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Kovacik M, Nowicka A, Zwyrtková J, Strejčková B, Vardanega I, Esteban E, Pasha A, Kaduchová K, Krautsova M, Červenková M, Šafář J, Provart NJ, Simon R, Pecinka A. The transcriptome landscape of developing barley seeds. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:2512-2530. [PMID: 38635902 PMCID: PMC11218782 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Cereal grains are an important source of food and feed. To provide comprehensive spatiotemporal information about biological processes in developing seeds of cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L. subsp. vulgare), we performed a transcriptomic study of the embryo, endosperm, and seed maternal tissues collected from grains 4-32 days after pollination. Weighted gene co-expression network and motif enrichment analyses identified specific groups of genes and transcription factors (TFs) potentially regulating barley seed tissue development. We defined a set of tissue-specific marker genes and families of TFs for functional studies of the pathways controlling barley grain development. Assessing selected groups of chromatin regulators revealed that epigenetic processes are highly dynamic and likely play a major role during barley endosperm development. The repressive H3K27me3 modification is globally reduced in endosperm tissues and at specific genes related to development and storage compounds. Altogether, this atlas uncovers the complexity of developmentally regulated gene expression in developing barley grains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kovacik
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 27, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Nowicka
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30 239 Kraków, Poland
| | - Jana Zwyrtková
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Beáta Strejčková
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Isaia Vardanega
- Institute for Developmental Genetics, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Eddi Esteban
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology/Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and Function, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St., Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Asher Pasha
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology/Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and Function, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St., Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Kateřina Kaduchová
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Maryna Krautsova
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Červenková
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Šafář
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Nicholas J Provart
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology/Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and Function, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St., Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Rüdiger Simon
- Institute for Developmental Genetics, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ales Pecinka
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 27, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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2
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Huang Y, Schnurbusch T. The Birth and Death of Floral Organs in Cereal Crops. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 75:427-458. [PMID: 38424062 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-060223-041716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Florets of cereal crops are the basic reproductive organs that produce grains for food or feed. The birth of a floret progresses through meristem initiation and floral organ identity specification and maintenance. During these processes, both endogenous and external cues can trigger a premature floral organ death, leading to reproductive failure. Recent advances in different cereal crops have identified both conserved and distinct regulators governing the birth of a floret. However, the molecular underpinnings of floral death are just beginning to be understood. In this review, we first provide a general overview of the current findings in the field of floral development in major cereals and outline different forms of floral deaths, particularly in the Triticeae crops. We then highlight the importance of vascular patterning and photosynthesis in floral development and reproductive success and argue for an expanded knowledge of floral birth-death balance in the context of agroecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyu Huang
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany; ,
| | - Thorsten Schnurbusch
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany; ,
- Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
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3
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Kulesza E, Thomas P, Prewitt SF, Shalit-Kaneh A, Wafula E, Knollenberg B, Winters N, Esteban E, Pasha A, Provart N, Praul C, Landherr L, dePamphilis C, Maximova SN, Guiltinan MJ. The cacao gene atlas: a transcriptome developmental atlas reveals highly tissue-specific and dynamically-regulated gene networks in Theobroma cacao L. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:601. [PMID: 38926852 PMCID: PMC11201900 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05171-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Theobroma cacao, the cocoa tree, is a tropical crop grown for its highly valuable cocoa solids and fat which are the basis of a 200-billion-dollar annual chocolate industry. However, the long generation time and difficulties associated with breeding a tropical tree crop have limited the progress of breeders to develop high-yielding disease-resistant varieties. Development of marker-assisted breeding methods for cacao requires discovery of genomic regions and specific alleles of genes encoding important traits of interest. To accelerate gene discovery, we developed a gene atlas composed of a large dataset of replicated transcriptomes with the long-term goal of progressing breeding towards developing high-yielding elite varieties of cacao. RESULTS We describe the creation of the Cacao Transcriptome Atlas, its global characterization and define sets of genes co-regulated in highly organ- and temporally-specific manners. RNAs were extracted and transcriptomes sequenced from 123 different tissues and stages of development representing major organs and developmental stages of the cacao lifecycle. In addition, several experimental treatments and time courses were performed to measure gene expression in tissues responding to biotic and abiotic stressors. Samples were collected in replicates (3-5) to enable statistical analysis of gene expression levels for a total of 390 transcriptomes. To promote wide use of these data, all raw sequencing data, expression read mapping matrices, scripts, and other information used to create the resource are freely available online. We verified our atlas by analyzing the expression of genes with known functions and expression patterns in Arabidopsis (ACT7, LEA19, AGL16, TIP13, LHY, MYB2) and found their expression profiles to be generally similar between both species. We also successfully identified tissue-specific genes at two thresholds in many tissue types represented and a set of genes highly conserved across all tissues. CONCLUSION The Cacao Gene Atlas consists of a gene expression browser with graphical user interface and open access to raw sequencing data files as well as the unnormalized and CPM normalized read count data mapped to several cacao genomes. The gene atlas is a publicly available resource to allow rapid mining of cacao gene expression profiles. We hope this resource will be used to help accelerate the discovery of important genes for key cacao traits such as disease resistance and contribute to the breeding of elite varieties to help farmers increase yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Kulesza
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Patrick Thomas
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Sarah F Prewitt
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Riverdale, MD, 20737, USA
| | - Akiva Shalit-Kaneh
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Plant Sciences, Volcani-ARO (Agricultural and Rural Organization), Gilat, Israel
| | - Eric Wafula
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Benjamin Knollenberg
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Mars Inc, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Noah Winters
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
| | - Eddi Esteban
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and Function, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Asher Pasha
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and Function, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicholas Provart
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and Function, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Craig Praul
- Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lena Landherr
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Claude dePamphilis
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Siela N Maximova
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Mark J Guiltinan
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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4
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Jiang G, Koppolu R, Rutten T, Hensel G, Lundqvist U, Tandron Moya YA, Huang Y, Rajaraman J, Poursarebani N, von Wirén N, Kumlehn J, Mascher M, Schnurbusch T. Non-cell-autonomous signaling associated with barley ALOG1 specifies spikelet meristem determinacy. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2344-2358.e5. [PMID: 38781954 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Inflorescence architecture and crop productivity are often tightly coupled in our major cereal crops. However, the underlying genetic mechanisms controlling cereal inflorescence development remain poorly understood. Here, we identified recessive alleles of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) HvALOG1 (Arabidopsis thaliana LSH1 and Oryza G1) that produce non-canonical extra spikelets and fused glumes abaxially to the central spikelet from the upper-mid portion until the tip of the inflorescence. Notably, we found that HvALOG1 exhibits a boundary-specific expression pattern that specifically excludes reproductive meristems, implying the involvement of previously proposed localized signaling centers for branch regulation. Importantly, during early spikelet formation, non-cell-autonomous signals associated with HvALOG1 expression may specify spikelet meristem determinacy, while boundary formation of floret organs appears to be coordinated in a cell-autonomous manner. Moreover, barley ALOG family members synergistically modulate inflorescence morphology, with HvALOG1 predominantly governing meristem maintenance and floral organ development. We further propose that spatiotemporal redundancies of expressed HvALOG members specifically in the basal inflorescence may be accountable for proper patterning of spikelet formation in mutant plants. Our research offers new perspectives on regulatory signaling roles of ALOG transcription factors during the development of reproductive meristems in cereal inflorescences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojing Jiang
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Ravi Koppolu
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Twan Rutten
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Goetz Hensel
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | | | - Yudelsy Antonia Tandron Moya
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Yongyu Huang
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Jeyaraman Rajaraman
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Naser Poursarebani
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Nicolaus von Wirén
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Jochen Kumlehn
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Martin Mascher
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schnurbusch
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, Germany; Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle, Germany.
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5
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Thirulogachandar V, Govind G, Hensel G, Kale SM, Kuhlmann M, Eschen-Lippold L, Rutten T, Koppolu R, Rajaraman J, Palakolanu SR, Seiler C, Sakuma S, Jayakodi M, Lee J, Kumlehn J, Komatsuda T, Schnurbusch T, Sreenivasulu N. HOMEOBOX2, the paralog of SIX-ROWED SPIKE1/HOMEOBOX1, is dispensable for barley spikelet development. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:2900-2916. [PMID: 38366171 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The HD-ZIP class I transcription factor Homeobox 1 (HvHOX1), also known as Vulgare Row-type Spike 1 (VRS1) or Six-rowed Spike 1, regulates lateral spikelet fertility in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). It was shown that HvHOX1 has a high expression only in lateral spikelets, while its paralog HvHOX2 was found to be expressed in different plant organs. Yet, the mechanistic functions of HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 during spikelet development are still fragmentary. Here, we show that compared with HvHOX1, HvHOX2 is more highly conserved across different barley genotypes and Hordeum species, hinting at a possibly vital but still unclarified biological role. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, DNA-binding, and transactivation assays, we validate that HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 are bona fide transcriptional activators that may potentially heterodimerize. Accordingly, both genes exhibit similar spatiotemporal expression patterns during spike development and growth, albeit their mRNA levels differ quantitatively. We show that HvHOX1 delays the lateral spikelet meristem differentiation and affects fertility by aborting the reproductive organs. Interestingly, the ancestral relationship of the two genes inferred from their co-expressed gene networks suggested that HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 might play a similar role during barley spikelet development. However, CRISPR-derived mutants of HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 demonstrated the suppressive role of HvHOX1 on lateral spikelets, while the loss of HvHOX2 does not influence spikelet development. Collectively, our study shows that through the suppression of reproductive organs, lateral spikelet fertility is regulated by HvHOX1, whereas HvHOX2 is dispensable for spikelet development in barley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatasubbu Thirulogachandar
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
- Research Group Abiotic Stress Genomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Crop Plant Research (IZN), Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Geetha Govind
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Götz Hensel
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Sandip M Kale
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Markus Kuhlmann
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
- Research Group Abiotic Stress Genomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Crop Plant Research (IZN), Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Twan Rutten
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Ravi Koppolu
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Jeyaraman Rajaraman
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Sudhakar Reddy Palakolanu
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Christiane Seiler
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Shun Sakuma
- National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), Plant Genome Research Unit, Tsukuba 3058602, Japan
| | - Murukarthick Jayakodi
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Justin Lee
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB), Weinberg 3, D-06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Jochen Kumlehn
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Takao Komatsuda
- National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), Plant Genome Research Unit, Tsukuba 3058602, Japan
| | - Thorsten Schnurbusch
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Nese Sreenivasulu
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, D-06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany
- Research Group Abiotic Stress Genomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Crop Plant Research (IZN), Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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6
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Ai G, He C, Bi S, Zhou Z, Liu A, Hu X, Liu Y, Jin L, Zhou J, Zhang H, Du D, Chen H, Gong X, Saeed S, Su H, Lan C, Chen W, Li Q, Mao H, Li L, Liu H, Chen D, Kaufmann K, Alazab KF, Yan W. Dissecting the molecular basis of spike traits by integrating gene regulatory networks and genetic variation in wheat. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 5:100879. [PMID: 38486454 PMCID: PMC11121755 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
Spike architecture influences both grain weight and grain number per spike, which are the two major components of grain yield in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). However, the complex wheat genome and the influence of various environmental factors pose challenges in mapping the causal genes that affect spike traits. Here, we systematically identified genes involved in spike trait formation by integrating information on genomic variation and gene regulatory networks controlling young spike development in wheat. We identified 170 loci that are responsible for variations in spike length, spikelet number per spike, and grain number per spike through genome-wide association study and meta-QTL analyses. We constructed gene regulatory networks for young inflorescences at the double ridge stage and the floret primordium stage, in which the spikelet meristem and the floret meristem are predominant, respectively, by integrating transcriptome, histone modification, chromatin accessibility, eQTL, and protein-protein interactome data. From these networks, we identified 169 hub genes located in 76 of the 170 QTL regions whose polymorphisms are significantly associated with variation in spike traits. The functions of TaZF-B1, VRT-B2, and TaSPL15-A/D in establishment of wheat spike architecture were verified. This study provides valuable molecular resources for understanding spike traits and demonstrates that combining genetic analysis and developmental regulatory networks is a robust approach for dissection of complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo Ai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chao He
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Siteng Bi
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ziru Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ankui Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xin Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Liujie Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - JiaCheng Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Heping Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dengxiang Du
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hao Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xin Gong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Sulaiman Saeed
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Handong Su
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Caixia Lan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wei Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hailiang Mao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome, Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Hao Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dijun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Kerstin Kaufmann
- Department for Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Khaled F Alazab
- Plant Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo 13759, Egypt
| | - Wenhao Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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7
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Guo X, Zhang Z, Li J, Zhang S, Sun W, Xiao X, Sun Z, Xue X, Wang Z, Zhang Y. Phenotypic and transcriptome profiling of spikes reveals the regulation of light regimens on spike growth and fertile floret number in wheat. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:1575-1591. [PMID: 38269615 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The spike growth phase is critical for the establishment of fertile floret (grain) numbers in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Then, how to shorten the spike growth phase and increase grain number synergistically? Here, we showed high-resolution analyses of floret primordia (FP) number, morphology and spike transcriptomes during the spike growth phase under three light regimens. The development of all FP in a spike could be divided into four distinct stages: differentiation (Stage I), differentiation and morphology development concurrently (Stage II), morphology development (Stage III), and polarization (Stage IV). Compared to the short photoperiod, the long photoperiod shortened spike growth and stimulated early flowering by shortening Stage III; however, this reduced assimilate accumulation, resulting in fertile floret loss. Interestingly, long photoperiod supplemented with red light shortened the time required to complete Stages I-II, then raised assimilates supply in the spike and promoted anther development before polarization initiation, thereby increasing fertile FP number during Stage III, and finally maintained fertile FP development during Stage IV until they became fertile florets via a predicted dynamic gene network. Our findings proposed a light regimen, critical stages and candidate regulators that achieved a shorter spike growth phase and a higher fertile floret number in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Guo
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- National Research Center of Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture, Beijing, China
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junyan Li
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- National Research Center of Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Siqi Zhang
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- National Research Center of Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Wan Sun
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuechen Xiao
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhencai Sun
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuzhang Xue
- National Research Center of Intelligent Equipment for Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Zhimin Wang
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yinghua Zhang
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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8
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Miloro F, Kis A, Havelda Z, Dalmadi Á. Barley AGO4 proteins show overlapping functionality with distinct small RNA-binding properties in heterologous complementation. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2024; 43:96. [PMID: 38480545 PMCID: PMC10937801 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03177-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Barley AGO4 proteins complement expressional changes of epigenetically regulated genes in Arabidopsis ago4-3 mutant and show a distinct affinity for the 5' terminal nucleotide of small RNAs, demonstrating functional conservation and divergence. The function of Argonaute 4 (AGO4) in Arabidopsis thaliana has been extensively characterized; however, its role in monocots, which have large genomes abundantly supplemented with transposable elements (TEs), remains elusive. The study of barley AGO4 proteins can provide insights into the conserved aspects of RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) and could also have further applications in the field of epigenetics or crop improvement. Bioinformatic analysis of RNA sequencing data identified two active AGO4 genes in barley, HvAGO4a and HvAGO4b. These genes function similar to AtAGO4 in an Arabidopsis heterologous complementation system, primarily binding to 24-nucleotide long small RNAs (sRNAs) and triggering methylation at specific target loci. Like AtAGO4, HvAGO4B exhibits a preference for binding sRNAs with 5' adenine residue, while also accepting 5' guanine, uracil, and cytosine residues. In contrast, HvAGO4A selectively binds only sRNAs with a 5' adenine residue. The diverse binding capacity of barley AGO4 proteins is reflected in TE-derived sRNAs and in their varying abundance. Both barley AGO4 proteins effectively restore the levels of extrachromosomal DNA and transcript abundancy of the heat-activated ONSEN retrotransposon to those observed in wild-type Arabidopsis plants. Our study provides insight into the distinct binding specificities and involvement in TE regulation of barley AGO4 proteins in Arabidopsis by heterologous complementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Miloro
- Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Gödöllő, Hungary
- Agribiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Plant Biotechnology Section, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - András Kis
- Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Havelda
- Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Gödöllő, Hungary
- Agribiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Plant Biotechnology Section, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Dalmadi
- Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Gödöllő, Hungary.
- Agribiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Plant Biotechnology Section, Gödöllő, Hungary.
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9
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Huang Y, Maurer A, Giehl RFH, Zhao S, Golan G, Thirulogachandar V, Li G, Zhao Y, Trautewig C, Himmelbach A, Börner A, Jayakodi M, Stein N, Mascher M, Pillen K, Schnurbusch T. Dynamic Phytomeric Growth Contributes to Local Adaptation in Barley. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae011. [PMID: 38243866 PMCID: PMC10837018 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular plants have segmented body axes with iterative nodes and internodes. Appropriate node initiation and internode elongation are fundamental to plant fitness and crop yield; however, how these events are spatiotemporally coordinated remains elusive. We show that in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), selections during domestication have extended the apical meristematic phase to promote node initiation, but constrained subsequent internode elongation. In both vegetative and reproductive phases, internode elongation displays a dynamic proximal-distal gradient, and among subpopulations of domesticated barleys worldwide, node initiation and proximal internode elongation are associated with latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, respectively. Genetic and functional analyses suggest that, in addition to their converging roles in node initiation, flowering-time genes have been repurposed to specify the timing and duration of internode elongation. Our study provides an integrated view of barley node initiation and internode elongation and suggests that plant architecture should be recognized as a collection of dynamic phytomeric units in the context of crop adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyu Huang
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Andreas Maurer
- Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Ricardo F H Giehl
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Shuangshuang Zhao
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Guy Golan
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | | | - Guoliang Li
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Yusheng Zhao
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Corinna Trautewig
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Axel Himmelbach
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Andreas Börner
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Murukarthick Jayakodi
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Nils Stein
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Mascher
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Klaus Pillen
- Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schnurbusch
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany
- Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, 06120 Halle, Germany
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10
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Fan C, Xu D, Wang C, Chen Z, Dou T, Qin D, Guo A, Zhao M, Pei H, Zhao M, Zhang R, Wang K, Zhang J, Ni Z, Guo G. Natural variations of HvSRN1 modulate the spike rachis node number in barley. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 5:100670. [PMID: 37563835 PMCID: PMC10811343 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Grain number, one of the major determinants of yield in Triticeae crops, is largely determined by spikelet number and spike rachis node number (SRN). Here, we identified three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for SRN using 145 recombinant inbred lines derived from a barley R90/1815D cross. qSRN1, the major-effect QTL, was mapped to chromosome 2H and explained up to 38.77% of SRN variation. Map-based cloning revealed that qSRN1 encodes the RAWUL domain-containing protein HvSRN1. Further analysis revealed that two key SNPs in the HvSRN1 promoter region (∼2 kb upstream of the transcription start site) affect the transcript level of HvSRN1 and contribute to variation in SRN. Similar to its orthologous proteins OsLAX2 and ZmBA2, HvSRN1 showed protein-protein interactions with HvLAX1, suggesting that the LAX2-LAX1 model for spike morphology regulation may be conserved in Poaceae crops. CRISPR-Cas9-induced HvSRN1 mutants showed reduced SRN but increased grain size and weight, demonstrating a trade-off effect. Our results shed light on the role of HvSRN1 variation in regulating the balance between grain number and weight in barley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofeng Fan
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Dongdong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China; Institute of Industrial Crops, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Chunchao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhaoyan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Tingyu Dou
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Dandan Qin
- Key Laboratory for Crop Molecular Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China
| | - Aikui Guo
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Meng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Honghong Pei
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Mengwei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Renxu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhongfu Ni
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Ganggang Guo
- Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization (MARA), The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICS-CAAS), Beijing 100081, China.
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11
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Zhang Y, Shen C, Shi J, Shi J, Zhang D. Boosting Triticeae crop grain yield by manipulating molecular modules to regulate inflorescence architecture: insights and knowledge from other cereal crops. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:17-35. [PMID: 37935244 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
One of the challenges for global food security is to reliably and sustainably improve the grain yield of cereal crops. One solution is to modify the architecture of the grain-bearing inflorescence to optimize for grain number and size. Cereal inflorescences are complex structures, with determinacy, branching patterns, and spikelet/floret growth patterns that vary by species. Recent decades have witnessed rapid advancements in our understanding of the genetic regulation of inflorescence architecture in rice, maize, wheat, and barley. Here, we summarize current knowledge on key genetic factors underlying the different inflorescence morphologies of these crops and model plants (Arabidopsis and tomato), focusing particularly on the regulation of inflorescence meristem determinacy and spikelet meristem identity and determinacy. We also discuss strategies to identify and utilize these superior alleles to optimize inflorescence architecture and, ultimately, improve crop grain yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueya Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chaoqun Shen
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jin Shi
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jianxin Shi
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China
- Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Dabing Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China
- Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya 572025, China
- School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5064, Australia
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12
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Shen L, Liu Y, Zhang L, Sun Z, Wang Z, Jiao Y, Shen K, Guo Z. A transcriptional atlas identifies key regulators and networks for the development of spike tissues in barley. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113441. [PMID: 37971941 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Grain number and size determine grain yield in crops and are closely associated with spikelet fertility and grain filling in barley (Hordeum vulgare). Abortion of spikelet primordia within individual barley spikes causes a 30%-50% loss in the potential number of grains during development from the awn primordium stage to the tipping stage, after that grain filling is the primary factor regulating grain size. To identify transcriptional signatures associated with spike development, we use a six-rowed barley cultivar (Morex) to develop a spatiotemporal transcriptome atlas containing 255 samples covering 17 stages and 5 positions along the spike. We identify several fundamental regulatory networks, in addition to key regulators of spike development and morphology. Specifically, we show HvGELP96, encoding a GDSL domain-containing protein, as a regulator of spikelet fertility and grain number. Our transcriptional atlas offers a powerful resource to answer fundamental questions in spikelet development and degeneration in barley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Shen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Zhiwen Sun
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ziying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuannian Jiao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Kuocheng Shen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zifeng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China.
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13
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Zhang Z, Sun W, Wen L, Liu Y, Guo X, Liu Y, Yao C, Xue Q, Sun Z, Wang Z, Zhang Y. Dynamic gene regulatory networks improving spike fertility through regulation of floret primordia fate in wheat. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:3628-3643. [PMID: 37485926 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The developmental process of spike is critical for spike fertility through affecting floret primordia fate in wheat; however, the genetic regulation of this dynamic and complex developmental process remains unclear. Here, we conducted a high temporal-resolution analysis of spike transcriptomes and monitored the number and morphology of floret primordia within spike. The development of all floret primordia in a spike was clearly separated into three distinct phases: differentiation, pre-dimorphism and dimorphism. Notably, we identified that floret primordia with meiosis ability at the pre-dimorphism phase usually develop into fertile floret primordia in the next dimorphism phase. Compared to control, increasing plant space treatment achieved the maximum increasement range (i.e., 50%) in number of fertile florets by accelerating spike development. The process of spike fertility improvement was directed by a continuous and dynamic regulatory network involved in transcription factor and genes interaction. This was based on the coordination of genes related to heat shock protein and jasmonic acid biosynthesis during differentiation phase, and genes related to lignin, anthocyanin and chlorophyll biosynthesis during dimorphism phase. The multi-dimensional association with high temporal-resolution approach reported here allows rapid identification of genetic resource for future breeding studies to realise the maximum spike fertility potential in more cereal crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wan Sun
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Liangyun Wen
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqun Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolei Guo
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunsheng Yao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingwu Xue
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo, Amarillo, Texas, USA
| | - Zhencai Sun
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Agriculture in Low Plain Areas, Hebei Province, China
| | - Zhimin Wang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Agriculture in Low Plain Areas, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yinghua Zhang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Agriculture in Low Plain Areas, Hebei Province, China
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14
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Shanmugaraj N, Rajaraman J, Kale S, Kamal R, Huang Y, Thirulogachandar V, Garibay-Hernández A, Budhagatapalli N, Tandron Moya YA, Hajirezaei MR, Rutten T, Hensel G, Melzer M, Kumlehn J, von Wirén N, Mock HP, Schnurbusch T. Multilayered regulation of developmentally programmed pre-anthesis tip degeneration of the barley inflorescence. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:3973-4001. [PMID: 37282730 PMCID: PMC10615218 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Leaf and floral tissue degeneration is a common feature in plants. In cereal crops such as barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), pre-anthesis tip degeneration (PTD) starts with growth arrest of the inflorescence meristem dome, which is followed basipetally by the degeneration of floral primordia and the central axis. Due to its quantitative nature and environmental sensitivity, inflorescence PTD constitutes a complex, multilayered trait affecting final grain number. This trait appears to be highly predictable and heritable under standardized growth conditions, consistent with a developmentally programmed mechanism. To elucidate the molecular underpinnings of inflorescence PTD, we combined metabolomic, transcriptomic, and genetic approaches to show that barley inflorescence PTD is accompanied by sugar depletion, amino acid degradation, and abscisic acid responses involving transcriptional regulators of senescence, defense, and light signaling. Based on transcriptome analyses, we identified GRASSY TILLERS1 (HvGT1), encoding an HD-ZIP transcription factor, as an important modulator of inflorescence PTD. A gene-edited knockout mutant of HvGT1 delayed PTD and increased differentiated apical spikelets and final spikelet number, suggesting a possible strategy to increase grain number in cereals. We propose a molecular framework that leads to barley PTD, the manipulation of which may increase yield potential in barley and other related cereals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandhakumar Shanmugaraj
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Jeyaraman Rajaraman
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Sandip Kale
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Roop Kamal
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Yongyu Huang
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Venkatasubbu Thirulogachandar
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Adriana Garibay-Hernández
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Nagaveni Budhagatapalli
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Yudelsy Antonia Tandron Moya
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Mohammed R Hajirezaei
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Twan Rutten
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Götz Hensel
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Michael Melzer
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Jochen Kumlehn
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Nicolaus von Wirén
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Mock
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
| | - Thorsten Schnurbusch
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, Seeland 06466,Germany
- Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Halle 06120,Germany
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15
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Liu Y, Chen J, Yin C, Wang Z, Wu H, Shen K, Zhang Z, Kang L, Xu S, Bi A, Zhao X, Xu D, He Z, Zhang X, Hao C, Wu J, Gong Y, Yu X, Sun Z, Ye B, Liu D, Zhang L, Shen L, Hao Y, Ma Y, Lu F, Guo Z. A high-resolution genotype-phenotype map identifies the TaSPL17 controlling grain number and size in wheat. Genome Biol 2023; 24:196. [PMID: 37641093 PMCID: PMC10463835 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03044-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Large-scale genotype-phenotype association studies of crop germplasm are important for identifying alleles associated with favorable traits. The limited number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in most wheat genome-wide association studies (GWASs) restricts their power to detect marker-trait associations. Additionally, only a few genes regulating grain number per spikelet have been reported due to sensitivity of this trait to variable environments. RESULTS We perform a large-scale GWAS using approximately 40 million filtered SNPs for 27 spike morphology traits. We detect 132,086 significant marker-trait associations and the associated SNP markers are located within 590 associated peaks. We detect additional and stronger peaks by dividing spike morphology into sub-traits relative to GWAS results of spike morphology traits. We propose that the genetic dissection of spike morphology is a powerful strategy to detect signals for grain yield traits in wheat. The GWAS results reveal that TaSPL17 positively controls grain size and number by regulating spikelet and floret meristem development, which in turn leads to enhanced grain yield per plant. The haplotypes at TaSPL17 indicate geographical differentiation, domestication effects, and breeding selection. CONCLUSION Our study provides valuable resources for genetic improvement of spike morphology and a fast-forward genetic solution for candidate gene detection and cloning in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Changbin Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10011, China
| | - Ziying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - He Wu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kuocheng Shen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhiliang Zhang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10011, China
| | - Lipeng Kang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10011, China
| | - Song Xu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10011, China
| | - Aoyue Bi
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10011, China
| | - Xuebo Zhao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10011, China
| | - Daxing Xu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10011, China
| | - Zhonghu He
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) China Office, c/o CAAS, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xueyong Zhang
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Chenyang Hao
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jianhui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yan Gong
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xuchang Yu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhiwen Sun
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Botao Ye
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Danni Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Liping Shen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Yuanfeng Hao
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Youzhi Ma
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Fei Lu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10011, China.
- CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
| | - Zifeng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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16
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He X, Zhang W, Sabir IA, Jiao C, Li G, Wang Y, Zhu F, Dai J, Liu L, Chen C, Zhang Y, Song C. The spatiotemporal profile of Dendrobium huoshanense and functional identification of bHLH genes under exogenous MeJA using comparative transcriptomics and genomics. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1169386. [PMID: 37235024 PMCID: PMC10206334 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1169386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Alkaloids are one of the main medicinal components of Dendrobium species. Dendrobium alkaloids are mainly composed of terpene alkaloids. Jasmonic acid (JA) induce the biosynthesis of such alkaloids, mainly by enhancing the expression of JA-responsive genes to increase plant resistance and increase the content of alkaloids. Many JA-responsive genes are the target genes of bHLH transcription factors (TFs), especially the MYC2 transcription factor. Methods In this study, the differentially expressed genes involved in the JA signaling pathway were screened out from Dendrobium huoshanense using comparative transcriptomics approaches, revealing the critical roles of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family, particularly the MYC2 subfamily. Results and discussion Microsynteny-based comparative genomics demonstrated that whole genome duplication (WGD) and segmental duplication events drove bHLH genes expansion and functional divergence. Tandem duplication accelerated the generation of bHLH paralogs. Multiple sequence alignments showed that all bHLH proteins included bHLH-zip and ACT-like conserved domains. The MYC2 subfamily had a typical bHLH-MYC_N domain. The phylogenetic tree revealed the classification and putative roles of bHLHs. The analysis of cis-acting elements revealed that promoter of the majority of bHLH genes contain multiple regulatory elements relevant to light response, hormone responses, and abiotic stresses, and the bHLH genes could be activated by binding these elements. The expression profiling and qRT-PCR results indicated that bHLH subgroups IIIe and IIId may have an antagonistic role in JA-mediated expression of stress-related genes. DhbHLH20 and DhbHLH21 were considered to be the positive regulators in the early response of JA signaling, while DhbHLH24 and DhbHLH25 might be the negative regulators. Our findings may provide a practical reference for the functional study of DhbHLH genes and the regulation of secondary metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei He
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Wenwu Zhang
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Irfan Ali Sabir
- Department of Plant Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyan Jiao
- College of Life Sciences, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
| | - Guohui Li
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Fucheng Zhu
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Jun Dai
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Longyun Liu
- School of Bioengineering, Hefei Technology College, Hefei, China
| | - Cunwu Chen
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
| | - Yingyu Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Rare Diseases, Endocrinology and Metabolism Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Cheng Song
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Anhui Engineering Research Center for Eco-agriculture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, West Anhui University, Lu’an, China
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17
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Li T, Li Y, Shangguan H, Bian J, Luo R, Tian Y, Li Z, Nie X, Cui L. BarleyExpDB: an integrative gene expression database for barley. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:170. [PMID: 37003963 PMCID: PMC10064564 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04193-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) has been widely used to study the dynamic expression patterns of transcribed genes, which can lead to new biological insights. However, processing and analyzing these huge amounts of histological data remains a great challenge for wet labs and field researchers who lack bioinformatics experience and computational resources. RESULTS We present BarleyExpDB, an easy-to-operate, free, and web-accessible database that integrates transcriptional profiles of barley at different growth and developmental stages, tissues, and stress conditions, as well as differential expression of mutants and populations to build a platform for barley expression and visualization. The expression of a gene of interest can be easily queried by searching by known gene ID or sequence similarity. Expression data can be displayed as a heat map, along with functional descriptions as well as Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Proteins Families Database, and Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool annotations. CONCLUSIONS BarleyExpDB will serve as a valuable resource for the barley research community to leverage the vast publicly available RNA-seq datasets for functional genomics research and crop molecular breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Li
- College of Bioscience and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045 Jiangxi China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi China
| | - Yihan Li
- College of Bioscience and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045 Jiangxi China
| | - Hongbin Shangguan
- College of Bioscience and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045 Jiangxi China
| | - Jianxin Bian
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, 261325 Shandong China
| | - Ruihan Luo
- College of Bioscience and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045 Jiangxi China
| | - Yuan Tian
- Xintai Urban and Rural Development Group Co., Ltd, Taian, 271200 Shandong China
| | - Zhimin Li
- College of Bioscience and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045 Jiangxi China
| | - Xiaojun Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi China
| | - Licao Cui
- College of Bioscience and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045 Jiangxi China
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18
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Huang Y, Kamal R, Shanmugaraj N, Rutten T, Thirulogachandar V, Zhao S, Hoffie I, Hensel G, Rajaraman J, Moya YAT, Hajirezaei MR, Himmelbach A, Poursarebani N, Lundqvist U, Kumlehn J, Stein N, von Wirén N, Mascher M, Melzer M, Schnurbusch T. A molecular framework for grain number determination in barley. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd0324. [PMID: 36867700 PMCID: PMC9984178 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add0324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Flowering plants with indeterminate inflorescences often produce more floral structures than they require. We found that floral primordia initiations in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are molecularly decoupled from their maturation into grains. While initiation is dominated by flowering-time genes, floral growth is specified by light signaling, chloroplast, and vascular developmental programs orchestrated by barley CCT MOTIF FAMILY 4 (HvCMF4), which is expressed in the inflorescence vasculature. Consequently, mutations in HvCMF4 increase primordia death and pollination failure, mainly through reducing rachis greening and limiting plastidial energy supply to developing heterotrophic floral tissues. We propose that HvCMF4 is a sensory factor for light that acts in connection with the vascular-localized circadian clock to coordinate floral initiation and survival. Notably, stacking beneficial alleles for both primordia number and survival provides positive implications on grain production. Our findings provide insights into the molecular underpinnings of grain number determination in cereal crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyu Huang
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Roop Kamal
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Nandhakumar Shanmugaraj
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Twan Rutten
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Venkatasubbu Thirulogachandar
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Shuangshuang Zhao
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Iris Hoffie
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Goetz Hensel
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Jeyaraman Rajaraman
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Yudelsy Antonia Tandron Moya
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Mohammad-Reza Hajirezaei
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Axel Himmelbach
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Naser Poursarebani
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | | | - Jochen Kumlehn
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Nils Stein
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicolaus von Wirén
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Martin Mascher
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Melzer
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schnurbusch
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, 06120 Halle, Germany
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19
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Sakuma S, Koppolu R. Form follows function in Triticeae inflorescences. BREEDING SCIENCE 2023; 73:46-56. [PMID: 37168815 PMCID: PMC10165339 DOI: 10.1270/jsbbs.22085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Grass inflorescences produce grains, which are directly connected to our food. In grass crops, yields are mainly affected by grain number and weight; thus, understanding inflorescence shape is crucially important for cereal crop breeding. In the last two decades, several key genes controlling inflorescence shape have been elucidated, thanks to the availability of rich genetic resources and powerful genomics tools. In this review, we focus on the inflorescence architecture of Triticeae species, including the major cereal crops wheat and barley. We summarize recent advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of spike branching, and spikelet and floret development in the Triticeae. Considering our changing climate and its impacts on cereal crop yields, we also discuss the future orientation of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Sakuma
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
- Corresponding authors (e-mail: and )
| | - Ravi Koppolu
- Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany
- Corresponding authors (e-mail: and )
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20
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Flavell RB. A framework for improving wheat spike development and yield based on the master regulatory TOR and SnRK gene systems. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:755-768. [PMID: 36477879 PMCID: PMC9899413 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The low rates of yield gain in wheat breeding programs create an ominous situation for the world. Amongst the reasons for this low rate are issues manifested in spike development that result in too few spikelets, fertile florets, and therefore grains being produced. Phases in spike development are particularly sensitive to stresses of various kinds and origins, and these are partly responsible for the deficiencies in grain production and slow rates of gain in yield. The diversity of developmental processes, stresses, and the large numbers of genes involved make it particularly difficult to prioritize approaches in breeding programs without an overarching, mechanistic framework. Such a framework, introduced here, is provided around the master regulator target of rapamycin and sucrose non-fermenting-1 (SNF1)-related protein kinase complexes and their control by trehalose-6-phosphate and other molecules. Being master regulators of the balance between growth and growth inhibition under stress, these provide genetic targets for creating breakthroughs in yield enhancement. Examples of potential targets and experimental approaches are described.
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21
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de Souza Moraes T, van Es SW, Hernández-Pinzón I, Kirschner GK, van der Wal F, da Silveira SR, Busscher-Lange J, Angenent GC, Moscou M, Immink RGH, van Esse GW. The TCP transcription factor HvTB2 heterodimerizes with VRS5 and controls spike architecture in barley. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2022; 35:205-220. [PMID: 35254529 PMCID: PMC9352630 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-022-00441-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular network, including protein-protein interactions, of VRS5 provide new routes towards the identification of other key regulators of plant architecture in barley. The TCP transcriptional regulator TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1 (TB1) is a key regulator of plant architecture. In barley, an important cereal crop, HvTB1 (also referred to as VULGARE SIX-ROWED spike (VRS) 5), inhibits the outgrowth of side shoots, or tillers, and grains. Despite its key role in barley development, there is limited knowledge on the molecular network that is utilized by VRS5. In this work, we performed protein-protein interaction studies of VRS5. Our analysis shows that VRS5 potentially interacts with a diverse set of proteins, including other class II TCP's, NF-Y TF, but also chromatin remodelers. Zooming in on the interaction capacity of VRS5 with other TCP TFs shows that VRS5 preferably interacts with other class II TCP TFs in the TB1 clade. Induced mutagenesis through CRISPR-Cas of one of the putative VRS5 interactors, HvTB2 (also referred to as COMPOSITUM 1 and BRANCHED AND INDETERMINATE SPIKELET 1), resulted in plants that have lost their characteristic unbranched spike architecture. More specifically, hvtb2 mutants exhibited branches arising at the main spike, suggesting that HvTB2 acts as inhibitor of branching. Our protein-protein interaction studies of VRS5 resulted in the identification of HvTB2 as putative interactor of VRS5, another key regulator of spike architecture in barley. The study presented here provides a first step to underpin the protein-protein interactome of VRS5 and to identify other, yet unknown, key regulators of barley plant architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana de Souza Moraes
- Cluster of Plant Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, CEP 13416-000, Brazil
| | - Sam W van Es
- Cluster of Plant Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gwendolyn K Kirschner
- Institute of Crop Functional Genomics, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany
| | - Froukje van der Wal
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sylvia Rodrigues da Silveira
- Cluster of Plant Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, CEP 13416-000, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline Busscher-Lange
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerco C Angenent
- Cluster of Plant Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew Moscou
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Richard G H Immink
- Cluster of Plant Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - G Wilma van Esse
- Cluster of Plant Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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22
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Wang Y, Bi X, Zhong J. Revisiting the origin and identity specification of the spikelet: A structural innovation in grasses (Poaceae). PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:60-71. [PMID: 35640983 PMCID: PMC9434286 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Spikelets are highly specialized and short-lived branches and function as a constitutional unit of the complex grass inflorescences. A series of genetic, genomic, and developmental studies across different clades of the family have called for and permitted a synthesis on the regulation and evolution of spikelets, and hence inflorescence diversity. Here, we have revisited the identity specification of a spikelet, focusing on the diagnostic features of a spikelet from morphological, developmental, and molecular perspectives. Particularly, recent studies on a collection of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat (Triticum spp.), and rice (Oryza sativa L.) mutants have highlighted a set of transcription factors that are important in the control of spikelet identity and the patterning of floral parts of a spikelet. In addition, we have endeavored to clarify some puzzling issues on the (in)determinacy and modifications of spikelets over the course of evolution. Meanwhile, genomes of two sister taxa of the remaining grass species have again demonstrated the importance of genome duplication and subsequent gene losses on the evolution of spikelets. Accordingly, we argue that changes in the orthologs of spikelet-related genes could be critical for the development and evolution of the spikelet, an evolutionary innovation in the grass family. Likewise, the conceptual discussions on the regulation of a fundamental unit of compound inflorescences could be translated into other organismal groups where compound structures are similarly formed, permitting a comparative perspective on the control of biological complexity.
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23
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Backhaus AE, Lister A, Tomkins M, Adamski NM, Simmonds J, Macaulay I, Morris RJ, Haerty W, Uauy C. High expression of the MADS-box gene VRT2 increases the number of rudimentary basal spikelets in wheat. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:1536-1552. [PMID: 35377414 PMCID: PMC9237664 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Spikelets are the fundamental building blocks of Poaceae inflorescences, and their development and branching patterns determine the various inflorescence architectures and grain yield of grasses. In wheat (Triticum aestivum), the central spikelets produce the most and largest grains, while spikelet size gradually decreases acropetally and basipetally, giving rise to the characteristic lanceolate shape of wheat spikes. The acropetal gradient corresponds with the developmental age of spikelets; however, the basal spikelets are developed first, and the cause of their small size and rudimentary development is unclear. Here, we adapted G&T-seq, a low-input transcriptomics approach, to characterize gene expression profiles within spatial sections of individual spikes before and after the establishment of the lanceolate shape. We observed larger differences in gene expression profiles between the apical, central, and basal sections of a single spike than between any section belonging to consecutive developmental time points. We found that SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE MADS-box transcription factors, including VEGETATIVE TO REPRODUCTIVE TRANSITION 2 (VRT-A2), are expressed highest in the basal section of the wheat spike and display the opposite expression gradient to flowering E-class SEPALLATA1 genes. Based on multi-year field trials and transgenic lines, we show that higher expression of VRT-A2 in the basal sections of the spike is associated with increased numbers of rudimentary basal spikelets. Our results, supported by computational modeling, suggest that the delayed transition of basal spikelets from vegetative to floral developmental programs results in the lanceolate shape of wheat spikes. This study highlights the value of spatially resolved transcriptomics to gain insights into developmental genetics pathways of grass inflorescences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Backhaus
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Ashleigh Lister
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Melissa Tomkins
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | | | - James Simmonds
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Iain Macaulay
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | | | - Wilfried Haerty
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
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Zhong J, Kong F. The control of compound inflorescences: insights from grasses and legumes. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:564-576. [PMID: 34973922 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A major challenge in biology is to understand how organisms have increased developmental complexity during evolution. Inflorescences, with remarkable variation in branching systems, are a fitting model to understand architectural complexity. Inflorescences bear flowers that may become fruits and/or seeds, impacting crop productivity and species fitness. Great advances have been achieved in understanding the regulation of complex inflorescences, particularly in economically and ecologically important grasses and legumes. Surprisingly, a synthesis is still lacking regarding the common or distinct principles underlying the regulation of inflorescence complexity. Here, we synthesize the similarities and differences in the regulation of compound inflorescences in grasses and legumes, and propose that the emergence of novel higher-order repetitive modules is key to the evolution of inflorescence complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinshun Zhong
- School of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Street 483, Guangzhou 510642, China; Institute for Plant Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, D-50829 Köln, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, 'SMART Plants for Tomorrow's Needs', Heinrich-Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Fanjiang Kong
- Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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25
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Skirycz A, Fernie AR. Past accomplishments and future challenges of the multi-omics characterization of leaf growth. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:473-489. [PMID: 35325227 PMCID: PMC9157134 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The advent of omics technologies has revolutionized biology and advanced our understanding of all biological processes, including major developmental transitions in plants and animals. Here, we review the vast knowledge accumulated concerning leaf growth in terms of transcriptional regulation before turning our attention to the historically less well-characterized alterations at the protein and metabolite level. We will then discuss how the advent of biochemical methods coupled with metabolomics and proteomics can provide insight into the protein-protein and protein-metabolite interactome of the growing leaves. We finally highlight the substantial challenges in detection, spatial resolution, integration, and functional validation of the omics results, focusing on metabolomics as a prerequisite for a comprehensive understanding of small-molecule regulation of plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Skirycz
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm 14476, Germany
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm 14476, Germany
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26
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Koppolu R, Chen S, Schnurbusch T. Evolution of inflorescence branch modifications in cereal crops. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 65:102168. [PMID: 35016076 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Grasses are ubiquitous in our daily lives, with gramineous cereal crops such as maize, rice, and wheat constituting a large proportion of our daily staple food intake. Evolutionary forces, especially over the past ∼20 million years, have shaped grass adaptability, inflorescence architecture, and reproductive success. Here, we provide basic information on grass evolution and inflorescence structures mainly related to two inflorescence types: branched panicle- and spike-type inflorescences, the latter of which has highly modified branching. We summarize and compare known genetic pathways underlying each infloresecence type and discuss how the maize RAMOSA, rice ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION, and Triticeae COMPOSITUM pathways are regulated. Our analyses might lay the foundation for understanding species-specific gene regulatory networks that could result in improved sink capacities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Koppolu
- Independent HEISENBERG Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany.
| | - Shulin Chen
- College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Thorsten Schnurbusch
- Independent HEISENBERG Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, OT Gatersleben, 06466 Seeland, Germany; Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle, Germany.
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27
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Klein H, Gallagher J, Demesa-Arevalo E, Abraham-Juárez MJ, Heeney M, Feil R, Lunn JE, Xiao Y, Chuck G, Whipple C, Jackson D, Bartlett M. Recruitment of an ancient branching program to suppress carpel development in maize flowers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022. [PMID: 34996873 DOI: 10.1101/2021.09.03.458935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Carpels in maize undergo programmed cell death in half of the flowers initiated in ears and in all flowers in tassels. The HD-ZIP I transcription factor gene GRASSY TILLERS1 (GT1) is one of only a few genes known to regulate this process. To identify additional regulators of carpel suppression, we performed a gt1 enhancer screen and found a genetic interaction between gt1 and ramosa3 (ra3). RA3 is a classic inflorescence meristem determinacy gene that encodes a trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) phosphatase (TPP). Dissection of floral development revealed that ra3 single mutants have partially derepressed carpels, whereas gt1;ra3 double mutants have completely derepressed carpels. Surprisingly, gt1 suppresses ra3 inflorescence branching, revealing a role for gt1 in meristem determinacy. Supporting these genetic interactions, GT1 and RA3 proteins colocalize to carpel nuclei in developing flowers. Global expression profiling revealed common genes misregulated in single and double mutant flowers, as well as in derepressed gt1 axillary meristems. Indeed, we found that ra3 enhances gt1 vegetative branching, similar to the roles for the trehalose pathway and GT1 homologs in the eudicots. This functional conservation over ∼160 million years of evolution reveals ancient roles for GT1-like genes and the trehalose pathway in regulating axillary meristem suppression, later recruited to mediate carpel suppression. Our findings expose hidden pleiotropy of classic maize genes and show how an ancient developmental program was redeployed to sculpt floral form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Klein
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Joseph Gallagher
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | | | - María Jazmín Abraham-Juárez
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Guanajuato 36821, Mexico
| | - Michelle Heeney
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Regina Feil
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - John E Lunn
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Yuguo Xiao
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84692
| | - George Chuck
- Plant Gene Expression Center, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94710
| | - Clinton Whipple
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84692
| | - David Jackson
- Plant Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
| | - Madelaine Bartlett
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003;
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28
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Recruitment of an ancient branching program to suppress carpel development in maize flowers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2115871119. [PMID: 34996873 PMCID: PMC8764674 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115871119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Floral morphology is immensely diverse. One developmental process acting to shape this diversity is growth suppression. For example, grass flowers exhibit extreme diversity in floral sexuality, arising through differential suppression of stamens or carpels. The genes regulating this growth suppression and how they have evolved remain largely unknown. We discovered that two classic developmental genes with ancient roles in controlling vegetative branching were recruited to suppress carpel development in maize. Our results highlight the power of forward genetics to reveal unpredictable genetic interactions and hidden pleiotropy of developmental genes. More broadly, our findings illustrate how ancient gene functions are recruited to new developmental contexts in the evolution of plant form. Carpels in maize undergo programmed cell death in half of the flowers initiated in ears and in all flowers in tassels. The HD-ZIP I transcription factor gene GRASSY TILLERS1 (GT1) is one of only a few genes known to regulate this process. To identify additional regulators of carpel suppression, we performed a gt1 enhancer screen and found a genetic interaction between gt1 and ramosa3 (ra3). RA3 is a classic inflorescence meristem determinacy gene that encodes a trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) phosphatase (TPP). Dissection of floral development revealed that ra3 single mutants have partially derepressed carpels, whereas gt1;ra3 double mutants have completely derepressed carpels. Surprisingly, gt1 suppresses ra3 inflorescence branching, revealing a role for gt1 in meristem determinacy. Supporting these genetic interactions, GT1 and RA3 proteins colocalize to carpel nuclei in developing flowers. Global expression profiling revealed common genes misregulated in single and double mutant flowers, as well as in derepressed gt1 axillary meristems. Indeed, we found that ra3 enhances gt1 vegetative branching, similar to the roles for the trehalose pathway and GT1 homologs in the eudicots. This functional conservation over ∼160 million years of evolution reveals ancient roles for GT1-like genes and the trehalose pathway in regulating axillary meristem suppression, later recruited to mediate carpel suppression. Our findings expose hidden pleiotropy of classic maize genes and show how an ancient developmental program was redeployed to sculpt floral form.
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29
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Hisano H, Hoffie RE, Abe F, Munemori H, Matsuura T, Endo M, Mikami M, Nakamura S, Kumlehn J, Sato K. Regulation of germination by targeted mutagenesis of grain dormancy genes in barley. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:37-46. [PMID: 34459083 PMCID: PMC8710902 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
High humidity during harvest season often causes pre-harvest sprouting in barley (Hordeum vulgare). Prolonged grain dormancy prevents pre-harvest sprouting; however, extended dormancy can interfere with malt production and uniform germination upon sowing. In this study, we used Cas9-induced targeted mutagenesis to create single and double mutants in QTL FOR SEED DORMANCY 1 (Qsd1) and Qsd2 in the same genetic background. We performed germination assays in independent qsd1 and qsd2 single mutants, as well as in two double mutants, which revealed a strong repression of germination in the mutants. These results demonstrated that normal early grain germination requires both Qsd1 and Qsd2 function. However, germination of qsd1 was promoted by treatment with 3% hydrogen peroxide, supporting the notion that the mutants exhibit delayed germination. Likewise, exposure to cold temperatures largely alleviated the block of germination in the single and double mutants. Notably, qsd1 mutants partially suppress the long dormancy phenotype of qsd2, while qsd2 mutant grains failed to germinate in the light, but not in the dark. Consistent with the delay in germination, abscisic acid accumulated in all mutants relative to the wild type, but abscisic acid levels cannot maintain long-term dormancy and only delay germination. Elucidation of mutant allele interactions, such as those shown in this study, are important for fine-tuning traits that will lead to the design of grain dormancy through combinations of mutant alleles. Thus, these mutants will provide the necessary germplasm to study grain dormancy and germination in barley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Hisano
- Institute of Plant Science and ResourcesOkayama UniversityKurashikiJapan
| | - Robert E. Hoffie
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) GaterslebenStadt SeelandGermany
| | | | - Hiromi Munemori
- Institute of Plant Science and ResourcesOkayama UniversityKurashikiJapan
| | - Takakazu Matsuura
- Institute of Plant Science and ResourcesOkayama UniversityKurashikiJapan
| | - Masaki Endo
- Institute of Agrobiological SciencesNAROTsukubaJapan
| | | | | | - Jochen Kumlehn
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) GaterslebenStadt SeelandGermany
| | - Kazuhiro Sato
- Institute of Plant Science and ResourcesOkayama UniversityKurashikiJapan
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