Re-sequencing and genetic variation identification of a rice line with ideal plant architecture

Genetic Analysis of a Collection of Rice Germplasm (Oryza sativa L.) through High-Density SNP Array Provides Useful Information for Further Breeding Practices

Traditional breeding strategies mainly focus on the evaluation of trait performance, but pay less attention to the changing genetic background. A comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity of germplasms is crucial for the deliberate improvement of specific traits. A collection of 154 highland rice varieties were collected as the initial genetic resource in our breeding program to improve the pathogen resistance and eating and cooking qualities. These varieties were analyzed using a whole-genome SNP array and were clustered into three groups. Further analysis revealed that the favorable alleles of pathogen resistance genes are mostly absent in our collected varieties. However, it showed that most varieties possess favorable alleles of Waxy (Wx) and ALKALI DEGENERATION (ALK), which are able to enhance the eating and cooking qualities. Moreover, only about one fifth of all varieties harbors favorable the allele of fragrance gene Betainealdehyde dehydrogenase (BADH2). Together, these results give an overall view of the genetic constitution of the target traits, which provide useful information for future genetic improvement in breeding practices.

High-resolution bin-based linkage mapping uncovers the genetic architecture and heterosis-related loci of plant height in indica-japonica derived populations

Plant height (PH) is an important trait affecting the plant architecture, seed yield, and harvest index. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying PH heterosis remain unclear. In addition, useful PH-related genes must be urgently identified to facilitate ideal plant architecture breeding in rice (Oryza sativa L.). In the present study, to explore rice quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and heterosis-related loci of PH in rice, we developed a high-generation (>F₁₅ ) population of 272 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) from a cross of two elite varieties, Luohui 9 (indica/xian) × RPY geng (japonica/geng), and two testcross hybrid populations derived from the crosses of RILs and two cytoplasmic male sterile lines (YTA [indica] and Z7A [japonica]). Using deep resequencing data, a high-density genetic map containing 4758 bin markers was constructed, with a total map distance of 2356.41 cM. Finally, 31 PH-related QTLs for different PH component lengths or tiller numbers across five seasons were identified. Two major environment-specific PH QTLs were stably detected in Hainan (qPH-3.1) or Hubei (qPH-5.1), which have undergone significant functional alterations in rice with changes in geographical environment. Based on comparative genomics, gene function annotation, homolog identification, and existing literature (pioneering studies), candidate genes for multiple QTLs were fine-mapped, and the candidate genes qPH-3.1 and qPH-5.1 for PH were further validated using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. Specifically, qPH-3.1 was characterized as a pleiotropic gene, and the qPH-3.1 knockout line showed reduced PH, delayed heading, a decreased seed setting rate, and increased tiller numbers. Importantly, 10 PH heterosis-related QTLs were identified in the testcross populations, and a better-parent heterosis locus (qBPH-5.2) completely covered qPH-5.1. Furthermore, the cross results of fixed-genotype RILs verified the dominant effects of qPH-3.1 and qPH-5.1. Together, these findings further our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of PH and offer multiple highly reliable gene targets for breeding rice varieties with ideal architecture and high yield potential in the immediate future.

Toward Integrated Multi-Omics Intervention: Rice Trait Improvement and Stress Management

Rice (Oryza sativa) is an imperative staple crop for nearly half of the world's population. Challenging environmental conditions encompassing abiotic and biotic stresses negatively impact the quality and yield of rice. To assure food supply for the unprecedented ever-growing world population, the improvement of rice as a crop is of utmost importance. In this era, "omics" techniques have been comprehensively utilized to decipher the regulatory mechanisms and cellular intricacies in rice. Advancements in omics technologies have provided a strong platform for the reliable exploration of genetic resources involved in rice trait development. Omics disciplines like genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have significantly contributed toward the achievement of desired improvements in rice under optimal and stressful environments. The present review recapitulates the basic and applied multi-omics technologies in providing new orchestration toward the improvement of rice desirable traits. The article also provides a catalog of current scenario of omics applications in comprehending this imperative crop in relation to yield enhancement and various environmental stresses. Further, the appropriate databases in the field of data science to analyze big data, and retrieve relevant information vis-à-vis rice trait improvement and stress management are described.

Joint RNA-Seq and miRNA Profiling Analyses to Reveal Molecular Mechanisms in Regulating Thickness of Pod Canopy in Brassica napus

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is the second largest oilseed crop worldwide. As an architecture component of B. napus, thickness of pod canopy (TPC) plays an important role in yield formation, especially under high-density cultivation conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of TPC remain unclear. RNA and microRNA (miRNA) profiling of two groups of B. napus lines with significantly different TPC at the bolting with a tiny bud stage revealed differential expressions of numerous genes involved in nitrogen-related pathways. Expression of several nitrogen-related response genes, including ASP5, ASP2, ASN3, ATCYSC1, PAL2, APT2, CRTISO, and COX15, was dramatically changed in the thick TPC lines compared to those in the thin TPC lines. Differentially expressed miRNAs also included many involved in nitrogen-related pathways. Expression of most target genes was negatively associated with corresponding miRNAs, such as miR159, miR6029, and miR827. In addition, 12 (including miR319, miR845, and miR158) differentially expressed miRNAs between two plant tissues sampled (stem apex and flower bud) were identified, implying that they might have roles in determining overall plant architecture. These results suggest that nitrogen signaling may play a pivotal role in regulating TPC in B. napus.

Role of genomics in promoting the utilization of plant genetic resources in genebanks

Global efforts have seen the world's plant genetic resources (PGRs) conserved in about 1625 germ plasm repositories. Utility of these resources is important in increasing the resilience and productivity of agricultural production systems. However, despite their importance, utility of these resources has been poor. This article reviews the real and potential application of the current advances in genomic technologies in improving the utilization of these resources. The actual and potential application of these genomic approaches in plant identification, phylogenetic analysis, analysing the genetic value of germ plasm, facilitating germ plasm selection in genebanks as well as instilling confidence in international germ plasm exchange system is discussed. We note that if genebanks are to benefit from this genomic revolution, there is need for fundamental changes in the way genebanks are managed, perceived, organized and funded. Increased collaboration between genebank managers and the user community is also recommended.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Genetic Variations and the Detection of Rich Variants of NBS-LRR Encoding Genes in Common Wild Rice Lines

Common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) is invaluable genetic resource for rice resistance breeding. Whole-genome re-sequencing was conducted to systematically analyze the variations in two new inbred lines (Huaye 3 and Huaye 4) developed from a common wild rice. A total of 4,841,127 SNPs, 1,170,479 InDels, 24,080 structural variations (SVs), and 298 copy number variations (CNVs) were identified in three materials. Approximately 16.24 and 5.64% of the total SNPs and InDels of Huaye 3 and Huaye 4 were located in genic regions, respectively. Together, 12,486 and 15,925 large-effect SNPs, and 12,417 and 14,513 large-effect InDels, which affect the integrity of the encoded protein, were identified in Huaye 3 and Huaye 4, respectively. The distribution map of 194 and 245 NBS-LRR encoding homologs was constructed across 12 rice chromosomes. Further, GO enrichment analysis of the homologs with identical genotype variations in Huaye 3 and Huaye 4 revealed 67, 82, and 58 homologs involved in cell death, response to stress, and both terms, respectively. Comparative analysis displayed that 550 out of 652 SNPs and 129 out of 147 InDels were present in a widely used blast-susceptible rice variety (LTH). Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed a strong interaction between NBS-LRR candidates and several known R genes. One homolog of disease resistance protein (RPM1) was involved in the plant-pathogen interaction pathway. Artificial inoculation of disease/insect displayed resistance phenotypes against rice blast and brown planthopper in two lines. The results will provide allele-specific markers for rice molecular breeding.

A genome-wide association study of plant height and primary branch number in rapeseed (Brassica napus)

Crop plant architecture plays a highly important role in its agronomic performance. Plant height (PH) and primary branch number (PB) are two major factors that affect the plant architecture of rapeseed (Brassica napus). Previous studies have shown that these two traits are controlled by multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL); however, QTLs have not been delimited to regions less than 10cM. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a highly efficient approach for identifying genetic loci controlling traits at relatively high resolution. In this study, variations in PH and PB of a panel of 472 rapeseed accessions that had previously been analyzed by a 60k SNP array were investigated for three consecutive years and studied by GWAS. Eight QTLs on chromosome A03, A05, A07 and C07 were identified for PH, and five QTLs on A01, A03, A07 and C07 were identified for PB. Although most QTLs have been detected in previous studies based on linkage analyses, the two QTLs of PH on A05 and the QTL of PB on C07 were novel. In the genomic regions close to the GWAS peaks, orthologs of the genes involved in flower development, phytohormone biosynthesis, metabolism and signaling in Arabidopsis were identified.

Application of microRNA gene resources in the improvement of agronomic traits in rice

microRNAs (miRNAs) are important nonprotein-coding genes that are involved in almost all biological processes, including cell differentiation and fate determination, developmental regulation, and immune responses. Investigations have shown that some miRNAs can highly affect plant agricultural traits, including virus resistance, nematode resistance, drought and salinity tolerance, heavy metal detoxification, biomass yield, grain yield, fruit development and flower development. Therefore, these miRNAs are considered a newly identified gene resource for the genetic improvement of crops. In this review, we will summarize the recent findings of the rice miRNA-directed regulatory network, which controls agronomic traits such as yield, quality and stress tolerance, and explore the outlook for the uses of these miRNA-associated traits in rice biotechnology.

Quantitative trait locus mapping and candidate gene analysis for plant architecture traits using whole genome re-sequencing in rice

Plant breeders have focused on improving plant architecture as an effective means to increase crop yield. Here, we identify the main-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for plant shape-related traits in rice (Oryza sativa) and find candidate genes by applying whole genome re-sequencing of two parental cultivars using next-generation sequencing. To identify QTLs influencing plant shape, we analyzed six traits: plant height, tiller number, panicle diameter, panicle length, flag leaf length, and flag leaf width. We performed QTL analysis with 178 F7 recombinant in-bred lines (RILs) from a cross of japonica rice line 'SNUSG1' and indica rice line 'Milyang23'. Using 131 molecular markers, including 28 insertion/deletion markers, we identified 11 main- and 16 minor-effect QTLs for the six traits with a threshold LOD value > 2.8. Our sequence analysis identified fifty-four candidate genes for the main-effect QTLs. By further comparison of coding sequences and meta-expression profiles between japonica and indica rice varieties, we finally chose 15 strong candidate genes for the 11 main-effect QTLs. Our study shows that the whole-genome sequence data substantially enhanced the efficiency of polymorphic marker development for QTL fine-mapping and the identification of possible candidate genes. This yields useful genetic resources for breeding high-yielding rice cultivars with improved plant architecture.

Application of resequencing to rice genomics, functional genomics and evolutionary analysis

Rice is a model system used for crop genomics studies. The completion of the rice genome draft sequences in 2002 not only accelerated functional genome studies, but also initiated a new era of resequencing rice genomes. Based on the reference genome in rice, next-generation sequencing (NGS) using the high-throughput sequencing system can efficiently accomplish whole genome resequencing of various genetic populations and diverse germplasm resources. Resequencing technology has been effectively utilized in evolutionary analysis, rice genomics and functional genomics studies. This technique is beneficial for both bridging the knowledge gap between genotype and phenotype and facilitating molecular breeding via gene design in rice. Here, we also discuss the limitation, application and future prospects of rice resequencing.