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Vega JM, Podio M, Orjuela J, Siena LA, Pessino SC, Combes MC, Mariac C, Albertini E, Pupilli F, Ortiz JPA, Leblanc O. Chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of Paspalum notatum Flüggé var. saurae. Sci Data 2024; 11:891. [PMID: 39152143 PMCID: PMC11329641 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03731-0] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Paspalum notatum Flüggé is an economically important subtropical fodder grass that is widely used in the Americas. Here, we report a new chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of a diploid biotype collected in the center of origin of the species. Using Oxford Nanopore long reads, we generated a 557.81 Mb genome assembly (N50 = 56.1 Mb) with high gene completeness (BUSCO = 98.73%). Genome annotation identified 320 Mb (57.86%) of repetitive elements and 45,074 gene models, of which 36,079 have a high level of confidence. Further characterisation included the identification of 59 miRNA precursors together with their putative targets. The present work provides a comprehensive genomic resource for P. notatum improvement and a reference frame for functional and evolutionary research within the genus.
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Grants
- PUE 22920160100043CO Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Scientific and Technical Research Council)
- PIP 11220200101680CO Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Scientific and Technical Research Council)
- PICT 2019 3414 Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Argentina | Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (National Agency for Science and Technology, Argentina)
- PICT 2019-02153 Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Argentina | Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (National Agency for Science and Technology, Argentina)
- PICT-2017-1956 Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Argentina | Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (National Agency for Science and Technology, Argentina)
- PIP 80020190300021UR Universidad Nacional de Rosario (National University of Rosario)
- 101007438 EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (H2020 Excellent Science - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)
- 872417 EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (H2020 Excellent Science - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)
- PRIN 2022Z4HLLJ Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of Education, University and Research)
- P2022KFJB5 Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of Education, University and Research)
- Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of Education, University and Research)
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Vega
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Maricel Podio
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Julie Orjuela
- DIADE, Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Lorena A Siena
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Silvina C Pessino
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | | | - Cedric Mariac
- DIADE, Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Perugia, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fulvio Pupilli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Juan Pablo A Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla (S2125ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Niccolò T, Anderson AW, Emidio A. Apomixis: oh, what a tangled web we have! PLANTA 2023; 257:92. [PMID: 37000270 PMCID: PMC10066125 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04124-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is a complex evolutionary trait with many possible origins. Here we discuss various clues and causes, ultimately proposing a model harmonizing the three working hypotheses on the topic. Asexual reproduction through seeds, i.e., apomixis, is the holy grail of plant biology. Its implementation in modern breeding could be a game-changer for agriculture. It has the potential to generate clonal crops and maintain valuable complex genotypes and their associated heterotic traits without inbreeding depression. The genetic basis and origins of apomixis are still unclear. There are three central hypothesis for the development of apomixis that could be: i) a deviation from the sexual developmental program caused by an asynchronous development, ii) environmentally triggered through epigenetic regulations (a polyphenism of sex), iii) relying on one or more genes/alleles. Because of the ever-increasing complexity of the topic, the path toward a detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying apomixis remains unclear. Here, we discuss the most recent advances in the evolution perspective of this multifaceted trait. We incorporated our understanding of the effect of endogenous effectors, such as small RNAs, epigenetic regulation, hormonal pathways, protein turnover, and cell wall modification in response to an upside stress. This can be either endogenous (hybridization or polyploidization) or exogenous environmental stress, mainly due to oxidative stress and the corresponding ROS (Reacting Oxygen Species) effectors. Finally, we graphically represented this tangled web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terzaroli Niccolò
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Aaron W Anderson
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
- Fulbright Scholar From Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Albertini Emidio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie (CIB), Trieste, Italy
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Bojórquez-Orozco AM, Arce-Leal ÁP, Montes RAC, Santos-Cervantes ME, Cruz-Mendívil A, Méndez-Lozano J, Castillo AG, Rodríguez-Negrete EA, Leyva-López NE. Differential Expression of miRNAs Involved in Response to Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Infection in Mexican Lime at Early and Late Stages of Huanglongbing Disease. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1039. [PMID: 36903899 PMCID: PMC10005081 DOI: 10.3390/plants12051039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most destructive diseases threatening citriculture worldwide. This disease has been associated with α-proteobacteria species, namely Candidatus Liberibacter. Due to the unculturable nature of the causal agent, it has been difficult to mitigate the disease, and nowadays a cure is not available. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression, playing an essential role in abiotic and biotic stress in plants including antibacterial responses. However, knowledge derived from non-model systems including Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)-citrus pathosystem remains largely unknown. In this study, small RNA profiles from Mexican lime (Citrus aurantifolia) plants infected with CLas at asymptomatic and symptomatic stages were generated by sRNA-Seq, and miRNAs were obtained with ShortStack software. A total of 46 miRNAs, including 29 known miRNAs and 17 novel miRNAs, were identified in Mexican lime. Among them, six miRNAs were deregulated in the asymptomatic stage, highlighting the up regulation of two new miRNAs. Meanwhile, eight miRNAs were differentially expressed in the symptomatic stage of the disease. The target genes of miRNAs were related to protein modification, transcription factors, and enzyme-coding genes. Our results provide new insights into miRNA-mediated regulation in C. aurantifolia in response to CLas infection. This information will be useful to understand molecular mechanisms behind the defense and pathogenesis of HLB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Marlenne Bojórquez-Orozco
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Sinaloa, Departamento de Biotecnología Agrícola, Guasave 81101, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Ángela Paulina Arce-Leal
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Sinaloa, Departamento de Biotecnología Agrícola, Guasave 81101, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Ricardo A. Chávez Montes
- Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - María Elena Santos-Cervantes
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Sinaloa, Departamento de Biotecnología Agrícola, Guasave 81101, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Abraham Cruz-Mendívil
- CONACYT—Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Sinaloa, Departamento de Biotecnología Agrícola, Guasave 81101, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Jesús Méndez-Lozano
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Sinaloa, Departamento de Biotecnología Agrícola, Guasave 81101, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Araceli G. Castillo
- Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora” (IHSM), Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Área de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, E-29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Edgar A. Rodríguez-Negrete
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Sinaloa, Departamento de Biotecnología Agrícola, Guasave 81101, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Norma Elena Leyva-López
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Sinaloa, Departamento de Biotecnología Agrícola, Guasave 81101, Sinaloa, Mexico
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Liu DD, Wang DR, Yang XY, Zhao CH, Li SH, Sha GL, Zhang RF, Ge HJ, Tong XS, You CX. Apomictic Malus plants exhibit abnormal pollen development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1065032. [PMID: 36890893 PMCID: PMC9986266 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1065032] [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: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is the asexual reproduction through seeds that leads to the production of genetically uniform progeny. It has become an important tool in plant breeding because it facilitates the retention of genotypes with desirable traits and allows seeds to be obtained directly from mother plants. Apomixis is rare in most economically important crops, but it occurs in some Malus species. Here, the apomictic characteristics of Malus were examined using four apomictic and two sexually reproducing Malus plants. Results from transcriptome analysis showed that plant hormone signal transduction was the main factor affecting apomictic reproductive development. Four of the apomictic Malus plants examined were triploid, and pollen was either absent or present in very low densities in the stamen. Variation in the presence of pollen was associated with variation in the apomictic percentage; specifically, pollen was absent in the stamens of tea crabapple plants with the highest apomictic percentage. Furthermore, pollen mother cells failed to progress normally into meiosis and pollen mitosis, a trait mostly observed in apomictic Malus plants. The expression levels of meiosis-related genes were upregulated in apomictic plants. Our findings indicate that our simple method of detecting pollen abortion could be used to identify apple plants that are capable of apomictic reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Dan Liu
- College of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Da-Ru Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
| | - Xuan-Yu Yang
- College of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chang-Hui Zhao
- College of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shao-Hua Li
- College of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Guang-Li Sha
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Rui-Fen Zhang
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Hong-Juan Ge
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xian-Song Tong
- Fu-ning Popularizing Agricultural Techniques Center, Fu-ning, Yunnan, China
| | - Chun-Xiang You
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
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Pina-Martins F, Caperta AD, Conceição SIR, Nunes VL, Marques I, Paulo OS. A first look at sea-lavenders genomics - can genome wide SNP information tip the scales of controversy in the Limonium vulgare species complex? BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:34. [PMID: 36642719 PMCID: PMC9841708 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03974-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sea-lavenders (Limonium Mill., Plumbaginaceae) are a cosmopolitan group of diploid and polyploid plants often adapted to extreme saline environments, with a mostly Tethyan distribution, occurring in the Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Euro-Siberian and in the New World. The halophylic Limonium vulgare polyploid complex in particular, presents a large distribution throughout extreme salt-marsh habitats and shows little morphological but high taximetric variation, frequently blurring species delimitation. In this work we pursue three main goals: assert whether SNP data from polyploid individuals has the resolution to distinguish the seven sampled species, to better understand how genetically structured Limonium vulgare is, and attempt to identify specific molecular mechanisms for the differentiation between L. maritimum and L. vulgare. For this purpose, 95 individuals were genotyped using Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS), which were assembled as two independent datasets using IPYRAD. All analyses performed downstream of assembly were fully automated. Phylogenetic inference, PCA, and admixture plots were used to infer answers to the study's main goals. RESULTS Close to 10,000 SNPs were obtained for each dataset. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that polyploid data can be used to infer species relationships. Population structure analyses suggest a genetically structured L. vulgare. A set of 34 SNPs were found to be fully segregated between L. vulgare and L. maritimum, two of which are potentially linked to proteins that might be involved in the speciation process. CONCLUSION Despite polyploid data analyses shortcomings, GBS generated SNPs have the resolution to discern all seven included species. Limonium vulgare revealed pronounced genetic structure along a geographical north-south cline. L. maritimum always appears as a distinct genetic entity. Segregated SNPs between L. vulgare and L. maritimum indicate salinity response and morphological trait control genes as potentially interesting to follow up for studying these species' divergence process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Pina-Martins
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Ana D Caperta
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofia I R Conceição
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
- LASIGE Computer Science and Engineering Research Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vera L Nunes
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Marques
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Forest Research Centre (CEF) & Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Octávio S Paulo
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
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Pasten MC, Carballo J, Gallardo J, Zappacosta D, Selva JP, Rodrigo JM, Echenique V, Garbus I. A combined transcriptome - miRNAome approach revealed that a kinesin gene is differentially targeted by a novel miRNA in an apomictic genotype of Eragrostis curvula. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1012682. [PMID: 36247597 PMCID: PMC9563718 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1012682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula [Shrad.] Nees) is a perennial grass typically established in semi-arid regions, with good adaptability to dry conditions and sandy soils. This polymorphic complex includes both sexual and apomictic cytotypes, with different ploidy levels (2x-8x). Diploids are known to be sexual, while most polyploids are facultative apomicts, and full apomicts have also been reported. Plant breeding studies throughout the years have focused on achieving the introgression of apomixis into species of agricultural relevance, but, given the complexity of the trait, a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of regulatory mechanisms of apomixis is still required. Apomixis is thought to be associated with silencing or disruption of the sexual pathway, and studies have shown it is influenced by epigenetic mechanisms. In a previous study, we explored the role of miRNA-mRNA interactions using two contrasting E. curvula phenotypes. Here, the sexual OTA-S, the facultative Don Walter and the obligate apomictic Tanganyika cDNA and sRNA libraries were inquired, searching for miRNA discovery and miRNA expression regulation of genes related to the reproductive mode. This allowed for the characterization of seven miRNAs and the validation of their miRNA-target interactions. Interestingly, a kinesin gene was found to be repressed in the apomictic cultivar Tanganyika, targeted by a novel miRNA that was found to be overexpressed in this genotype, suggestive of an involvement in the reproductive mode expression. Our work provided additional evidence of the contribution of the epigenetic regulation of the apomictic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cielo Pasten
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - José Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Jimena Gallardo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Selva
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Rodrigo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ingrid Garbus
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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Spotting the Targets of the Apospory Controller TGS1 in Paspalum notatum. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11151929. [PMID: 35893633 PMCID: PMC9332697 DOI: 10.3390/plants11151929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sexuality and apomixis are interconnected plant reproductive routes possibly behaving as polyphenic traits under the influence of the environment. In the subtropical grass Paspalum notatum, one of the controllers of apospory, a main component of gametophytic apomixis reproduction, is TRIMETHYLGUANOSINE SYNTHASE 1 (TGS1), a multifunctional gene previously associated with RNA cleavage regulation (including mRNA splicing as well as rRNA and miRNA processing), transcriptional modulation and the establishment of heterochromatin. In particular, the downregulation of TGS1 induces a sexuality decline and the emergence of aposporous-like embryo sacs. The present work was aimed at identifying TGS1 target RNAs expressed during reproductive development of Paspalum notatum. First, we mined available RNA databases originated from spikelets of sexual and apomictic plants, which naturally display a contrasting TGS1 representation, to identify differentially expressed mRNA splice variants and miRNAs. Then, the role of TGS1 in the generation of these particular molecules was investigated in antisense tgs1 sexual lines. We found that CHLOROPHYLL A-B BINDING PROTEIN 1B-21 (LHC Ib-21, a component of the chloroplast light harvesting complex), QUI-GON JINN (QGJ, encoding a MAP3K previously associated with apomixis) and miR2275 (a meiotic 24-nt phasi-RNAs producer) are directly or indirectly targeted by TGS1. Our results point to a coordinated control exercised by signal transduction and siRNA machineries to induce the transition from sexuality to apomixis.
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Pietrykowska H, Sierocka I, Zielezinski A, Alisha A, Carrasco-Sanchez JC, Jarmolowski A, Karlowski WM, Szweykowska-Kulinska Z. Biogenesis, conservation, and function of miRNA in liverworts. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:4528-4545. [PMID: 35275209 PMCID: PMC9291395 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding endogenous RNA molecules, 18-24 nucleotides long, that control multiple gene regulatory pathways via post-transcriptional gene silencing in eukaryotes. To develop a comprehensive picture of the evolutionary history of miRNA biogenesis and action in land plants, studies on bryophyte representatives are needed. Here, we review current understanding of liverwort MIR gene structure, miRNA biogenesis, and function, focusing on the simple thalloid Pellia endiviifolia and the complex thalloid Marchantia polymorpha. We review what is known about conserved and non-conserved miRNAs, their targets, and the functional implications of miRNA action in M. polymorpha and P. endiviifolia. We note that most M. polymorpha miRNAs are encoded within protein-coding genes and provide data for 23 MIR gene structures recognized as independent transcriptional units. We identify M. polymorpha genes involved in miRNA biogenesis that are homologous to those identified in higher plants, including those encoding core microprocessor components and other auxiliary and regulatory proteins that influence the stability, folding, and processing of pri-miRNAs. We analyzed miRNA biogenesis proteins and found similar domain architecture in most cases. Our data support the hypothesis that almost all miRNA biogenesis factors in higher plants are also present in liverworts, suggesting that they emerged early during land plant evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrzej Zielezinski
- Department of Computational Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Alisha Alisha
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Juan Carlo Carrasco-Sanchez
- Department of Computational Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Artur Jarmolowski
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
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Integrative Analysis of miRNAs and Their Targets Involved in Ray Floret Growth in Gerbera hybrida. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137296. [PMID: 35806310 PMCID: PMC9266715 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulating many aspects of plant growth and development at the post-transcriptional level. Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) is an important ornamental crop. However, the role of miRNAs in the growth and development of gerbera is still unclear. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to analyze the expression profiles of miRNAs in ray floret during inflorescence opening. A total of 164 miRNAs were obtained, comprising 24 conserved miRNAs and 140 novel miRNAs. Ten conserved and 15 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed during ray floret growth, and 607 differentially expressed target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs were identified using psRNATarget. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the expression profiles of the miRNAs and their targets. The changes in expression of five miRNAs (ghy-miR156, ghy-miR164, ghy-miRn24, ghy-miRn75 and ghy-miRn133) were inversely correlated with the changes in expression of their eight target genes. The miRNA cleavage sites in candidate target gene mRNAs were determined using 5′-RLM-RACE. Several miRNA-mRNA pairs were predicted to regulate ray floret growth and anthocyanin biosynthesis. In conclusion, the results of small RNA sequencing provide valuable information to reveal the mechanisms of miRNA-mediated ray floret growth and anthocyanin accumulation in gerbera.
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Siena LA, Azzaro CA, Podio M, Stein J, Leblanc O, Pessino SC, Ortiz JPA. The Auxin-Response Repressor IAA30 Is Down-Regulated in Reproductive Tissues of Apomictic Paspalum notatum. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11111472. [PMID: 35684245 PMCID: PMC9182604 DOI: 10.3390/plants11111472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The capacity for apomixis in Paspalum notatum is controlled by a single-dominant genomic region, which shows strong synteny to a portion of rice chromosome 12 long arm. The locus LOC_Os12g40890, encoding the Auxin/Indole-3-Acetic Acid (Aux/IAA) family member OsIAA30, is located in this rice genomic segment. The objectives of this work were to identify transcripts coding for Aux/IAA proteins expressed in reproductive tissues of P. notatum, detect the OsIAA30 putative ortholog and analyze its temporal and spatial expression pattern in reproductive organs of sexual and apomictic plants. Thirty-three transcripts coding for AUX/IAA proteins were identified. Predicted protein alignment and phylogenetic analysis detected a highly similar sequence to OsIAA30 (named as PnIAA30) present in both sexual and apomictic samples. The expression assays of PnIAA30 showed a significant down-regulation in apomictic spikelets compared to sexual ones at the stages of anthesis and post-anthesis, representation levels negatively correlated with apospory expressivity and different localizations in sexual and apomictic ovules. Several PnIAA30 predicted interactors also appeared differentially regulated in the sexual and apomictic floral transcriptomes. Our results showed that an auxin-response repressor similar to OsIAA30 is down-regulated in apomictic spikelets of P. notatum and suggests a contrasting regulation of auxin signaling during sexual and asexual seed formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Adelina Siena
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Celeste Antonela Azzaro
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Maricel Podio
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Juliana Stein
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Olivier Leblanc
- DIADE, Université de Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, 34394 Montpellier, France;
| | - Silvina Claudia Pessino
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Juan Pablo Amelio Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-341-4970080/85 (ext. 1180)
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Kavi Sidharthan V, Nagendran K, Baranwal VK. Exploration of plant transcriptomes reveals five putative novel poleroviruses and an enamovirus. Virus Genes 2022; 58:244-253. [PMID: 35347589 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-022-01896-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptome datasets available in public domain serve as valuable resource for identification and characterization of novel viral genomes. Poleroviruses are economically important plant-infecting RNA viruses belonging to the family Solemoviridae. In the present study, we explored the plant transcriptomes available in public domain and identified five putative novel poleroviruses tentatively named as Foeniculum vulgare polerovirus (FvPV), Kalanchoe marnieriana polerovirus (KmPV), Paspalum notatum polerovirus (PnPV), Piper methysticum polerovirus (PmPV), Trachyspermum ammi polerovirus (TaPV) and a novel enamovirus named as Celmisia lyallii enamovirus (ClEV) in Foeniculum vulgare, Kalanchoe marnieriana, Paspalum notatum, Piper methysticum, Trachyspermum ammi and Celmisia lyallii, respectively. Coding-complete genomes (5.56-5.74 kb) of CIEV, KmPV, PnPV, PmPV and TaPV were recovered while only the partial genome of FvPV could be recovered. The genome organization of identified viruses except ClEV is 5'-ORF0-ORF1-ORF2-ORF3a-ORF3-ORF4-ORF5-3' while that of ClEV is 5'-ORF0-ORF1-ORF2-ORF3-ORF5-3'. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that poleroviruses of apiaceous plants formed a monophyletic clade within the genus Polerovirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Kavi Sidharthan
- Division of Genetics and Tree Improvement, Institute of Forest Biodiversity (ICFRE), Hyderabad, India
| | | | - V K Baranwal
- Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
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12
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Petrella R, Cucinotta M, Mendes MA, Underwood CJ, Colombo L. The emerging role of small RNAs in ovule development, a kind of magic. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2021; 34:335-351. [PMID: 34142243 PMCID: PMC8566443 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-021-00421-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In plants, small RNAs have been recognized as key genetic and epigenetic regulators of development. Small RNAs are usually 20 to 30 nucleotides in length and they control, in a sequence specific manner, the transcriptional or post-transcriptional expression of genes. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the most recent findings about the function of small RNAs in ovule development, including megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis, both in sexual and apomictic plants. We discuss recent studies on the role of miRNAs, siRNAs and trans-acting RNAs (ta-siRNAs) in early female germline differentiation. The mechanistic complexity and unique regulatory features are reviewed, and possible directions for future research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Petrella
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Cucinotta
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta A Mendes
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Charles J Underwood
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lucia Colombo
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Ke Y, Podio M, Conner J, Ozias-Akins P. Single-cell transcriptome profiling of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) eggs unveils apomictic parthenogenesis signatures. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9880. [PMID: 33972603 PMCID: PMC8110759 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89170-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Apomixis, a type of asexual reproduction in angiosperms, results in progenies that are genetically identical to the mother plant. It is a highly desirable trait in agriculture due to its potential to preserve heterosis of F1 hybrids through subsequent generations. However, no major crops are apomictic. Deciphering mechanisms underlying apomixis becomes one of the alternatives to engineer self-reproducing capability into major crops. Parthenogenesis, a major component of apomixis, commonly described as the ability to initiate embryo formation from the egg cell without fertilization, also can be valuable in plant breeding for doubled haploid production. A deeper understanding of transcriptional differences between parthenogenetic and sexual or non-parthenogenetic eggs can assist with pathway engineering. By conducting laser capture microdissection-based RNA-seq on sexual and parthenogenetic egg cells on the day of anthesis, a de novo transcriptome for the Cenchrus ciliaris egg cells was created, transcriptional profiles that distinguish the parthenogenetic egg from its sexual counterpart were identified, and functional roles for a few transcription factors in promoting natural parthenogenesis were suggested. These transcriptome data expand upon previous gene expression studies and will be a resource for future research on the transcriptome of egg cells in parthenogenetic and sexual genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Ke
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA
| | - Maricel Podio
- Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA
| | - Joann Conner
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA.,Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA
| | - Peggy Ozias-Akins
- Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA. .,Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, 31793, USA.
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Soliman M, Podio M, Marconi G, Di Marsico M, Ortiz JPA, Albertini E, Delgado L. Differential Epigenetic Marks Are Associated with Apospory Expressivity in Diploid Hybrids of Paspalum rufum. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10040793. [PMID: 33920644 PMCID: PMC8072704 DOI: 10.3390/plants10040793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis seems to emerge from the deregulation of preexisting genes involved in sexuality by genetic and/or epigenetic mechanisms. The trait is associated with polyploidy, but diploid individuals of Paspalum rufum can form aposporous embryo sacs and develop clonal seeds. Moreover, diploid hybrid families presented a wide apospory expressivity variation. To locate methylation changes associated with apomixis expressivity, we compare relative DNA methylation levels, at CG, CHG, and CHH contexts, between full-sib P. rufum diploid genotypes presenting differential apospory expressivity. The survey was performed using a methylation content-sensitive enzyme ddRAD (MCSeEd) strategy on samples at premeiosis/meiosis and postmeiosis stages. Based on the relative methylation level, principal component analysis and heatmaps, clearly discriminate samples with contrasting apospory expressivity. Differential methylated contigs (DMCs) showed 14% of homology to known transcripts of Paspalum notatum reproductive transcriptome, and almost half of them were also differentially expressed between apomictic and sexual samples. DMCs showed homologies to genes involved in flower growth, development, and apomixis. Moreover, a high proportion of DMCs aligned on genomic regions associated with apomixis in Setaria italica. Several stage-specific differential methylated sequences were identified as associated with apospory expressivity, which could guide future functional gene characterization in relation to apomixis success at diploid and tetraploid levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Soliman
- CONICET-UNR/Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2123, Argentina; (M.S.); (M.P.); (J.P.A.O.)
| | - Maricel Podio
- CONICET-UNR/Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2123, Argentina; (M.S.); (M.P.); (J.P.A.O.)
| | - Gianpiero Marconi
- Department Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Marco Di Marsico
- Department Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Juan Pablo A. Ortiz
- CONICET-UNR/Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2123, Argentina; (M.S.); (M.P.); (J.P.A.O.)
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Department Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.M.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Luciana Delgado
- CONICET-UNR/Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2123, Argentina; (M.S.); (M.P.); (J.P.A.O.)
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15
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A study of the heterochronic sense/antisense RNA representation in florets of sexual and apomictic Paspalum notatum. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:185. [PMID: 33726667 PMCID: PMC7962388 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07450-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Apomixis, an asexual mode of plant reproduction, is a genetically heritable trait evolutionarily related to sexuality, which enables the fixation of heterozygous genetic combinations through the development of maternal seeds. Recently, reference floral transcriptomes were generated from sexual and apomictic biotypes of Paspalum notatum, one of the most well-known plant models for the study of apomixis. However, the transcriptome dynamics, the occurrence of apomixis vs. sexual expression heterochronicity across consecutive developmental steps and the orientation of transcription (sense/antisense) remain unexplored. Results We produced 24 Illumina TruSeq®/ Hiseq 1500 sense/antisense floral transcriptome libraries covering four developmental stages (premeiosis, meiosis, postmeiosis, and anthesis) in biological triplicates, from an obligate apomictic and a full sexual genotype. De novo assemblies with Trinity yielded 103,699 and 100,114 transcripts for the apomictic and sexual samples respectively. A global comparative analysis involving reads from all developmental stages revealed 19,352 differentially expressed sense transcripts, of which 13,205 (68%) and 6147 (32%) were up- and down-regulated in apomictic samples with respect to the sexual ones. Interestingly, 100 differentially expressed antisense transcripts were detected, 55 (55%) of them up- and 45 (45%) down-regulated in apomictic libraries. A stage-by-stage comparative analysis showed a higher number of differentially expressed candidates due to heterochronicity discrimination: the highest number of differential sense transcripts was detected at premeiosis (23,651), followed by meiosis (22,830), postmeiosis (19,100), and anthesis (17,962), while the highest number of differential antisense transcripts were detected at anthesis (495), followed by postmeiosis (164), meiosis (120) and premeiosis (115). Members of the AP2, ARF, MYB and WRKY transcription factor families, as well as the auxin, jasmonate and cytokinin plant hormone families appeared broadly deregulated. Moreover, the chronological expression profile of several well-characterized apomixis controllers was examined in detail. Conclusions This work provides a quantitative sense/antisense gene expression catalogue covering several subsequent reproductive developmental stages from premeiosis to anthesis for apomictic and sexual P. notatum, with potential to reveal heterochronic expression between reproductive types and discover sense/antisense mediated regulation. We detected a contrasting transcriptional and hormonal control in apomixis and sexuality as well as specific sense/antisense modulation occurring at the onset of parthenogenesis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07450-3.
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Pradhan S, Verma S, Chakraborty A, Bhatia S. Identification and molecular characterization of miRNAs and their target genes associated with seed development through small RNA sequencing in chickpea. Funct Integr Genomics 2021; 21:283-298. [PMID: 33630193 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-021-00777-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Multiple studies have attempted to dissect the molecular mechanism underlying seed development in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). These studies highlight the need to focus on the role of miRNAs in regulating storage protein accumulation in seeds. Therefore, a total of 8,856,691 short-read sequences were generated from a small RNA library of developing chickpea seeds and were analyzed using miRDeep-P to identify 74 known and 26 novel miRNA sequences. Known miRNAs were classified into 22 miRNA families with miRNA156 family being most abundant. Of the 26 putative novel miRNAs identified, only 22 could be experimentally validated using stem loop end point PCR. Differential expression analyses led to the identification of known as well as novel miRNAs that could regulate various stages of chickpea seed development. In silico target prediction revealed several important target genes and transcription factors like SPL, mediator of RNA Polymerase II transcription subunit 12, aspartic proteinase and NACs, which were further validated by real-time PCR analysis. A comparative expression analysis in chickpea genotypes with contrasting seed protein content revealed one known (Car-miR156h) and two novel miRNA (Car-novmiR7 and Car-novmiR23) candidates to be highly expressed in the LPC (low protein content) chickpea genotypes, targets of which are known to regulate seed storage protein accumulation. Therefore, this study provides a useful resource in the form of miRNA and their targets which can be further utilized to understand and manipulate various regulatory mechanisms involved in seed development with the overall aim of improving yield and nutrition attributes in chickpea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Pradhan
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Subodh Verma
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Anirban Chakraborty
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Sabhyata Bhatia
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India.
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Ortiz JPA, Pupilli F, Acuña CA, Leblanc O, Pessino SC. How to Become an Apomixis Model: The Multifaceted Case of Paspalum. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E974. [PMID: 32839398 PMCID: PMC7564465 DOI: 10.3390/genes11090974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decades, the grasses of the Paspalum genus have emerged as a versatile model allowing evolutionary, genetic, molecular, and developmental studies on apomixis as well as successful breeding applications. The rise of such an archetypal system progressed through integrative phases, which were essential to draw conclusions based on solid standards. Here, we review the steps adopted in Paspalum to establish the current body of knowledge on apomixis and provide model breeding programs for other agronomically important apomictic crops. In particular, we discuss the need for previous detailed cytoembryological and cytogenetic germplasm characterization; the establishment of sexual and apomictic materials of identical ploidy level; the development of segregating populations useful for inheritance analysis, positional mapping, and epigenetic control studies; the development of omics data resources; the identification of key molecular pathways via comparative gene expression studies; the accurate molecular characterization of genomic loci governing apomixis; the in-depth functional analysis of selected candidate genes in apomictic and model species; the successful building of a sexual/apomictic combined breeding scheme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo A. Ortiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA Zavalla, Argentina;
| | - Fulvio Pupilli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR-CNR), 06128 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Carlos A. Acuña
- Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, 3400 Corrientes, Argentina;
| | - Olivier Leblanc
- UMR DIADE, IRD, Univ. Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France;
| | - Silvina C. Pessino
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA Zavalla, Argentina;
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Scheben A, Hojsgaard D. Can We Use Gene-Editing to Induce Apomixis in Sexual Plants? Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E781. [PMID: 32664641 PMCID: PMC7397034 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Apomixis, the asexual formation of seeds, is a potentially valuable agricultural trait. Inducing apomixis in sexual crop plants would, for example, allow breeders to fix heterosis in hybrid seeds and rapidly generate doubled haploid crop lines. Molecular models explain the emergence of functional apomixis, i.e., apomeiosis + parthenogenesis + endosperm development, as resulting from a combination of genetic or epigenetic changes that coordinate altered molecular and developmental steps to form clonal seeds. Apomixis-like features and synthetic clonal seeds have been induced with limited success in the sexual plants rice and maize by using gene editing to mutate genes related to meiosis and fertility or via egg-cell specific expression of embryogenesis genes. Inducing functional apomixis and increasing the penetrance of apomictic seed production will be important for commercial deployment of the trait. Optimizing the induction of apomixis with gene editing strategies that use known targets as well as identifying alternative targets will be possible by better understanding natural genetic variation in apomictic species. With the growing availability of genomic data and precise gene editing tools, we are making substantial progress towards engineering apomictic crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Scheben
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA;
| | - Diego Hojsgaard
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspuele 2, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
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Hojsgaard D. Apomixis Technology: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E411. [PMID: 32290084 PMCID: PMC7231277 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Projections indicate that current plant breeding approaches will be unable to incorporate the global crop yields needed to deliver global food security. Apomixis is a disruptive innovation by which a plant produces clonal seeds capturing heterosis and gene combinations of elite phenotypes. Introducing apomixis into hybrid cultivars is a game-changing development in the current plant breeding paradigm that will accelerate the generation of high-yield cultivars. However, apomixis is a developmentally complex and genetically multifaceted trait. The central problem behind current constraints to apomixis breeding is that the genomic configuration and molecular mechanism that initiate apomixis and guide the formation of a clonal seed are still unknown. Today, not a single explanation about the origin of apomixis offer full empirical coverage, and synthesizing apomixis by manipulating individual genes has failed or produced little success. Overall evidence suggests apomixis arise from a still unknown single event molecular mechanism with multigenic effects. Disentangling the genomic basis and complex genetics behind the emergence of apomixis in plants will require the use of novel experimental approaches benefiting from Next Generation Sequencing technologies and targeting not only reproductive genes, but also the epigenetic and genomic configurations associated with reproductive phenotypes in homoploid sexual and apomictic carriers. A comprehensive picture of most regulatory changes guiding apomixis emergence will be central for successfully installing apomixis into the target species by exploiting genetic modification techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Hojsgaard
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, D-37073-1 Göttingen, Germany
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Controlling Apomixis: Shared Features and Distinct Characteristics of Gene Regulation. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11030329. [PMID: 32245021 PMCID: PMC7140868 DOI: 10.3390/genes11030329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In higher plants, sexual and asexual reproduction through seeds (apomixis) have evolved as alternative strategies. As apomixis leads to the formation of clonal offspring, its great potential for agricultural applications has long been recognized. However, the genetic basis and the molecular control underlying apomixis and its evolutionary origin are to date not fully understood. Both in sexual and apomictic plants, reproduction is tightly controlled by versatile mechanisms regulating gene expression, translation, and protein abundance and activity. Increasing evidence suggests that interrelated pathways including epigenetic regulation, cell-cycle control, hormonal pathways, and signal transduction processes are relevant for apomixis. Additional molecular mechanisms are being identified that involve the activity of DNA- and RNA-binding proteins, such as RNA helicases which are increasingly recognized as important regulators of reproduction. Together with other factors including non-coding RNAs, their association with ribosomes is likely to be relevant for the formation and specification of the apomictic reproductive lineage. Subsequent seed formation appears to involve an interplay of transcriptional activation and repression of developmental programs by epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. In this review, insights into the genetic basis and molecular control of apomixis are presented, also taking into account potential relations to environmental stress, and considering aspects of evolution.
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Colono C, Ortiz JPA, Permingeat HR, Souza Canada ED, Siena LA, Spoto N, Galdeano F, Espinoza F, Leblanc O, Pessino SC. A Plant-Specific TGS1 Homolog Influences Gametophyte Development in Sexual Tetraploid Paspalum notatum Ovules. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1566. [PMID: 31850040 PMCID: PMC6895069 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Aposporous apomictic plants form clonal maternal seeds by inducing the emergence of non-reduced (2n) embryo sacs in the ovule nucellus and the development of embryos by parthenogenesis. In previous work, we reported a plant-specific TRIMETHYLGUANOSINE SYNTHASE 1 (TGS1) gene (PN_TGS1-like) showing expression levels positively correlated with sexuality rates in facultative apomictic Paspalum notatum. PN_ TGS1-like displayed contrasting in situ hybridization patterns in apomictic and sexual plant ovules from premeiosis to anthesis. Here we transformed sexual P. notatum with a TGS1-like antisense construction under a constitutive promoter, in order to produce lines with reduced transcript representation. Antisense plants developed prominent trichomes on the adaxial leaf surface, a trait absent from control genotypes. Reproductive development analysis revealed occasional formation of twin ovules. While control individuals typically displayed a single meiotic embryo sac per ovule, antisense lines showed 12.93-15.79% of ovules bearing extra nuclei, which can be assigned to aposporous-like embryo sacs (AES-like) or, alternatively, to gametophytes with a misguided cell fate development. Moreover, around 8.42-9.52% of ovules showed what looked like a combination of meiotic and aposporous-like sacs. Besides, 32.5% of ovules at early developmental stages displayed nucellar cells with prominent nuclei resembling apospory initials (AIs), which surrounded the megaspore mother cell (MMC) or the MMC-derived meiotic products. Two or more concurrent meiosis events were never detected, which suggest a non-reduced nature for the extra nuclei observed in the mature ovules, unless they were generated by proliferation and misguided differentiation of the legitimate meiotic products. The antisense lines produced a similar amount of viable even-sized pollen with respect to control genotypes, and formed an equivalent full seed set (∼9% of total seeds) after self-pollination. Flow cytometry analyses of caryopses derived from antisense lines revealed that all full seeds had originated from meiotic embryo sacs (i.e. by sexuality). A reduction of 25.55% in the germination percentage was detected when comparing antisense lines with controls. Our results indicate that PN_ TGS1-like influences ovule, gametophyte and possibly embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Colono
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, IICAR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo A. Ortiz
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, IICAR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Hugo R. Permingeat
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, IICAR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | | | - Lorena A. Siena
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, IICAR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nicolás Spoto
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, IICAR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Florencia Galdeano
- Genetics Laboratory, IBONE, CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Francisco Espinoza
- Genetics Laboratory, IBONE, CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | | | - Silvina C. Pessino
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, IICAR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Silvina C. Pessino,
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