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Florez-Rueda AM, Miguel CM, Figueiredo DD. Comparative transcriptomics of seed nourishing tissues: uncovering conserved and divergent pathways in seed plants. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 119:1134-1157. [PMID: 38709819 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16786] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The evolutionary and ecological success of spermatophytes is intrinsically linked to the seed habit, which provides a protective environment for the initial development of the new generation. This environment includes an ephemeral nourishing tissue that supports embryo growth. In gymnosperms this tissue originates from the asexual proliferation of the maternal megagametophyte, while in angiosperms it is a product of fertilization, and is called the endosperm. The emergence of these nourishing tissues is of profound evolutionary value, and they are also food staples for most of the world's population. Here, using Orthofinder to infer orthologue genes among newly generated and previously published datasets, we provide a comparative transcriptomic analysis of seed nourishing tissues from species of several angiosperm clades, including those of early diverging lineages, as well as of one gymnosperm. Our results show that, although the structure and composition of seed nourishing tissues has seen significant divergence along evolution, there are signatures that are conserved throughout the phylogeny. Conversely, we identified processes that are specific to species within the clades studied, and thus illustrate their functional divergence. With this, we aimed to provide a foundation for future studies on the evolutionary history of seed nourishing structures, as well as a resource for gene discovery in future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Marcela Florez-Rueda
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam Science Park, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
- University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknechts-Str. 24-25, Haus 26, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Célia M Miguel
- Faculty of Sciences, Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Duarte D Figueiredo
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam Science Park, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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Boccaccini A, Cimini S, Kazmi H, Lepri A, Longo C, Lorrai R, Vittorioso P. When Size Matters: New Insights on How Seed Size Can Contribute to the Early Stages of Plant Development. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1793. [PMID: 38999633 PMCID: PMC11244240 DOI: 10.3390/plants13131793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
The seed habit is the most complex and successful method of sexual reproduction in vascular plants. It represents a remarkable moment in the evolution of plants that afterward spread on land. In particular, seed size had a pivotal role in evolutionary success and agronomic traits, especially in the field of crop domestication. Given that crop seeds constitute one of the primary products for consumption, it follows that seed size represents a fundamental determinant of crop yield. This adaptative feature is strictly controlled by genetic traits from both maternal and zygotic tissues, although seed development and growth are also affected by environmental cues. Despite being a highly exploited topic for both basic and applied research, there are still many issues to be elucidated for developmental biology as well as for agronomic science. This review addresses a number of open questions related to cues that influence seed growth and size and how they influence seed germination. Moreover, new insights on the genetic-molecular control of this adaptive trait are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Boccaccini
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (A.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Sara Cimini
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (A.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Hira Kazmi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (H.K.); (A.L.); (C.L.); (R.L.)
| | - Andrea Lepri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (H.K.); (A.L.); (C.L.); (R.L.)
| | - Chiara Longo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (H.K.); (A.L.); (C.L.); (R.L.)
| | - Riccardo Lorrai
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (H.K.); (A.L.); (C.L.); (R.L.)
| | - Paola Vittorioso
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (H.K.); (A.L.); (C.L.); (R.L.)
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Dong X, Luo H, Yao J, Guo Q, Yu S, Ruan Y, Li F, Jin W, Meng D. The conservation of allelic DNA methylation and its relationship with imprinting in maize. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:1376-1389. [PMID: 37935439 PMCID: PMC10901201 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting refers to allele-specific expression of genes depending on parental origin, and it is regulated by epigenetic modifications. Intraspecific allelic variation for imprinting has been detected; however, the intraspecific genome-wide allelic epigenetic variation in maize and its correlation with imprinting variants remain unclear. Here, three reciprocal hybrids were generated by crossing Zea mays inbred lines CAU5, B73, and Mo17 in order to examine the intraspecific conservation of the imprinted genes in the kernel. The majority of imprinted genes exhibited intraspecific conservation, and these genes also exhibited interspecific conservation (rice, sorghum, and Arabidopsis) and were enriched in some specific pathways. By comparing intraspecific allelic DNA methylation in the endosperm, we found that nearly 15% of DNA methylation existed as allelic variants. The intraspecific whole-genome correlation between DNA methylation and imprinted genes indicated that DNA methylation variants play an important role in imprinting variants. Disruption of two conserved imprinted genes using CRISPR/Cas9 editing resulted in a smaller kernel phenotype. Our results shed light on the intraspecific correlation of DNA methylation variants and variation for imprinting in maize, and show that imprinted genes play an important role in kernel development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Dong
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
- Shenyang City Key Laboratory of Maize Genomic Selection Breeding, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
| | - Haishan Luo
- College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiabin Yao
- College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
| | - Qingfeng Guo
- College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
| | - Shuai Yu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
- Shenyang City Key Laboratory of Maize Genomic Selection Breeding, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
| | - Yanye Ruan
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
- Shenyang City Key Laboratory of Maize Genomic Selection Breeding, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
| | - Fenghai Li
- College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
| | - Weiwei Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, the Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture & Resources and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300392, China
| | - Dexuan Meng
- College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China
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Dharni JS, Shi Y, Zhang C, Petersen C, Walia H, Staswick P. Growth and transcriptional response of wheat and rice to the tertiary amine BMVE. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1273620. [PMID: 38269141 PMCID: PMC10806070 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1273620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Seed vigor is largely a product of sound seed development, maturation processes, genetics, and storage conditions. It is a crucial factor impacting plant growth and crop yield and is negatively affected by unfavorable environmental conditions, which can include drought and heat as well as cold wet conditions. The latter leads to slow germination and increased seedling susceptibility to pathogens. Prior research has shown that a class of plant growth regulators called substituted tertiary amines (STAs) can enhance seed germination, seedling growth, and crop productivity. However, inconsistent benefits have limited STA adoption on a commercial scale. Methods We developed a novel seed treatment protocol to evaluate the efficacy of 2-(N-methyl benzyl aminoethyl)-3-methyl butanoate (BMVE), which has shown promise as a crop seed treatment in field trials. Transcriptomic analysis of rice seedlings 24 h after BMVE treatment was done to identify the molecular basis for the improved seedling growth. The impact of BMVE on seed development was also evaluated by spraying rice panicles shortly after flower fertilization and subsequently monitoring the impact on seed traits. Results BMVE treatment of seeds 24 h after imbibition consistently improved wheat and rice seedling shoot and root growth in lab conditions. Treated wheat seedlings grown to maturity in a greenhouse also resulted in higher biomass than controls, though only under drought conditions. Treated seedlings had increased levels of transcripts involved in reactive oxygen species scavenging and auxin and gibberellic acid signaling. Conversely, several genes associated with increased reactive oxygen species/ROS load, abiotic stress responses, and germination hindering processes were reduced. BMVE spray increased both fresh and mature seed weights relative to the control for plants exposed to 96 h of heat stress. BMVE treatment during seed development also benefited germination and seedling growth in the next generation, under both ambient and heat stress conditions. Discussion The optimized experimental conditions we developed provide convincing evidence that BMVE does indeed have efficacy in plant growth enhancement. The results advance our understanding of how STAs work at the molecular level and provide insights for their practical application to improve crop growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspinder Singh Dharni
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Yu Shi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Chi Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | | | - Harkamal Walia
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Paul Staswick
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
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Hu Y, Liu Y, Wei JJ, Zhang WK, Chen SY, Zhang JS. Regulation of seed traits in soybean. ABIOTECH 2023; 4:372-385. [PMID: 38106437 PMCID: PMC10721594 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-023-00122-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Soybean (Glycine max) is an essential economic crop that provides vegetative oil and protein for humans, worldwide. Increasing soybean yield as well as improving seed quality is of great importance. Seed weight/size, oil and protein content are the three major traits determining seed quality, and seed weight also influences soybean yield. In recent years, the availability of soybean omics data and the development of related techniques have paved the way for better research on soybean functional genomics, providing a comprehensive understanding of gene functions. This review summarizes the regulatory genes that influence seed size/weight, oil content and protein content in soybean. We also provided a general overview of the pleiotropic effect for the genes in controlling seed traits and environmental stresses. Ultimately, it is expected that this review will be beneficial in breeding improved traits in soybean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hu
- State Key Lab of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Yue Liu
- State Key Lab of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Jun-Jie Wei
- State Key Lab of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Wan-Ke Zhang
- State Key Lab of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Shou-Yi Chen
- State Key Lab of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Jin-Song Zhang
- State Key Lab of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
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Zumajo-Cardona C, Gabrieli F, Anire J, Albertini E, Ezquer I, Colombo L. Evolutionary studies of the bHLH transcription factors belonging to MBW complex: their role in seed development. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:383-400. [PMID: 37467144 PMCID: PMC10667011 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad097] [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: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The MBW complex consist of proteins belonging to three major families (MYB, bHLH and WDR) involved in various processes throughout plant development: epidermal cell development, mucilage secretory cells and flavonoid biosynthesis. Recently, it has been reported that TT8, encoding a bHLH transcription factor, is involved in the biosynthesis of flavonoids in the seed coat and it also plays a role in bypassing the postzygotic barrier resulting from an unbalance in genetic loads of the parental lines. Here, we focus on the functional evolution, in seed development, of the bHLH proteins that are part of the MBW complex, complemented with a literature review. METHODS Phylogenetic analyses performed across seed plants and expression analyses in the reproductive tissues of four selected angiosperms (Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, Capsella rubella and Solanum lycopersicum) allow us to hypothesize on the evolution of its functions. KEY RESULTS TT8 expression in the innermost layer of the seed coat is conserved in the selected angiosperms. However, except for Arabidopsis, TT8 is also expressed in ovules, carpels and fruits. The homologues belonging to the sister clade of TT8, EGL3/GL3, involved in trichome development, are expressed in the outermost layer of the seed coat, suggesting potential roles in mucilage. CONCLUSIONS The ancestral function of these genes appears to be flavonoid biosynthesis, and the conservation of TT8 expression patterns in the innermost layer of the seed coat in angiosperms suggests that their function in postzygotic barriers might also be conserved. Moreover, the literature review and the results of the present study suggest a sophisticated association, linking the mechanisms of action of these genes to the cross-communication activity between the different tissues of the seed. Thus, it provides avenues to study the mechanisms of action of TT8 in the postzygotic triploid block, which is crucial because it impacts seed development in unbalanced crosses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Zumajo-Cardona
- Department of BioScience, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Flavio Gabrieli
- Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, Perugia, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale DII, University of Padua, via Gradenigo, 6/a, Padova, Italy
| | - Jovannemar Anire
- Department of BioScience, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Wageningen UR Plant Breeding, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, NL-6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- National Coconut Research Center – Visayas, Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ignacio Ezquer
- Department of BioScience, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Colombo
- Department of BioScience, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Jameson PE. Cytokinin Translocation to, and Biosynthesis and Metabolism within, Cereal and Legume Seeds: Looking Back to Inform the Future. Metabolites 2023; 13:1076. [PMID: 37887400 PMCID: PMC10609209 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Early in the history of cytokinins, it was clear that Zea mays seeds contained not just trans-zeatin, but its nucleosides and nucleotides. Subsequently, both pods and seeds of legumes and cereal grains have been shown to contain a complex of cytokinin forms. Relative to the very high quantities of cytokinin detected in developing seeds, only a limited amount appears to have been translocated from the parent plant. Translocation experiments, and the detection of high levels of endogenous cytokinin in the maternal seed coat tissues of legumes, indicates that cytokinin does not readily cross the maternal/filial boundary, indicating that the filial tissues are autonomous for cytokinin biosynthesis. Within the seed, trans-zeatin plays a key role in sink establishment and it may also contribute to sink strength. The roles, if any, of the other biologically active forms of cytokinin (cis-zeatin, dihydrozeatin and isopentenyladenine) remain to be elucidated. The recent identification of genes coding for the enzyme that leads to the biosynthesis of trans-zeatin in rice (OsCYP735A3 and 4), and the identification of a gene coding for an enzyme (CPN1) that converts trans-zeatin riboside to trans-zeatin in the apoplast, further cements the key role played by trans-zeatin in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula E Jameson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
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Gomez MD, Cored I, Barro-Trastoy D, Sanchez-Matilla J, Tornero P, Perez-Amador MA. DELLA proteins positively regulate seed size in Arabidopsis. Development 2023; 150:dev201853. [PMID: 37435751 PMCID: PMC10445750 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Human and animal nutrition is mainly based on seeds. Seed size is a key factor affecting seed yield and has thus been one of the primary objectives of plant breeders since the domestication of crop plants. Seed size is coordinately regulated by signals of maternal and zygotic tissues that control the growth of the seed coat, endosperm and embryo. Here, we provide previously unreported evidence for the role of DELLA proteins, key repressors of gibberellin responses, in the maternal control of seed size. The gain-of-function della mutant gai-1 produces larger seeds as a result of an increase in the cell number in ovule integuments. This leads to an increase in ovule size and, in turn, to an increase in seed size. Moreover, DELLA activity promotes increased seed size by inducing the transcriptional activation of AINTEGUMENTA, a genetic factor that controls cell proliferation and organ growth, in the ovule integuments of gai-1. Overall, our results indicate that DELLA proteins are involved in the control of seed size and suggest that modulation of the DELLA-dependent pathway could be used to improve crop yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dolores Gomez
- Department of Development and Hormonal Action in Plants, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), CPI 8E, Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Isabel Cored
- Department of Development and Hormonal Action in Plants, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), CPI 8E, Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Daniela Barro-Trastoy
- Department of Development and Hormonal Action in Plants, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), CPI 8E, Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Joaquin Sanchez-Matilla
- Department of Development and Hormonal Action in Plants, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), CPI 8E, Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Tornero
- Department of Development and Hormonal Action in Plants, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), CPI 8E, Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Perez-Amador
- Department of Development and Hormonal Action in Plants, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), CPI 8E, Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
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9
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Zhang J, Zhang X, Liu X, Pai Q, Wang Y, Wu X. Molecular Network for Regulation of Seed Size in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10666. [PMID: 37445843 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The size of seeds is particularly important for agricultural development, as it is a key trait that determines yield. It is controlled by the coordinated development of the integument, endosperm, and embryo. Large seeds are an important way of improving the ultimate "sink strength" of crops, providing more nutrients for early plant growth and showing certain tolerance to abiotic stresses. There are several pathways for regulating plant seed size, including the HAIKU (IKU) pathway, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, G (Guanosine triphosphate) protein regulatory pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, transcriptional regulators pathway, and phytohormone regulatory pathways including the auxin, brassinosteroid (BR), gibberellin (GA), jasmonic acid (JA), cytokinin (CK), Abscisic acid (ABA), and microRNA (miRNA) regulatory pathways. This article summarizes the seed size regulatory network and prospective ways of improving yield. We expect that it will provide a valuable reference to researchers in related fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xueman Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Qiaofeng Pai
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yahui Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xiaolin Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
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10
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Song Q, Gong W, Yu X, Ji K, Jiang Y, Chang Y, Yuan D. Transcriptome and Anatomical Comparisons Reveal the Effects of Methyl Jasmonate on the Seed Development of Camellia oleifera. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:6747-6762. [PMID: 37026572 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Seed is a major storage organ that determines the yield and quality of Camellia oleifera (C. oleifera). Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a signaling molecule involved in plant growth and development. However, the role of MeJA in the development of C. oleifera seeds remains a mystery. This study demonstrated that the larger seeds induced by MeJA resulted from more cell numbers and a larger cell area in the outer seed coat and embryo at the cellular level. At the molecular level, MeJA could regulate the expression of factors in the known signaling pathways of seed size control as well as cell proliferation and expansion, resulting in larger seeds. Furthermore, the accumulation of oil and unsaturated fatty acids due to MeJA-inducement was attributed to the increased expression of fatty acid biosynthesis-related genes but reduced expression of fatty acid degradation-related genes. CoMYC2, a key regulator in jasmonate signaling, was considered a potential hub regulator which directly interacted with three hub genes (CoCDKB2-3, CoCYCB2-3, and CoXTH9) related to the seed size and two hub genes (CoACC1 and CoFAD2-3) related to oil accumulation and fatty acid biosynthesis by binding to their promoters. These findings provide an excellent target for the improvement of the yield and quality in C. oleifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiling Song
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Wenfang Gong
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Xinran Yu
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Ke Ji
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Yihong Chang
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Deyi Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
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11
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Molecular bases of rice grain size and quality for optimized productivity. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2023; 68:314-350. [PMID: 36710151 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The accomplishment of further optimization of crop productivity in grain yield and quality is a great challenge. Grain size is one of the crucial determinants of rice yield and quality; all of these traits are typical quantitative traits controlled by multiple genes. Research advances have revealed several molecular and developmental pathways that govern these traits of agronomical importance. This review provides a comprehensive summary of these pathways, including those mediated by G-protein, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, mitogen-activated protein kinase, phytohormone, transcriptional regulators, and storage product biosynthesis and accumulation. We also generalize the excellent precedents for rice variety improvement of grain size and quality, which utilize newly developed gene editing and conventional gene pyramiding capabilities. In addition, we discuss the rational and accurate breeding strategies, with the aim of better applying molecular design to breed high-yield and superior-quality varieties.
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Li X, Wu J, Yi F, Lai J, Chen J. High temporal-resolution transcriptome landscapes of maize embryo sac and ovule during early seed development. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 111:233-248. [PMID: 36508138 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-022-01318-0] [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: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Here we provided a high temporal-resolution transcriptome atlas of maize embryo sac and ovule to reveal the gene activity dynamic during early seed development. The early maize (Zea mays) seed development is initiated from double fertilization in the embryo sac and needs to undergo a highly dynamic and complex development process to form the differentiated embryo and endosperm. Despite the importance of maize seed for food, feed, and biofuel, many regulators responsible for controlling its early development are not known yet. Here, we reported a high temporal-resolution transcriptome atlas of embryo sac and ovule based on 44 time point samples collected within the first four days of seed development. A total of 25,187 genes including 1598 transcription factors (TFs) involved in early seed development were detected. Global comparisons of the expressions of these genes revealed five distinct development stages of early seed, which are mainly related to double fertilization, asymmetric cell division of the zygote, as well as coenocyte formation, cellularization and differentiation in endosperm. We identified 3327 seed-specific genes, which more than one thousand seed-specific genes with main expressions during early seed development were newly identified here, including 859 and 186 genes predominantly expressed in the embryo sac and ovule, respectively. Combined with the published transcriptome data of seed, we uncovered the dominant auxin biosynthesis, transport and signaling related genes at different development stages and subregions of seed. These results are helpful for understanding the genetic control of early seed development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinchen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Wu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Research Center of Plant Growth Regulator, Ministry of Education & College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinsheng Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Mahesh HM, Muralimohan K. Segregation of Cry Genes in the Seeds Produced by F 1 Bollgard ® II Cotton Differs between Hybrids: Could This Be Linked to the Observed Field Resistance in the Pink Bollworm? Genes (Basel) 2022; 14:genes14010065. [PMID: 36672806 PMCID: PMC9859209 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Indian populations of the Pink Bollworm (PBW) are resistant to Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton hybrids containing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab genes. Segregation of these Cry genes in F1 hybrids could subject PBW to sublethal concentrations. Moreover, planting hybrids with varying zygosities of Cry genes could produce diverse segregation patterns and expose PBW populations to highly variable toxin concentrations. This could potentially promote the rate of resistance development. Therefore, we studied the segregation patterns of Cry genes in different commercial Bt hybrids cultivated in India. Results showed that two hybrids segregated according to the Mendelian mono-hybrid ratio, three segregated according to the Mendelian di-hybrid ratio, and one showed a mixed segregation pattern. The assortment of seeds containing Cry genes varied between bolls of the same hybrid. In India, different Bt cotton hybrids are cultivated in small patches next to each other, exposing PBW populations to sublethal doses and wide variations in the occurrence of Cry genes. It is necessary to avoid segregation of Cry genes in the seeds produced by F1 hybrids. This study recommends using Bt parents homozygous for Cry genes in commercial Bt cotton hybrid development. This breeding strategy could be effective for similar transgenic crop hybrids as well.
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Di Marzo M, Babolin N, Viana VE, de Oliveira AC, Gugi B, Caporali E, Herrera-Ubaldo H, Martínez-Estrada E, Driouich A, de Folter S, Colombo L, Ezquer I. The Genetic Control of SEEDSTICK and LEUNIG-HOMOLOG in Seed and Fruit Development: New Insights into Cell Wall Control. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3146. [PMID: 36432874 PMCID: PMC9698089 DOI: 10.3390/plants11223146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although much is known about seed and fruit development at the molecular level, many gaps remain in our understanding of how cell wall modifications can impact developmental processes in plants, as well as how biomechanical alterations influence seed and fruit growth. Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana constitute an excellent tool to study the function of gene families devoted to cell wall biogenesis. We have characterized a collection of lines carrying mutations in representative cell wall-related genes for seed and fruit size developmental defects, as well as altered germination rates. We have linked these studies to cell wall composition and structure. Interestingly, we have found that disruption of genes involved in pectin maturation and hemicellulose deposition strongly influence germination dynamics. Finally, we focused on two transcriptional regulators, SEEDSTICK (STK) and LEUNIG-HOMOLOG (LUH), which positively regulate seed growth. Herein, we demonstrate that these factors regulate specific aspects of cell wall properties such as pectin distribution. We propose a model wherein changes in seed coat structure due to alterations in the xyloglucan-cellulose matrix deposition and pectin maturation are critical for organ growth and germination. The results demonstrate the importance of cell wall properties and remodeling of polysaccharides as major factors responsible for seed development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Di Marzo
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Babolin
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Vívian Ebeling Viana
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Plant Genomics and Breeding Center, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - Antonio Costa de Oliveira
- Plant Genomics and Breeding Center, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - Bruno Gugi
- Laboratoire Glycobiologie et Matrice Extracellulaire Végétale EA4358, UNIROUEN—Universitè de Rouen Normandie, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Elisabetta Caporali
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Humberto Herrera-Ubaldo
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Km. 9.6 Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, Irapuato 36824, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Martínez-Estrada
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Km. 9.6 Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, Irapuato 36824, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Azeddine Driouich
- Laboratoire Glycobiologie et Matrice Extracellulaire Végétale EA4358, UNIROUEN—Universitè de Rouen Normandie, 76000 Rouen, France
- Fédération de Recherche “NORVEGE”-FED 4277, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Stefan de Folter
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Km. 9.6 Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, Irapuato 36824, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Lucia Colombo
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Ignacio Ezquer
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
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15
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Developing Genetic Engineering Techniques for Control of Seed Size and Yield. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113256. [PMID: 36362043 PMCID: PMC9655546 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Many signaling pathways regulate seed size through the development of endosperm and maternal tissues, which ultimately results in a range of variations in seed size or weight. Seed size can be determined through the development of zygotic tissues (endosperm and embryo) and maternal ovules. In addition, in some species such as rice, seed size is largely determined by husk growth. Transcription regulator factors are responsible for enhancing cell growth in the maternal ovule, resulting in seed growth. Phytohormones induce significant effects on entire features of growth and development of plants and also regulate seed size. Moreover, the vegetative parts are the major source of nutrients, including the majority of carbon and nitrogen-containing molecules for the reproductive part to control seed size. There is a need to increase the size of seeds without affecting the number of seeds in plants through conventional breeding programs to improve grain yield. In the past decades, many important genetic factors affecting seed size and yield have been identified and studied. These important factors constitute dynamic regulatory networks governing the seed size in response to environmental stimuli. In this review, we summarized recent advances regarding the molecular factors regulating seed size in Arabidopsis and other crops, followed by discussions on strategies to comprehend crops' genetic and molecular aspects in balancing seed size and yield.
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Wu X, Cai X, Zhang B, Wu S, Wang R, Li N, Li Y, Sun Y, Tang W. ERECTA regulates seed size independently of its intracellular domain via MAPK-DA1-UBP15 signaling. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:3773-3789. [PMID: 35848951 PMCID: PMC9516062 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Seed size is determined by the coordinated growth of the embryo, endosperm, and integument. Growth of the integument is initiated by signal molecules released from the developing endosperm or embryo. Although recent studies have identified many components that regulate seed size by controlling integument growth, the upstream signals and the signal transduction pathway that activate these components after double fertilization are unclear. Here, we report that the receptor-like kinase ERECTA (ER) controls seed size by regulating outer integument cell proliferation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Seeds from er mutants were smaller, while those from ER-overexpressing plants were larger, than those of control plants. Different from its role in regulating the development of other organs, ER regulates seed size via a novel mechanism that is independent of its intracellular domain. Our genetic and biochemical data show that a MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE (MAPK) signaling pathway comprising MAPK-KINASE 4/5, MAPK 3/6 (MPK3/6), DA1, and UBIQUITIN SPECIFIC PROTEASE 15 (UBP15) functions downstream of ER and modulates seed size. MPK3/6 phosphorylation inactivates and destabilizes DA1 to increase the abundance of UBP15, promoting outer integument cell proliferation and increasing seed size. Our study illustrates a nearly completed ER-mediated signaling pathway that regulates seed size and will help uncover the mechanism that coordinates embryo, endosperm, and integument growth after double fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Baowen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Shuting Wu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Ruiju Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Na Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant, Institute of Genetics and Development Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yunhai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant, Institute of Genetics and Development Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Author for correspondence: (Y.S.), (W.T.)
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17
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Jing X, Zhang H, Huai X, An Q, Qiao Y. Identification and characterization of miRNAs and PHAS loci related to the early development of the embryo and endosperm in Fragaria × ananassa. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:638. [PMID: 36076187 PMCID: PMC9454143 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08864-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The strawberry fleshy fruit is actually enlarged receptacle tissue, and the successful development of the embryo and endosperm is essential for receptacle fruit set. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) play indispensable regulatory roles in plant growth and development. However, miRNAs and phasiRNAs participating in the regulation of strawberry embryo and endosperm development have yet to be explored. RESULTS Here, we performed genome-wide identification of miRNA and phasiRNA-producing loci (PHAS) in strawberry seeds with a focus on those involved in the development of the early embryo and endosperm. We found that embryos and endosperm have different levels of small RNAs. After bioinformatics analysis, the results showed that a total of 404 miRNAs (352 known and 52 novel) and 156 PHAS genes (81 21-nt and 75 24-nt genes) could be found in strawberry seed-related tissues, of which four and nine conserved miRNA families displayed conserved expression in the endosperm and embryo, respectively. Based on refined putative annotation of PHAS loci, some auxin signal-related genes, such as CM3, TAR2, AFB2, ASA1, NAC and TAS3, were found, which demonstrates that IAA biosynthesis is important for endosperm and embryo development during early fruit growth. Additionally, some auxin signal-related conserved (miR390-TAS3) and novel (miR156-ASA1) trigger-PHAS pairs were identified. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results expand our understanding of sRNAs in strawberry embryo and endosperm development and provide a genomic resource for early-stage fruit development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Jing
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinjia Huai
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi An
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Yushan Qiao
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Luo C, Yan J, Liu W, Xu Y, Sun P, Wang M, Xie D, Jiang B. Genetic mapping and genome-wide association study identify BhYAB4 as the candidate gene regulating seed shape in wax gourd ( Benincasa hispida). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:961864. [PMID: 36161030 PMCID: PMC9493316 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.961864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Wax gourd is an important vegetable crop of the Cucurbitaceae family. According to the shape and structure of the seed coat, the seeds of the wax gourd can be divided into bilateral and unilateral. Bilateral seeds usually germinate quickly and have a high germination rate than unilateral seeds. Thereby, wax gourd varieties with bilateral seeds are more welcomed by seed companies and growers. However, the genetic basis and molecular mechanism regulating seed shape remain unclear in the wax gourd. In this study, the genetic analysis demonstrated that the seed shape of wax gourd was controlled by a single gene, with bilateral dominant to unilateral. Combined with genetic mapping and genome-wide association study, Bhi04G000544 (BhYAB4), encoding a YABBY transcription factor, was identified as the candidate gene for seed shape determination in the wax gourd. A G/A single nucleotide polymorphism variation of BhYAB4 was detected among different germplasm resources, with BhYAB4G specifically enriched in bilateral seeds and BhYAB4A in unilateral seeds. The G to A mutation caused intron retention and premature stop codon of BhYAB4. Expression analysis showed that both BhYAB4G and BhYAB4A were highly expressed in seeds, while the nuclear localization of BhYAB4A protein was disturbed compared with that of BhYAB4G protein. Finally, a derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker that could efficiently distinguish between bilateral and unilateral seeds was developed, thereby facilitating the molecular marker-assisted breeding of wax gourd cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Luo
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinqiang Yan
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenrui Liu
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanchao Xu
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Piaoyun Sun
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Wang
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dasen Xie
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
| | - Biao Jiang
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
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Das AK, Hao L. Functional characterization of ZmbHLH121, a bHLH transcription factor, focusing on Zea mays kernel development. GENE REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2022.101645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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20
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Negative regulation of seed germination by maternal AFB1 and AFB5 in Arabidopsis. Biosci Rep 2022; 42:231693. [PMID: 36039862 PMCID: PMC9469108 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20221504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The plant hormone auxin suppresses seed germination, but how auxin does it remains poorly understood. While studying the functions of the AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (AFB) auxin co-receptors in Arabidopsis, we consistently isolated AFB1 and AFB5 in reproductive tissues in co-immunoprecipitation experiments using their interacting protein ASK1 as the bait. However, T2 seeds of the AFB1 or AFB5 transgenic lines generated for the co-immunoprecipitation experiments frequently failed to germinate, which led to the studies of seed germination in these plants and afb1 and afb5 mutants, and AFB1 and AFB5 expression in nearly mature fruit and imbibed seeds using AFB1:GUS and AFB5:GUS lines. We found that AFB1 and AFB5 acted in maternal tissues to suppress seed germination and their effects were positively correlated with the plants’ sensitivity to indole acetic acid. Conversely, afb1 and afb5 single mutants exhibited faster seed germination than the wild type and the seeds of the afb1-5afb5-5 double mutant germinated even faster than those of the afb1-5 and afb5-5 single mutants. Seed germination of the afb1-5afb5-5 double mutant also exhibited higher sensitivity to gibberellic acid than that of the wild-type and the afb1-3, afb1-5 and afb5-5 single mutants. Both AFB1 and AFB5 were expressed in the funiculus during seed maturation, and AFB1 was also transiently expressed in a small chalazal region surrounding the hilum in the seed coat during seed imbibition. Therefore, AFB1 and AFB5 likely suppress seed germination in the funiculus and AFB1 also briefly suppresses seed germination in the chalaza during seed imbibition.
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Yang F, Pecinka A. Multiple Roles of SMC5/6 Complex during Plant Sexual Reproduction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094503. [PMID: 35562893 PMCID: PMC9099584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin-based processes are essential for cellular functions. Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMCs) are evolutionarily conserved molecular machines that organize chromosomes throughout the cell cycle, mediate chromosome compaction, promote DNA repair, or control sister chromatid attachment. The SMC5/6 complex is known for its pivotal role during the maintenance of genome stability. However, a dozen recent plant studies expanded the repertoire of SMC5/6 complex functions to the entire plant sexual reproductive phase. The SMC5/6 complex is essential in meiosis, where its activity must be precisely regulated to allow for normal meiocyte development. Initially, it is attenuated by the recombinase RAD51 to allow for efficient strand invasion by the meiosis-specific recombinase DMC1. At later stages, it is essential for the normal ratio of interfering and non-interfering crossovers, detoxifying aberrant joint molecules, preventing chromosome fragmentation, and ensuring normal chromosome/sister chromatid segregation. The latter meiotic defects lead to the production of diploid male gametes in Arabidopsis SMC5/6 complex mutants, increased seed abortion, and production of triploid offspring. The SMC5/6 complex is directly involved in controlling normal embryo and endosperm cell divisions, and pioneer studies show that the SMC5/6 complex is also important for seed development and normal plant growth in cereals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fen Yang
- Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research (CRH), Institute of Experimental Botany (IEB), Czech Academy of Sciences, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Pecinka
- Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research (CRH), Institute of Experimental Botany (IEB), Czech Academy of Sciences, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
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22
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Grain Size Associated Genes and the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism in Rice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063169. [PMID: 35328589 PMCID: PMC8953112 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Grain size is a quantitative trait that is controlled by multiple genes. It is not only a yield trait, but also an important appearance quality of rice. In addition, grain size is easy to be selected in evolution, which is also a significant trait for studying rice evolution. In recent years, many quantitative trait loci (QTL)/genes for rice grain size were isolated by map-based cloning or genome-wide association studies, which revealed the genetic and molecular mechanism of grain size regulation in part. Here, we summarized the QTL/genes cloned for grain size and the regulation mechanism with a view to provide the theoretical basis for improving rice yield and breeding superior varieties.
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23
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Han B, Wu D, Zhang Y, Li DZ, Xu W, Liu A. Epigenetic regulation of seed-specific gene expression by DNA methylation valleys in castor bean. BMC Biol 2022; 20:57. [PMID: 35227267 PMCID: PMC8886767 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01259-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the processes governing angiosperm seed growth and development is essential both for fundamental plant biology and for agronomic purposes. Master regulators of angiosperm seed development are expressed in a seed-specific manner. However, it is unclear how this seed specificity of transcription is established. In some vertebrates, DNA methylation valleys (DMVs) are highly conserved and strongly associated with key developmental genes, but comparable studies in plants are limited to Arabidopsis and soybean. Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a valuable model system for the study of seed biology in dicots and source of economically important castor oil. Unlike other dicots such as Arabidopsis and soybean, castor bean seeds have a relatively large and persistent endosperm throughout seed development, representing substantial structural differences in mature seeds. Here, we performed an integrated analysis of RNA-seq, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, and ChIP-seq for various histone marks in the castor bean. RESULTS We present a gene expression atlas covering 16 representative tissues and identified 1162 seed-specific genes in castor bean (Ricinus communis), a valuable model for the study of seed biology in dicots. Upon whole-genome DNA methylation analyses, we detected 32,567 DMVs across five tissues, covering ~33% of the castor bean genome. These DMVs are highly hypomethylated during development and conserved across plant species. We found that DMVs have the potential to activate transcription, especially that of tissue-specific genes. Focusing on seed development, we found that many key developmental regulators of seed/endosperm development, including AGL61, AGL62, LEC1, LEC2, ABI3, and WRI1, were located within DMVs. ChIP-seq for five histone modifications in leaves and seeds clearly showed that the vast majority of histone modification peaks were enriched within DMVs, and their remodeling within DMVs has a critical role in the regulation of seed-specific gene expression. Importantly, further experiment analysis revealed that distal DMVs may act as cis-regulatory elements, like enhancers, to activate downstream gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Our results point to the importance of DMVs and special distal DMVs behaving like enhancers, in the regulation of seed-specific genes, via the reprogramming of histone modifications within DMVs. Furthermore, these results provide a comprehensive understanding of the epigenetic regulator roles in seed development in castor bean and other important crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Di Wu
- Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - De-Zhu Li
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
| | - Aizhong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, China.
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Gong H, Rehman F, Ma Y, A B, Zeng S, Yang T, Huang J, Li Z, Wu D, Wang Y. Germplasm Resources and Strategy for Genetic Breeding of Lycium Species: A Review. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:802936. [PMID: 35222468 PMCID: PMC8874141 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.802936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Lycium species (goji), belonging to Solanaceae, are widely spread in the arid to semiarid environments of Eurasia, Africa, North and South America, among which most species have affinal drug and diet functions, resulting in their potential to be a superior healthy food. However, compared with other crop species, scientific research on breeding Lycium species lags behind. This review systematically introduces the present germplasm resources, cytological examination and molecular-assisted breeding progress in Lycium species. Introduction of the distribution of Lycium species around the world could facilitate germplasm collection for breeding. Karyotypes of different species could provide a feasibility analysis of fertility between species. The introduction of mapping technology has discussed strategies for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in Lycium species according to different kinds of traits. Moreover, to extend the number of traits and standardize the protocols of trait detection, we also provide 1,145 potential traits (275 agronomic and 870 metabolic) in different organs based on different reference studies on Lycium, tomato and other Solanaceae species. Finally, perspectives on goji breeding research are discussed and concluded. This review will provide breeders with new insights into breeding Lycium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiguang Gong
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Botanical Garden and Public Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fazal Rehman
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Botanical Garden and Public Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Ma
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Botanical Garden and Public Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Biao A
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Botanical Garden and Public Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shaohua Zeng
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Botanical Garden and Public Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianshun Yang
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Botanical Garden and Public Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Huang
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Botanical Garden and Public Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong Li
- Agricultural Comprehensive Development Center in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | | | - Ying Wang
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Botanical Garden and Public Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Science, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, China
- School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Zhang K, Cao W, Baskin JM, Baskin CC, Sun J, Yao L, Tao J. Seed development in Paeonia ostii (Paeoniaceae), with particular reference to embryogeny. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:603. [PMID: 34922450 PMCID: PMC8684281 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03373-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: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seeds of Paeonia ostii have been proposed as a source of raw material for the production of edible oil; however, lack of information about the developmental biology of the seeds hampers our ability to use them. Our aim was to investigate development of the seed coat, endosperm and embryo of P. ostii in relation to timing of accumulation of nutrient reserves from pollination to seed maturity. Ovules and developing seeds of P. ostii were collected at various stages of development from zygote to maturity. Seed fresh mass, dry mass, germination, moisture, soluble sugars, starch, protein and oil content were determined. Ontogeny of seeds including embryo, endosperm and seed coat were analyzed histologically. RESULTS The ovule of P. ostii is anatropous, crassinucellate and bitegmic. The zygote begins to divide at about 5 days after pollination (DAP), and the division is not accompanied by cell wall formation. By 25 DAP, the proembryo begins to cellularize. Thereafter, several embryo primordia appear at the surface of the cellularized proembryo, but only one matures. Endosperm development follows the typical nuclear type. The seed coat is derived from the outer integument. During seed development, soluble sugars, starch and crude fat content increased and then decreased, with maximum contents at 60, 80 and 100 DAP, respectively. Protein content was relatively low compared with soluble sugars and crude fat, but it increased throughout seed development. CONCLUSIONS During seed development in P. ostii, the seed coat acts as a temporary storage tissue. Embryo development of P. ostii can be divided into two stages: a coenocytic proembryo from zygote (n + n) that degenerates and a somatic embryo from peripheral cells of the proembryo (2n → 2n). This pattern of embryogeny differs from that of all other angiosperms, but it is similar to that of gymnosperms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keliang Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Weizhang Cao
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Jerry M Baskin
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Carol C Baskin
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Jing Sun
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Linjun Yao
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Department of Plant Engineering, Jiangsu Union Technical Institute, Huai-An, 223200, China
| | - Jun Tao
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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Jafari M, Shiran B, Rabiei G, Ravash R, Sayed Tabatabaei BE, Martínez-Gómez P. Identification and verification of seed development related miRNAs in kernel almond by small RNA sequencing and qPCR. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260492. [PMID: 34851991 PMCID: PMC8635354 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have investigated the role of miRNAs on the yield of various plants, but so far, no report is available on the identification and role of miRNAs in fruit and seed development of almonds. In this study, preliminary analysis by high-throughput sequencing of short RNAs of kernels from the crosses between almond cultivars 'Sefid' × 'Mamaee' (with small and large kernels, respectively) and 'Sefid' × 'P. orientalis' (with small kernels) showed that the expressions of several miRNAs such as Pdu-miR395a-3p, Pdu-miR8123-5p, Pdu-miR482f, Pdu-miR6285, and Pdu-miR396a were significantly different. These miRNAs targeted genes encoding different proteins such as NYFB-3, SPX1, PGSIP3 (GUX2), GH3.9, and BEN1. The result of RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of these genes showed significant differences between the crosses and developmental stages of the seeds, suggesting that these genes might be involved in controlling kernel size because the presence of these miRNAs had a negative effect on their target genes. Pollen source can influence kernel size by affecting hormonal signaling and metabolic pathways through related miRNAs, a phenomenon known as xenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Jafari
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Behrouz Shiran
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Rabiei
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Roudabeh Ravash
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
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Yan G, Yu P, Tian X, Guo L, Tu J, Shen J, Yi B, Fu T, Wen J, Liu K, Ma C, Dai C. DELLA proteins BnaA6.RGA and BnaC7.RGA negatively regulate fatty acid biosynthesis by interacting with BnaLEC1s in Brassica napus. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:2011-2026. [PMID: 33982357 PMCID: PMC8486242 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Seed oil content (SOC) and fatty acid (FA) composition determine the quality and economic value of rapeseed (Brassica napus). Little is known about the role of gibberellic acid (GA) in regulating FA biosynthesis in B. napus. Here, we discovered that four BnaRGAs (B. napus REPRESSOR OF GA), encoding negative regulators of GA signalling, were suppressed during seed development. Compared to the wild type, SOC was reduced in gain-of-function mutants bnaa6.rga-D and ds-3, which also showed reduced oleic acid and increased linoleic acid contents. By contrast, the loss-of-function quadruple mutant bnarga displayed higher SOC during early seed development than the wild type, with increased oleic acid and reduced linoleic acid contents. Notably, only BnaA6.RGA and BnaC7.RGA physically interacted with two BnaLEC1s, which function as essential transcription factors in FA biosynthesis. The FA composition did not significantly differ between bnarga bnalec1 sextuple mutants and bnalec1, suggesting that BnaLEC1s are epistatic to BnaRGAs in the regulation of FA composition. Furthermore, BnaLEC1-induced activation of BnaABI3 expression was repressed by BnaA6.RGA, indicating that GA triggers the degradation of BnaRGAs to relieve their repression of BnaLEC1s, thus promoting the transcription of downstream genes to facilitate oil biosynthesis. Therefore, we uncovered a developmental stage-specific role of GA in regulating oil biosynthesis via the GA-BnaRGA-BnaLEC1 signalling cascade, providing a novel mechanistic understanding of how phytohormones regulate FA biosynthesis in seeds. BnaRGAs represent promising targets for oil crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanbo Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Pugang Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xia Tian
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Liang Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Jinxing Tu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Jinxiong Shen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Bin Yi
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Tingdong Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Jing Wen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Kede Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Chaozhi Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Cheng Dai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
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Chen J, Yan Q, Li J, Feng L, Zhang Y, Xu J, Xia R, Zeng Z, Liu Y. The GRAS gene family and its roles in seed development in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:423. [PMID: 34535087 PMCID: PMC8447652 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03193-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The GRAS gene family plays crucial roles in multiple biological processes of plant growth, including seed development, which is related to seedless traits of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). However, it hasn't been fully identified and analyzed in litchi, an economic fruit tree cultivated in subtropical regions. RESULTS In this study, 48 LcGRAS proteins were identified and termed according to their chromosomal location. LcGRAS proteins can be categorized into 14 subfamilies through phylogenetic analysis. Gene structure and conserved domain analysis revealed that different subfamilies harbored various motif patterns, suggesting their functional diversity. Synteny analysis revealed that the expansion of the GRAS family in litchi may be driven by their tandem and segmental duplication. After comprehensively analysing degradome data, we found that four LcGRAS genes belong to HAM subfamily were regulated via miR171-mediated degradation. The various expression patterns of LcGRAS genes in different tissues uncovered they were involved in different biological processes. Moreover, the different temporal expression profiles of LcGRAS genes between abortive and bold seed indicated some of them were involved in maintaining the normal development of the seed. CONCLUSION Our study provides comprehensive analyses on GRAS family members in litchi, insight into a better understanding of the roles of GRAS in litchi development, and lays the foundation for further investigations on litchi seed development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qian Yan
- Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture / Guangdong ProvinceKey Laboratary of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research / Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zaohai Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yuanlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
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Sandhu J, Irvin L, Liu K, Staswick P, Zhang C, Walia H. Endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway mediates the early heat stress response of developing rice seeds. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2021; 44:2604-2624. [PMID: 34036580 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A transient heat stress occurring during early seed development in rice (Oryza sativa) reduces seed size by altering endosperm development. However, the relationship between the timing of the stress and specific developmental stage on heat sensitivity is not well-understood. To address this, we imposed a series of non-overlapping heat stress treatments and found that young seeds are most sensitive during the first two days after flowering. Temporal transcriptome analysis of developing, heat stressed (35°C) seeds during this window shows that Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and jasmonic acid (JA) pathways are the early (1-3 h) drivers of heat stress response. We propose that increased JA levels under heat stress may precede ER stress response as JA application promotes the spliced form of OsbZIP50, an ER response marker gene linked to IRE1-specific pathway. This study presents temporal and mechanistic insights into the role of JA and ER stress signalling during early heat stress response of rice seeds that impact both grain size and quality. Modulating the heat sensitivity of the early sensing pathways and downstream endosperm development genes can enhance rice resilience to transient heat stress events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet Sandhu
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Larissa Irvin
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kan Liu
- School of Biological Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Paul Staswick
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Chi Zhang
- School of Biological Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Harkamal Walia
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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Zhang S, Ghatak A, Bazargani MM, Bajaj P, Varshney RK, Chaturvedi P, Jiang D, Weckwerth W. Spatial distribution of proteins and metabolites in developing wheat grain and their differential regulatory response during the grain filling process. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 107:669-687. [PMID: 34227164 PMCID: PMC9291999 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Grain filling and grain development are essential biological processes in the plant's life cycle, eventually contributing to the final seed yield and quality in all cereal crops. Studies of how the different wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain components contribute to the overall development of the seed are very scarce. We performed a proteomics and metabolomics analysis in four different developing components of the wheat grain (seed coat, embryo, endosperm, and cavity fluid) to characterize molecular processes during early and late grain development. In-gel shotgun proteomics analysis at 12, 15, 20, and 26 days after anthesis (DAA) revealed 15 484 identified and quantified proteins, out of which 410 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the seed coat, 815 in the embryo, 372 in the endosperm, and 492 in the cavity fluid. The abundance of selected protein candidates revealed spatially and temporally resolved protein functions associated with development and grain filling. Multiple wheat protein isoforms involved in starch synthesis such as sucrose synthases, starch phosphorylase, granule-bound and soluble starch synthase, pyruvate phosphate dikinase, 14-3-3 proteins as well as sugar precursors undergo a major tissue-dependent change in abundance during wheat grain development suggesting an intimate interplay of starch biosynthesis control. Different isoforms of the protein disulfide isomerase family as well as glutamine levels, both involved in the glutenin macropolymer pattern, showed distinct spatial and temporal abundance, revealing their specific role as indicators of wheat gluten quality. Proteins binned into the functional category of cell growth/division and protein synthesis/degradation were more abundant in the early stages (12 and 15 DAA). At the metabolome level all tissues and especially the cavity fluid showed highly distinct metabolite profiles. The tissue-specific data are integrated with biochemical networks to generate a comprehensive map of molecular processes during grain filling and developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhang
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary EcologyMolecular Systems Biology Lab (MOSYS)University of ViennaAlthanstrasse 14ViennaA‐1090Austria
| | - Arindam Ghatak
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary EcologyMolecular Systems Biology Lab (MOSYS)University of ViennaAlthanstrasse 14ViennaA‐1090Austria
| | | | - Prasad Bajaj
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems BiologyInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)Hyderabad502324India
| | - Rajeev K. Varshney
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems BiologyInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)Hyderabad502324India
- State Agricultural Biotechnology CentreCentre for Crop and Food InnovationMurdoch UniversityMurdochWA6150Australia
| | - Palak Chaturvedi
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary EcologyMolecular Systems Biology Lab (MOSYS)University of ViennaAlthanstrasse 14ViennaA‐1090Austria
| | - Dong Jiang
- National Technique Innovation Center for Regional Wheat Production/Key Laboratory of Crop EcophysiologyMinistry of Agriculture/Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing210095China
| | - Wolfram Weckwerth
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary EcologyMolecular Systems Biology Lab (MOSYS)University of ViennaAlthanstrasse 14ViennaA‐1090Austria
- Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME)University of ViennaAlthanstrasse 14ViennaA‐1090Austria
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Li YJ, Yu Y, Liu X, Zhang XS, Su YH. The Arabidopsis MATERNAL EFFECT EMBRYO ARREST45 protein modulates maternal auxin biosynthesis and controls seed size by inducing AINTEGUMENTA. THE PLANT CELL 2021; 33:1907-1926. [PMID: 33730150 PMCID: PMC8290293 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Seed size is a major factor determining crop yields that is controlled through the coordinated development of maternal and zygotic tissues. Here, we identified Arabidopsis MATERNAL EFFECT EMBRYO ARREST45 (MEE45) as a B3 transcription factor that controls cell proliferation and maternally regulates seed size through its transcriptional activation of AINTEGUMENTA (ANT) and its downstream control of auxin biosynthesis in the ovule integument. After characterizing reduced seed and organ size phenotypes in mee45 mutants and finding that overexpression of MEE45 causes oversized seeds, we discovered that the MEE45 protein can bind to the promoter region of the ANT locus and positively regulate its transcription. ANT in-turn activates the expression of auxin biosynthetic genes (e.g. YUCCA4) in the ovule integument. Our results thus illustrate mechanisms underlying maternal tissue-mediated regulation of seed size and suggest that MEE45 and its downstream components can be harnessed to develop higher-yielding crop varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ju Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Yang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Xiuying Liu
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Xian Sheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, China
- Authors for Correspondence: ;
| | - Ying Hua Su
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, China
- Authors for Correspondence: ;
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Control of seed size by jasmonate. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 64:1215-1226. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1899-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Liu Z, Zheng L, Pu L, Ma X, Wang X, Wu Y, Ming H, Wang Q, Zhang G. ENO2 Affects the Seed Size and Weight by Adjusting Cytokinin Content and Forming ENO2-bZIP75 Complex in Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:574316. [PMID: 32983222 PMCID: PMC7479207 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.574316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Arabidopsis thaliana ENO2 (AtENO2) encodes two proteins AtENO2 (enolase) and AtMBP-1 (c-Myc binding protein 1-like). The loss of AtENO2 function causes the constitutive developmental defects which are correlated with reduced enolase activity, but not AtMBP-1 transcript abundance. However, the regulation mechanism of AtENO2 on the seed properties is still not clear. In this study, we found that the mutation of AtENO2 reduced the seed size and weight. The level of glucose in seed was significantly elevated but that of starch was decreased in AtENO2 mutants compared to WT plants. We also found that AtENO2 mutation reduced the content of cytokinin which resulted in smaller cotyledons. The RNA-seq data showed that there were 1892 differentially expressed genes and secondary metabolic pathways were significantly enriched. Instead of AtMBP-1, AtENO2 protein interacted with AtbZIP75 which may mediate the secondary metabolism. Therefore, ENO2 alters the size and weight of seeds which is not only regulated by the content of cytokinin and secondary metabolism, but may be affected by the interaction of ENO2 and bZIP57. These results are helpful to understand the novel function of AtENO2 which provide a foundation for further exploration of the key candidate genes for crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijin Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Lamei Zheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Pu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Ma
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Hainan Ming
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Institute of Radiation Botany, Beijing Radiation Center, Beijing, China
| | - Genfa Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Zhang Y, Yao W, Wang F, Su Y, Zhang D, Hu S, Zhang X. AGC protein kinase AGC1-4 mediates seed size in Arabidopsis. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2020; 39:825-837. [PMID: 32219503 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-020-02533-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
AGC1-4 kinase plays a crucial role in the regulation of seeds by mediating cell proliferation and embryo development in Arabidopsis. Seed size is a crucial factor to influence final seed yield in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms that set final seed size still need to be investigated. Here, we identified a novel AGC protein kinase AGC1-4, which encodes a serine-threonine kinase, belongs to the AGC VIIIa subfamily. The seeds of agc1-4 mutant were significantly larger than that in the wild type. Overexpression of the AGC1-4 gene reduced seed size. Regulation of AGC1-4 seed size is dependent on embryonic cell number. To further determine AGC1-4 functions in seed size, we analyzed AGC1-4 phosphoproteins using label-free quantitative phosphoproteomics coupled to the transcriptome of agc1-4 using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The RNA-seq analysis showed 1611 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which cover a wide range of functions, such as cell cycle and embryo development. The 262 unique phosphoproteins were detected by phosphoproteomics analysis. The differentially phosphorylated proteins were involved in cell cycle and post-embryo development. Overlay of the RNA-seq and phosphoproteomics results demonstrated AGC1-4 as an important factor that influences seed size by mediating cell proliferation and embryo development. The results in this study provide novel data on the serine-threonine kinase AGC1-4 mediating seed size in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Wangjinsong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Yinghua Su
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Dajian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Shengwu Hu
- College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Xiansheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
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Genome-Wide Association Analysis Identifies Candidate Genes Regulating Seed Number Per Silique in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9050585. [PMID: 32370287 PMCID: PMC7284809 DOI: 10.3390/plants9050585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Seed weight and number ultimately determine seed yield. Arabidopsis seed number comprised of silique number and seed number per silique (SNS). Comparing seed development and weight, determinants of seed number remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, taking advantage of 107 available Arabidopsis accessions, genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was employed to identify the candidate genes regulating SNS. GWAS-based genotype and phenotype association analysis identified 38 most significant SNPs marker sites that were mapped to specific chromosomal positions and allowed us to screen for dozens of candidate genes. One of them (PIN3) was selected for functional validation based on gene expression analysis. It is a positive regulator of Arabidopsis SNS. Although silique length of PIN3 loss of function mutant was not significantly changed, its SNS and seed density (SD) were significantly reduced as compared with the wild type. Notably, PIN3 overexpression lines driven by a placenta-specific promoter STK exhibited significantly shorter siliques, slightly reduced SNS, but significant increased SD compared with wild type, suggesting that PIN3 positively regulates SD through inducing ovule primordia initiation regardless of the placenta size. Ovule initiation determines the maximal possibility of SNS, and new genes and mechanism regulating SNS through modulating ovule initiation is worth further investigated.
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Moreno-Sanz P, D’Amato E, Nebish A, Costantini L, Grando MS. An optimized histological proceeding to study the female gametophyte development in grapevine. PLANT METHODS 2020; 16:61. [PMID: 32377221 PMCID: PMC7195713 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-020-00604-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive success in seed plants depends on a healthy fruit and seed set. Normal seed development in the angiosperms requires the production of functional female gametophytes. This is particularly evident in seedless cultivars where defects during megagametophyte's developmental processes have been observed through cytohistological analysis. Several protocols for embryo sac histological analyses in grapevine are reported in literature, mainly based on resin- or paraffin-embedding approaches. However their description is not always fully exhaustive and sometimes they consist of long and laborious steps. The use of different stains is also documented, some of them, such as hematoxylin, requiring long oxidation periods of the dye-solution before using it (from 2 to 6 months) and/or with a differentiation step not easy to handle. Paraffin-embedding associated to examination with light microscope is the simplest methodology, and with less requirements in terms of expertise and costs, achieving a satisfactory resolution for basic histological observations. Safranin O and fast green FCF is an easy staining combination that has been applied in embryological studies of several plant species. RESULTS Here we describe in detail a paraffin-embedding method for the examination of grapevine ovules at different phenological stages. The histological sample preparation process takes 1 day and a half. Sections of 5 µm thickness can be obtained and good contrast is achieved with the safranin O and fast green FCF staining combination. The method allows the observation of megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis events in the different phenological stages examined. CONCLUSIONS The histological sample preparation process proposed here can be used as a routine procedure to obtain embedded ovaries or microscope slides that would require further steps for examination. We suggest the tested staining combination as a simple and viable technique for basic screenings about the presence in grapevine of a normally and fully developed ovule with embryo sac cells, which is therefore potentially functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Moreno-Sanz
- Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Via. E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - E. D’Amato
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Povo, Italy
| | - A. Nebish
- Department of Genetics and Cytology, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian St., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia
- Research Group of Plant Genetics and Immunology, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, 7 Hasratyan St., 0014 Yerevan, Armenia
| | - L. Costantini
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - M. S. Grando
- Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Via. E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
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Liu Z, Li N, Zhang Y, Li Y. Transcriptional repression of GIF1 by the KIX-PPD-MYC repressor complex controls seed size in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1846. [PMID: 32296056 PMCID: PMC7160150 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15603-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Seed size is a key agronomic trait that greatly determines plant yield. Elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying seed size regulation is also an important question in developmental biology. Here, we show that the KIX-PPD-MYC-GIF1 pathway plays a crucial role in seed size control in Arabidopsis thaliana. Disruption of KIX8/9 and PPD1/2 causes large seeds due to increased cell proliferation and cell elongation in the integuments. KIX8/9 and PPD1/2 interact with transcription factors MYC3/4 to form the KIX-PPD-MYC complex in Arabidopsis. The KIX-PPD-MYC complex associates with the typical G-box sequence in the promoter of GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (GIF1), which promotes seed growth, and represses its expression. Genetic analyses support that KIX8/9, PPD1/2, MYC3/4, and GIF1 function in a common pathway to control seed size. Thus, our results reveal a genetic and molecular mechanism by which the transcription factors MYC3/4 recruit KIX8/9 and PPD1/2 to the promoter of GIF1 and repress its expression, thereby determining seed size in Arabidopsis. Seed size is an important determinant of plant yield. Here, Liu et al. show that a KIX-PPD repressor complex and MYC transcription factors interact with the G-box motif in the promoter of GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 to regulate seed size by influencing cell proliferation and elongation in the integument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zupei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039, Beijing, China
| | - Na Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Yueying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039, Beijing, China
| | - Yunhai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039, Beijing, China.
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Guo Y, Gao M, Liang X, Xu M, Liu X, Zhang Y, Liu X, Liu J, Gao Y, Qu S, Luan F. Quantitative Trait Loci for Seed Size Variation in Cucurbits - A Review. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:304. [PMID: 32265957 PMCID: PMC7099056 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae family) include many economically important fruit vegetable crops such as watermelon, pumpkin/squash, cucumber, and melon. Seed size (SS) is an important trait in cucurbits breeding, which is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTL). Recent advances have deciphered several signaling pathways underlying seed size variation in model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice, but little is known on the genetic basis of SS variation in cucurbits. Here we conducted literature review on seed size QTL identified in watermelon, pumpkin/squash, cucumber and melon, and inferred 14, 9 and 13 consensus SS QTL based on their physical positions in respective draft genomes. Among them, four from watermelon (ClSS2.2, ClSS6.1, ClSS6.2, and ClSS8.2), two from cucumber (CsSS4.1 and CsSS5.1), and one from melon (CmSS11.1) were major-effect, stable QTL for seed size and weight. Whole genome sequence alignment revealed that these major-effect QTL were located in syntenic regions across different genomes suggesting possible structural and functional conservation of some important genes for seed size control in cucurbit crops. Annotation of genes in the four watermelon consensus SS QTL regions identified genes that are known to play important roles in seed size control including members of the zinc finger protein and the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase families. The present work highlights the utility of comparative analysis in understanding the genetic basis of seed size variation, which may help future mapping and cloning of seed size QTL in cucurbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resistance Gene Engineering and Preservation of Biodiversity in Cold Areas, Qiqihar, China
| | - Meiling Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resistance Gene Engineering and Preservation of Biodiversity in Cold Areas, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xiaoxue Liang
- College of Life Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Ming Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xiaosong Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yanling Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xiujie Liu
- Qiqihar Horticultural Research Institute, Qiqihar, China
| | - Jixiu Liu
- Qiqihar Horticultural Research Institute, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yue Gao
- Qiqihar Horticultural Research Institute, Qiqihar, China
| | - Shuping Qu
- College of Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Feishi Luan
- College of Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
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Paul P, Dhatt BK, Sandhu J, Hussain W, Irvin L, Morota G, Staswick P, Walia H. Divergent phenotypic response of rice accessions to transient heat stress during early seed development. PLANT DIRECT 2020; 4:e00196. [PMID: 31956854 PMCID: PMC6955394 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Increasing global surface temperatures is posing a major food security challenge. Part of the solution to address this problem is to improve crop heat resilience, especially during grain development, along with agronomic decisions such as shift in planting time and increasing crop diversification. Rice is a major food crop consumed by more than 3 billion people. For rice, thermal sensitivity of reproductive development and grain filling is well-documented, while knowledge concerning the impact of heat stress (HS) on early seed development is limited. Here, we aim to study the phenotypic variation in a set of diverse rice accessions for elucidating the HS response during early seed development. To explore the variation in HS sensitivity, we investigated aus (1), indica (2), temperate japonica (2), and tropical japonica (4) accessions for their HS (39/35°C) response during early seed development that accounts for transition of endosperm from syncytial to cellularization, which broadly corresponds to 24 and 96 hr after fertilization (HAF), respectively, in rice. The two indica and one of the tropical japonica accessions exhibited severe heat sensitivity with increased seed abortion; three tropical japonicas and an aus accession showed moderate heat tolerance, while temperate japonicas exhibited strong heat tolerance. The accessions exhibiting extreme heat sensitivity maintain seed size at the expense of number of fully developed mature seeds, while the accessions showing relative resilience to the transient HS maintained number of fully developed seeds but compromised on seed size, especially seed length. Further, histochemical analysis revealed that all the tested accessions have delayed endosperm cellularization upon exposure to the transient HS by 96 HAF; however, the rate of cellularization was different among the accessions. These findings were further corroborated by upregulation of cellularization-associated marker genes in the developing seeds from the heat-stressed samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puneet Paul
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
| | - Balpreet K. Dhatt
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
| | - Jaspreet Sandhu
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
| | - Waseem Hussain
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
- International Rice Research InstituteLos BanosPhilippines
| | - Larissa Irvin
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
| | - Gota Morota
- Department of Animal and Poultry SciencesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVAUSA
| | - Paul Staswick
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
| | - Harkamal Walia
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
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Li SN, Cheng P, Bai YQ, Shi Y, Yu JY, Li RC, Zhou RN, Zhang ZG, Wu XX, Chen QS. Analysis of Soybean Somatic Embryogenesis Using Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines and Transcriptome Sequencing. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E943. [PMID: 31752416 PMCID: PMC6896167 DOI: 10.3390/genes10110943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Soybean is an important cash crop that is widely used as a source of vegetable protein and edible oil. The regeneration ability of soybean directly affects the application of biotechnology. In this study, we used the exogenous hormone 2,4-D to treat immature embryos. Different levels of somatic incidence were selected from the chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) constructed by SN14 and ZYD00006. Transcriptome sequencing of extreme materials was performed, and 2666 differentially expressed genes were obtained. At the same time, a difference table was generated by combining the data on CSSL rearrangement. In the extreme materials, a total of 93 differentially expressed genes were predicted and were then analyzed by cluster analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) annotation. After screening and annotating the target genes, three differentially expressed genes with hormone pathways were identified. The expression patterns of the target genes were verified by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Haplotype polymorphism detection and linkage disequilibrium analysis were performed on the candidate gene Glyma.09g248200. This study provided more information on the regulation network of soybean somatic embryogenesis and regeneration processes, and further identified important genes in the soybean regeneration process and provided a theoretical basis for accelerating the application of biotechnology to soybean for improving its breeding efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhan-Guo Zhang
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, Heilongjiang, China; (S.-N.L.); (P.C.); (Y.-Q.B.); (Y.S.); (J.-Y.Y.); (R.-C.L.); (R.-N.Z.)
| | - Xiao-Xia Wu
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, Heilongjiang, China; (S.-N.L.); (P.C.); (Y.-Q.B.); (Y.S.); (J.-Y.Y.); (R.-C.L.); (R.-N.Z.)
| | - Qing-Shan Chen
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, Heilongjiang, China; (S.-N.L.); (P.C.); (Y.-Q.B.); (Y.S.); (J.-Y.Y.); (R.-C.L.); (R.-N.Z.)
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Pan Z, Liu M, Xiao Z, Ren X, Zhao H, Gong D, Liang K, Tan Z, Shao Y, Qiu F. ZmSMK9, a pentatricopeptide repeat protein, is involved in the cis-splicing of nad5, kernel development and plant architecture in maize. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 288:110205. [PMID: 31521217 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Maize kernel size and weight are essential contributors to its yield. So the identification of the genes controlling kernel size and weight can give us a chance to gain the yield. Here, we identified a small kernel mutant, Zea mays small kernel 9 (Zmsmk9), in maize. Cytological observation showed that the development of the endosperm and embryo was delayed in Zmsmk9 mutants at the early stages, resulting in a small kernel phenotype. Interestingly, despite substantial variation in kernel size, the germination of Zmsmk9 seeds was comparable to that of WT, and could develop into normal plants with upright leaf architecture. We cloned Zmsmk9 via map-based cloning. ZmSMK9 encodes a P-type pentatricopeptide repeat protein that targets to mitochondria, and is involved in RNA splicing in mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase5 (nad5) intron-1 and intron-4. Consistent with the delayed development phenotype, transcriptome analysis of 12-DAP endosperm showed that starch and zeins biosynthesis related genes were dramatically down regulated in Zmsmk9, while cell cycle and cell growth related genes were dramatically increased. As a result, ZmSMK9 is a novel gene required for the splicing of nad5 intron-1 and intron-4, kernel development, and plant architecture in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyuan Pan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Min Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Ziyi Xiao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Xuemei Ren
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Hailiang Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Dianming Gong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Kun Liang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Zengdong Tan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Yangqing Shao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Fazhan Qiu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
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Lee J, Heath LS, Grene R, Li S. Comparing time series transcriptome data between plants using a network module finding algorithm. PLANT METHODS 2019; 15:61. [PMID: 31164912 PMCID: PMC6544932 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-019-0440-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comparative transcriptome analysis is the comparison of expression patterns between homologous genes in different species. Since most molecular mechanistic studies in plants have been performed in model species, including Arabidopsis and rice, comparative transcriptome analysis is particularly important for functional annotation of genes in diverse plant species. Many biological processes, such as embryo development, are highly conserved between different plant species. The challenge is to establish one-to-one mapping of the developmental stages between two species. RESULTS In this manuscript, we solve this problem by converting the gene expression patterns into co-expression networks and then apply network module finding algorithms to the cross-species co-expression network. We describe how such analyses are carried out using bash scripts for preliminary data processing followed by using the R programming language for module finding with a simulated annealing method. We also provide instructions on how to visualize the resulting co-expression networks across species. CONCLUSIONS We provide a comprehensive pipeline from installing software and downloading raw transcriptome data to predicting homologous genes and finding orthologous co-expression networks. From the example provided, we demonstrate the application of our method to reveal functional conservation and divergence of genes in two plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoung Lee
- Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Lenwood S. Heath
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Ruth Grene
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Song Li
- Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
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43
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Ren D, Wang X, Yang M, Yang L, He G, Deng XW. A new regulator of seed size control in Arabidopsis identified by a genome-wide association study. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 222:895-906. [PMID: 30556142 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Organ size in plants is controlled by the interaction between genotype and the environment. Seed size, an important agronomic trait, largely determines yield and is an important focus of research. However, the genetic components underpinning natural variation of seed size in undomesticated species remain largely unidentified. Here we report a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of seed size in Arabidopsis thaliana, which identified 38 significantly associated loci, including one locus associated with CYCB1;4. Natural variations in CYCB1;4, which encodes a cyclin protein involved in the cell cycle, significantly influence seed size in A. thaliana. Transgenic plants with enhanced CYCB1;4 expression show normal development, exhibit increased seed size as a result of an accelerated cell cycle progression, and tend to produce higher yields. By contrast, cycb1;4 mutants have smaller seeds, and the effect is especially pronounced in a large-seed accession. The temporal and spatial expression pattern of CYCB1;4 suggests that this gene may function in both maternal tissues and zygotic tissues to coordinate the final size of seeds. Taken together, our results provide genetic insights into natural variation in seed size in Arabidopsis. Moreover, CYCB1;4 homologs in other crops could have great potential as targets for efforts aimed at yield improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diqiu Ren
- School of Life Sciences and School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xuncheng Wang
- School of Life Sciences and School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Mei Yang
- School of Life Sciences and School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Li Yang
- School of Life Sciences and School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Guangming He
- School of Life Sciences and School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xing Wang Deng
- School of Life Sciences and School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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Yu L, Liu Y, Zeng S, Yan J, Wang E, Luo L. Expression of a novel PSK-encoding gene from soybean improves seed growth and yield in transgenic plants. PLANTA 2019; 249:1239-1250. [PMID: 30756185 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03101-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Expression of GmPSKγ1 , a novel PSK-encoding gene from soybean, increases seed size and yield in transgenic plants by promoting cell expansion. Phytosulfokine-α (PSK-α), a sulfated pentapeptide hormone with the sequence YIYTQ, plays important roles in many aspects of plant growth and development. In this study, we identified a pair of putative precursor genes in soybean, GmPSKγ1 and -2, encoding a PSK-like peptide: PSK-γ. Similar to PSK-α in amino acid composition, the sequence of PSK-γ is YVYTQ, and the tyrosines undergo sulfonylation. Treatment of Arabidopsis seedlings with synthetic sulfated PSK-γ significantly enhanced root elongation, indicating that PSK-γ might be a functional analog of PSK-α. Expression pattern analysis revealed that the two GmPSKγ genes, especially GmPSKγ1, are primarily expressed in developing soybean seeds. Heterologous expression of GmPSKγ1 under the control of a seed-specific promoter markedly increased seed size and weight in Arabidopsis, and this promoting effect of PSK-γ on seed growth was further confirmed in transgenic tobacco constitutively expressing GmPSKγ1. Cytological analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis seeds revealed that PSK-γ promotes seed growth by inducing embryo cell expansion. In addition, expression analysis of downstream candidate genes suggested that PSK-γ signaling might regulate cell wall loosening to promote cell expansion in Arabidopsis seeds. Overall, our results shed light on the mechanism by which PSK-γ promotes seed growth, paving the way for the use of this new peptide for biotechnological improvement of crop seed/grain size and yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Yu
- Shanghai Key Lab of Bio-energy Crops, Plant Science Center, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Yumin Liu
- Shanghai Key Lab of Bio-energy Crops, Plant Science Center, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Shuang Zeng
- Shanghai Key Lab of Bio-energy Crops, Plant Science Center, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Junhui Yan
- Shanghai Key Lab of Bio-energy Crops, Plant Science Center, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Ertao Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Li Luo
- Shanghai Key Lab of Bio-energy Crops, Plant Science Center, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
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45
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Yu A, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Li F, Liu A. Global Gene Expression of Seed Coat Tissues Reveals a Potential Mechanism of Regulating Seed Size Formation in Castor Bean. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E1282. [PMID: 30875738 PMCID: PMC6471003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The physiological and molecular basis of seed size formation is complex, and the development of seed coat (derived from integument cells) might be a critical factor that determines seed size formation for many endospermic seeds. Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), a model system of studying seed biology, has large and persistent endosperm with a hard seed coat at maturity. Here, we investigated the potential molecular mechanisms underlying seed size formation in castor bean by comparing the difference between global gene expression within developing seed coat tissues between the large-seed ZB107 and small-seed ZB306. First, we observed the cell size of seed coat and concluded that the large seed coat area of ZB107 resulted from more cell numbers (rather than cell size). Furthermore, we found that the lignin proportion of seed coat was higher in ZB306. An investigation into global gene expression of developing seed coat tissues revealed that 815 genes were up-regulated and 813 were down-regulated in ZB306 relative to ZB107. Interestingly, we found that many genes involved in regulating cell division were up-regulated in ZB107, whereas many genes involved in regulating lignin biosynthesis (including several NAC members, as well as MYB46/83 and MYB58/63) and in mediating programmed cell death (such as CysEP1 and βVPE) were up-regulated in ZB306. Furthermore, the expression patterns of the genes mentioned above indicated that the lignification of seed coat tissues was enhanced and occurred earlier in the developing seeds of ZB306. Taken together, we tentatively proposed a potential scenario for explaining the molecular mechanisms of seed coat governing seed size formation in castor bean by increasing the cell number and delaying the onset of lignification in seed coat tissues in large-seed ZB107. This study not only presents new information for possible modulation of seed coat related genes to improve castor seed yield, but also provides new insights into understanding the molecular basis of seed size formation in endospermic seeds with hard seed coat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anmin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Zaiqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yang Zhang
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Oil Crops Biology, Crops Research Institute of Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang 330200, China.
| | - Fei Li
- Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
| | - Aizhong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China.
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46
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Shirley NJ, Aubert MK, Wilkinson LG, Bird DC, Lora J, Yang X, Tucker MR. Translating auxin responses into ovules, seeds and yield: Insight from Arabidopsis and the cereals. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 61:310-336. [PMID: 30474296 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Grain production in cereal crops depends on the stable formation of male and female gametes in the flower. In most angiosperms, the female gamete is produced from a germline located deep within the ovary, protected by several layers of maternal tissue, including the ovary wall, ovule integuments and nucellus. In the field, germline formation and floret fertility are major determinants of yield potential, contributing to traits such as seed number, weight and size. As such, stimuli affecting the timing and duration of reproductive phases, as well as the viability, size and number of cells within reproductive organs can significantly impact yield. One key stimulant is the phytohormone auxin, which influences growth and morphogenesis of female tissues during gynoecium development, gametophyte formation, and endosperm cellularization. In this review we consider the role of the auxin signaling pathway during ovule and seed development, first in the context of Arabidopsis and then in the cereals. We summarize the gene families involved and highlight distinct expression patterns that suggest a range of roles in reproductive cell specification and fate. This is discussed in terms of seed production and how targeted modification of different tissues might facilitate improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil J Shirley
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Matthew K Aubert
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Laura G Wilkinson
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Dayton C Bird
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Jorge Lora
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Xiujuan Yang
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Matthew R Tucker
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
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47
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van Nocker S. Hybrids without hybridization-can it revolutionize horticulture? HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2018; 5:76. [PMID: 30588321 PMCID: PMC6303291 DOI: 10.1038/s41438-018-0113-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
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48
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Golz JF, Allen PJ, Li SF, Parish RW, Jayawardana NU, Bacic A, Doblin MS. Layers of regulation - Insights into the role of transcription factors controlling mucilage production in the Arabidopsis seed coat. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 272:179-192. [PMID: 29807590 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
A polysaccharide-rich mucilage is released from the seed coat epidermis of numerous plant species and has been intensively studied in the model plant Arabidopsis. This has led to the identification of a large number of genes involved in the synthesis, secretion and modification of cell wall polysaccharides such as pectin, hemicellulose and cellulose being identified. These genes include a small network of transcription factors (TFs) and transcriptional co-regulators, that not only regulate mucilage production, but epidermal cell differentiation and in some cases flavonoid biosynthesis in the internal endothelial layer of the seed coat. Here we focus on the function of these regulators and propose a simplified model where they are assigned to a hierarchical gene network with three regulatory levels (tiers) as a means of assisting in the interpretation of the complexity. We discuss limitations of current methodologies and highlight some of the problems associated with defining the function of TFs, particularly those that perform different functions in adjacent layers of the seed coat. We suggest approaches that should provide a more accurate picture of the function of transcription factors involved with mucilage production and release.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Golz
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Patrick J Allen
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, AgriBio Centre, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Song F Li
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, AgriBio Centre, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Roger W Parish
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, AgriBio Centre, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Nadeeka U Jayawardana
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Antony Bacic
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Monika S Doblin
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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49
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Quantitative Spatiotemporal Oil Body Ultrastructure Helps to Verify the Distinct Lipid Deposition Patterns in Benzoin Endosperm and Embryo Cells. FORESTS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/f9050265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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50
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Xu F, Kuo T, Rosli Y, Liu MS, Wu L, Chen LFO, Fletcher JC, Sung ZR, Pu L. Trithorax Group Proteins Act Together with a Polycomb Group Protein to Maintain Chromatin Integrity for Epigenetic Silencing during Seed Germination in Arabidopsis. MOLECULAR PLANT 2018; 11:659-677. [PMID: 29428247 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2018.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Revised: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Polycomb group (PcG) and trithorax group (trxG) proteins have been shown to act antagonistically to epigenetically regulate gene expression in eukaryotes. The trxG proteins counteract PcG-mediated floral repression in Arabidopsis, but their roles in other developmental processes are poorly understood. We investigated the interactions between the trxG genes, ARABIDOPSIS HOMOLOG OF TRITHORAX1 (ATX1) and ULTRAPETALA1 (ULT1), and the PcG gene EMBRYONIC FLOWER 1 (EMF1) during early development. Unexpectedly, we found that mutations in the trxG genes failed to rescue the early-flowering phenotype of emf1 mutants. Instead, emf1 atx1 ult1 seedlings showed a novel swollen root phenotype and massive deregulation of gene expression. Greater ectopic expression of seed master regulatory genes in emf1 atx1 ult1 triple than in emf1 single mutants indicates that PcG and trxG factors together repress seed gene expression after germination. Furthermore, we found that the widespread gene derepression is associated with reduced levels of H3K27me3, an epigenetic repressive mark of gene expression, and with globally altered chromatin organization. EMF1, ATX1, and ULT1 are able to bind the chromatin of seed genes and ULT1 can physically interact with ATX1 and EMF1, suggesting that the trxG and EMF1 proteins directly associate at target gene loci for EMF1-mediated gene silencing. Thus, while ATX1, ULT1, and EMF1 interact antagonistically to regulate flowering, they work together to maintain chromatin integrity and prevent precocious seed gene expression after germination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Xu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Tony Kuo
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529 Taiwan, China
| | - Yenny Rosli
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mao-Sen Liu
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529 Taiwan, China
| | - Limin Wu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China
| | - Long-Fang Oliver Chen
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529 Taiwan, China
| | - Jennifer C Fletcher
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Zinmay Renee Sung
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Li Pu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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