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Comparative analyses of growth-regulatory mechanisms between Arabidopsis and maize revealed that even when the gene space is conserved, the translation of knowledge from model species to crops is not trivial. Based on these insights, we formulate future opportunities to improve the interpretation of curiosity-driven research towards crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
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2
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Blankenagel S, Eggels S, Frey M, Grill E, Bauer E, Dawid C, Fernie AR, Haberer G, Hammerl R, Barbosa Medeiros D, Ouzunova M, Presterl T, Ruß V, Schäufele R, Schlüter U, Tardieu F, Urbany C, Urzinger S, Weber APM, Schön CC, Avramova V. Natural alleles of the abscisic acid catabolism gene ZmAbh4 modulate water use efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination in maize. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:3860-3872. [PMID: 35792867 PMCID: PMC9520448 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Altering plant water use efficiency (WUE) is a promising approach for achieving sustainable crop production in changing climate scenarios. Here, we show that WUE can be tuned by alleles of a single gene discovered in elite maize (Zea mays) breeding material. Genetic dissection of a genomic region affecting WUE led to the identification of the gene ZmAbh4 as causative for the effect. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ZmAbh4 inactivation increased WUE without growth reductions in well-watered conditions. ZmAbh4 encodes an enzyme that hydroxylates the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) and initiates its catabolism. Stomatal conductance is regulated by ABA and emerged as a major link between variation in WUE and discrimination against the heavy carbon isotope (Δ13C) during photosynthesis in the C4 crop maize. Changes in Δ13C persisted in kernel material, which offers an easy-to-screen proxy for WUE. Our results establish a direct physiological and genetic link between WUE and Δ13C through a single gene with potential applications in maize breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Monika Frey
- Plant Breeding, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Erwin Grill
- Botany, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Emil-Ramann-Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Eva Bauer
- Campus Office, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephaner Steig 22, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Corinna Dawid
- Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Lise-Meitner-Straße 34, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Central Metabolism, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Georg Haberer
- Plant Genome and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Richard Hammerl
- Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Lise-Meitner-Straße 34, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - David Barbosa Medeiros
- Central Metabolism, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | | | | | - Victoria Ruß
- Botany, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Emil-Ramann-Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Rudi Schäufele
- Grassland, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Alte Akademie 12, 85654 Freising, Germany
| | - Urte Schlüter
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Science (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Francois Tardieu
- Université de Montpellier, INRAE, Laboratoire d’Ecophysiologie des Plantes sous Stress Environnementaux (LEPSE), Place Viala, F-34060, Montpellier, France
| | - Claude Urbany
- KWS SAAT SE, Grimsehlstraße 31, 37555 Einbeck, Germany
| | - Sebastian Urzinger
- Plant Breeding, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Andreas P M Weber
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Science (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Chris-Carolin Schön
- Plant Breeding, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
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Yassitepe JEDCT, da Silva VCH, Hernandes-Lopes J, Dante RA, Gerhardt IR, Fernandes FR, da Silva PA, Vieira LR, Bonatti V, Arruda P. Maize Transformation: From Plant Material to the Release of Genetically Modified and Edited Varieties. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:766702. [PMID: 34721493 PMCID: PMC8553389 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.766702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, advances in plant biotechnology have allowed the development of genetically modified maize varieties that have significantly impacted agricultural management and improved the grain yield worldwide. To date, genetically modified varieties represent 30% of the world's maize cultivated area and incorporate traits such as herbicide, insect and disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, high yield, and improved nutritional quality. Maize transformation, which is a prerequisite for genetically modified maize development, is no longer a major bottleneck. Protocols using morphogenic regulators have evolved significantly towards increasing transformation frequency and genotype independence. Emerging technologies using either stable or transient expression and tissue culture-independent methods, such as direct genome editing using RNA-guided endonuclease system as an in vivo desired-target mutator, simultaneous double haploid production and editing/haploid-inducer-mediated genome editing, and pollen transformation, are expected to lead significant progress in maize biotechnology. This review summarises the significant advances in maize transformation protocols, technologies, and applications and discusses the current status, including a pipeline for trait development and regulatory issues related to current and future genetically modified and genetically edited maize varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Erika de Carvalho Teixeira Yassitepe
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Viviane Cristina Heinzen da Silva
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - José Hernandes-Lopes
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Augusto Dante
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Isabel Rodrigues Gerhardt
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Rausch Fernandes
- Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Priscila Alves da Silva
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Leticia Rios Vieira
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Bonatti
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Paulo Arruda
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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Miculan M, Nelissen H, Ben Hassen M, Marroni F, Inzé D, Pè ME, Dell’Acqua M. A forward genetics approach integrating genome-wide association study and expression quantitative trait locus mapping to dissect leaf development in maize (Zea mays). THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 107:1056-1071. [PMID: 34087008 PMCID: PMC8519057 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The characterization of the genetic basis of maize (Zea mays) leaf development may support breeding efforts to obtain plants with higher vigor and productivity. In this study, a mapping panel of 197 biparental and multiparental maize recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was analyzed for multiple leaf traits at the seedling stage. RNA sequencing was used to estimate the transcription levels of 29 573 gene models in RILs and to derive 373 769 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and a forward genetics approach combining these data was used to pinpoint candidate genes involved in leaf development. First, leaf traits were correlated with gene expression levels to identify transcript-trait correlations. Then, leaf traits were associated with SNPs in a genome-wide association (GWA) study. An expression quantitative trait locus mapping approach was followed to associate SNPs with gene expression levels, prioritizing candidate genes identified based on transcript-trait correlations and GWAs. Finally, a network analysis was conducted to cluster all transcripts in 38 co-expression modules. By integrating forward genetics approaches, we identified 25 candidate genes highly enriched for specific functional categories, providing evidence supporting the role of vacuolar proton pumps, cell wall effectors, and vesicular traffic controllers in leaf growth. These results tackle the complexity of leaf trait determination and may support precision breeding in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Miculan
- Institute of Life SciencesScuola Superiore Sant’AnnaPisa56127Italy
| | - Hilde Nelissen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhent9052Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIBGhent9052Belgium
| | - Manel Ben Hassen
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhent9052Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIBGhent9052Belgium
| | - Fabio Marroni
- IGA Technology ServicesUdine33100Italy
- Department of Agricultural, FoodAT, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A)University of UdineUdine33100Italy
| | - Dirk Inzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and BioinformaticsGhent UniversityGhent9052Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIBGhent9052Belgium
| | - Mario Enrico Pè
- Institute of Life SciencesScuola Superiore Sant’AnnaPisa56127Italy
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Zhang Y, Cheng P, Wang J, Abdalmegeed D, Li Y, Wu M, Dai C, Wan S, Guan R, Pu H, Shen W. Nitric Oxide Is Associated With Heterosis of Salinity Tolerance in Brassica napus L. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:649888. [PMID: 34122475 PMCID: PMC8194068 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.649888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Heterosis is most frequently manifested as the superior performance of a hybrid than either of the parents, especially under stress conditions. Nitric oxide (NO) is a well-known gaseous signaling molecule that acts as a functional component during plant growth, development, and defense responses. In this study, the Brassica napus L. hybrid (F1, NJ4375 × MB1942) showed significant heterosis under salt stress, during both germination and post-germination periods. These phenotypes in the hybrid were in parallel with the better performance in redox homeostasis, including alleviation of reactive oxygen species accumulation and lipid peroxidation, and ion homeostasis, evaluated as a lower Na/K ratio in the leaves than parental lines. Meanwhile, stimulation of endogenous NO was more pronounced in hybrid plants, compared with parental lines, which might be mediated by nitrate reductase. Proteomic and biochemical analyses further revealed that protein abundance related to several metabolic processes, including chlorophyll biosynthesis, proline metabolism, and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism pathway, was greatly suppressed by salt stress in the two parental lines than in the hybrid. The above responses in hybrid plants were intensified by a NO-releasing compound, but abolished by a NO scavenger, both of which were matched with the changes in chlorophyll and proline contents. It was deduced that the above metabolic processes might play important roles in heterosis upon salt stress. Taken together, we proposed that heterosis derived from F1 hybridization in salt stress tolerance might be mediated by NO-dependent activation of defense responses and metabolic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihua Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Ministry of Agriculture’s Key Laboratory of Cotton and Rapeseed, Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Pengfei Cheng
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dyaaaldin Abdalmegeed
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Li
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mangteng Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Dai
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shubei Wan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongzhan Guan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huiming Pu
- Ministry of Agriculture’s Key Laboratory of Cotton and Rapeseed, Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenbiao Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Zanewich KP, Rood SB. Gibberellins and Heterosis in Crops and Trees: An Integrative Review and Preliminary Study with Brassica. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9020139. [PMID: 31979041 PMCID: PMC7076659 DOI: 10.3390/plants9020139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, has contributed substantially to genetic improvements in crops and trees and its physiological basis involves multiple processes. Four associations with the phytohormone gibberellin (GA) indicate its involvement in the regulation of heterosis for shoot growth in maize, sorghum, wheat, rice, tomato and poplar. (1) Inbreds somewhat resemble GA-deficient dwarfs and are often highly responsive to exogenous GA3. (2) Levels of endogenous GAs, including the bioeffector GA1, its precursors GA19 and GA20, and/or its metabolite GA8, are higher in some fast-growing hybrids than parental genotypes. (3) Oxidative metabolism of applied [3H]GAs is more rapid in vigorous hybrids than inbreds, and (4) heterotic hybrids have displayed increased expression of GA biosynthetic genes including GA 20-oxidase and GA 3-oxidase. We further investigated Brassicarapa, an oilseed rape, by comparing two inbreds (AO533 and AO539) and their F1 hybrid. Seedling emergence was faster in the hybrid and potence ratios indicated dominance for increased leaf number, area and mass, and stem mass. Overdominance (heterosis) was displayed for root mass, leading to slight heterosis for total plant mass. Stem contents of GA19,20,1 were similar across the Brassica genotypes and increased prior to bolting; elongation was correlated with endogenous GA but heterosis for shoot growth was modest. The collective studies support a physiological role for GAs in the regulation of heterosis for shoot growth in crops and trees, and the Brassica study encourages further investigation of heterosis for root growth.
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Vidotti MS, Matias FI, Alves FC, Pérez-Rodríguez P, Beltran GA, Burgueño J, Crossa J, Fritsche-Neto R. Maize responsiveness to Azospirillum brasilense: Insights into genetic control, heterosis and genomic prediction. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217571. [PMID: 31173600 PMCID: PMC6555527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have shown differences in the abilities of maize genotypes to facilitate or impede Azospirillum brasilense colonization and to receive benefits from this association. Hence, our aim was to study the genetic control, heterosis effect and the prediction accuracy of the shoot and root traits of maize in response to A. brasilense. For that, we evaluated 118 hybrids under two contrasting scenarios: i) N stress (control) and ii) N stress plus A. brasilense inoculation. The diallel analyses were performed using mixed model equations, and the genomic prediction models accounted for the general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA, respectively) and the presence or not of G×E effects. In addition, the genomic models were fitted considering parametric (G-BLUP) and semi-parametric (RKHS) kernels. The genotypes showed significant inoculation effect for five root traits, and the GCA and SCA were significant for both. The GCA in the inoculated treatment presented a greater magnitude than the control, whereas the opposite was observed for SCA. Heterosis was weakly influenced by the inoculation, and the heterozygosity and N status in the plant can have a role in the benefits that can be obtained from this Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB). Prediction accuracies for N stress plus A. brasilense ranged from 0.42 to 0.78, depending on the scenario and trait, and were higher, in most cases, than the non-inoculated treatment. Finally, our findings provide an understanding of the quantitative variation of maize responsiveness to A. brasilense and important insights to be applied in maize breeding aiming the development of superior hybrids for this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Suzane Vidotti
- Genetics Department, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Filipe Inácio Matias
- Genetics Department, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Filipe Couto Alves
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | | | - Gregório Alvarado Beltran
- Biometrics and Statistics Unit, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Juan Burgueño
- Biometrics and Statistics Unit, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - José Crossa
- Biometrics and Statistics Unit, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Roberto Fritsche-Neto
- Genetics Department, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
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Terry MI, Pérez-Sanz F, Díaz-Galián MV, Pérez de Los Cobos F, Navarro PJ, Egea-Cortines M, Weiss J. The Petunia CHANEL Gene is a ZEITLUPE Ortholog Coordinating Growth and Scent Profiles. Cells 2019; 8:cells8040343. [PMID: 30979023 PMCID: PMC6523265 DOI: 10.3390/cells8040343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The floral perianth, comprising sepals and petals, conceals the sexual organs and attracts pollinators. The coordination of growth and scent emission is not fully understood. We have analyzed the effect of knocking down CHANEL (PhCHL), the ZEITLUPE ortholog in petunia (PhCHL) by hairpin RNAs. Plants with low PhCHL mRNA had overall decreased size. Growth evaluation using time lapse image analysis showed that early leaf movement was not affected by RNAi:PhCHL, but flower angle movement was modified, moving earlier during the day in knockdown plants than in wild types. Despite differences in stem length, growth rate was not significantly affected by loss of PhCHL. In contrast, petal growth displayed lower growth rate in RNAi:PhCHL. Decreased levels of PhCHL caused strongly modified scent profiles, including changes in composition and timing of emission resulting in volatile profiles highly divergent from the wild type. Our results show a role of PhCHL in controlling growth and development of vegetative and reproductive organs in petunia. The different effects of PhCHL on organ development indicate an organ-specific interpretation of the down regulation of PhCHL. Through the control of both timing and quantitative volatile emissions, PhCHL appears to be a major coordinator of scent profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta I Terry
- Genética Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Edificio I+D+I, Plaza del Hospital s/n, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain.
| | - Fernando Pérez-Sanz
- Biomedical Informatic and Bioinformatic Platform, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia, University Clinical Hospital 'Virgen de la Arrixaca', University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - M Victoria Díaz-Galián
- Genética Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Edificio I+D+I, Plaza del Hospital s/n, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain.
| | - Felipe Pérez de Los Cobos
- Plant Breeding Department, Center of Edafology and Applied Biology of Segura-High Council for Scientific Research (CEBAS-CSIC), Espinardo University Campus, Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Pedro J Navarro
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (DSIE), Campus Muralla del Mar, s/n., Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain.
| | - Marcos Egea-Cortines
- Genética Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Edificio I+D+I, Plaza del Hospital s/n, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain.
| | - Julia Weiss
- Genética Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Edificio I+D+I, Plaza del Hospital s/n, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain.
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