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Yao WJ, Wang YP, Peng J, Yin PP, Gao H, Xu L, Laux T, Zhang XS, Su YH. The RPT2a-MET1 axis regulates TERMINAL FLOWER1 to control inflorescence meristem indeterminacy in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1718-1735. [PMID: 37795677 PMCID: PMC11062425 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Plant inflorescence architecture is determined by inflorescence meristem (IM) activity and controlled by genetic mechanisms associated with environmental factors. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1) is expressed in the IM and is required to maintain indeterminate growth, whereas LEAFY (LFY) is expressed in the floral meristems (FMs) formed at the periphery of the IM and is required to activate determinate floral development. Here, we address how Arabidopsis indeterminate inflorescence growth is determined. We show that the 26S proteasome subunit REGULATORY PARTICLE AAA-ATPASE 2a (RPT2a) is required to maintain the indeterminate inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis. rpt2a mutants display reduced TFL1 expression levels and ectopic LFY expression in the IM and develop a determinate zigzag-shaped inflorescence. We further found that RPT2a promotes DNA METHYLTRANSFERASE1 degradation, leading to DNA hypomethylation upstream of TFL1 and high TFL1 expression levels in the wild-type IM. Overall, our work reveals that proteolytic input into the epigenetic regulation of TFL1 expression directs inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis, adding an additional layer to stem cell regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Jinsong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Yi Peng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Jing Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Pei Pei Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Hengbin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Thomas Laux
- Sino-German Joint Research Center on Agricultural Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong 271018, China
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Xian Sheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Ying Hua Su
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
- Sino-German Joint Research Center on Agricultural Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong 271018, China
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Tsuji H, Sato M. The Function of Florigen in the Vegetative-to-Reproductive Phase Transition in and around the Shoot Apical Meristem. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 65:322-337. [PMID: 38179836 PMCID: PMC11020210 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Plants undergo a series of developmental phases throughout their life-cycle, each characterized by specific processes. Three critical features distinguish these phases: the arrangement of primordia (phyllotaxis), the timing of their differentiation (plastochron) and the characteristics of the lateral organs and axillary meristems. Identifying the unique molecular features of each phase, determining the molecular triggers that cause transitions and understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these transitions are keys to gleaning a complete understanding of plant development. During the vegetative phase, the shoot apical meristem (SAM) facilitates continuous leaf and stem formation, with leaf development as the hallmark. The transition to the reproductive phase induces significant changes in these processes, driven mainly by the protein FT (FLOWERING LOCUS T) in Arabidopsis and proteins encoded by FT orthologs, which are specified as 'florigen'. These proteins are synthesized in leaves and transported to the SAM, and act as the primary flowering signal, although its impact varies among species. Within the SAM, florigen integrates with other signals, culminating in developmental changes. This review explores the central question of how florigen induces developmental phase transition in the SAM. Future research may combine phase transition studies, potentially revealing the florigen-induced developmental phase transition in the SAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Tsuji
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Furocho, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Moeko Sato
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
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Wickramasinghe KP, Kong CY, Lin XQ, Zhao PF, Mehdi F, Li XJ, Liu XL, Mao J, Lu X. Photoperiodic and lighting treatments for flowering control and its genetic regulation in sugarcane breeding. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28531. [PMID: 38586380 PMCID: PMC10998108 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Improvement of sugarcane is hampered due to its narrow genetic base, and the difficulty in synchronizing flowering further hinders the exploitation of the genetic potential of available germplasm resources. Therefore, the continuous evaluation and optimization of flowering control and induction techniques are vital for sugarcane improvement. In view of this, the review was conducted to investigate the current understanding of photoperiodic and lighting treatment effects on sugarcane flowering and its genetic regulation. Photoperiod facilities have made a significant contribution to flowering control in sugarcane; however, inductive photoperiods are still unknown for some genotypes, and some intended crosses are still impossible to produce because of unresponsive varieties. The effectiveness of lower red/far-red ratios in promoting sugarcane flowering has been widely understood. Furthermore, there is vast potential for utilizing blue, red, and far-red light wavelengths in the flowering control of sugarcane. In this context, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) remain efficient sources of light. Therefore, the combined use of photoperiod regimes with different light wavelengths and optimization of such treatment combinations might help to control and induce flowering in sugarcane parental clones. In sugarcane, FLOWERING LOCUS T (ScFT) orthologues from ScFT1 to ScFT13 have been identified, and interestingly, ScFT3 has evidently been identified as a floral inducer in sugarcane. However, independent assessments of different FT-like gene family members are recommended to comprehensively understand their role in the regulation of flowering. Similarly, we believe this review provides substantial information that is vital for the manipulation of flowering and exploitation of germplasm resources in sugarcane breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Priyananda Wickramasinghe
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawa, 70190, Sri Lanka
| | - Chun-yan Kong
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiu-qin Lin
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Pei-fang Zhao
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Faisal Mehdi
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, Hainan, China
| | - Xu-juan Li
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Xin-long Liu
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Jun Mao
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Xin Lu
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
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Yuan Y, Du Y, Delaplace P. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms governing axillary meristem initiation in plants. PLANTA 2024; 259:101. [PMID: 38536474 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-024-04370-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/24/2024]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Axillary meristems (AMs) located in the leaf axils determine the number of shoots or tillers eventually formed, thus contributing significantly to the plant architecture and crop yields. The study of AM initiation is unavoidable and beneficial for crop productivity. Shoot branching is an undoubted determinant of plant architecture and thus greatly impacts crop yield due to the panicle-bearing traits of tillers. The emergence of the AM is essential for the incipient bud formation, and then the bud is dormant or outgrowth immediately to form a branch or tiller. While numerous reviews have focused on plant branching and tillering development networks, fewer specifically address AM initiation and its regulatory mechanisms. This review synthesizes the significant advancements in the genetic and hormonal factors governing AM initiation, with a primary focus on studies conducted in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). In particular, by elaborating on critical genes like LATERAL SUPPRESSOR (LAS), which specifically regulates AM initiation and the networks in which they are involved, we attempt to unify the cascades through which they are positioned. We concentrate on clarifying the precise mutual regulation between shoot apical meristem (SAM) and AM-related factors. Additionally, we examine challenges in elucidating AM formation mechanisms alongside opportunities provided by emerging omics approaches to identify AM-specific genes. By expanding our comprehension of the genetic and hormonal regulation of AM development, we can develop strategies to optimize crop production and address global food challenges effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yundong Yuan
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
| | - Yanfang Du
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Pierre Delaplace
- Plant Sciences, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA-Teaching and Research Center, Université de Liège, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium
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Liu J, Miao P, Qin W, Hu W, Wei Z, Ding W, Zhang H, Wang Z. A novel single nucleotide mutation of TFL1 alters the plant architecture of Gossypium arboreum through changing the pre-mRNA splicing. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 43:26. [PMID: 38155318 PMCID: PMC10754752 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03086-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE A single nucleotide mutation from G to A at the 201st position changed the 5' splice site and deleted 31 amino acids in the first exon of GaTFL1. Growth habit is an important agronomic trait that plays a decisive role in the plant architecture and crop yield. Cotton (Gossypium) tends to indeterminate growth, which is unsuitable for the once-over mechanical harvest system. Here, we identified a determinate growth mutant (dt1) in Gossypium arboreum by EMS mutagenesis, in which the main axis was terminated with the shoot apical meristem (SAM) converted into flowers. The map-based cloning of the dt1 locus showed a single nucleotide mutation from G to A at the 201st positions in TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (GaTFL1), which changed the alternative RNA 5' splice site and resulted in 31 amino acids deletion and loss of function of GaTFL1. Comparative transcriptomic RNA-Seq analysis identified many transporters responsible for the phytohormones, auxin, sugar, and flavonoids, which may function downstream of GaTFL1 to involve the plant architecture regulation. These findings indicate a novel alternative splicing mechanism involved in the post-transcriptional modification and TFL1 may function upstream of the auxin and sugar pathways through mediating their transport to determine the SAM fate and coordinate the vegetative and reproductive development from the SAM of the plant, which provides clues for the TFL1 mechanism in plant development regulation and provide research strategies for plant architecture improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Liu
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Pengfei Miao
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Wenqiang Qin
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Wei Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Zhenzhen Wei
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Wusi Ding
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China.
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, 455000, China.
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China.
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Cerise M, da Silveira Falavigna V, Rodríguez-Maroto G, Signol A, Severing E, Gao H, van Driel A, Vincent C, Wilkens S, Iacobini FR, Formosa-Jordan P, Pajoro A, Coupland G. Two modes of gene regulation by TFL1 mediate its dual function in flowering time and shoot determinacy of Arabidopsis. Development 2023; 150:dev202089. [PMID: 37971083 PMCID: PMC10730086 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202089] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Plant organ primordia develop successively at the shoot apical meristem (SAM). In Arabidopsis, primordia formed early in development differentiate into vegetative leaves, whereas those formed later generate inflorescence branches and flowers. TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1), a negative regulator of transcription, acts in the SAM to delay flowering and to maintain inflorescence meristem indeterminacy. We used confocal microscopy, time-resolved transcript profiling and reverse genetics to elucidate this dual role of TFL1. We found that TFL1 accumulates dynamically in the SAM reflecting its dual function. Moreover, TFL1 represses two major sets of genes. One set includes genes that promote flowering, expression of which increases earlier in tfl1 mutants. The other set is spatially misexpressed in tfl1 inflorescence meristems. The misexpression of these two gene sets in tfl1 mutants depends upon FD transcription factor, with which TFL1 interacts. Furthermore, the MADS-box gene SEPALLATA 4, which is upregulated in tfl1, contributes both to the floral transition and shoot determinacy defects of tfl1 mutants. Thus, we delineate the dual function of TFL1 in shoot development in terms of its dynamic spatial distribution and different modes of gene repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Cerise
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Vítor da Silveira Falavigna
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Gabriel Rodríguez-Maroto
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Antoine Signol
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Edouard Severing
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - He Gao
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Annabel van Driel
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Coral Vincent
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Sandra Wilkens
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Francesca Romana Iacobini
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Pau Formosa-Jordan
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
| | - Alice Pajoro
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, c/o Department Biology and Biotechnology ‘C. Darwin’ Sapienza University, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - George Coupland
- Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne 50829, Germany
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Baczyński J, Claßen-Bockhoff R. Pseudanthia in angiosperms: a review. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:179-202. [PMID: 37478306 PMCID: PMC10583202 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pseudanthia or 'false flowers' are multiflowered units that resemble solitary flowers in form and function. Over the last century the term 'pseudanthium' has been applied to a wide array of morphologically divergent blossoms, ranging from those with easily noticeable florets to derived, reduced units in which individual flowers become almost indistinguishable. Although initially admired mostly by botanists, the diversity and widespread distribution of pseudanthia across angiosperms has already made them a fascinating topic for evolutionary and developmental comparative studies. SCOPE This review synthesizes historical and current concepts on the biology of pseudanthia. Our first aim is to establish a clear, operational definition of pseudanthium and disentangle common terminological misconceptions surrounding that term. Our second aim is to summarize knowledge of the morphological and developmental diversity of pseudanthia and embed it within a modern phylogenetic framework. Lastly, we want to provide a comprehensive overview on the evolution and ecological importance of pseudanthia and outline perspectives for future studies. CONCLUSIONS The understanding of pseudanthia has changed multiple times and reflects three different interpretations of their 'flower-like' qualities: developmental (similarity in structure), figural (similarity in form and function) and phylogenetic (homology between angiosperm flowers and monoecious reproductive shoots in gymnosperms). Here, we propose to narrow the term pseudanthium to multiflowered blossoms resembling zoophilous flowers in form, i.e. in being structurally subdivided in a showy periphery and a reproductive centre. According to this definition, pseudanthia sensu stricto evolved independently in at least 41 angiosperm families. The recurrent acquisition of pseudanthia sensu stricto in all major lineages of flowering plants indicates repeated interactions between developmental constraints (smallness of flowers, meristematic conditions) and selective pressures, such as demands of pollinators and/or environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Baczyński
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Plant Biology, Miller Plant Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Regine Claßen-Bockhoff
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
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Reig C, García-Lorca A, Martínez-Fuentes A, Mesejo C, Agustí M. Warm temperature during floral bud transition turns off EjTFL1 gene expression and promotes flowering in Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 335:111810. [PMID: 37500016 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The Rosaceae family includes several deciduous woody species whose flower development extends over two consecutive growing seasons with a winter dormant period in between. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) belongs to this family, but it is an evergreen species whose flower bud initiation and flowering occur within the same growing year. Vegetative growth dominates from spring to late summer when terminal buds bloom as panicles. Thus, its floral buds do not undergo winter dormancy until flowering, but a summer heat period of dormancy is required for floral bud differentiation, and that is why we used loquat to study the mechanism by which this summer rest period contributes to floral differentiation of Rosaceae species. As for the deciduous species, the bud transition to the generative stage is initiated by the floral integrator genes. There is evidence that combinations of environmental signals and internal cues (plant hormones) control the expression of TFL1, but the mechanism by which this gene regulates its expression in loquat needs to be clarified for a better understanding of its floral initiation and seasonal growth cycles. Under high temperatures (>25ºC) after floral bud inductive period, EjTFL1 expression decreases during meristem transition to the reproductive stage, and the promoters of flowering (EjAP1 and EjLFY) increase, indicating that the floral bud differentiation is affected by high temperatures. Monitoring the apical meristem of loquat in June-August of two consecutive years under ambient and thermal controlled conditions showed that under lower temperatures (<25ºC) during the same period, shoot apex did not stop growing and a higher EjTFL1 expression was recorded, preventing the bud to flower. Likewise, temperature directly affects ABA content in the meristem paralleling EjTFL1 expression, suggesting signaling cascades could converge to refine the expression of EjTFL1 under specific conditions (Tª<25ºC) during the floral transition stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmina Reig
- Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Ana García-Lorca
- Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Amparo Martínez-Fuentes
- Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Mesejo
- Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Agustí
- Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
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Bhattacharjee S, Bhowmick R, Paul K, Venkat Raman K, Jaiswal S, Tilgam J, Saakre M, Kumari P, Baaniya M, Vijayan J, Sreevathsa R, Pattanayak D. Identification, characterization, and comprehensive expression profiling of floral master regulators in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millspaugh). Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:311. [PMID: 37751043 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01236-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Pigeon pea is an important protein-rich pulse crop. Identification of flowering master regulators in pigeon pea is highly imperative as indeterminacy and late flowering are impediments towards yield improvement. A genome-wide analysis was performed to explore flowering orthologous groups in pigeon pea. Among the 412 floral orthologs identified in pigeon pea, 148 genes belong to the meristem identity, photoperiod-responsive, and circadian clock-associated ortholog groups. Our comparative genomics study revealed purifying selection pressures (ka/ks) on floral orthologs, and duplication patterns and evolution through synteny with other model species. Phylogenetic analysis of floral genes substantiated a connection between pigeon pea plant architecture and flowering time as all the PEBP domain-containing genes belong to meristem identity floral networks of pigeon pea. Expression profiling of eleven major orthologs in contrasting determinate and indeterminate genotypes indicated that these orthologs might be involved in flowering regulation. Expression of floral inducer, FT, and floral repressor, TFL1, was non-comparable in indeterminate genotypes across all the developmental stages of pigeon pea. However, dynamic FT/TFL1 expression ratio detected in all tissues of both the genotypes suggested their role in floral transition. One TFL1 ortholog having high sequence conserveness across pigeon pea genotypes showed differential expression indicating genotype-dependent regulation of this ortholog. Presence of conserved 6mA-methylation patterns in light-responsive elements and in other cis-regulatory elements of FT and TFL1 across different plant genotypes indicated possible involvement of epigenetic regulation in flowering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sougata Bhattacharjee
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Rakesh Bhowmick
- ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, Kolkata, India
| | - Krishnayan Paul
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - K Venkat Raman
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Sandeep Jaiswal
- ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Barapani, Meghalaya, India
| | - Jyotsana Tilgam
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Manjesh Saakre
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Priyanka Kumari
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Mahi Baaniya
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Joshitha Vijayan
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Rohini Sreevathsa
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Debasis Pattanayak
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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Azpeitia E, Parcy F, Godin C. Cauliflowers or how the perseverance of a plant to make flowers produces an amazing fractal structure. C R Biol 2023; 346:75-83. [PMID: 37350318 DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Biological organisms have an immense diversity of forms. Some of them exhibit conspicuous and fascinating fractal structures that present self-similar patterns at all scales. How such structures are produced by biological processes is intriguing. In a recent publication, we used a multi-scale modelling approach to understand how gene activity can produce macroscopic cauliflower curds. Our work provides a plausible explanation for the appearance of fractal-like structures in plants, linking gene activity with development.
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11
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Zhang S, Zhou Q, Yang X, Wang J, Jiang J, Sun M, Liu Y, Nie C, Bao M, Liu G. Functional characterization of three TERMINAL FLOWER 1-like genes from Platanus acerifolia. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 42:1071-1088. [PMID: 37024635 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03014-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE TFL1-like genes of the basal eudicot Platanus acerifolia have conserved roles in maintaining vegetative growth and inhibiting flowering, but may act through distinct regulatory mechanism. Three TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1)-like genes were isolated and characterized from London plane tree (Platanus acerifolia). All genes have conserved genomic organization and characteristic of the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that two genes belong to the TFL1 clade, designated as PlacTFL1a and PlacTFL1b, while another one was grouped in the BFT clade, named as PlacBFT. qRT-PCR analysis showed that all three genes primarily expressed in vegetative phase, but the expression of PlacTFL1a was much higher and wider than that of PlacTFL1b, with the latter only detected at relatively low expression levels in apical and lateral buds in April. PlacBFT was mainly expressed in young stems of adult trees followed by juvenile tissues. Ectopic expression of any TFL1-like gene in Arabidopsis showed phenotypes of delayed or repressed flowering. Furthermore, overexpression of PlacTFL1a gene in petunia also resulted in extremely delayed flowering. In non-flowering 35:PlacTFL1a transgenic petunia plants, the FT-like gene (PhFT) gene was significantly upregulated and AP1 homologues PFG, FBP26 and FBP29 were significantly down-regulated in leaves. Yeast two-hybrid analysis indicated that only weak interactions were detected between PlacTFL1a and PlacFDL, and PlacTFL1a showed no interaction with PhFDL1/2. These results indicated that the TFL1-like genes of Platanus have conserved roles in repressing flowering, but probably via a distinct regulatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisi Zhang
- Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan, 430081, Hubei, China
| | - Qin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Xingyu Yang
- Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan, 430081, Hubei, China
| | - Jianqiang Wang
- Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan, 430081, Hubei, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan, 430081, Hubei, China
| | - Miaomiao Sun
- Department of Botany, Guangzhou Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanjun Liu
- Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan, 430081, Hubei, China
| | - Chaoren Nie
- Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan, 430081, Hubei, China
| | - Manzhu Bao
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Guofeng Liu
- Department of Botany, Guangzhou Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, China.
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12
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Laanen P, Cuypers A, Saenen E, Horemans N. Flowering under enhanced ionising radiation conditions and its regulation through epigenetic mechanisms. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 196:246-259. [PMID: 36731286 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As sessile organisms, plants have to deal with unfavourable conditions by acclimating or adapting in order to survive. Regulation of flower induction is one such mechanism to ensure reproduction and species survival. Flowering is a tightly regulated process under the control of a network of genes, which can be affected by environmental cues and stress. The effects of ionising radiation (IR) on flowering, however, have been poorly studied. Understanding the effects of ionising radiation on flowering, including the timing, gene pathways, and epigenetics involved, is crucial in the continuing effort of environmental radiation protection. The review shows that plants alter their flowering pattern in response to IR, with various flowering related genes (eg. FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), CONSTANS (CO), GIGANTEA (GI), APETALA1 (AP1), LEAFY (LFY)) and epigenetic processes (DNA methylation, and miRNA expression eg. miRNA169, miR156, miR172) being affected. Thereby, showing a hypothetical IR-induced flowering mechanism. Further research on the interaction between IR and flowering in plants is, however, needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind the stress-induced flowering response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pol Laanen
- Biosphere Impact Studies, SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Research, University of Hasselt, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
| | - Ann Cuypers
- Centre for Environmental Research, University of Hasselt, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
| | - Eline Saenen
- Biosphere Impact Studies, SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium.
| | - Nele Horemans
- Biosphere Impact Studies, SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Research, University of Hasselt, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
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13
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Peng Q, Liu C, Zou Z, Zhang M. Ectopic expression of Jatropha curcas JcTAW1 improves the vegetative growth, yield, and drought resistance of tobacco. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:77. [PMID: 36737681 PMCID: PMC9898971 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04085-2] [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: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Jatropha curcas is a promising alternative bio-energy resource. However, underrun limited its broad application in the industry. Luckily, TAW1 is a high-productivity promoting gene that increases the lateral branches by prolonging the identification of inflorescence meristems to generate more spikes and flowers. RESULTS In the current study, we introduced the Jatropha JcTAW1 gene into tobacco to depict its functional profile. Ectopically expressed JcTAW1 increased the lateral branches and ultimate yield of the transgenic tobacco plants. Moreover, the JcTAW1 lines had significantly higher plant height, longer roots, and better drought resistance than those of wild-type (W.T.). We performed RNA sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to determine which biological processes were affected by JcTAW1. The results showed that biological processes such as carbon metabolism, cell wall biosynthesis, and ionization transport were extensively promoted by the ectopic expression of JcTAW1. Seven hub genes were identified. Therein, two up-regulated genes affect glucose metabolism and cell wall biosynthesis, five down-regulated genes are involved in DNA repair and negative regulation of TOR (target-of-rapamycin) signaling which was identified as a central regulator to promote cell proliferation and growth. CONCLUSIONS Our study verified a new promising candidate for Jatropha productive breeding and discovered several new features of JcTAW1. Except for boosting flowering, JcTAW1 was found to promote stem and root growth. Additionally, transcriptome analysis indicated that JcTAW1 might promote glucose metabolism while suppressing the DNA repair system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyan Peng
- First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhurong Zou
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Mengru Zhang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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14
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Cross-Talk between Transcriptome Analysis and Dynamic Changes of Carbohydrates Identifies Stage-Specific Genes during the Flower Bud Differentiation Process of Chinese Cherry ( Prunus pseudocerasus L.). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415562. [PMID: 36555203 PMCID: PMC9778666 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Flower bud differentiation is crucial to reproductive success in plants. In the present study, RNA-Seq and nutrients quantification were used to identify the stage-specific genes for flower bud differentiation with buds which characterize the marked change during flower bud formation from a widely grown Chinese cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus L.) cultivar 'Manaohong'. A KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the sugar metabolism pathways dynamically changed. The gradually decreasing trend in the contents of total sugar, soluble sugar and protein implies that the differentiation was an energy-consuming process. Changes in the contents of D-glucose and sorbitol were conformed with the gene expression trends of bglX and SORD, respectively, which at least partially reflects a key role of the two substances in the transition from physiological to morphological differentiation. Further, the WRKY and SBP families were also significantly differentially expressed during the vegetative-to-reproductive transition. In addition, floral meristem identity genes, e.g., AP1, AP3, PI, AGL6, SEP1, LFY, and UFO demonstrate involvement in the specification of the petal and stamen primordia, and FPF1 might promote the onset of morphological differentiation. Conclusively, the available evidence justifies the involvement of sugar metabolism in the flower bud differentiation of Chinese cherry, and the uncovered candidate genes are beneficial to further elucidate flower bud differentiation in cherries.
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15
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Xu X, Tao J, Xing A, Wu Z, Xu Y, Sun Y, Zhu J, Dai X, Wang Y. Transcriptome analysis reveals the roles of phytohormone signaling in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) flower development. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:471. [PMID: 36192710 PMCID: PMC9531472 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03853-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is an important economic tea crop, but flowering will consume a lot of nutrients of C. sinensis, which will seriously affect the nutritional growth of C. sinensis. However, there are few studies on the development mechanism of C. sinensis flower, and most studies focus on a single C. sinensis cultivar. RESULTS Here, we identified a 92-genes' C. sinensis flower development core transcriptome from the transcriptome of three C. sinensis cultivars ('BaiYe1', 'HuangJinYa' and 'SuChaZao') in three developmental stages (bud stage, white bud stage and blooming stage). In addition, we also reveal the changes in endogenous hormone contents and the expression of genes related to synthesis and signal transduction during the development of C. sinensis flower. The results showed that most genes of the core transcriptome were involved in circadian rhythm and autonomous pathways. Moreover, there were only a few flowering time integrators, only 1 HD3A, 1 SOC1 and 1 LFY, and SOC1 played a dominant role in the development of C. sinensis flower. Furthermore, we screened out 217 differentially expressed genes related to plant hormone synthesis and 199 differentially expressed genes related to plant hormone signal transduction in C. sinensis flower development stage. CONCLUSIONS By constructing a complex hormone regulation network of C. sinensis flowering, we speculate that MYC, FT, SOC1 and LFY play key roles in the process of endogenous hormones regulating C. sinensis flowering development. The results of this study can a provide reference for the further study of C. sinensis flowering mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Xu
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China
| | - Jing Tao
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China
| | - Anqi Xing
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China
| | - Zichen Wu
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China
| | - Yuqin Xu
- Tea Research Institute of Tianmu Lake in Liyang Changzhou, Changzhou, 213300 China
| | - Yi Sun
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China
| | - Jiangyuan Zhu
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China
| | - Xiang Dai
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China
| | - Yuhua Wang
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095 China
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16
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Surkova SY, Samsonova MG. Mechanisms of Vernalization-Induced Flowering in Legumes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179889. [PMID: 36077286 PMCID: PMC9456104 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vernalization is the requirement for exposure to low temperatures to trigger flowering. The best knowledge about the mechanisms of vernalization response has been accumulated for Arabidopsis and cereals. In Arabidopsis thaliana, vernalization involves an epigenetic silencing of the MADS-box gene FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), which is a flowering repressor. FLC silencing releases the expression of the main flowering inductor FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), resulting in a floral transition. Remarkably, no FLC homologues have been identified in the vernalization-responsive legumes, and the mechanisms of cold-mediated transition to flowering in these species remain elusive. Nevertheless, legume FT genes have been shown to retain the function of the main vernalization signal integrators. Unlike Arabidopsis, legumes have three subclades of FT genes, which demonstrate distinct patterns of regulation with respect to environmental cues and tissue specificity. This implies complex mechanisms of vernalization signal propagation in the flowering network, that remain largely elusive. Here, for the first time, we summarize the available information on the genetic basis of cold-induced flowering in legumes with a special focus on the role of FT genes.
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17
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Müller-Xing R, Ardiansyah R, Xing Q, Faivre L, Tian J, Wang G, Zheng Y, Wang X, Jing T, de Leau E, Chen S, Chen S, Schubert D, Goodrich J. Polycomb proteins control floral determinacy by H3K27me3-mediated repression of pluripotency genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:2385-2402. [PMID: 35045165 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Polycomb group (PcG) protein-mediated histone methylation (H3K27me3) controls the correct spatiotemporal expression of numerous developmental regulators in Arabidopsis. Epigenetic silencing of the stem cell factor gene WUSCHEL (WUS) in floral meristems (FMs) depends on H3K27me3 deposition by PcG proteins. However, the role of H3K27me3 in silencing of other meristematic regulator and pluripotency genes during FM determinacy has not yet been studied. To this end, we report the genome-wide dynamics of H3K27me3 levels during FM arrest and the consequences of strongly depleted PcG activity on early flower morphogenesis including enlarged and indeterminate FMs. Strong depletion of H3K27me3 levels results in misexpression of the FM identity gene AGL24, which partially causes floral reversion leading to ap1-like flowers and indeterminate FMs ectopically expressing WUS and SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM). Loss of STM can rescue supernumerary floral organs and FM indeterminacy in H3K27me3-deficient flowers, indicating that the hyperactivity of the FMs is at least partially a result of ectopic STM expression. Nonetheless, WUS remained essential for the FM activity. Our results demonstrate that PcG proteins promote FM determinacy at multiple levels of the floral gene regulatory network, silencing initially floral regulators such as AGL24 that promotes FM indeterminacy and, subsequently, meristematic pluripotency genes such as WUS and STM during FM arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Müller-Xing
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
- Plant Epigenetics and Development, Institute of Genetics, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rhomi Ardiansyah
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
- Plant Epigenetics and Development, Institute of Genetics, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Qian Xing
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
- Plant Epigenetics and Development, Institute of Genetics, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Léa Faivre
- Epigenetics of Plants, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jingjing Tian
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
- Plant Epigenetics and Development, Institute of Genetics, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Guohua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Information and Computer Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yucai Zheng
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
- Plant Epigenetics and Development, Institute of Genetics, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Plant Epigenetics and Development, Institute of Genetics, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Tingting Jing
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
- Plant Epigenetics and Development, Institute of Genetics, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Erica de Leau
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Song Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Su Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Daniel Schubert
- Epigenetics of Plants, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Justin Goodrich
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Périlleux C, Huerga-Fernández S. Reflections on the Triptych of Meristems That Build Flowering Branches in Tomato. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:798502. [PMID: 35211138 PMCID: PMC8861353 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.798502] [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: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Branching is an important component determining crop yield. In tomato, the sympodial pattern of shoot and inflorescence branching is initiated at floral transition and involves the precise regulation of three very close meristems: (i) the shoot apical meristem (SAM) that undergoes the first transition to flower meristem (FM) fate, (ii) the inflorescence sympodial meristem (SIM) that emerges on its flank and remains transiently indeterminate to continue flower initiation, and (iii) the shoot sympodial meristem (SYM), which is initiated at the axil of the youngest leaf primordium and takes over shoot growth before forming itself the next inflorescence. The proper fate of each type of meristems involves the spatiotemporal regulation of FM genes, since they all eventually terminate in a flower, but also the transient repression of other fates since conversions are observed in different mutants. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge about the genetic determinants of meristem fate in tomato and share the reflections that led us to identify sepal and flower abscission zone initiation as a critical stage of FM development that affects the branching of the inflorescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Périlleux
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Research Unit InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Institute of Botany B22 Sart Tilman, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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Dávila-Velderrain J, Caldú-Primo JL, Martínez-García JC, Álvarez-Buylla Roces ME. Gene Regulatory Network Dynamical Logical Models for Plant Development. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2395:59-77. [PMID: 34822149 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1816-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mathematical and computational approaches that integrate and model the concerted action of multiple genetic and nongenetic components holding highly nonlinear interactions are fundamental for the study of developmental processes. Among these, gene regulatory network (GRN) dynamical models are very useful to understand how diverse types of regulatory constraints restrict the multigene expression patterns that characterize different cell fates. In this chapter we present a hands-on approach to model GRN dynamics, taking as a working example a well-curated and experimentally grounded GRN developmental module proposed by our group: the flower organ specification gene regulatory network (FOS-GRN). We demonstrate how to build and analyze a GRN model according to the following steps: (1) integration of molecular genetic data and formulation of logical rules specifying the dynamic behavior of each gene; (2) determination of steady states (attractors) corresponding to each cell type; (3) validation of the GRN model; and (4) extension of the deterministic model with the inclusion of stochasticity in order to model cell-state transitions dependent on noise due to fluctuations of the involved gen products. The methodologies explained here in detail can be applied to any other developmental module.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Dávila-Velderrain
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - José Luis Caldú-Primo
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Epigenética, Desarrollo y Evolución de Plantas, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, Coyoacán, México
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad (C3), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, México
| | | | - María Elena Álvarez-Buylla Roces
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Epigenética, Desarrollo y Evolución de Plantas, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, Coyoacán, México.
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad (C3), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, México.
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20
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Chávez-Hernández EC, Quiroz S, García-Ponce B, Álvarez-Buylla ER. The flowering transition pathways converge into a complex gene regulatory network that underlies the phase changes of the shoot apical meristem in Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:852047. [PMID: 36017258 PMCID: PMC9396034 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.852047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Post-embryonic plant development is characterized by a period of vegetative growth during which a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic signals triggers the transition to the reproductive phase. To understand how different flowering inducing and repressing signals are associated with phase transitions of the Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM), we incorporated available data into a dynamic gene regulatory network model for Arabidopsis thaliana. This Flowering Transition Gene Regulatory Network (FT-GRN) formally constitutes a dynamic system-level mechanism based on more than three decades of experimental data on flowering. We provide novel experimental data on the regulatory interactions of one of its twenty-three components: a MADS-box transcription factor XAANTAL2 (XAL2). These data complement the information regarding flowering transition under short days and provides an example of the type of questions that can be addressed by the FT-GRN. The resulting FT-GRN is highly connected and integrates developmental, hormonal, and environmental signals that affect developmental transitions at the SAM. The FT-GRN is a dynamic multi-stable Boolean system, with 223 possible initial states, yet it converges into only 32 attractors. The latter are coherent with the expression profiles of the FT-GRN components that have been experimentally described for the developmental stages of the SAM. Furthermore, the attractors are also highly robust to initial states and to simulated perturbations of the interaction functions. The model recovered the meristem phenotypes of previously described single mutants. We also analyzed the attractors landscape that emerges from the postulated FT-GRN, uncovering which set of signals or components are critical for reproductive competence and the time-order transitions observed in the SAM. Finally, in the context of such GRN, the role of XAL2 under short-day conditions could be understood. Therefore, this model constitutes a robust biological module and the first multi-stable, dynamical systems biology mechanism that integrates the genetic flowering pathways to explain SAM phase transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elva C. Chávez-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Desarrollo y Evolución de Plantas, Departamento de Ecología Funcional, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Stella Quiroz
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Desarrollo y Evolución de Plantas, Departamento de Ecología Funcional, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Berenice García-Ponce
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Desarrollo y Evolución de Plantas, Departamento de Ecología Funcional, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Berenice García-Ponce,
| | - Elena R. Álvarez-Buylla
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Desarrollo y Evolución de Plantas, Departamento de Ecología Funcional, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Elena R. Álvarez-Buylla,
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Azpeitia E, Tichtinsky G, Le Masson M, Serrano-Mislata A, Lucas J, Gregis V, Gimenez C, Prunet N, Farcot E, Kater MM, Bradley D, Madueño F, Godin C, Parcy F. Cauliflower fractal forms arise from perturbations of floral gene networks. Science 2021; 373:192-197. [PMID: 34244409 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg5999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Throughout development, plant meristems regularly produce organs in defined spiral, opposite, or whorl patterns. Cauliflowers present an unusual organ arrangement with a multitude of spirals nested over a wide range of scales. How such a fractal, self-similar organization emerges from developmental mechanisms has remained elusive. Combining experimental analyses in an Arabidopsis thaliana cauliflower-like mutant with modeling, we found that curd self-similarity arises because the meristems fail to form flowers but keep the "memory" of their transient passage in a floral state. Additional mutations affecting meristem growth can induce the production of conical structures reminiscent of the conspicuous fractal Romanesco shape. This study reveals how fractal-like forms may emerge from the combination of key, defined perturbations of floral developmental programs and growth dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenio Azpeitia
- Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, Univ. Lyon, ENS de Lyon, UCB Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, Inria, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Gabrielle Tichtinsky
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI-LPCV, F-38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Marie Le Masson
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI-LPCV, F-38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Antonio Serrano-Mislata
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) - Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Jérémy Lucas
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI-LPCV, F-38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Veronica Gregis
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Carlos Gimenez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) - Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Nathanaël Prunet
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Etienne Farcot
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Martin M Kater
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Desmond Bradley
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Francisco Madueño
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) - Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Christophe Godin
- Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, Univ. Lyon, ENS de Lyon, UCB Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, Inria, F-69364 Lyon, France.
| | - Francois Parcy
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI-LPCV, F-38054 Grenoble, France.
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22
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Yue L, Li X, Fang C, Chen L, Yang H, Yang J, Chen Z, Nan H, Chen L, Zhang Y, Li H, Hou X, Dong Z, Weller JL, Abe J, Liu B, Kong F. FT5a interferes with the Dt1-AP1 feedback loop to control flowering time and shoot determinacy in soybean. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 63:1004-1020. [PMID: 33458938 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Flowering time and stem growth habit determine inflorescence architecture in soybean, which in turn influences seed yield. Dt1, a homolog of Arabidopsis TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1), is a major controller of stem growth habit, but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Dt1 affects node number and plant height, as well as flowering time, in soybean under long-day conditions. The bZIP transcription factor FDc1 physically interacts with Dt1, and the FDc1-Dt1 complex directly represses the expression of APETALA1 (AP1). We propose that FT5a inhibits Dt1 activity via a competitive interaction with FDc1 and directly upregulates AP1. Moreover, AP1 represses Dt1 expression by directly binding to the Dt1 promoter, suggesting that AP1 and Dt1 form a suppressive regulatory feedback loop to determine the fate of the shoot apical meristem. These findings provide novel insights into the roles of Dt1 and FT5a in controlling the stem growth habit and flowering time in soybean, which determine the adaptability and grain yield of this important crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yue
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiaoming Li
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Chao Fang
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Liyu Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hui Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Zhonghui Chen
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Haiyang Nan
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Linnan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Haiyang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xingliang Hou
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Zhicheng Dong
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - James L Weller
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Jun Abe
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan
| | - Baohui Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 1500000, China
| | - Fanjiang Kong
- School of Life Sciences, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 1500000, China
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23
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McGarry RC, Ayre BG. Cotton architecture: examining the roles of SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS and SELF-PRUNING in regulating growth habits of a woody perennial crop. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 59:101968. [PMID: 33418402 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
By specifying patterns of determinate and indeterminate growth, FLOWERING LOCUS T/SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) and TERMINAL FLOWER 1/SELF-PRUNING (SP) regulate plant architecture. Though well characterized in Arabidopsis, the impacts of these genes on the architectures of diverse crops cultivated in different environments, and their potential to enhance crop productivity and management, are less well addressed. Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is naturally a short-day photoperiodic perennial that is now grown primarily as a day-neutral, annual row crop. Different environments and cultivation practices favor specific growth habits to optimize yield, and in cotton, especially in regions that rely heavily on mechanized harvest, the trend has been to more determinate varieties. Identifying and functionally characterizing SFT and SP homologs in cotton uncovered new aspects of how ratios of indeterminate and determinate growth are balanced, and unraveling their genetic networks emphasized how broadly these gene products affect cotton growth habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roisin C McGarry
- BioDiscovery Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203-5017, USA.
| | - Brian G Ayre
- BioDiscovery Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203-5017, USA
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24
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Dong L, Lu Y, Liu S. Genome-wide member identification, phylogeny and expression analysis of PEBP gene family in wheat and its progenitors. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10483. [PMID: 33362967 PMCID: PMC7747686 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family comprises ancient proteins found throughout the biosphere that play an important role in plant growth and development, flowering, seed development and dormancy. However, not all PEBP genes have been identified or analyzed in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its progenitors. In this study, we identified the PEBP genes in common wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, Triticum urartu and Aegilops tauschii by searching whole genome sequences, and characterized these genes by phylogenetic and transcriptome analyses. A total of 76, 38, 16 and 22 PEBP genes were identified in common wheat, T. dicoccoides, T. urartu and Ae. tauschii, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis classified the PEBP genes into four subfamilies (PEBP-like, MFT-like, TFL-like and FT-like); the PEBP-like subfamily was identified as a new subfamily with genes in this subfamily were conserved in plants. Group 2, 3 and 5 chromosomes of common wheat and its progenitors contained more PEBP genes than other chromosomes. The PEBP genes were conserved in wheat during evolution, and tandem duplication played a more important role in the amplification of PEBP genes than segmental duplication. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed that PEBP genes showed tissue/organ-specific expression profiles and some PEBP genes were induced to express by biotic stresses. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that seven randomly selected PEBP genes expressed differently during seed germination under cold, drought, flood, heat and salt stress treatments, and five of these genes (TaPEBP1, TaPEBP5, TaPEBP9, TaPEBP66 and TaPEBP69) showed significantly higher expression under different stress treatments, indicating that these genes play important roles during seed germination under stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Yue Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Shubing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
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25
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Lee JE, Goretti D, Neumann M, Schmid M, You Y. A gibberellin methyltransferase modulates the timing of floral transition at the Arabidopsis shoot meristem. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2020; 170:474-487. [PMID: 32483836 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is a key event in the plant life cycle. Plants therefore use a variety of environmental and endogenous signals to determine the optimal time for flowering to ensure reproductive success. These signals are integrated at the shoot apical meristem (SAM), which subsequently undergoes a shift in identity and begins producing flowers rather than leaves, while still maintaining pluripotency and meristematic function. Gibberellic acid (GA), an important hormone associated with cell growth and differentiation, has been shown to promote flowering in many plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana, but the details of how spatial and temporal regulation of GAs in the SAM contribute to floral transition are poorly understood. In this study, we show that the gene GIBBERELLIC ACID METHYLTRANSFERASE 2 (GAMT2), which encodes a GA-inactivating enzyme, is significantly upregulated at the SAM during floral transition and contributes to the regulation of flowering time. Loss of GAMT2 function leads to early flowering, whereas transgenic misexpression of GAMT2 in specific regions around the SAM delays flowering. We also found that GAMT2 expression is independent of the key floral regulator LEAFY but is strongly increased by the application of exogenous GA. Our results indicate that GAMT2 is a repressor of flowering that may act as a buffer of GA levels at the SAM to help prevent premature flowering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne E Lee
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden
| | - Daniela Goretti
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden
| | - Manuela Neumann
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Markus Schmid
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan You
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- Center for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), Department of General Genetics, University Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
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26
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Zhu Y, Klasfeld S, Jeong CW, Jin R, Goto K, Yamaguchi N, Wagner D. TERMINAL FLOWER 1-FD complex target genes and competition with FLOWERING LOCUS T. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5118. [PMID: 33046692 PMCID: PMC7550357 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18782-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants monitor seasonal cues to optimize reproductive success by tuning onset of reproduction and inflorescence architecture. TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and their orthologs antagonistically regulate these life history traits, yet their mechanism of action, antagonism and targets remain poorly understood. Here, we show that TFL1 is recruited to thousands of loci by the bZIP transcription factor FD. We identify the master regulator of floral fate, LEAFY (LFY) as a target under dual opposite regulation by TFL1 and FT and uncover a pivotal role of FT in promoting flower fate via LFY upregulation. We provide evidence that the antagonism between FT and TFL1 relies on competition for chromatin-bound FD at shared target loci. Direct TFL1-FD regulated target genes identify this complex as a hub for repressing both master regulators of reproductive development and endogenous signalling pathways. Our data provide mechanistic insight into how TFL1-FD sculpt inflorescence architecture, a trait important for reproductive success, plant architecture and yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhu
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 415S. University Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Samantha Klasfeld
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 415S. University Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Cheol Woong Jeong
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 415S. University Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- LG Economic Research Institute, LG Twin tower, Seoul, 07336, Korea
| | - Run Jin
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 415S. University Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Koji Goto
- Research Institute for Biological Sciences, Okayaka Prefecture, 7549-1, Kibichuoh-cho, Kaga-gun, Okayama, 716-1241, Japan
| | - Nobutoshi Yamaguchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 415S. University Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Doris Wagner
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 415S. University Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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27
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Cao W, Cao B, Wang X, Bai J, Xu YZ, Zhao J, Li X, He Y, Hu S. Alternatively spliced BobCAL transcripts alter curd morphotypes in a collection of Chinese cauliflower accessions. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2020; 7:160. [PMID: 33082967 PMCID: PMC7527968 DOI: 10.1038/s41438-020-00378-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The curd of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) is a modified inflorescence that is consumed as a vegetable. Curd formation is proposed to be due to a mutation in the BobCAULIFLOWER (BobCAL) gene, but the genetic relationship between BobCAL variation and curd morphotypes remains obscure. To address this question, we collected and classified a collection of 78 cauliflower accessions into four subpopulations according to curd surface features: smooth, coarse, granular, and hairy curd morphotypes. Through the cDNA sequencing of BobCAL alleles, we showed that smooth and coarse accessions characterized by inflorescence meristem arrest presented a strong association with the 451T SNP (BobCAL_T), whereas granular and hairy accessions marked with floral organ arrest presented an association with 451G (BobCAL_G). Interestingly, all BobCAL alleles were alternatively spliced, resulting in a total of four alternative splice (AS) variants due to the retention of the fourth and/or seventh introns. Among accessions with BobCAL_G alleles, the total expression of all these AS variants in granular plants was almost equal to that in hairy plants; however, the expression of the individual AS variants encoding intact proteins relative to those encoding truncated proteins differed. Hairy accessions showed relatively high expression of the individual variants encoding intact proteins, whereas granular accessions displayed relatively low expression. In smooth cauliflower, the overexpression of the BobCAL_Ga variant caused an alteration in the curd morphotype from smooth to hairy, concurrent with an increase in the expression levels of downstream floral identity genes. These results reveal that alternative splicing of BobCAL transcripts is involved in the determination of cauliflower curd morphotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenguang Cao
- National Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institutes of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Science, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Biting Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi China
| | - Xuan Wang
- National Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institutes of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Science, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Jinjuan Bai
- National Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institutes of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Science, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Yong-Zhen Xu
- National Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institutes of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Science, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Jianjun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Department of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, 071001 China
| | - Xiaorong Li
- National Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institutes of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Science, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Yuke He
- National Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institutes of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Science, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Shengwu Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi China
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28
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Feng S, Zhang J, Mu Z, Wang Y, Wen C, Wu T, Yu C, Li Z, Wang H. Recent progress on the molecular breeding of Cucumis sativus L. in China. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2020; 133:1777-1790. [PMID: 31754760 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-019-03484-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Molecular breeding of Cucumis sativus L. is based on traditional breeding techniques and modern biological breeding in China. There are opportunities for further breeding improvement by molecular design breeding and the automation of phenotyping technology using untapped sources of genetic diversity. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable cultivated worldwide. It bears fruits of light fragrance, and crisp texture with high nutrition. China is the largest producer and consumer of cucumber, accounting for 70% of the world's total production. With increasing consumption demand, the production of Cucurbitaceae crops has been increasing yearly. Thus, new cultivars that can produce high-quality cucumber with high yield and easy cultivation are in need. Conventional genetic breeding has played an essential role in cucumber cultivar innovation over the past decades. However, its progress is slow due to the long breeding period, and difficulty in selecting stable genetic characters or genotypes, prompting researchers to apply molecular biotechnologies in cucumber breeding. Here, we first summarize the achievements of conventional cucumber breeding such as crossing and mutagenesis, and then focus on the current status of molecular breeding of cucumber in China, including the progress and achievements on cucumber genomics, molecular mechanism underlying important agronomic traits, and also on the creation of high-quality multi-resistant germplasm resources, new variety breeding and ecological breeding. Future development trends and prospects of cucumber molecular breeding in China are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjun Feng
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Juping Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Zihan Mu
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Yuji Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Changlong Wen
- Beijing Vegetable Research Center (BVRC), Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Tao Wu
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Chao Yu
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Zheng Li
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Huasen Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China.
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29
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Hassankhah A, Rahemi M, Ramshini H, Sarikhani S, Vahdati K. Flowering in Persian walnut: patterns of gene expression during flower development. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:136. [PMID: 32245410 PMCID: PMC7118962 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-02372-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flower development and sufficient fruit set are important parameters with respect to walnut yield. Knowledge about flowering genes of fruit trees can help to conduct better molecular breeding programs. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the expression pattern of some flowering genes (FT, SOC1, CAL, LFY and TFL1) in Persian walnut (cv. Chandler) during the growing season and winter dormancy. RESULTS The results showed that walnut flower induction and initiation in Shahmirzad, Iran occurred in early June and late September, respectively. After meeting chilling and heat requirement, flower differentiation and anthesis occurred in late-March and mid-April to early-May, respectively. Study of flowering gene expression showed that the expression of the FT gene increased in three stages including before breaking of bud dormancy, from late March to late April (coincided with flower differentiation and anthesis) and from late May to mid-June (coincided with flower induction). Like FT, the expression of SOC1 gene increased during flower induction and initiation (mid-May to early-August) as well as flower anthesis (mid-April to early-May). LFY and CAL genes as floral meristem identity genes are activated by FT and SOC1 genes. In contrast with flowering stimulus genes, TFL1 showed overexpression during winter dormancy which prevented flowering. CONCLUSION The expression of FT gene activated downstream floral meristem identity genes including SOC1, CAL and LFY which consequently led to release bud dormancy as well as flower anthesis and induction. Also, TFL1 as a flowering inhibitor gene in walnut showed overexpression during the bud dormancy. Chilling accumulation reduced TFL1 gene expression and increased the expression of flowering genes which ultimately led to overcome dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Hassankhah
- Department of Horticulture, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Rahemi
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hossein Ramshini
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding Sciences, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saadat Sarikhani
- Department of Horticulture, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kourosh Vahdati
- Department of Horticulture, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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30
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Ospina-Zapata DA, Madrigal Y, Alzate JF, Pabón-Mora N. Evolution and Expression of Reproductive Transition Regulatory Genes FT/ TFL1 With Emphasis in Selected Neotropical Orchids. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:469. [PMID: 32373149 PMCID: PMC7186885 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Flowering is a rigorously timed and morphologically complex shift in plant development. This change depends on endogenous as well as environmental factors. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) integrates several cues from different pathways acting as a flowering promoter. Contrary to the role of FT, its paralog TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) delays floral transition. Although FT/TFL1 homologs have been studied in model eudicots and monocots, scarce studies are available in non-model monocots like the Orchidaceae. Orchids are very diverse and their floral complexity is translated into a unique aesthetic display, which appeals the ornamental plant market. Nonetheless, orchid trade faces huge limitations due to their long vegetative phase and intractable indoor flowering seasons. Little is known about the genetic basis that control reproductive transition in orchids and, consequently, manipulating their flowering time remains a challenge. In order to contribute to the understanding of the genetic bases that control flowering in orchids we present here the first broad-scale analysis of FT/TFL1-like genes in monocots with an expanded sampling in Orchidaceae. We also compare expression patterns in three selected species and propose hypotheses on the putative role of these genes in their reproductive transition. Our findings show that FT-like genes are by far more diversified than TFL1-like genes in monocots with six subclades in the former and only one in the latter. Within MonFT1, the comparative protein sequences of MonFT1A and MonFT1B suggest that they could have recruited functional roles in delaying flowering, a role typically assigned to TFL1-like proteins. On the other hand, MonFT2 proteins have retained their canonical motifs and roles in promoting flowering transition. This is also shown by their increased expression levels from the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and leaves to inflorescence meristems (IM) and floral buds (FBs). Finally, TFL1-like genes are retained as single copy and often times are lost. Their loss could be linked to the parallel recruitment of MonFT1A and MonFT1B homologs in delaying flowering and maintaining indeterminacy of the inflorescence meristem. These hypotheses lay the foundation for future functional validation in emerging model orchid species and comparative analyses in orchids with high horticultural potential in the market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A. Ospina-Zapata
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Yesenia Madrigal
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan F. Alzate
- Centro Nacional de Secuenciación Genómica, Sede de Investigación Universitaria, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Natalia Pabón-Mora
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- *Correspondence: Natalia Pabón-Mora,
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Jiang Y, Zhu Y, Zhang L, Su W, Peng J, Yang X, Song H, Gao Y, Lin S. EjTFL1 Genes Promote Growth but Inhibit Flower Bud Differentiation in Loquat. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:576. [PMID: 32528491 PMCID: PMC7247538 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1), a key factor belonging to the phosphatidyl ethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family, controls flowering time and inflorescence architecture in some plants. However, the role of TFL1 in loquat remains unknown. In this study, we cloned two TFL1-like genes (EjTFL1-1 and EjTFL1-2) with conserved deduced amino acid sequences from cultivated loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). First, we determined that flower bud differentiation occurs at the end of June and early July, and then comprehensively analyzed the temporal and spatial expression patterns of these EjTFL1s during loquat growth and development. We observed the contrasting expression trends for EjTFL1s and EjAP1s (APETALA 1) in shoot apices, and EjTFL1s were mainly expressed in young tissues. In addition, short-day and exogenous GA3 treatments promoted the expression of EjTFL1s, and no flower bud differentiation was observed after these treatments in loquat. Moreover, EjTFL1s were localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus, and both interacted with another flowering transcription factor, EjFD, in the nucleus, and EjTFL1s-EjFD complex significantly repressed the promoter activity of EjAP1-1. The two EjTFL1s were overexpressed in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0, which delayed flowering time, promoted stem elongation, increased the number of branches, and also affected flower and silique phenotypes. In conclusion, our results suggested that EjTFL1-1 and EjTFL1-2 do not show the same pattern of expression whereas both are able of inhibiting flower bud differentiation and promoting vegetative growth in loquat by integrating GA3 and photoperiod signals. These findings provide useful clues for analyzing the flowering regulatory network of loquat and provide meaningful references for flowering regulation research of other woody fruit trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Jiang
- Henry Fok College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, China
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunmei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenbing Su
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiangrong Peng
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianghui Yang
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huwei Song
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology Around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai’an, China
| | - Yongshun Gao
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Beijing Academy of Forestry and Pomology Sciences, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yongshun Gao,
| | - Shunquan Lin
- Key Laboratory of South China Horticultural Crop Biology and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Shunquan Lin,
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Chen MS, Zhao ML, Wang GJ, He HY, Bai X, Pan BZ, Fu QT, Tao YB, Tang MY, Martínez-Herrera J, Xu ZF. Transcriptome analysis of two inflorescence branching mutants reveals cytokinin is an important regulator in controlling inflorescence architecture in the woody plant Jatropha curcas. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:468. [PMID: 31684864 PMCID: PMC6830001 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-2069-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In higher plants, inflorescence architecture is an important agronomic trait directly determining seed yield. However, little information is available on the regulatory mechanism of inflorescence development in perennial woody plants. Based on two inflorescence branching mutants, we investigated the transcriptome differences in inflorescence buds between two mutants and wild-type (WT) plants by RNA-Seq to identify the genes and regulatory networks controlling inflorescence architecture in Jatropha curcas L., a perennial woody plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae. RESULTS Two inflorescence branching mutants were identified in germplasm collection of Jatropha. The duo xiao hua (dxh) mutant has a seven-order branch inflorescence, and the gynoecy (g) mutant has a three-order branch inflorescence, while WT Jatropha has predominantly four-order branch inflorescence, occasionally the three- or five-order branch inflorescences in fields. Using weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), we identified several hub genes involved in the cytokinin metabolic pathway from modules highly associated with inflorescence phenotypes. Among them, Jatropha ADENOSINE KINASE 2 (JcADK2), ADENINE PHOSPHORIBOSYL TRANSFERASE 1 (JcAPT1), CYTOKININ OXIDASE 3 (JcCKX3), ISOPENTENYLTRANSFERASE 5 (JcIPT5), LONELY GUY 3 (JcLOG3) and JcLOG5 may participate in cytokinin metabolic pathway in Jatropha. Consistently, exogenous application of cytokinin (6-benzyladenine, 6-BA) on inflorescence buds induced high-branch inflorescence phenotype in both low-branch inflorescence mutant (g) and WT plants. These results suggested that cytokinin is an important regulator in controlling inflorescence branching in Jatropha. In addition, comparative transcriptome analysis showed that Arabidopsis homologous genes Jatropha AGAMOUS-LIKE 6 (JcAGL6), JcAGL24, FRUITFUL (JcFUL), LEAFY (JcLFY), SEPALLATAs (JcSEPs), TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (JcTFL1), and WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 3 (JcWOX3), were differentially expressed in inflorescence buds between dxh and g mutants and WT plants, indicating that they may participate in inflorescence development in Jatropha. The expression of JcTFL1 was downregulated, while the expression of JcLFY and JcAP1 were upregulated in inflorescences in low-branch g mutant. CONCLUSIONS Cytokinin is an important regulator in controlling inflorescence branching in Jatropha. The regulation of inflorescence architecture by the genes involved in floral development, including TFL1, LFY and AP1, may be conservative in Jatropha and Arabidopsis. Our results provide helpful information for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of inflorescence architecture in Jatropha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao-Sheng Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
| | - Mei-Li Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Gui-Juan Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
| | - Hui-Ying He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
| | - Xue Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Bang-Zhen Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
| | - Qian-Tang Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
| | - Yan-Bin Tao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
| | - Ming-Yong Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
| | - Jorge Martínez-Herrera
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental Huimanguillo, Huimanguillo, Tabasco Mexico
| | - Zeng-Fu Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
- Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303 Yunnan China
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Large-effect flowering time mutations reveal conditionally adaptive paths through fitness landscapes in Arabidopsis thaliana. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:17890-17899. [PMID: 31420516 PMCID: PMC6731683 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1902731116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations are often assumed to be largely detrimental to fitness, but they may also be beneficial, and mutations with large phenotypic effects can persist in nature. One explanation for these observations is that mutations may be beneficial in specific environments because these conditions shift trait expression toward higher fitness. This hypothesis is rarely tested due to the difficulty of replicating mutants in multiple natural environments and measuring their phenotypes. We did so by planting Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes with large-effect flowering time mutations in field sites across the species’ European climate range. We quantified the adaptive value of mutant traits, finding that certain mutations increased fitness in some environments but not in others. Contrary to previous assumptions that most mutations are deleterious, there is increasing evidence for persistence of large-effect mutations in natural populations. A possible explanation for these observations is that mutant phenotypes and fitness may depend upon the specific environmental conditions to which a mutant is exposed. Here, we tested this hypothesis by growing large-effect flowering time mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana in multiple field sites and seasons to quantify their fitness effects in realistic natural conditions. By constructing environment-specific fitness landscapes based on flowering time and branching architecture, we observed that a subset of mutations increased fitness, but only in specific environments. These mutations increased fitness via different paths: through shifting flowering time, branching, or both. Branching was under stronger selection, but flowering time was more genetically variable, pointing to the importance of indirect selection on mutations through their pleiotropic effects on multiple phenotypes. Finally, mutations in hub genes with greater connectedness in their regulatory networks had greater effects on both phenotypes and fitness. Together, these findings indicate that large-effect mutations may persist in populations because they influence traits that are adaptive only under specific environmental conditions. Understanding their evolutionary dynamics therefore requires measuring their effects in multiple natural environments.
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Wu L, Li F, Deng Q, Zhang S, Zhou Q, Chen F, Liu B, Bao M, Liu G. Identification and Characterization of the FLOWERING LOCUS T/TERMINAL FLOWER 1 Gene Family in Petunia. DNA Cell Biol 2019; 38:982-995. [PMID: 31411493 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2019.4720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) gene family exists in all eukaryote kingdoms, with three subfamilies: FT (FLOWERING LOCUS T)-like, TFL1 (TERMINAL FLOWER 1)-like, and MFT (MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1)-like. FT genes promote flowering, TFL1 genes act as a repressor of the floral transition, and MFT genes have functions in flowering promotion and regulating seed germination. We identified and characterized orthologs of the Arabidopsis FT/TFL1 gene family in petunia to elucidate their expression patterns and evolution. Thirteen FT/TFL1-like genes were isolated from petunia, with the five FT-like genes mainly expressed in leaves. The circadian rhythms of five FT-like genes and PhCO (petunia CONSTANS ortholog) were figured out. The expression of PhFT1 was contrary to that of PhFT2, PhFT3, PhFT4, and PhFT5. PhCO had a circadian clock different from Arabidopsis CO, but coincided with PhFT1; it decreased in daytime and accumulated at night. Two of the FT-like genes with differential circadian rhythm and higher expression levels, PhFT1 and PhFT4, were used to transform Arabidopsis. Eventually, overexpressing PhFT1 strongly delayed flowering, whereas overexpression of PhFT4 produced extremely early-flowering phenotype. Different from previous reports, PhTFL1a, PhTFL1b, and PhTFL1c were relatively highly expressed in roots. Taken together, this study demonstrates that petunia FT-like genes, like FT, are able to respond to photoperiod. The expression pattern of FT/TFL1 gene family in petunia contributes to a new insight into the functional evolution of this gene family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Li
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiaohong Deng
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,CottonConnect China Co., Ltd, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Sisi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Baojun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Manzhu Bao
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guofeng Liu
- Deparment of Botany, Guangzhou Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, China
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Lee C, Kim SJ, Jin S, Susila H, Youn G, Nasim Z, Alavilli H, Chung KS, Yoo SJ, Ahn JH. Genetic interactions reveal the antagonistic roles of FT/TSF and TFL1 in the determination of inflorescence meristem identity in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 99:452-464. [PMID: 30943325 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
During the transition to the reproductive phase, the shoot apical meristem switches from the developmental program that generates vegetative organs to instead produce flowers. In this study, we examined the genetic interactions of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)/TWIN SISTER OF FT (TSF) and TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) in the determination of inflorescence meristem identity in Arabidopsis thaliana. The ft-10 tsf-1 mutants produced a compact inflorescence surrounded by serrated leaves (hyper-vegetative shoot) at the early bolting stage, as did plants overexpressing TFL1. Plants overexpressing FT or TSF (or both FT and TFL1) generated a terminal flower, as did tfl1-20 mutants. The terminal flower formed in tfl1-20 mutants converted to a hyper-vegetative shoot in ft-10 tsf-1 mutants. Grafting ft-10 tsf-1 or ft-10 tsf-1 tfl1-20 mutant scions to 35S::FT rootstock plants produced a normal inflorescence and a terminal flower in the scion plants, respectively, although both scions showed similar early flowering. Misexpression of FT in the vasculature and in the shoot apex in wild-type plants generated a normal inflorescence and a terminal flower, respectively. By contrast, in ft-10 tsf-1 mutants the vasculature-specific misexpression of FT converted the hyper-vegetative shoot to a normal inflorescence, and in the ft-10 tsf-1 tfl1-20 mutants converted the shoot to a terminal flower. TFL1 levels did not affect the inflorescence morphology caused by FT/TSF overexpression at the early bolting stage. Taking these results together, we proposed that FT/TSF and TFL1 play antagonistic roles in the determination of inflorescence meristem identity, and that FT/TSF are more important than TFL1 in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunghee Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Soo-Jin Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Suhyun Jin
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Hendry Susila
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Geummin Youn
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Zeeshan Nasim
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Hemasundar Alavilli
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Kyung-Sook Chung
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Seong Jeon Yoo
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Ahn
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
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Wen C, Zhao W, Liu W, Yang L, Wang Y, Liu X, Xu Y, Ren H, Guo Y, Li C, Li J, Weng Y, Zhang X. CsTFL1 inhibits determinate growth and terminal flower formation through interaction with CsNOT2a in cucumber. Development 2019; 146:dev180166. [PMID: 31320327 PMCID: PMC6679365 DOI: 10.1242/dev.180166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable crop that carries on vegetative growth and reproductive growth simultaneously. Indeterminate growth is favourable for fresh market under protected environments, whereas determinate growth is preferred for pickling cucumber in the once-over mechanical harvest system. The genetic basis of determinacy is largely unknown in cucumber. In this study, map-based cloning of the de locus showed that the determinate growth habit is caused by a non-synonymous SNP in CsTFL1CsTFL1 is expressed in the subapical regions of the shoot apical meristem, lateral meristem and young stems. Ectopic expression of CsTFL1 rescued the terminal flower phenotype in the Arabidopsis tfl1-11 mutant and delayed flowering in wild-type Arabidopsis Knockdown of CsTFL1 resulted in determinate growth and formation of terminal flowers in cucumber. Biochemical analyses indicated that CsTFL1 interacts with a homolog of the miRNA biogenesis gene CsNOT2a; CsNOT2a interacts with FDP. Cucumber CsFT directly interacts with CsNOT2a and CsFD, and CsFD interacts with two 14-3-3 proteins. These data suggest that CsTFL1 competes with CsFT for interaction with CsNOT2a-CsFDP to inhibit determinate growth and terminal flower formation in cucumber.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changlong Wen
- Beijing Vegetable Research Center (BVRC), Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasms Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing 100097, China
- Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Wensheng Zhao
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Weilun Liu
- Beijing Vegetable Research Center (BVRC), Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasms Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Luming Yang
- Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Yuhui Wang
- Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Xingwang Liu
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Beijing Vegetable Research Center (BVRC), Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasms Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Huazhong Ren
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yangdong Guo
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Cong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jigang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yiqun Weng
- Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- USDA-ARS, Vegetable Crops Research Unit, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Xiaolan Zhang
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Li C, Lin H, Chen A, Lau M, Jernstedt J, Dubcovsky J. Wheat VRN1, FUL2 and FUL3 play critical and redundant roles in spikelet development and spike determinacy. Development 2019; 146:dev.175398. [PMID: 31337701 PMCID: PMC6679363 DOI: 10.1242/dev.175398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The spikelet is the basic unit of the grass inflorescence. In this study, we show that wheat MADS-box genes VRN1, FUL2 and FUL3 play critical and redundant roles in spikelet and spike development, and also affect flowering time and plant height. In the vrn1ful2ful3-null triple mutant, the inflorescence meristem formed a normal double-ridge structure, but then the lateral meristems generated vegetative tillers subtended by leaves instead of spikelets. These results suggest an essential role of these three genes in the fate of the upper spikelet ridge and the suppression of the lower leaf ridge. Inflorescence meristems of vrn1ful2ful3-null and vrn1ful2-null remained indeterminate and single vrn1-null and ful2-null mutants showed delayed formation of the terminal spikelet and increased number of spikelets per spike. Moreover, the ful2-null mutant showed more florets per spikelet, which together with a higher number of spikelets, resulted in a significant increase in the number of grains per spike in the field. Our results suggest that a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying wheat spikelet and spike development can inform future strategies to improve grain yield in wheat. Summary: The wheat MADS-box proteins VRN1, FUL2 and FUL3 are essential for the initial development of the lateral and terminal spikelets, and control the number of spikelets per spike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengxia Li
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Huiqiong Lin
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Andrew Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Meiyee Lau
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Judy Jernstedt
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jorge Dubcovsky
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
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Manrique S, Friel J, Gramazio P, Hasing T, Ezquer I, Bombarely A. Genetic insights into the modification of the pre-fertilization mechanisms during plant domestication. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:3007-3019. [PMID: 31152173 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Plant domestication is the process of adapting plants to human use by selecting specific traits. The selection process often involves the modification of some components of the plant reproductive mechanisms. Allelic variants of genes associated with flowering time, vernalization, and the circadian clock are responsible for the adaptation of crops, such as rice, maize, barley, wheat, and tomato, to non-native latitudes. Modifications in the plant architecture and branching have been selected for higher yields and easier harvests. These phenotypes are often produced by alterations in the regulation of the transition of shoot apical meristems to inflorescences, and then to floral meristems. Floral homeotic mutants are responsible for popular double-flower phenotypes in Japanese cherries, roses, camellias, and lilies. The rise of peloric flowers in ornamentals such as snapdragon and florists' gloxinia is associated with non-functional alleles that control the relative expansion of lateral and ventral petals. Mechanisms to force outcrossing such as self-incompatibility have been removed in some tree crops cultivars such as almonds and peaches. In this review, we revisit some of these important concepts from the plant domestication perspective, focusing on four topics related to the pre-fertilization mechanisms: flowering time, inflorescence architecture, flower development, and pre-fertilization self-incompatibility mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Manrique
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - James Friel
- Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Plant and AgriBioscience Research Center (PABC), Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (SPES), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Pietro Gramazio
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tomas Hasing
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (SPES), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ignacio Ezquer
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Aureliano Bombarely
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (SPES), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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39
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Bi Z, Tahir AT, Huang H, Hua Y. Cloning and functional analysis of five TERMINAL FLOWER 1/CENTRORADIALIS-like genes from Hevea brasiliensis. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2019; 166:612-627. [PMID: 30069883 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Five TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1)/CENTRORADIALIS (CEN)-like genes were isolated and characterized from rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). All genes, except HbCEN1, were found to have conserved genomic organization, characteristic of the phosphatidyl ethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family. Overexpression of all of them delayed flowering and altered flower architecture compared with the wild-type (wt) counterpart. In addition, as premature-flowering of the terminal bud was successfully overcome in the tfl1-1 mutant of Arabidopsis, all these genes have a potential function similar to TFL1. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed higher expressions of HbCEN1 and HbCEN2 in the shoot apices and stems of both immature and mature rubber trees than in reproductive organs. HbTFL1-1 and HbTFL1-2 expression was confined to roots of 3-month-old seedlings and HbTFL1-3 was significantly higher in the shoot apices of these seedlings. These results suggested that HbCEN1 and HbCEN2 could be associated with the development of vegetative growth, whereas HbTFL1-1, HbTFL1-2 and HbTFL1-3 seem to be mainly related with maintenance of juvenility. In addition, four of the five genes displayed variable diurnal expression, HbTFL1-1 and HbTFL1-3 being mainly expressed during the night whereas HbCEN1 and HbCEN2 showed irregular diurnal rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghong Bi
- Key Laboratory of Rubber Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou, 571737, China
| | - Ayesha T Tahir
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Huasun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Rubber Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou, 571737, China
| | - Yuwei Hua
- Key Laboratory of Rubber Biology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou, 571737, China
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40
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Périlleux C, Bouché F, Randoux M, Orman-Ligeza B. Turning Meristems into Fortresses. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 24:431-442. [PMID: 30853243 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1) was named from knockout Arabidopsis thaliana mutants in which the inflorescence abnormally terminates into a flower. In wild type plants, the expression of TFL1 in the center of the inflorescence meristem represses the flower meristem identity genes LEAFY (LFY) and APETALA1 (AP1) to maintain indeterminacy. LFY and AP1 are activated by flowering signals that antagonize TFL1. Its characterization in numerous species revealed that the TFL1-mediated regulation of meristem fate has broader impacts on plant development than originally depicted in A. thaliana. By blocking floral transition, TFL1 genes participate in the control of juvenility, shoot growth pattern, inflorescence architecture, and the establishment of life history strategies. Here, we contextualize the role of the TFL1-mediated protection of meristem indeterminacy throughout plant development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marie Randoux
- University of Liège, InBioS-PhytoSYSTEMS, Liège, Belgium
| | - Beata Orman-Ligeza
- University of Liège, InBioS-PhytoSYSTEMS, Liège, Belgium; Current address: National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge, UK
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41
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Balanzà V, Martínez-Fernández I, Sato S, Yanofsky MF, Ferrándiz C. Inflorescence Meristem Fate Is Dependent on Seed Development and FRUITFULL in Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1622. [PMID: 31921264 PMCID: PMC6930240 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
After a vegetative phase, plants initiate the floral transition in response to both environmental and endogenous cues to optimize reproductive success. During this process, the vegetative shoot apical meristem (SAM), which was producing leaves and branches, becomes an inflorescence SAM and starts producing flowers. Inflorescences can be classified in two main categories, depending on the fate of the inflorescence meristem: determinate or indeterminate. In determinate inflorescences, the SAM differentiates directly, or after the production of a certain number of flowers, into a flower, while in indeterminate inflorescences the SAM remains indeterminate and produces continuously new flowers. Even though indeterminate inflorescences have an undifferentiated SAM, the number of flowers produced by a plant is not indefinite and is characteristic of each species, indicating that it is under genetic control. In Arabidopsis thaliana and other species with indeterminate inflorescences, the end of flower production occurs by a regulated proliferative arrest of inflorescence meristems on all reproductive branches that is reminiscent of a state of induced dormancy and does not involve the determination of the SAM. This process is controlled genetically by the FRUITFULL-APETALA2 (FUL-AP2) pathway and by a correlative control exerted by the seeds through a mechanism not well understood yet. In the absence of seeds, meristem proliferative arrest does not occur, and the SAM remains actively producing flowers until it becomes determinate, differentiating into a terminal floral structure. Here we show that the indeterminate growth habit of Arabidopsis inflorescences is a facultative condition imposed by the meristematic arrest directed by FUL and the correlative signal of seeds. The terminal differentiation of the SAM when seed production is absent correlates with the induction of AGAMOUS expression in the SAM. Moreover, terminal flower formation is strictly dependent on the activity of FUL, as it was never observed in ful mutants, regardless of the fertility of the plant or the presence/absence of the AG repression exerted by APETALA2 related factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Balanzà
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Irene Martínez-Fernández
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Shusei Sato
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Martin F. Yanofsky
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Cristina Ferrándiz
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- *Correspondence: Cristina Ferrándiz,
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42
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Schmidt FJ, Zimmermann MM, Wiedmann DR, Lichtenauer S, Grundmann L, Muth J, Twyman RM, Prüfer D, Noll GA. The Major Floral Promoter NtFT5 in Tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum) Is a Promising Target for Crop Improvement. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1666. [PMID: 31998348 PMCID: PMC6966700 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like gene family encodes key regulators of flower induction that affect the timing of reproduction in many angiosperm species. Agricultural research has therefore focused on such genes to improve the success of breeding programs and enhance agronomic traits. We recently identified a novel FT-like gene (NtFT5) that encodes a day-neutral floral activator in the model tobacco crop Nicotiana tabacum. However, further characterization is necessary to determine its value as a target for breeding programs. We therefore investigated the function of NtFT5 by expression analysis and mutagenesis. Expression analysis revealed that NtFT5 is transcribed in phloem companion cells, as is typical for FT-like genes. However, high levels of NtFT5 mRNA accumulated not only in the leaves but also in the stem. Loss-of-function mutants (generated using CRISPR/Cas9) were unable to switch to reproductive growth under long-day conditions, indicating that NtFT5 is an indispensable major floral activator during long-days. Backcrossing was achieved by grafting the mutant scions onto wild-type rootstock, allowing the restoration of flowering and pollination by a wild-type donor. The resulting heterozygous Ntft5- /NtFT5+ plants flowered with a mean delay of only ~2 days, demonstrating that one functional allele is sufficient for near-normal reproductive timing. However, this minor extension of the vegetative growth phase also conferred beneficial agronomic traits, including a >10% increase in vegetative leaf biomass on the main shoot and the production of more seeds. The agronomic benefits of the heterozygous plants persisted under various abiotic stress conditions, confirming that NtFT5 is a promising target for crop improvement to address the effects of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin J. Schmidt
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Marius M. Zimmermann
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - David R. Wiedmann
- Department of Functional and Applied Genomics, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Münster, Germany
| | - Sophie Lichtenauer
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Grundmann
- Department of Functional and Applied Genomics, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Münster, Germany
| | - Jost Muth
- Department of Functional and Applied Genomics, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Dirk Prüfer
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Functional and Applied Genomics, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Münster, Germany
| | - Gundula A. Noll
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- *Correspondence: Gundula A. Noll,
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43
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Prewitt SF, Ayre BG, McGarry RC. Cotton CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER 1/SELF-PRUNING genes functionally diverged to differentially impact plant architecture. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:5403-5417. [PMID: 30202979 PMCID: PMC6255698 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Genes of the CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER 1/SELF-PRUNING (CETS) family influence meristem identity by controlling the balance between indeterminate and determinate growth, thereby profoundly impacting plant architecture. Artificial selection during cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) domestication converted photoperiodic trees to the day-neutral shrubs widely cultivated today. To understand the regulation of cotton architecture and exploit these principles to enhance crop productivity, we characterized the CETS gene family from tetraploid cotton. We demonstrate that genes of the TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1)-like clade show different roles in regulating growth patterns. Cotton has five TFL1-like genes: SELF-PRUNING (GhSP) is a single gene whereas there are two TFL1-like and BROTHER OF FT (BFT)-like genes, and these duplications are specific to the cotton lineage. All genes of the cotton TFL1-like clade delay flowering when ectopically expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis, with the strongest phenotypes failing to produce functional flowers. GhSP, GhTFL1-L2, and GhBFT-L2 rescue the early flowering Attfl1-14 mutant phenotype, and the encoded polypeptides interact with a cotton FD protein. Heterologous promoter::GUS fusions illustrate differences in the regulation of these genes, suggesting that genes of the GhTFL1-like clade may not act redundantly. Characterizations of the GhCETS family provide strategies for nuanced control of plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah F Prewitt
- BioDiscovery Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Union Circle, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Brian G Ayre
- BioDiscovery Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Union Circle, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Roisin C McGarry
- BioDiscovery Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Union Circle, Denton, TX, USA
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44
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Gursky VV, Kozlov KN, Nuzhdin SV, Samsonova MG. Dynamical Modeling of the Core Gene Network Controlling Flowering Suggests Cumulative Activation From the FLOWERING LOCUS T Gene Homologs in Chickpea. Front Genet 2018; 9:547. [PMID: 30524469 PMCID: PMC6262361 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Initiation of flowering moves plants from vegetative to reproductive development. The time when this transition happens (flowering time), an important indicator of productivity, depends on both endogenous and environmental factors. The core genetic regulatory network canalizing the flowering signals to the decision to flower has been studied extensively in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and has been shown to preserve its main regulatory blocks in other species. It integrates activation from the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene or its homologs to the flowering decision expressed as high expression of the meristem identity genes, including AP1. We elaborated a dynamical model of this flowering gene regulatory network and applied it to the previously published expression data from two cultivars of domesticated chickpea (Cicer arietinum), obtained for two photoperiod durations. Due to a large number of free parameters in the model, we used an ensemble approach analyzing the model solutions at many parameter sets that provide equally good fit to data. Testing several alternative hypotheses about regulatory roles of the five FT homologs present in chickpea revealed no preference in segregating individual FT copies as singled-out activators with their own regulatory parameters, thus favoring the hypothesis that the five genes possess similar regulatory properties and provide cumulative activation in the network. The analysis reveals that different levels of activation from AP1 can explain a small difference observed in the expression of the two homologs of the repressor gene TFL1. Finally, the model predicts highly reduced activation between LFY and AP1, thus suggesting that this regulatory block is not conserved in chickpea and needs other mechanisms. Overall, this study provides the first attempt to quantitatively test the flowering time gene network in chickpea based on data-driven modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitaly V Gursky
- Theoretical Department, Ioffe Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Konstantin N Kozlov
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergey V Nuzhdin
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Maria G Samsonova
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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45
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Zhang Y, Li Q, Cui Y, Liu Z, Chen Z, He Y, Mei J, Xiong Q, Li X, Qian W. Genetic characterization and fine mapping for multi-inflorescence in Brassica napus L. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2018; 131:2311-2319. [PMID: 30073399 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-018-3153-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A major QTL for multi-inflorescence was mapped to a 27.18-kb region on A05 in Brassica napus by integrating QTL mapping, microarray analysis and whole-genome sequencing. Multi-inflorescence is a desirable trait for the genetic improvement of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). However, the genetic mechanism underlying the multi-inflorescence trait is not well understood. In the present study, a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from a cross between single- and multi-inflorescence lines was investigated for the penetrance of multi-inflorescence across 3 years and genotyped with 257 simple sequence repeat and sequence-related amplified polymorphism loci. A major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for penetrance of multi-inflorescence was mapped to a 9.31-Mb region on chromosome A05, explaining 45.81% of phenotypic variance on average. Subsequently, 13 single-inflorescence and 15 multi-inflorescence DH lines were genotyped with the Brassica microarray, and the QTL interval of multi-inflorescence was narrowed to a 0.74-Mb region with 37 successive single nucleotide polymorphisms between single- and multi-inflorescence groups. A 27.18-kb QTL interval was detected by screening 420 recessive F2 individuals with genome-specific markers. These results will be valuable for gene cloning and molecular breeding of multi-inflorescence in rapeseed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjing Zhang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qinfei Li
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yixin Cui
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhi Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhifu Chen
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yajun He
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jiaqin Mei
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qing Xiong
- College of Computer and Information Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Xiaorong Li
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Wei Qian
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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46
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Plackett AR, Conway SJ, Hewett Hazelton KD, Rabbinowitsch EH, Langdale JA, Di Stilio VS. LEAFY maintains apical stem cell activity during shoot development in the fern Ceratopteris richardii. eLife 2018; 7:39625. [PMID: 30355440 PMCID: PMC6200394 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
During land plant evolution, determinate spore-bearing axes (retained in extant bryophytes such as mosses) were progressively transformed into indeterminate branching shoots with specialized reproductive axes that form flowers. The LEAFY transcription factor, which is required for the first zygotic cell division in mosses and primarily for floral meristem identity in flowering plants, may have facilitated developmental innovations during these transitions. Mapping the LEAFY evolutionary trajectory has been challenging, however, because there is no functional overlap between mosses and flowering plants, and no functional data from intervening lineages. Here, we report a transgenic analysis in the fern Ceratopteris richardii that reveals a role for LEAFY in maintaining cell divisions in the apical stem cells of both haploid and diploid phases of the lifecycle. These results support an evolutionary trajectory in which an ancestral LEAFY module that promotes cell proliferation was progressively co-opted, adapted and specialized as novel shoot developmental contexts emerged. The first plants colonized land around 500 million years ago. These plants had simple shoots with no branches, similar to the mosses that live today. Later on, some plants evolved more complex structures including branched shoots and flowers (collectively known as the “flowering plants”). Ferns are a group of plants that evolved midway between the mosses and flowering plants and have branched shoots but no flowers. The gradual transition from simple to more complex plant structures required changes to the way in which cells divide and grow within plant shoots. Whereas animals produce new cells throughout their body, most plant cells divide in areas known as meristems. All plants grow from embryos, which contain meristems that will form the roots and shoots of the mature plant. A gene called LEAFY is required for cells in moss embryos to divide. However, in flowering plants LEAFY does not carry out this role, instead it is only required to make the meristems that produce flowers. How did LEAFY transition from a general role in embryos to a more specialized role in making flowers? To address this question, Plackett, Conway et al. studied the two LEAFY genes in a fern called Ceratopteris richardii. The experiments showed that at least one of these LEAFY genes was active in the meristems of fern shoots throughout the lifespan of the plant. The shoots of ferns with less active LEAFY genes could not form the leaves seen in normal C. richardii plants. This suggests that as land plants evolved, the role of LEAFY changed from forming embryos to forming complex shoot structures. Most of our major crops are flowering plants. By understanding how the role of LEAFY has changed over the evolution of land plants, it might be possible to manipulate LEAFY genes in crop plants to alter shoot structures to better suit specific environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Rg Plackett
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Jane A Langdale
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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47
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Jones DM, Wells R, Pullen N, Trick M, Irwin JA, Morris RJ. Spatio-temporal expression dynamics differ between homologues of flowering time genes in the allopolyploid Brassica napus. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 96:103-118. [PMID: 29989238 PMCID: PMC6175450 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Polyploidy is a recurrent feature of eukaryotic evolution and has been linked to increases in complexity, adaptive radiation and speciation. Within angiosperms such events have occurred repeatedly in many plant lineages. Here we investigate the retention and spatio-temporal expression dynamics of duplicated genes predicted to regulate the floral transition in Brassica napus (oilseed rape, OSR). We show that flowering time genes are preferentially retained relative to other genes in the OSR genome. Using a transcriptome time series in two tissues (leaf and shoot apex) across development we show that 67% of these retained flowering time genes are expressed. Furthermore, between 64% (leaf) and 74% (shoot apex) of the retained gene homologues show diverged expression patterns relative to each other across development, suggesting neo- or subfunctionalization. A case study of homologues of the shoot meristem identity gene TFL1 reveals differences in cis-regulatory elements that could explain this divergence. Such differences in the expression dynamics of duplicated genes highlight the challenges involved in translating gene regulatory networks from diploid model systems to more complex polyploid crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Marc Jones
- Crop GeneticsJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
- Computational and Systems BiologyJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
| | - Rachel Wells
- Crop GeneticsJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
| | - Nick Pullen
- Crop GeneticsJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
| | - Martin Trick
- Computational and Systems BiologyJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
| | - Judith A. Irwin
- Crop GeneticsJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
| | - Richard J. Morris
- Crop GeneticsJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
- Computational and Systems BiologyJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
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48
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Chahtane H, Zhang B, Norberg M, LeMasson M, Thévenon E, Bakó L, Benlloch R, Holmlund M, Parcy F, Nilsson O, Vachon G. LEAFY activity is post-transcriptionally regulated by BLADE ON PETIOLE2 and CULLIN3 in Arabidopsis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 220:579-592. [PMID: 29995985 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Arabidopsis LEAFY (LFY) transcription factor is a key regulator of floral meristem emergence and identity. LFY interacts genetically and physically with UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS, a substrate adaptor of CULLIN1-RING ubiquitin ligase complexes (CRL1). The functionally redundant genes BLADE ON PETIOLE1 (BOP1) and -2 (BOP2) are potential candidates to regulate LFY activity and have recently been shown to be substrate adaptors of CULLIN3 (CUL3)-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRL3). We tested the hypothesis that LFY activity is controlled by BOPs and CUL3s in plants and that LFY is a substrate for ubiquitination by BOP-containing CRL3 complexes. When constitutively expressed, LFY activity is fully dependent on BOP2 as well as on CUL3A and B to regulate target genes such as APETALA1 and to induce ectopic flower formation. We also show that LFY and BOP2 proteins interact physically and that LFY-dependent ubiquitinated species are produced in vitro in a reconstituted cell-free CRL3 system in the presence of LFY, BOP2 and CUL3. This new post-translational regulation of LFY activity by CRL3 complexes makes it a unique transcription factor subjected to a positive dual regulation by both CRL1 and CRL3 complexes and suggests a novel mechanism for promoting flower development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hicham Chahtane
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRA, BIG-LPCV, 38054, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Bo Zhang
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, SE, S-901 83, Sweden
| | - Mikael Norberg
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, SE, S-901 83, Sweden
| | - Marie LeMasson
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRA, BIG-LPCV, 38054, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Emmanuel Thévenon
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRA, BIG-LPCV, 38054, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - László Bakó
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Reyes Benlloch
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, SE, S-901 83, Sweden
| | - Mattias Holmlund
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, SE, S-901 83, Sweden
| | - François Parcy
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRA, BIG-LPCV, 38054, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Ove Nilsson
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, SE, S-901 83, Sweden
| | - Gilles Vachon
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRA, BIG-LPCV, 38054, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
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Trevaskis B. Developmental Pathways Are Blueprints for Designing Successful Crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:745. [PMID: 29922318 PMCID: PMC5996307 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Genes controlling plant development have been studied in multiple plant systems. This has provided deep insights into conserved genetic pathways controlling core developmental processes including meristem identity, phase transitions, determinacy, stem elongation, and branching. These pathways control plant growth patterns and are fundamentally important to crop biology and agriculture. This review describes the conserved pathways that control plant development, using Arabidopsis as a model. Historical examples of how plant development has been altered through selection to improve crop performance are then presented. These examples, drawn from diverse crops, show how the genetic pathways controlling development have been modified to increase yield or tailor growth patterns to suit local growing environments or specialized crop management practices. Strategies to apply current progress in genomics and developmental biology to future crop improvement are then discussed within the broader context of emerging trends in plant breeding. The ways that knowledge of developmental processes and understanding of gene function can contribute to crop improvement, beyond what can be achieved by selection alone, are emphasized. These include using genome re-sequencing, mutagenesis, and gene editing to identify or generate novel variation in developmental genes. The expanding scope for comparative genomics, the possibility to engineer new developmental traits and new approaches to resolve gene-gene or gene-environment interactions are also discussed. Finally, opportunities to integrate fundamental research and crop breeding are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Trevaskis
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Zhao W, Gu R, Che G, Cheng Z, Zhang X. CsTFL1b may regulate the flowering time and inflorescence architecture in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 499:307-313. [PMID: 29574158 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.03.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cucumber is an important vegetable with indeterminate growth habit which is beneficial to its yield. In this study, we cloned the TFL1 homolog CsTFL1b in cucumber. CsTFL1b shares highly sequence similarity to TFL1 from Arabidopsis and has conservative histidine amino acid residue which is necessary for TFL1 function. However, phylogenetic analysis suggested that cucurbits TFL1s (CsTFL1b of cucumber and CmTFL1 of melon) formed a subclade which is far from the AtTFL1 in Arabidopsis or CEN in Antirrhinum. CsTFL1b was highest expressed in male flower but barely expressed in SAM which was different from TFL1 in Arabidopsis with highly transcription accumulation in SAM and CsTFL1b was located in nucleus and cytoplasm. Upon ectopic expression of CsTFL1b in Arabidopsis, the flowering time of transgenic plants was significantly delayed in both wild type and tfl1-11 mutant background but the terminal flower phenotype of tfl1-11 mutant was partially rescued. These results may underlie the discrepant function of CsTFL1b in cucumber from that in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wensheng Zhao
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ran Gu
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Gen Che
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhihua Cheng
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaolan Zhang
- Department of Vegetable Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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