1
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Evans C, Mogg SL, Soraru C, Wallington E, Coates J, Borrill P. Wheat NAC transcription factor NAC5-1 is a positive regulator of senescence. PLANT DIRECT 2024; 8:e620. [PMID: 38962173 PMCID: PMC11217990 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.620] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important source of both calories and protein in global diets, but there is a trade-off between grain yield and protein content. The timing of leaf senescence could mediate this trade-off as it is associated with both declines in photosynthesis and nitrogen remobilization from leaves to grain. NAC transcription factors play key roles in regulating senescence timing. In rice, OsNAC5 expression is correlated with increased protein content and upregulated in senescing leaves, but the role of the wheat ortholog in senescence had not been characterized. We verified that NAC5-1 is the ortholog of OsNAC5 and that it is expressed in senescing flag leaves in wheat. To characterize NAC5-1, we combined missense mutations in NAC5-A1 and NAC5-B1 from a TILLING mutant population and overexpressed NAC5-A1 in wheat. Mutation in NAC5-1 was associated with delayed onset of flag leaf senescence, while overexpression of NAC5-A1 was associated with slightly earlier onset of leaf senescence. DAP-seq was performed to locate transcription factor binding sites of NAC5-1. Analysis of DAP-seq and comparison with other studies identified putative downstream target genes of NAC5-1 which could be associated with senescence. This work showed that NAC5-1 is a positive transcriptional regulator of leaf senescence in wheat. Further research is needed to test the effect of NAC5-1 on yield and protein content in field trials, to assess the potential to exploit this senescence regulator to develop high-yielding wheat while maintaining grain protein content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Evans
- Department of Crop GeneticsJohn Innes CentreNorwichUK
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | | | | | | | - Juliet Coates
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
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2
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Yang SY, Lin WY, Hsiao YM, Chiou TJ. Milestones in understanding transport, sensing, and signaling of the plant nutrient phosphorus. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1504-1523. [PMID: 38163641 PMCID: PMC11062440 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
As an essential nutrient element, phosphorus (P) is primarily acquired and translocated as inorganic phosphate (Pi) by plant roots. Pi is often sequestered in the soil and becomes limited for plant growth. Plants have developed a sophisticated array of adaptive responses, termed P starvation responses, to cope with P deficiency by improving its external acquisition and internal utilization. Over the past 2 to 3 decades, remarkable progress has been made toward understanding how plants sense and respond to changing environmental P. This review provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms that regulate or coordinate P starvation responses, emphasizing P transport, sensing, and signaling. We present the major players and regulators responsible for Pi uptake and translocation. We then introduce how P is perceived at the root tip, how systemic P signaling is operated, and the mechanisms by which the intracellular P status is sensed and conveyed. Additionally, the recent exciting findings about the influence of P on plant-microbe interactions are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and prospects concerning the interplay between P and other nutrients and strategies to enhance P utilization efficiency are discussed. Insights obtained from this knowledge may guide future research endeavors in sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yi Yang
- Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106319, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yi Lin
- Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106319, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Min Hsiao
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan
| | - Tzyy-Jen Chiou
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan
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3
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Kettenburg AT, Lopez MA, Yogendra K, Prior MJ, Rose T, Bimson S, Heuer S, Roy SJ, Bailey-Serres J. PHOSPHORUS-STARVATION TOLERANCE 1 (OsPSTOL1) is prevalent in upland rice and enhances root growth and hastens low phosphate signaling in wheat. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:2187-2205. [PMID: 36946067 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
PHOSPHORUS-STARVATION TOLERANCE 1 (OsPSTOL1) is a variably present gene that benefits crown root growth and phosphorus (P) sufficiency in rice (Oryza sativa). To explore the ecophysiological importance of this gene, we performed a biogeographic survey of landraces and cultivars, confirming that functional OsPSTOL1 alleles prevail in low nutrient and drought-prone rainfed ecosystems, whereas loss-of-function and absence haplotypes predominate in control-irrigated paddy varieties of east Asia. An evolutionary history analysis of OsPSTOL1 and related genes in cereal, determined it and other genes are kinase-only domain derivatives of membrane-associated receptor like kinases. Finally, to evaluate the potential value of this kinase of unknown function in another Gramineae, wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines overexpressing OsPSTOL1 were evaluated under field and controlled low P conditions. OsPSTOL1 enhances growth, crown root number, and overall root plasticity under low P in wheat. Survey of root and shoot crown transcriptomes at two developmental stages identifies transcription factors that are differentially regulated in OsPSTOL1 wheat that are similarly controlled by the gene in rice. In wheat, OsPSTOL1 alters the timing and amplitude of regulators of root development in dry soils and hastens induction of the core P-starvation response. OsPSTOL1 and related genes may aid more sustainable cultivation of cereal crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alek T Kettenburg
- Botany and Plant Sciences Department, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Miguel A Lopez
- Botany and Plant Sciences Department, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Kalenahalli Yogendra
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Wheat in a Hot and Dry Climate, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew J Prior
- Botany and Plant Sciences Department, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Teresa Rose
- Department of Plant Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Sabrina Bimson
- Botany and Plant Sciences Department, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Sigrid Heuer
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Department of Plant Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Stuart J Roy
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Wheat in a Hot and Dry Climate, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Julia Bailey-Serres
- Botany and Plant Sciences Department, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
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4
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Li X, Wasson AP, Zwart AB, Whan A, Ryan PR, Forrest K, Hayden M, Chin S, Richards R, Delhaize E. Physical Mapping of QTLs for Root Traits in a Population of Recombinant Inbred Lines of Hexaploid Wheat. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10492. [PMID: 37445670 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310492] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Root architecture is key in determining how effective plants are at intercepting and absorbing nutrients and water. Previously, the wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars Spica and Maringa were shown to have contrasting root morphologies. These cultivars were crossed to generate an F6:1 population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) which was genotyped using a 90 K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) chip. A total of 227 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were grown in soil for 21 days in replicated trials under controlled conditions. At harvest, the plants were scored for seven root traits and two shoot traits. An average of 7.5 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were associated with each trait and, for each of these, physical locations of the flanking markers were identified using the Chinese Spring reference genome. We also compiled a list of genes from wheat and other monocotyledons that have previously been associated with root growth and morphology to determine their physical locations on the Chinese Spring reference genome. This allowed us to determine whether the QTL discovered in our study encompassed genes previously associated with root morphology in wheat or other monocotyledons. Furthermore, it allowed us to establish if the QTL were co-located with the QTL identified from previously published studies. The parental lines together with the genetic markers generated here will enable specific root traits to be introgressed into elite wheat lines. Moreover, the comprehensive list of genes associated with root development, and their physical locations, will be a useful resource for researchers investigating the genetics of root morphology in cereals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Li
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Anton P Wasson
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | | | - Alex Whan
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Peter R Ryan
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Kerrie Forrest
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Matthew Hayden
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Sabrina Chin
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | | | - Emmanuel Delhaize
- Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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5
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Milner MJ, Bowden S, Craze M, Wallington EJ. OsPSTOL but not TaPSTOL can play a role in nutrient use efficiency and works through conserved pathways in both wheat and rice. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1098175. [PMID: 36818870 PMCID: PMC9932817 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1098175] [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: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
There is a large demand to reduce inputs for current crop production, particularly phosphate and nitrogen inputs which are the two most frequently added supplements to agricultural production. Gene characterization is often limited to the native species from which it was identified, but may offer benefits to other species. To understand if the rice gene Phosphate Starvation Tolerance 1 (PSTOL) OsPSTOL, a gene identified from rice which improves tolerance to low P growth conditions, might improve performance and provide the same benefit in wheat, OsPSTOL was transformed into wheat and expressed from a constitutive promoter. The ability of OsPSTOL to improve nutrient acquisition under low phosphate or low nitrogen was evaluated. Here we show that OsPSTOL works through a conserved pathway in wheat and rice to improve yields under both low phosphate and low nitrogen. This increase is yield is mainly driven by improved uptake from the soil driving increased biomass and ultimately increased seed number, but does not change the concentration of N in the straw or grain. Overexpression of OsPSTOL in wheat modifies N regulated genes to aid in this uptake whereas the putative homolog TaPSTOL does not suggesting that expression of OsPSTOL in wheat can help to improve yields under low input agriculture.
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6
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Zhang Y, Liu B, Kong F, Chen L. Nutrient-mediated modulation of flowering time. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1101611. [PMID: 36743493 PMCID: PMC9894683 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1101611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nutrition affects plant growth and development, including flowering. Flowering represents the transition from the vegetative period to the reproduction period and requires the consumption of nutrients. Moreover, nutrients (e.g., nitrate) act as signals that affect flowering. Regulation of flowering time is therefore intimately associated with both nutrient-use efficiency and crop yield. Here, we review current knowledge of the relationships between nutrients (primarily nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and flowering, with the goal of deepening our understanding of how plant nutrition affects flowering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Liyu Chen
- *Correspondence: Liyu Chen, ; Fanjiang Kong,
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7
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Ojeda-Rivera JO, Alejo-Jacuinde G, Nájera-González HR, López-Arredondo D. Prospects of genetics and breeding for low-phosphate tolerance: an integrated approach from soil to cell. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2022; 135:4125-4150. [PMID: 35524816 PMCID: PMC9729153 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-022-04095-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Improving phosphorus (P) crop nutrition has emerged as a key factor toward achieving a more resilient and sustainable agriculture. P is an essential nutrient for plant development and reproduction, and phosphate (Pi)-based fertilizers represent one of the pillars that sustain food production systems. To meet the global food demand, the challenge for modern agriculture is to increase food production and improve food quality in a sustainable way by significantly optimizing Pi fertilizer use efficiency. The development of genetically improved crops with higher Pi uptake and Pi-use efficiency and higher adaptability to environments with low-Pi availability will play a crucial role toward this end. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of Pi nutrition and the regulation of Pi-starvation responses in plants, and provide new perspectives on how to harness the ample repertoire of genetic mechanisms behind these adaptive responses for crop improvement. We discuss on the potential of implementing more integrative, versatile, and effective strategies by incorporating systems biology approaches and tools such as genome editing and synthetic biology. These strategies will be invaluable for producing high-yielding crops that require reduced Pi fertilizer inputs and to develop a more sustainable global agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Odilón Ojeda-Rivera
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Gerardo Alejo-Jacuinde
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Héctor-Rogelio Nájera-González
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Damar López-Arredondo
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
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8
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Li XR, Sun J, Albinsky D, Zarrabian D, Hull R, Lee T, Jarratt-Barnham E, Chiu CH, Jacobsen A, Soumpourou E, Albanese A, Kohlen W, Luginbuehl LH, Guillotin B, Lawrensen T, Lin H, Murray J, Wallington E, Harwood W, Choi J, Paszkowski U, Oldroyd GED. Nutrient regulation of lipochitooligosaccharide recognition in plants via NSP1 and NSP2. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6421. [PMID: 36307431 PMCID: PMC9616857 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33908-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many plants associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient acquisition, while legumes also associate with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Both associations rely on symbiosis signaling and here we show that cereals can perceive lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) for activation of symbiosis signaling, surprisingly including Nod factors produced by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, legumes show stringent perception of specifically decorated LCOs, that is absent in cereals. LCO perception in plants is activated by nutrient starvation, through transcriptional regulation of Nodulation Signaling Pathway (NSP)1 and NSP2. These transcription factors induce expression of an LCO receptor and act through the control of strigolactone biosynthesis and the karrikin-like receptor DWARF14-LIKE. We conclude that LCO production and perception is coordinately regulated by nutrient starvation to promote engagement with mycorrhizal fungi. Our work has implications for the use of both mycorrhizal and rhizobial associations for sustainable productivity in cereals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Ran Li
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR UK
| | - Jongho Sun
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR UK
| | - Doris Albinsky
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Darius Zarrabian
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Raphaella Hull
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Tak Lee
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Edwin Jarratt-Barnham
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Chai Hao Chiu
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Amy Jacobsen
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Eleni Soumpourou
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Alessio Albanese
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Wouter Kohlen
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Leonie H. Luginbuehl
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Bruno Guillotin
- grid.503344.50000 0004 0445 6769Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Castanet-Tolosan, France ,grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Present Address: NYU-Center of Genomic and System Biology, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY USA
| | - Tom Lawrensen
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Hui Lin
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Jeremy Murray
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Emma Wallington
- grid.17595.3f0000 0004 0383 6532NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Wendy Harwood
- grid.14830.3e0000 0001 2175 7246John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH UK
| | - Jeongmin Choi
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Uta Paszkowski
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Giles E. D. Oldroyd
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
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9
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Rahim AA, Uzair M, Rehman N, Rehman OU, Zahra N, Khan MR. Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Receptor-Like Protein Kinase 1 (RPK1) Gene Family in Triticum aestivum Under Drought Stress. Front Genet 2022; 13:912251. [PMID: 35860467 PMCID: PMC9289140 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.912251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Receptor-like protein kinase1 (RPK1) genes play crucial roles in plant growth and development processes, root architecture, and abiotic stress regulation. A comprehensive study of the RPK1 gene family has not been reported in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). Here, we reported the genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression patterns of the RPK1 gene family in wheat. Results confirmed 15 TaRPK1 genes, classified mainly into three sub-clades based on a phylogenetic tree. The TaRPK1 genes were mapped on chromosomes 1–3 in the respective A, B, and D genomes. Gene structure, motif conservation, collinearity prediction, and synteny analysis were carried out systematically. A Gene ontology study revealed that TaRPK1 genes play a vital role during molecular and biological processes. We also identified 18 putative miRNAs targeting TaRPK1 genes, suggesting their roles in growth, development, and stress responses. Cis-Regulatory elements interpreted the presence of light-related elements, hormone responsiveness, and abiotic stress-related motifs in the promoter regions. The SWISS_MODEL predicted the successful models of TaRPK1 proteins with at least 30% identity to the template, a widely accepted threshold for successful modeling. In silico expression analysis in different tissues and stages suggested that TaRPK1 genes exhibited the highest expression in root tissues. Moreover, qRT-PCR further validated the higher expression of TaRPK1 genes in roots of drought-tolerant varieties compared to the drought-susceptible variety. Collectively, the present study renders valuable information on the functioning of TaRPK1 genes in wheat that will be useful in further functional validation of these genes in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amna Abdul Rahim
- National Centre for Bioinformatics (NCB), Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Uzair
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Nazia Rehman
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Obaid Ur Rehman
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Nageen Zahra
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ramzan Khan
- National Centre for Bioinformatics (NCB), Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan
- *Correspondence: Muhammad Ramzan Khan,
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10
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Rasool F, Khan MR, Schneider M, Uzair M, Aqeel M, Ajmal W, Léon J, Naz AA. Transcriptome unveiled the gene expression patterns of root architecture in drought-tolerant and sensitive wheat genotypes. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2022; 178:20-30. [PMID: 35247694 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Drought is a big challenge for agricultural production. Root attributes are the important target traits for breeding high-yielding sustainable wheat varieties against ever changing climatic conditions. However, the transcriptomic of wheat concerning root architecture remained obscure. Here, we explored RNA-Seq based transcriptome to dissect putative genes involved in root system variations in naturally occurring six genotypes (drought-tolerant and sensitive) of wheat. Global RNA-Seq based root transcriptome analysis revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) variations and differentially expressed genes. Putative 56 SNPs were identified related to 15 genes involved in root architecture. Enrichment of these genes using GO terms demonstrated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are divided into sub-categories implicated in molecular functions, cellular components and biological processes. The KEGG analysis of DEGs in each comparison of genotype include metabolic, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, microbial metabolism in diverse environments and biosynthesis of antibiotics. A deeper insight into DEGs unveiled various pathways involved in drought response and positive gravitropism. These genes belong to various transcription factor families such as DOF, C3H, MYB, and NAC involved in root developmental and stress-related pathways. Local White and UZ-11-CWA-8, which are drought-tolerant genotypes, harbor over-representation of most of DEGs or transcription factors. Notably, a microtubule-associated protein MAPRE1 belonging to RP/EB family recruited in positive gravitropism was enriched. Real-time PCR analysis revealed expression of MAPRE1 and PAL genes is consistent with RNA-seq data. The presented data and genetic resources seem valuable for providing genes involved in the root system architecture of drought-tolerant and susceptible genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Rasool
- Genome Editing & Sequencing Lab, National Centre for Bioinformatics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan; National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology, National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ramzan Khan
- Genome Editing & Sequencing Lab, National Centre for Bioinformatics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan; National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology, National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan.
| | - Michael Schneider
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Department of Crop Genetics and Biotechnology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Muhammad Uzair
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology, National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Aqeel
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology, National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - Wajya Ajmal
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology, National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - Jens Léon
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Department of Crop Genetics and Biotechnology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Ali Ahmed Naz
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Department of Crop Genetics and Biotechnology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Germany.
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11
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Role of Wheat Phosphorus Starvation Tolerance 1 Genes in Phosphorus Acquisition and Root Architecture. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030487. [PMID: 35328041 PMCID: PMC8950872 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The wheat plant requires elevated phosphorus levels for its normal growth and yield, but continuously depleting non-renewable phosphorus reserves in the soil is one of the biggest challenges in agricultural production worldwide. The Phosphorus Starvation Tolerance 1 (PSTOL1) gene has been reported to play a key role in efficient P uptake, deeper rooting, and high yield in rice. However, the function of the PSTOL1 gene in wheat is still unclear. In this study, a total of 22 PSTOL1 orthologs were identified in the wheat genome, and found that wheat PSTOL1 orthologs are unevenly distributed on chromosomes, and these genes were under strong purifying selection. Under different phosphorus regimes, wheat PSTOL1 genes showed differential expression patterns in different tissues. These results strengthen the classification of Pakistan-13 as a P-efficient cultivar and Shafaq-06 as a P-inefficient cultivar. Phenotypic characterization demonstrated that Pakistan-13 wheat cultivar has significantly increased P uptake, root length, root volume, and root surface area compared to Shafaq-06. Some wheat PSTOL1 orthologs are co-localized with phosphorus starvation’s related quantitative trait loci (QTLs), suggesting their potential role in phosphorus use efficiency. Altogether, these results highlight the role of the wheat PSTOL1 genes in wheat P uptake, root architecture, and efficient plant growth. This comprehensive study will be helpful for devising sustainable strategies for wheat crop production and adaptation to phosphorus insufficiency.
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Over-expression of TaDWF4 increases wheat productivity under low and sufficient nitrogen through enhanced carbon assimilation. Commun Biol 2022; 5:193. [PMID: 35241776 PMCID: PMC8894359 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03139-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a strong pressure to reduce nitrogen (N) fertilizer inputs while maintaining or increasing current cereal crop yields. We show that overexpression of TaDWF4-B, the dominant shoot expressed homoeologue of OsDWF4, in wheat can increase plant productivity by up to 105% under a range of N levels on marginal soils, resulting in increased N use efficiency (NUE). We show that a two to four-fold increase in TaDWF4 transcript levels enhances the responsiveness of genes regulated by N. The productivity increases seen were primarily due to the maintenance of photosystem II operating efficiency and carbon assimilation in plants when grown under limiting N conditions and not an overall increase in photosynthesis capacity. The increased biomass production and yield per plant in TaDWF4 OE lines could be linked to modified carbon partitioning and changes in expression pattern of the growth regulator Target Of Rapamycin, offering a route towards breeding for sustained yield and lower N inputs. In wheat, overexpression of TaDWF4 overrides normal nutrient sensing allowing for increased biomass when grown under limiting nutrient conditions. This maintenance of growth is associated with modified carbon partitioning and changes in expression of growth regulator TaTOR, offering a route towards breeding for sustained yields with lower nitrogen inputs.
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13
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Milner MJ, Bowden S, Craze M, Wallington EJ. Ectopic expression of TaBG1 increases seed size and alters nutritional characteristics of the grain in wheat but does not lead to increased yields. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:524. [PMID: 34758742 PMCID: PMC8579524 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03294-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grain size is thought to be a major component of yield in many plant species. Here we set out to understand if knowledge from other cereals such as rice could translate to increased yield gains in wheat and lead to increased nitrogen use efficiency. Previous findings that the overexpression of OsBG1 in rice increased yields while increasing seed size suggest translating gains from rice to other cereals may help to increase yields. RESULTS The orthologous genes of OsBG1 were identified in wheat. One homoeologous wheat gene was cloned and overexpressed in wheat to understand its role in controlling seed size. Potential alteration in the nutritional profile of the grains were also analyzed in wheat overexpressing TaBG1. It was found that increased TaBG1-A expression could indeed lead to larger seed size but was linked to a reduction in seed number per plant leading to no significant overall increase in yield. Other important components of yield such as biomass or tillering did not change significantly with increased TaBG1-A expression. The nutritional profile of the grain was altered, with a significant decrease in the Zn levels in the grain associated with increased seed size, but Fe and Mn concentrations were unchanged. Protein content of the wheat grain also fell under moderate N fertilization levels but not under deficient or adequate levels of N. CONCLUSIONS TaBG1 does control seed size in wheat but increasing the seed size per se does not increase yield and may come at the cost of lower concentrations of essential elements as well as potentially lower protein content. Nevertheless, TaBG1 could be a useful target for further breeding efforts in combination with other genes for increased biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Bowden
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Melanie Craze
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
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14
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Dharmateja P, Kumar M, Pandey R, Mandal PK, Babu P, Bainsla NK, Gaikwad KB, Tomar V, Kranthi kumar K, Dhar N, Ansari R, Saifi N, Yadav R. Deciphering the change in root system architectural traits under limiting and non-limiting phosphorus in Indian bread wheat germplasm. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255840. [PMID: 34597303 PMCID: PMC8486105 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The root system architectures (RSAs) largely decide the phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) of plants by influencing the phosphorus uptake. Very limited information is available on wheat's RSAs and their deciding factors affecting phosphorus uptake efficiency (PupE) due to difficulties in adopting scoring values used for evaluating root traits. Based on our earlier research experience on nitrogen uptake efficiency screening under, hydroponics and soil-filled pot conditions, a comprehensive study on 182 Indian bread wheat genotypes was carried out under hydroponics with limited P (LP) and non-limiting P (NLP) conditions. The findings revealed a significant genetic variation, root traits correlation, and moderate to high heritability for RSAs traits namely primary root length (PRL), total root length (TRL), total root surface area (TSA), root average diameter (RAD), total root volume (TRV), total root tips (TRT) and total root forks (TRF). In LP, the expressions of TRL, TRV, TSA, TRT and TRF were enhanced while PRL and RAD were diminished. An almost similar pattern of correlations among the RSAs was also observed in both conditions except for RAD. RAD exhibited significant negative correlations with PRL, TRL, TSA, TRT and TRF under LP (r = -0.45, r = -0.35, r = -0.16, r = -0.30, and r = -0.28 respectively). The subclass of TRL, TSA, TRV and TRT representing the 0-0.5 mm diameter had a higher root distribution percentage in LP than NLP. Comparatively wide range of H' value i.e. 0.43 to 0.97 in LP than NLP indicates that expression pattern of these traits are highly influenced by the level of P. In which, RAD (0.43) expression was reduced in LP, and expressions of TRF (0.91) and TSA (0.97) were significantly enhanced. The principal component analysis for grouping of traits and genotypes over LP and NLP revealed a high PC1 score indicating the presence of non-crossover interactions. Based on the comprehensive P response index value (CPRI value), the top five highly P efficient wheat genotypes namely BW 181, BW 103, BW 104, BW 143 and BW 66, were identified. Considering the future need for developing resource-efficient wheat varieties, these genotypes would serve as valuable genetic sources for improving P efficiency in wheat cultivars. This set of genotypes would also help in understanding the genetic architecture of a complex trait like P use efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manjeet Kumar
- Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Rakesh Pandey
- Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Prashanth Babu
- Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Naresh Kumar Bainsla
- Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Kiran B. Gaikwad
- Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Vipin Tomar
- Department of Research and Crop Improvement, Borlaug Institute for South Asia, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Kamre Kranthi kumar
- Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Narain Dhar
- Department of Research and Crop Improvement, Borlaug Institute for South Asia, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Rihan Ansari
- Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Nasreen Saifi
- Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Rajbir Yadav
- Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
- * E-mail:
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15
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Milner MJ, Craze M, Hope MS, Wallington EJ. Turning Up the Temperature on CRISPR: Increased Temperature Can Improve the Editing Efficiency of Wheat Using CRISPR/Cas9. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:583374. [PMID: 33324433 PMCID: PMC7726164 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.583374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The application of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies has transformed our ability to target and edit designated regions of a genome. It's broad adaptability to any organism has led to countless advancements in our understanding of many biological processes. Many current tools are designed for simple plant systems such as diploid species, however, efficient deployment in crop species requires a greater efficiency of editing as these often contain polyploid genomes. Here, we examined the role of temperature to understand if CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency can be improved in wheat. The recent finding that plant growth under higher temperatures could increase mutation rates was tested with Cas9 expressed from two different promoters in wheat. Increasing the temperature of the tissue culture or of the seed germination and early growth phase increases the frequency of mutation in wheat when the Cas9 enzyme is driven by the ZmUbi promoter but not OsActin. In contrast, Cas9 expression driven by the OsActin promoter did not increase the mutations detected in either transformed lines or during the transformation process itself. These results demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency can be significantly increased in a polyploid cereal species with a simple change in growth conditions to facilitate increased mutations for the creation of homozygous or null knock-outs.
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16
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Safdar LB, Umer MJ, Almas F, Uddin S, Safdar QTA, Blighe K, Quraishi UM. Identification of genetic factors controlling phosphorus utilization efficiency in wheat by genome-wide association study with principal component analysis. Gene 2020; 768:145301. [PMID: 33181261 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite the economic importance of P utilization efficiency, information on genetic factors underlying this trait remains elusive. To address that, we performed a genome-wide association study in a spring wheat diversity panel ranging from landraces to elite varieties. We evaluated the phenotype variation for P utilization efficiency in controlled conditions and genotype variation using wheat 90 K SNP array. Phenotype variables were transformed into a smaller set of uncorrelated principal components that captured the most important variation data. We identified two significant loci associated with both P utilization efficiency and the 1st principal component on chromosomes 3A and 4A: qPE1-3A and qPE2-4A. Annotation of genes at these loci revealed 53 wheat genes, among which 6 were identified in significantly enriched pathways. The expression pattern of these 6 genes indicated that TraesCS4A02G481800, involved in pyruvate metabolism and TCA cycle, had a significantly higher expression in the P efficient variety under limited P conditions. Further characterization of these loci and candidate genes can help stimulate P utilization efficiency in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luqman Bin Safdar
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Jawad Umer
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fakhrah Almas
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Siraj Uddin
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; Plant Breeding Institute, Faculty of Agriculture & Environment, University of Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Kevin Blighe
- Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, University College London, London, UK
| | - Umar Masood Quraishi
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
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17
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Milner MJ, Craze M, Bowden S, Bates R, Wallington EJ, Keeling A. Identification of genes involved in male sterility in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) which could be used in a genic hybrid breeding system. PLANT DIRECT 2020; 4:e00201. [PMID: 32181421 PMCID: PMC7063588 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Wheat is grown on more land than any other crop in the world. Current estimates suggest that yields will have to increase sixty percent by 2050 to meet the demand of an ever-increasing human population; however, recent wheat yield gains have lagged behind other major crops such as rice and maize. One of the reasons suggested for the lag in yield potential is the lack of a robust hybrid system to harness the potential yield gains associated with heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor. Here, we set out to identify candidate genes for a genic hybrid system in wheat and characterize their function in wheat using RNASeq on stamens and carpels undergoing meiosis. Twelve genes were identified as potentially playing a role in pollen viability. CalS5- and RPG1-like genes were identified as pre- and post-meiotic genes for further characterization and to determine their role in pollen viability. It appears that all three homoeologues of both CalS5 and RPG1 are functional in wheat as all three homoeologues need to be knocked out in order to cause male sterility. However, one functional homoeologue is sufficient to maintain male fertility in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ruth Bates
- The John Bingham LaboratoryNIABCambridgeUK
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18
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Perochon A, Kahla A, Vranić M, Jia J, Malla KB, Craze M, Wallington E, Doohan FM. A wheat NAC interacts with an orphan protein and enhances resistance to Fusarium head blight disease. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2019; 17:1892-1904. [PMID: 30821405 PMCID: PMC6737021 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Taxonomically-restricted orphan genes play an important role in environmental adaptation, as recently demonstrated by the fact that the Pooideae-specific orphan TaFROG (Triticum aestivum Fusarium Resistance Orphan Gene) enhanced wheat resistance to the economically devastating Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease. Like most orphan genes, little is known about the cellular function of the encoded protein TaFROG, other than it interacts with the central stress regulator TaSnRK1α. Here, we functionally characterized a wheat (T. aestivum) NAC-like transcription factor TaNACL-D1 that interacts with TaFROG and investigated its' role in FHB using studies to assess motif analyses, yeast transactivation, protein-protein interaction, gene expression and the disease response of wheat lines overexpressing TaNACL-D1. TaNACL-D1 is a Poaceae-divergent NAC transcription factor that encodes a Triticeae-specific protein C-terminal region with transcriptional activity and a nuclear localisation signal. The TaNACL-D1/TaFROG interaction was detected in yeast and confirmed in planta, within the nucleus. Analysis of multi-protein interactions indicated that TaFROG could form simultaneously distinct protein complexes with TaNACL-D1 and TaSnRK1α in planta. TaNACL-D1 and TaFROG are co-expressed as an early response to both the causal fungal agent of FHB, Fusarium graminearum and its virulence factor deoxynivalenol (DON). Wheat lines overexpressing TaNACL-D1 were more resistant to FHB disease than wild type plants. Thus, we conclude that the orphan protein TaFROG interacts with TaNACL-D1, a NAC transcription factor that forms part of the disease response evolved within the Triticeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Perochon
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth InstituteCollege of ScienceUniversity College DublinBelfield, Dublin 4Ireland
| | - Amal Kahla
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth InstituteCollege of ScienceUniversity College DublinBelfield, Dublin 4Ireland
| | - Monika Vranić
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth InstituteCollege of ScienceUniversity College DublinBelfield, Dublin 4Ireland
| | - Jianguang Jia
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth InstituteCollege of ScienceUniversity College DublinBelfield, Dublin 4Ireland
| | - Keshav B. Malla
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth InstituteCollege of ScienceUniversity College DublinBelfield, Dublin 4Ireland
| | | | | | - Fiona M. Doohan
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth InstituteCollege of ScienceUniversity College DublinBelfield, Dublin 4Ireland
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19
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Dunn J, Hunt L, Afsharinafar M, Meselmani MA, Mitchell A, Howells R, Wallington E, Fleming AJ, Gray JE. Reduced stomatal density in bread wheat leads to increased water-use efficiency. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:4737-4748. [PMID: 31172183 PMCID: PMC6760291 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Wheat is a staple crop, frequently cultivated in water-restricted environments. Improving crop water-use efficiency would be desirable if grain yield can be maintained. We investigated whether a decrease in wheat stomatal density via the manipulation of epidermal patterning factor (EPF) gene expression could improve water-use efficiency. Our results show that severe reductions in stomatal density in EPF-overexpressing wheat plants have a detrimental outcome on yields. However, wheat plants with a more moderate reduction in stomatal density (i.e. <50% reduction in stomatal density on leaves prior to tillering) had yields indistinguishable from controls, coupled with an increase in intrinsic water-use efficiency. Yields of these moderately reduced stomatal density plants were also comparable with those of control plants under conditions of drought and elevated CO2. Our data demonstrate that EPF-mediated control of wheat stomatal development follows that observed in other grasses, and we identify the potential of stomatal density as a tool for breeding wheat plants that are better able to withstand water-restricted environments without yield loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Dunn
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Department, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Lee Hunt
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Department, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Mana Afsharinafar
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Department, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Moaed Al Meselmani
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Department, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alice Mitchell
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Department, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | - Andrew J Fleming
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Correspondence: or
| | - Julie E Gray
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Department, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
- Correspondence: or
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20
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Jouanin A, Schaart JG, Boyd LA, Cockram J, Leigh FJ, Bates R, Wallington EJ, Visser RGF, Smulders MJM. Outlook for coeliac disease patients: towards bread wheat with hypoimmunogenic gluten by gene editing of α- and γ-gliadin gene families. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:333. [PMID: 31370789 PMCID: PMC6670228 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-1889-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wheat grains contain gluten proteins, which harbour immunogenic epitopes that trigger Coeliac disease in 1-2% of the human population. Wheat varieties or accessions containing only safe gluten have not been identified and conventional breeding alone struggles to achieve such a goal, as the epitopes occur in gluten proteins encoded by five multigene families, these genes are partly located in tandem arrays, and bread wheat is allohexaploid. Gluten immunogenicity can be reduced by modification or deletion of epitopes. Mutagenesis technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9, provide a route to obtain bread wheat containing gluten proteins with fewer immunogenic epitopes. RESULTS In this study, we analysed the genetic diversity of over 600 α- and γ-gliadin gene sequences to design six sgRNA sequences on relatively conserved domains that we identified near coeliac disease epitopes. They were combined in four CRISPR/Cas9 constructs to target the α- or γ-gliadins, or both simultaneously, in the hexaploid bread wheat cultivar Fielder. We compared the results with those obtained with random mutagenesis in cultivar Paragon by γ-irradiation. For this, Acid-PAGE was used to identify T1 grains with altered gliadin protein profiles compared to the wild-type endosperm. We first optimised the interpretation of Acid-PAGE gels using Chinese Spring deletion lines. We then analysed the changes generated in 360 Paragon γ-irradiated lines and in 117 Fielder CRISPR/Cas9 lines. Similar gliadin profile alterations, with missing protein bands, could be observed in grains produced by both methods. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of using CRISPR/Cas9 to simultaneously edit multiple genes in the large α- and γ-gliadin gene families in polyploid bread wheat. Additional methods, generating genomics and proteomics data, will be necessary to determine the exact nature of the mutations generated with both methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Jouanin
- Wageningen University and Research, Plant Breeding, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jan G. Schaart
- Wageningen University and Research, Plant Breeding, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lesley A. Boyd
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - James Cockram
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fiona J. Leigh
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ruth Bates
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK
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21
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The fungal ribonuclease-like effector protein CSEP0064/BEC1054 represses plant immunity and interferes with degradation of host ribosomal RNA. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007620. [PMID: 30856238 PMCID: PMC6464244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The biotrophic fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis causes the powdery mildew disease of cereals and grasses. We present the first crystal structure of a B. graminis effector of pathogenicity (CSEP0064/BEC1054), demonstrating it has a ribonuclease (RNase)-like fold. This effector is part of a group of RNase-like proteins (termed RALPHs) which comprise the largest set of secreted effector candidates within the B. graminis genomes. Their exceptional abundance suggests they play crucial functions during pathogenesis. We show that transgenic expression of RALPH CSEP0064/BEC1054 increases susceptibility to infection in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. CSEP0064/BEC1054 interacts in planta with the pathogenesis-related protein PR10. The effector protein associates with total RNA and weakly with DNA. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) levels modulate susceptibility to aniline-induced host RNA fragmentation. In planta expression of CSEP0064/BEC1054 reduces the formation of this RNA fragment. We propose CSEP0064/BEC1054 is a pseudoenzyme that binds to host ribosomes, thereby inhibiting the action of plant ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) that would otherwise lead to host cell death, an unviable interaction and demise of the fungus. Powdery mildews are common plant diseases which affect important crop plants including cereals such as wheat and barley. The fungi that cause this disease are obligate biotrophs: they have an absolute requirement for living host cells which they penetrate with feeding structures called haustoria. These fungi must be highly effective at avoiding immune recognition which would lead to death of the host cell and the pathogen. We assume they do this by delivering effector proteins to the host. While several hundred secreted effectors have been described in cereal powdery mildews, it is unknown how they work. Here, we use X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine the structure and interactions of the effector CSEP0064/BEC1054, representative of the largest class of effectors resembling fungal RNases. We find that this effector binds nucleic acids. Expression of the effector in plants increases susceptibility to infection. Moreover, transgenic CSEP0064/BEC1054 expression in wheat inhibits the degradation of host ribosomal RNA induced by ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs). We propose a novel mechanism of action for the RNase-like effectors in powdery mildews: they may act as pseudoenzymes to inhibit the host RIPs, known components of plant immune responses that lead to host cell death.
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22
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Howells RM, Craze M, Bowden S, Wallington EJ. Efficient generation of stable, heritable gene edits in wheat using CRISPR/Cas9. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 18:215. [PMID: 30285624 PMCID: PMC6171145 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-018-1433-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of CRISPR/Cas9 systems could prove to be a valuable tool in crop research, providing the ability to fully knockout gene function in complex genomes or to precisely adjust gene function by knockout of individual alleles. RESULTS We compare gene editing in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) with diploid barley (Hordeum vulgare), using a combination of single genome and tri-genome targeting. High efficiency gene editing, 11-17% for single genome targeted guides and 5% for tri-genome targeted guides, was achieved in wheat using stable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Gene editing in wheat was shown to be predominantly heterozygous, edits were inherited in a Mendelian fashion over multiple generations and no off-target effects were observed. Comparison of editing between the two species demonstrated that more stable, heritable edits were produced in wheat, whilst barley exhibited continued and somatic editing. CONCLUSION Our work shows the potential to obtain stable edited transgene-free wheat lines in 36 weeks through only two generations and that targeted mutagenesis of individual homeologues within the wheat genome is achievable with a modest amount of effort, and without off-target mutations or the need for lengthy crossing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhian M Howells
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Melanie Craze
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Sarah Bowden
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - Emma J Wallington
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
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