1
|
Maple R, Zhu P, Hepworth J, Wang JW, Dean C. Flowering time: From physiology, through genetics to mechanism. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:190-212. [PMID: 38417841 PMCID: PMC11060688 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Plant species have evolved different requirements for environmental/endogenous cues to induce flowering. Originally, these varying requirements were thought to reflect the action of different molecular mechanisms. Thinking changed when genetic and molecular analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that a network of environmental and endogenous signaling input pathways converge to regulate a common set of "floral pathway integrators." Variation in the predominance of the different input pathways within a network can generate the diversity of requirements observed in different species. Many genes identified by flowering time mutants were found to encode general developmental and gene regulators, with their targets having a specific flowering function. Studies of natural variation in flowering were more successful at identifying genes acting as nodes in the network central to adaptation and domestication. Attention has now turned to mechanistic dissection of flowering time gene function and how that has changed during adaptation. This will inform breeding strategies for climate-proof crops and help define which genes act as critical flowering nodes in many other species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Maple
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Pan Zhu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jo Hepworth
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Jia-Wei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics (NKLPMG), CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS), Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200032, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Caroline Dean
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Roth L, Kronenberg L, Aasen H, Walter A, Hartung J, van Eeuwijk F, Piepho HP, Hund A. High-throughput field phenotyping reveals that selection in breeding has affected the phenology and temperature response of wheat in the stem elongation phase. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:2084-2099. [PMID: 38134290 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Crop growth and phenology are driven by seasonal changes in environmental variables, with temperature as one important factor. However, knowledge about genotype-specific temperature response and its influence on phenology is limited. Such information is fundamental to improve crop models and adapt selection strategies. We measured the increase in height of 352 European winter wheat varieties in 4 years to quantify phenology, and fitted an asymptotic temperature response model. The model used hourly fluctuations in temperature to parameterize the base temperature (Tmin), the temperature optimum (rmax), and the steepness (lrc) of growth responses. Our results show that higher Tmin and lrc relate to an earlier start and end of stem elongation. A higher rmax relates to an increased final height. Both final height and rmax decreased for varieties originating from the continental east of Europe towards the maritime west. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) indicated a quantitative inheritance and a large degree of independence among loci. Nevertheless, genomic prediction accuracies (GBLUPs) for Tmin and lrc were low (r≤0.32) compared with other traits (r≥0.59). As well as known, major genes related to vernalization, photoperiod, or dwarfing, the GWAS indicated additional, as yet unknown loci that dominate the temperature response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Roth
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Kronenberg
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Helge Aasen
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Earth Observation of Agroecosystems Team, Division Agroecology and Environment, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Achim Walter
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jens Hartung
- University of Hohenheim, Institute for Crop Science, Biostatistics Unit, Fruwirthstrasse 23, D-70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Fred van Eeuwijk
- Wageningen University and Research, Biometris, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans-Peter Piepho
- University of Hohenheim, Institute for Crop Science, Biostatistics Unit, Fruwirthstrasse 23, D-70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andreas Hund
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Niu D, Gao Z, Cui B, Zhang Y, He Y. A molecular mechanism for embryonic resetting of winter memory and restoration of winter annual growth habit in wheat. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:37-52. [PMID: 38177663 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01596-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The staple food crop winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) acquires competence to flower in late spring after experiencing prolonged cold in temperate winter seasons, through the physiological process of vernalization. Prolonged cold exposure results in transcriptional repression of the floral repressor VERNALIZATION 2 (TaVRN2) and activates the expression of the potent floral promoter VERNALIZATION 1 (TaVRN1). Cold-induced TaVRN1 activation and TaVRN2 repression are maintained in post-cold vegetative growth and development, leading to an epigenetic 'memory of winter cold', enabling spring flowering. When and how the cold memory is reset in wheat is essentially unknown. Here we report that the cold-induced TaVRN1 activation is inherited by early embryos, but reset in subsequent embryo development, whereas TaVRN2 remains silenced through seed development, but is reactivated rapidly by light during seed germination. We further found that a chromatin reader mediates embryonic resetting of TaVRN1 and that chromatin modifications play an important role in the regulation of TaVRN1 expression and thus the floral transition, in response to developmental state and environmental cues. The findings define a two-step molecular mechanism for re-establishing vernalization requirement in common wheat, ensuring that each generation must experience winter cold to acquire competence to flower in spring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- De Niu
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences in Weifang, Weifang, China
| | - Zheng Gao
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bowen Cui
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongxing Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences in Weifang, Weifang, China
| | - Yuehui He
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences in Weifang, Weifang, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Khodaverdi M, Mullinger MD, Shafer HR, Preston JC. Melica as an emerging model system for comparative studies in temperate Pooideae grasses. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:1175-1190. [PMID: 37696761 PMCID: PMC10902897 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad136] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Pooideae grasses contain some of the world's most important crop and forage species. Although much work has been conducted on understanding the genetic basis of trait diversification within a few annual Pooideae, comparative studies at the subfamily level are limited by a lack of perennial models outside 'core' Pooideae. We argue for development of the perennial non-core genus Melica as an additional model for Pooideae, and provide foundational data regarding the group's biogeography and history of character evolution. METHODS Supplementing available ITS and ndhF sequence data, we built a preliminary Bayesian-based Melica phylogeny, and used it to understand how the genus has diversified in relation to geography, climate and trait variation surveyed from various floras. We also determine biomass accumulation under controlled conditions for Melica species collected across different latitudes and compare inflorescence development across two taxa for which whole genome data are forthcoming. KEY RESULTS Our phylogenetic analyses reveal three strongly supported geographically structured Melica clades that are distinct from previously hypothesized subtribes. Despite less geographical affinity between clades, the two sister 'Ciliata' and 'Imperfecta' clades segregate from the more phylogenetically distant 'Nutans' clade in thermal climate variables and precipitation seasonality, with the 'Imperfecta' clade showing the highest levels of trait variation. Growth rates across Melica are positively correlated with latitude of origin. Variation in inflorescence morphology appears to be explained largely through differences in secondary branch distance, phyllotaxy and number of spikelets per secondary branch. CONCLUSIONS The data presented here and in previous studies suggest that Melica possesses many of the necessary features to be developed as an additional model for Pooideae grasses, including a relatively fast generation time, perenniality, and interesting variation in physiology and morphology. The next step will be to generate a genome-based phylogeny and transformation tools for functional analyses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Khodaverdi
- Department of Plant Biology, The University of Vermont, 111 Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Mark D Mullinger
- Department of Plant Biology, The University of Vermont, 111 Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Hannah R Shafer
- Department of Plant Biology, The University of Vermont, 111 Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Jill C Preston
- Department of Plant Biology, The University of Vermont, 111 Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Larran AS, Pajoro A, Qüesta JI. Is winter coming? Impact of the changing climate on plant responses to cold temperature. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:3175-3193. [PMID: 37438895 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14669] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is causing alterations in annual temperature regimes worldwide. Important aspects of this include the reduction of winter chilling temperatures as well as the occurrence of unpredicted frosts, both significantly affecting plant growth and yields. Recent studies advanced the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying cold responses and tolerance in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. However, how these cold-responsive pathways will readjust to ongoing seasonal temperature variation caused by global warming remains an open question. In this review, we highlight the plant developmental programmes that depend on cold temperature. We focus on the molecular mechanisms that plants have evolved to adjust their development and stress responses upon exposure to cold. Covering both genetic and epigenetic aspects, we present the latest insights into how alternative splicing, noncoding RNAs and the formation of biomolecular condensates play key roles in the regulation of cold responses. We conclude by commenting on attractive targets to accelerate the breeding of increased cold tolerance, bringing up biotechnological tools that might assist in overcoming current limitations. Our aim is to guide the reflection on the current agricultural challenges imposed by a changing climate and to provide useful information for improving plant resilience to unpredictable cold regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Santiago Larran
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) IRTA-CSIC-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alice Pajoro
- National Research Council, Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Rome, Italy
| | - Julia I Qüesta
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) IRTA-CSIC-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Du L, Ma Z, Mao H. Duplicate Genes Contribute to Variability in Abiotic Stress Resistance in Allopolyploid Wheat. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2465. [PMID: 37447026 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Gene duplication is a universal biological phenomenon that drives genomic variation and diversity, plays a crucial role in plant evolution, and contributes to innovations in genetic engineering and crop development. Duplicated genes participate in the emergence of novel functionality, such as adaptability to new or more severe abiotic stress resistance. Future crop research will benefit from advanced, mechanistic understanding of the effects of gene duplication, especially in the development and deployment of high-performance, stress-resistant, elite wheat lines. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of gene duplication in wheat, including the principle of gene duplication and its effects on gene function, the diversity of duplicated genes, and how they have functionally diverged. Then, we discuss how duplicated genes contribute to abiotic stress response and the mechanisms of duplication. Finally, we have a future prospects section that discusses the direction of future efforts in the short term regarding the elucidation of replication and retention mechanisms of repetitive genes related to abiotic stress response in wheat, excellent gene function research, and practical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linying Du
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Life Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Zhenbing Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Life Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Hude Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Li Y, Xiong H, Guo H, Zhou C, Fu M, Xie Y, Zhao L, Gu J, Zhao S, Ding Y, Wang C, Irshad A, Liu L, Fang Z. Fine mapping and genetic analysis identified a C 2H 2-type zinc finger as a candidate gene for heading date regulation in wheat. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2023; 136:140. [PMID: 37243757 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04363-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE A minor-effect QTL, Qhd.2AS, that affects heading date in wheat was mapped to a genomic interval of 1.70-Mb on 2AS, and gene analysis indicated that the C2H2-type zinc finger protein gene TraesCS2A02G181200 is the best candidate for Qhd.2AS. Heading date (HD) is a complex quantitative trait that determines the regional adaptability of cereal crops, and identifying the underlying genetic elements with minor effects on HD is important for improving wheat production in diverse environments. In this study, a minor QTL for HD that we named Qhd.2AS was detected on the short arm of chromosome 2A by Bulked Segregant Analysis and validated in a recombinant inbred population. Using a segregating population of 4894 individuals, Qhd.2AS was further delimited to an interval of 0.41 cM, corresponding to a genomic region spanning 1.70 Mb (from 138.87 to 140.57 Mb) that contains 16 high-confidence genes based on IWGSC RefSeq v1.0. Analyses of sequence variations and gene transcription indicated that TraesCS2A02G181200, which encodes a C2H2-type zinc finger protein, is the best candidate gene for Qhd.2AS that influences HD. Screening a TILLING mutant library identified two mutants with premature stop codons in TraesCS2A02G181200, both of which exhibited a delay in HD of 2-4 days. Additionally, variations in its putative regulatory sites were widely present in natural accession, and we also identified the allele which was positively selected during wheat breeding. Epistatic analyses indicated that Qhd.2AS-mediated HD variation is independent of VRN-B1 and environmental factors. Phenotypic investigation of homozygous recombinant inbred lines (RILs) and F2:3 families showed that Qhd.2AS has no negative effect on yield-related traits. These results provide important cues for refining HD and therefore improving yield in wheat breeding programs and will deepen our understanding of the genetic regulation of HD in cereal plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Li
- MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River (Co-Construction By Ministry and Province), College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongchun Xiong
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huijun Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyun Zhou
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Meiyu Fu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongdun Xie
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Linshu Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayu Gu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shirong Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuping Ding
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chaojie Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ahsan Irshad
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Luxiang Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding/National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhengwu Fang
- MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River (Co-Construction By Ministry and Province), College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Trivellini A, Toscano S, Romano D, Ferrante A. The Role of Blue and Red Light in the Orchestration of Secondary Metabolites, Nutrient Transport and Plant Quality. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2026. [PMID: 37653943 PMCID: PMC10223693 DOI: 10.3390/plants12102026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Light is a fundamental environmental parameter for plant growth and development because it provides an energy source for carbon fixation during photosynthesis and regulates many other physiological processes through its signaling. In indoor horticultural cultivation systems, sole-source light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have shown great potential for optimizing growth and producing high-quality products. Light is also a regulator of flowering, acting on phytochromes and inducing or inhibiting photoperiodic plants. Plants respond to light quality through several light receptors that can absorb light at different wavelengths. This review summarizes recent progress in our understanding of the role of blue and red light in the modulation of important plant quality traits, nutrient absorption and assimilation, as well as secondary metabolites, and includes the dynamic signaling networks that are orchestrated by blue and red wavelengths with a focus on transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming, plant productivity, and the nutritional quality of products. Moreover, it highlights future lines of research that should increase our knowledge to develop tailored light recipes to shape the plant characteristics and the nutritional and nutraceutical value of horticultural products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Trivellini
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy;
| | - Stefania Toscano
- Department of Science Veterinary, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
| | - Daniela Romano
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy;
| | - Antonio Ferrante
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Trivellini A, Toscano S, Romano D, Ferrante A. LED Lighting to Produce High-Quality Ornamental Plants. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1667. [PMID: 37111890 PMCID: PMC10144751 DOI: 10.3390/plants12081667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The flexibility of LED technology, in terms of energy efficiency, robustness, compactness, long lifetime, and low heat emission, as well as its applications as a sole source or supplemental lighting system, offers interesting potential, giving the ornamental industry an edge over traditional production practices. Light is a fundamental environmental factor that provides energy for plants through photosynthesis, but it also acts as a signal and coordinates multifaceted plant-growth and development processes. With manipulations of light quality affecting specific plant traits such as flowering, plant architecture, and pigmentation, the focus has been placed on the ability to precisely manage the light growing environment, proving to be an effective tool to produce tailored plants according to market request. Applying lighting technology grants growers several productive advantages, such as planned production (early flowering, continuous production, and predictable yield), improved plant habitus (rooting and height), regulated leaf and flower color, and overall improved quality attributes of commodities. Potential LED benefits to the floriculture industry are not limited to the aesthetic and economic value of the product obtained; LED technology also represents a solid, sustainable option for reducing agrochemical (plant-growth regulators and pesticides) and energy inputs (power energy).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Trivellini
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy;
| | - Stefania Toscano
- Department of Science Veterinary, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
| | - Daniela Romano
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy;
| | - Antonio Ferrante
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gene Mapping and Identification of a Missense Mutation in One Copy of VRN-A1 Affects Heading Date Variation in Wheat. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24055008. [PMID: 36902439 PMCID: PMC10003625 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24055008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Heading date (HD) is an important trait for wide adaptability and yield stability in wheat. The Vernalization 1 (VRN1) gene is a key regulatory factor controlling HD in wheat. The identification of allelic variations in VRN1 is crucial for wheat improvement as climate change becomes more of a threat to agriculture. In this study, we identified an EMS-induced late-heading wheat mutant je0155 and crossed it with wide-type (WT) Jing411 to construct an F2 population of 344 individuals. Through Bulk Segregant Analysis (BSA) of early and late-heading plants, we identified a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) for HD on chromosome 5A. Further genetic linkage analysis limited the QTL to a physical region of 0.8 Mb. Cloning and sequencing revealed three copies of VRN-A1 in the WT and mutant lines; one copy contained a missense mutation of C changed to T in exon 4 and another copy contained a mutation in intron 5. Genotype and phenotype analysis of the segregation population validated that the mutations in VRN-A1 contributed to the late HD phenotype in the mutant. Expression analysis of C- or T-type alleles in exon 4 of the WT and mutant lines indicated that this mutation led to lower expression of VRN-A1, which resulted in the late-heading of je0155. This study provides valuable information for the genetic regulation of HD and many important resources for HD refinement in wheat breeding programs.
Collapse
|
11
|
Trevaskis B, Harris FAJ, Bovill WD, Rattey AR, Khoo KHP, Boden SA, Hyles J. Advancing understanding of oat phenology for crop adaptation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:955623. [PMID: 36311119 PMCID: PMC9614419 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.955623] [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: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Oat (Avena sativa) is an annual cereal grown for forage, fodder and grain. Seasonal flowering behaviour, or phenology, is a key contributor to the success of oat as a crop. As a species, oat is a vernalization-responsive long-day plant that flowers after winter as days lengthen in spring. Variation in both vernalization and daylength requirements broadens adaptation of oat and has been used to breed modern cultivars with seasonal flowering behaviours suited to different regions, sowing dates and farming practices. This review examines the importance of variation in oat phenology for crop adaptation. Strategies to advance understanding of the genetic basis of oat phenology are then outlined. These include the potential to transfer knowledge from related temperate cereals, particularly wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), to provide insights into the potential molecular basis of variation in oat phenology. Approaches that use emerging genomic resources to directly investigate the molecular basis of oat phenology are also described, including application of high-resolution genome-wide diversity surveys to map genes linked to variation in flowering behaviour. The need to resolve the contribution of individual phenology genes to crop performance by developing oat genetic resources, such as near-isogenic lines, is emphasised. Finally, ways that deeper knowledge of oat phenology can be applied to breed improved varieties and to inform on-farm decision-making are outlined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Trevaskis
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food Business Unit, Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Felicity A. J. Harris
- Department of Primary Industries, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - William D. Bovill
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food Business Unit, Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Kelvin H. P. Khoo
- School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, Faculty of Sciences, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Scott A. Boden
- School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, Faculty of Sciences, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jessica Hyles
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food Business Unit, Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhang T, He Y, DePauw R, Jin Z, Garvin D, Yue X, Anderson W, Li T, Dong X, Zhang T, Yang X. Climate change may outpace current wheat breeding yield improvements in North America. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5591. [PMID: 36180462 PMCID: PMC9525655 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33265-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Variety adaptation to future climate for wheat is important but lacks comprehensive understanding. Here, we evaluate genetic advancement under current and future climate using a dataset of wheat breeding nurseries in North America during 1960-2018. Results show that yields declined by 3.6% per 1 °C warming for advanced winter wheat breeding lines, compared with −5.5% for the check variety, indicating a superior climate-resilience. However, advanced spring wheat breeding lines showed a 7.5% yield reduction per 1 °C warming, which is more sensitive than a 7.1% reduction for the check variety, indicating climate resilience is not improved and may even decline for spring wheat. Under future climate of SSP scenarios, yields of winter and spring wheat exhibit declining trends even with advanced breeding lines, suggesting future climate warming could outpace the yield gains from current breeding progress. Our study highlights that the adaptation progress following the current wheat breeding strategies is challenging. Wheat breeding programmes improve yield by enhancing biotic and abiotic stress resistance. This study reveals that high temperature extremes adversely affect the productivity of new elite wheat breeding lines, and that future yield gains may be outpaced by the rapid advance of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yong He
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Ron DePauw
- Advancing Wheat Technologies, 118 Strathcona Rd SW, Calgary, AB, T3H 1P3, Canada
| | - Zhenong Jin
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - David Garvin
- Formerly USDA-ARS Plant Science Research Unit, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Xu Yue
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Weston Anderson
- The International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Palisades, NY, USA.,Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Tao Li
- DNDC Applications, Research and Training, 87 Packers Falls Road, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Xin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoguang Yang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tamang BG, Monnens D, Anderson JA, Steffenson BJ, Sadok W. The genetic basis of transpiration sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit in wheat. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2022; 174:e13752. [PMID: 36281842 PMCID: PMC9543498 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Genetic manipulation of whole-plant transpiration rate (TR) response to increasing atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is a promising approach for crop adaptation to various drought regimes under current and future climates. Genotypes with a non-linear TR response to VPD are expected to achieve yield gains under terminal drought, thanks to a water conservation strategy, while those with a linear response exhibit a consumptive strategy that is more adequate for well-watered or transient-drought environments. In wheat, previous efforts indicated that TR has a genetic basis under naturally fluctuating conditions, but because TR is responsive to variation in temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, and evaporative demand, the genetic basis of its response VPD per se has never been isolated. To address this, we developed a controlled-environment gravimetric phenotyping approach where we imposed VPD regimes independent from other confounding environmental variables. We screened three nested association mapping populations totaling 150 lines, three times over a 3-year period. The resulting dataset, based on phenotyping nearly 1400 plants, enabled constructing 63-point response curves for each genotype, which were subjected to a genome-wide association study. The analysis revealed a hotspot for TR response to VPD on chromosome 5A, with SNPs explaining up to 17% of the phenotypic variance. The key SNPs were found in haploblocks that are enriched in membrane-associated genes, consistent with the hypothesized physiological determinants of the trait. These results indicate a promising potential for identifying new alleles and designing next-gen wheat cultivars that are better adapted to current and future drought regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bishal G. Tamang
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | - Daniel Monnens
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | - James A. Anderson
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Walid Sadok
- Department of Agronomy and Plant GeneticsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wheat genomic study for genetic improvement of traits in China. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 65:1718-1775. [PMID: 36018491 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2178-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major crop that feeds 40% of the world's population. Over the past several decades, advances in genomics have led to tremendous achievements in understanding the origin and domestication of wheat, and the genetic basis of agronomically important traits, which promote the breeding of elite varieties. In this review, we focus on progress that has been made in genomic research and genetic improvement of traits such as grain yield, end-use traits, flowering regulation, nutrient use efficiency, and biotic and abiotic stress responses, and various breeding strategies that contributed mainly by Chinese scientists. Functional genomic research in wheat is entering a new era with the availability of multiple reference wheat genome assemblies and the development of cutting-edge technologies such as precise genome editing tools, high-throughput phenotyping platforms, sequencing-based cloning strategies, high-efficiency genetic transformation systems, and speed-breeding facilities. These insights will further extend our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks underlying agronomic traits and facilitate the breeding process, ultimately contributing to more sustainable agriculture in China and throughout the world.
Collapse
|
15
|
Preston JC, Fjellheim S. Flowering time runs hot and cold. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:5-18. [PMID: 35274728 PMCID: PMC9434294 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that anthropogenically-mediated global warming results in accelerated flowering for many plant populations. However, the fact that some plants are late flowering or unaffected by warming, underscores the complex relationship between phase change, temperature, and phylogeny. In this review, we present an emerging picture of how plants sense temperature changes, and then discuss the independent recruitment of ancient flowering pathway genes for the evolution of ambient, low, and high temperature-regulated reproductive development. As well as revealing areas of research required for a better understanding of how past thermal climates have shaped global patterns of plasticity in plant phase change, we consider the implications for these phenological thermal responses in light of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Siri Fjellheim
- Department of Plant Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 1430, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Cha JK, O'Connor K, Alahmad S, Lee JH, Dinglasan E, Park H, Lee SM, Hirsz D, Kwon SW, Kwon Y, Kim KM, Ko JM, Hickey LT, Shin D, Dixon LE. Speed vernalization to accelerate generation advance in winter cereal crops. MOLECULAR PLANT 2022; 15:1300-1309. [PMID: 35754174 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There are many challenges facing the development of high-yielding, nutritious crops for future environments. One limiting factor is generation time, which prolongs research and plant breeding timelines. Recent advances in speed breeding protocols have dramatically reduced generation time for many short-day and long-day species by optimizing light and temperature conditions during plant growth. However, winter crops with a vernalization requirement still require up to 6-10 weeks in low-temperature conditions before the transition to reproductive development. Here, we tested a suite of environmental conditions and protocols to investigate whether the vernalization process can be accelerated. We identified a vernalization method consisting of exposing seeds at the soil surface to an extended photoperiod of 22 h day:2 h night at 10°C with transfer to speed breeding conditions that dramatically reduces generation time in both winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and winter barley (Hordeum vulgare). Implementation of the speed vernalization protocol followed by speed breeding allowed the completion of up to five generations per year for winter wheat or barley, whereas only two generations can be typically completed under standard vernalization and plant growth conditions. The speed vernalization protocol developed in this study has great potential to accelerate biological research and breeding outcomes for winter crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Kyung Cha
- National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Miryang 50424, Korea
| | - Kathryn O'Connor
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Samir Alahmad
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jong-Hee Lee
- National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Miryang 50424, Korea
| | - Eric Dinglasan
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Hyeonjin Park
- National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Miryang 50424, Korea
| | - So-Myeong Lee
- National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Miryang 50424, Korea
| | - Dominique Hirsz
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Soon-Wook Kwon
- Department of Plant Bioscience, Pusan National University, Miryang 60463, Korea
| | - Youngho Kwon
- National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Miryang 50424, Korea
| | - Kyeong-Min Kim
- National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Miryang 50424, Korea
| | - Jong-Min Ko
- National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Miryang 50424, Korea
| | - Lee T Hickey
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.
| | - Dongjin Shin
- National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Miryang 50424, Korea.
| | - Laura E Dixon
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Makhoul M, Chawla HS, Wittkop B, Stahl A, Voss-Fels KP, Zetzsche H, Snowdon RJ, Obermeier C. Long-Amplicon Single-Molecule Sequencing Reveals Novel, Trait-Associated Variants of VERNALIZATION1 Homoeologs in Hexaploid Wheat. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:942461. [PMID: 36420025 PMCID: PMC9676936 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.942461] [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: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The gene VERNALIZATION1 (VRN1) is a key controller of vernalization requirement in wheat. The genome of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) harbors three homoeologous VRN1 loci on chromosomes 5A, 5B, and 5D. Structural sequence variants including small and large deletions and insertions and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the three homoeologous VRN1 genes not only play an important role in the control of vernalization requirement, but also have been reported to be associated with other yield related traits of wheat. Here we used single-molecule sequencing of barcoded long-amplicons to assay the full-length sequences (∼13 kbp plus 700 bp from the promoter sequence) of the three homoeologous VRN1 genes in a panel of 192 predominantly European winter wheat cultivars. Long read sequences revealed previously undetected duplications, insertions and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the three homoeologous VRN1 genes. All the polymorphisms were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Sequence analysis showed the predominance of the winter alleles vrn-A1, vrn-B1, and vrn-D1 across the investigated cultivars. Associations of SNPs and structural variations within the three VRN1 genes with 20 economically relevant traits including yield, nodal root-angle index and quality related traits were evaluated at the levels of alleles, haplotypes, and copy number variants. Cultivars carrying structural variants within VRN1 genes showed lower grain yield, protein yield and biomass compared to those with intact genes. Cultivars carrying a single vrn-A1 copy and a unique haplotype with a high number of SNPs were found to have elevated grain yield, kernels per spike and kernels per m2 along with lower grain sedimentation values. In addition, we detected a novel SNP polymorphism within the G-quadruplex region of the promoter of vrn-A1 that was associated with deeper roots in winter wheat. Our findings show that multiplex, single-molecule long-amplicon sequencing is a useful tool for detecting variants in target genes within large plant populations, and can be used to simultaneously assay sequence variants among target multiple gene homoeologs in polyploid crops. Numerous novel VRN1 haplotypes and alleles were identified that showed significantly associations to economically important traits. These polymorphisms were converted into PCR or KASP assays for use in marker-assisted breeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manar Makhoul
- Department of Plant Breeding, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Harmeet S. Chawla
- Department of Plant Breeding, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Plant Sciences, Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Benjamin Wittkop
- Department of Plant Breeding, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Stahl
- Institute for Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance, Julius Kühn Institute, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Kai Peter Voss-Fels
- Institute for Grapevine Breeding, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Geisenheim, Germany
| | - Holger Zetzsche
- Institute for Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance, Julius Kühn Institute, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Rod J. Snowdon
- Department of Plant Breeding, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christian Obermeier
- Department of Plant Breeding, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Dixon LE, Pasquariello M, Badgami R, Levin KA, Poschet G, Ng PQ, Orford S, Chayut N, Adamski NM, Brinton J, Simmonds J, Steuernagel B, Searle IR, Uauy C, Boden SA. MicroRNA-resistant alleles of HOMEOBOX DOMAIN-2 modify inflorescence branching and increase grain protein content of wheat. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn5907. [PMID: 35544571 PMCID: PMC9094671 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn5907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Plant and inflorescence architecture determine the yield potential of crops. Breeders have harnessed natural diversity for inflorescence architecture to improve yields, and induced genetic variation could provide further gains. Wheat is a vital source of protein and calories; however, little is known about the genes that regulate the development of its inflorescence. Here, we report the identification of semidominant alleles for a class III homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factor, HOMEOBOX DOMAIN-2 (HB-2), on wheat A and D subgenomes, which generate more flower-bearing spikelets and enhance grain protein content. These alleles increase HB-2 expression by disrupting a microRNA 165/166 complementary site with conserved roles in plants; higher HB-2 expression is associated with modified leaf and vascular development and increased amino acid supply to the inflorescence during grain development. These findings enhance our understanding of genes that control wheat inflorescence development and introduce an approach to improve the nutritional quality of grain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Dixon
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Marianna Pasquariello
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Roshani Badgami
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Kara A. Levin
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Gernot Poschet
- Centre of Organismal Studies (COS), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Pei Qin Ng
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Simon Orford
- Germplasm Resources Unit, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Noam Chayut
- Germplasm Resources Unit, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Nikolai M. Adamski
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jemima Brinton
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - James Simmonds
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Burkhard Steuernagel
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Iain R. Searle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Cristobal Uauy
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Scott A. Boden
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Leigh FJ, Wright TIC, Horsnell RA, Dyer S, Bentley AR. Progenitor species hold untapped diversity for potential climate-responsive traits for use in wheat breeding and crop improvement. Heredity (Edinb) 2022; 128:291-303. [PMID: 35383318 PMCID: PMC9076643 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-022-00527-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change will have numerous impacts on crop production worldwide necessitating a broadening of the germplasm base required to source and incorporate novel traits. Major variation exists in crop progenitor species for seasonal adaptation, photosynthetic characteristics, and root system architecture. Wheat is crucial for securing future food and nutrition security and its evolutionary history and progenitor diversity offer opportunities to mine favourable functional variation in the primary gene pool. Here we provide a review of the status of characterisation of wheat progenitor variation and the potential to use this knowledge to inform the use of variation in other cereal crops. Although significant knowledge of progenitor variation has been generated, we make recommendations for further work required to systematically characterise underlying genetics and physiological mechanisms and propose steps for effective use in breeding. This will enable targeted exploitation of useful variation, supported by the growing portfolio of genomics and accelerated breeding approaches. The knowledge and approaches generated are also likely to be useful across wider crop improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona J Leigh
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Tally I C Wright
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Richard A Horsnell
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Sarah Dyer
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Alison R Bentley
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK. .,International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bouché F, Woods DP, Linden J, Li W, Mayer KS, Amasino RM, Périlleux C. EARLY FLOWERING 3 and Photoperiod Sensing in Brachypodium distachyon. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:769194. [PMID: 35069625 PMCID: PMC8770904 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.769194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The proper timing of flowering, which is key to maximize reproductive success and yield, relies in many plant species on the coordination between environmental cues and endogenous developmental programs. The perception of changes in day length is one of the most reliable cues of seasonal change, and this involves the interplay between the sensing of light signals and the circadian clock. Here, we describe a Brachypodium distachyon mutant allele of the evening complex protein EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3). We show that the elf3 mutant flowers more rapidly than wild type plants in short days as well as under longer photoperiods but, in very long (20 h) days, flowering is equally rapid in elf3 and wild type. Furthermore, flowering in the elf3 mutant is still sensitive to vernalization, but not to ambient temperature changes. Molecular analyses revealed that the expression of a short-day marker gene is suppressed in elf3 grown in short days, and the expression patterns of clock genes and flowering time regulators are altered. We also explored the mechanisms of photoperiodic perception in temperate grasses by exposing B. distachyon plants grown under a 12 h photoperiod to a daily night break consisting of a mixture of red and far-red light. We showed that 2 h breaks are sufficient to accelerate flowering in B. distachyon under non-inductive photoperiods and that this acceleration of flowering is mediated by red light. Finally, we discuss advances and perspectives for research on the perception of photoperiod in temperate grasses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Bouché
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, InBioS-PhytoSYSTEMS, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Daniel P. Woods
- Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- United States Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United States
| | - Julie Linden
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, InBioS-PhytoSYSTEMS, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Weiya Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kevin S. Mayer
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Richard M. Amasino
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- United States Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Claire Périlleux
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, InBioS-PhytoSYSTEMS, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Stepochkin PI, Stasyuk AI. The interphase period "germination-heading" of 8x and 6x triticale with different dominant Vrn genes. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2021; 25:631-637. [PMID: 34782882 PMCID: PMC8558917 DOI: 10.18699/vj21.071] [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: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The existing spring forms of wheat-rye amphiploids are characterized by late maturity due to the long duration
of the interphase period “germination–heading”. The manifestation of this trait is inf luenced by Vrn-1 genes. Their
dominant alleles also determine the spring type of development. The results of studying the interphase period “germination–
heading” of spring octaploid and hexaploid forms of triticale created for use in research and breeding programs
under the conditions of forest-steppe of Western Siberia are given in this article. The interphase period of the primary
forms 8xVrnA1, 8xVrnB1 and 8xVrnD1 obtained by artif icial doubling of the chromosome number of the wheat-rye hybrids
made by pollination of three lines of the soft wheat ‘Triple Dirk’ – donors of different dominant Vrn-1 genes – by a
winter rye variety ‘Korotkostebel’naya 69’ was determined under the f ield conditions in the nursery of octaploid (8x) triticale.
In the nursery of hexaploid triticale, this trait was studied in the populations of hybrids obtained by hybridization
of these three primary forms of octaploid triticale with the hexaploid winter triticale variety ‘Sears 57’. In the offspring
of crossing 8хVrnD1 × ‘Sears 57’, spring genotypes of 6x triticale bearing Vrn-D1 were selected. This fact was determined
by PСR. It means that the genetic material from the chromosome of the f ifth homeologous
group of the D genome of
the bread wheat is included in the plant genotypes. This genome is absent in the winter 6x triticale ‘Sears 57’. The grain
content of spikes of the created hexaploid forms of triticale is superiour to that of the maternal octaploid triticale forms.
It was shown that plants of the hybrid populations 8xVrnA1 × ‘Sears 57’ and 8xVrnD1 × ‘Sears 57’ carrying the dominant
alleles Vrn-A1a and Vrn-D1a, respectively, have a shorter duration of the “germination–heading” interphase period than
the initial parental forms of primary 8x triticale. The short interphase period of “germination–heading” of the 6x triticale
is a valuable breading trait for the creation of early maturing and productive genotypes of triticale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P I Stepochkin
- Siberian Research Institute of Plant Production and Breeding - Branch of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoobsk, Novosibirsk region, Russia
| | - A I Stasyuk
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Penfield S, Warner S, Wilkinson L. Molecular responses to chilling in a warming climate and their impacts on plant reproductive development and yield. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021:erab375. [PMID: 34409451 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Responses to prolonged winter chilling are universal in temperate plants which use seasonal temperature cues in the seed, vegetative and reproductive phases to align development with the earth's orbit. Climate change is driving a decline in reliable winter chill and affecting the sub-tropical extent of cultivation for temperate over-wintering crops. Here we explore molecular aspects of plant responses to winter chill including seasonal bud break and flowering, and how variation in the intensity of winter chilling or de-vernalisation can lead to effects on post-chilling plant development, including that of structures necessary for crop yields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Penfield
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Samuel Warner
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Laura Wilkinson
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Jewaria PK, Hänninen H, Li X, Bhalerao RP, Zhang R. A hundred years after: endodormancy and the chilling requirement in subtropical trees. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:565-570. [PMID: 33811341 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Endodormancy and the related chilling requirement synchronize the seasonal development of trees from the boreal and temperate regions under the climatic conditions prevailing at their native growing sites. The phenomenon of endodormancy has been known at the whole-plant level for 100 years, and in the last couple of decades, insights into the physiological and molecular basis of endodormancy and its release have also been obtained. Intriguingly, recent studies have shown experimentally that subtropical trees also show endodormancy and a chilling requirement. Motivated by the climatic differences between the subtropical and more northern zones, here we address the similarities and differences in endodormancy between trees growing in the subtropical zone and those growing in more northern zones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Kumar Jewaria
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 10083, China
| | - Heikki Hänninen
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Xiaojuan Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 10083, China
| | - Rishikesh P Bhalerao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 10083, China
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, SLU, Umeå, S-901 83, Sweden
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Fernández-Calleja M, Casas AM, Igartua E. Major flowering time genes of barley: allelic diversity, effects, and comparison with wheat. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2021; 134:1867-1897. [PMID: 33969431 PMCID: PMC8263424 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-021-03824-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes the allelic series, effects, interactions between genes and with the environment, for the major flowering time genes that drive phenological adaptation of barley. The optimization of phenology is a major goal of plant breeding addressing the production of high-yielding varieties adapted to changing climatic conditions. Flowering time in cereals is regulated by genetic networks that respond predominately to day length and temperature. Allelic diversity at these genes is at the basis of barley wide adaptation. Detailed knowledge of their effects, and genetic and environmental interactions will facilitate plant breeders manipulating flowering time in cereal germplasm enhancement, by exploiting appropriate gene combinations. This review describes a catalogue of alleles found in QTL studies by barley geneticists, corresponding to the genetic diversity at major flowering time genes, the main drivers of barley phenological adaptation: VRN-H1 (HvBM5A), VRN-H2 (HvZCCTa-c), VRN-H3 (HvFT1), PPD-H1 (HvPRR37), PPD-H2 (HvFT3), and eam6/eps2 (HvCEN). For each gene, allelic series, size and direction of QTL effects, interactions between genes and with the environment are presented. Pleiotropic effects on agronomically important traits such as grain yield are also discussed. The review includes brief comments on additional genes with large effects on phenology that became relevant in modern barley breeding. The parallelisms between flowering time allelic variation between the two most cultivated Triticeae species (barley and wheat) are also outlined. This work is mostly based on previously published data, although we added some new data and hypothesis supported by a number of studies. This review shows the wide variety of allelic effects that provide enormous plasticity in barley flowering behavior, which opens new avenues to breeders for fine-tuning phenology of the barley crop.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Fernández-Calleja
- Department of Genetics and Plant Production, Aula Dei Experimental Station, EEAD-CSIC, Avenida Montañana, 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana M Casas
- Department of Genetics and Plant Production, Aula Dei Experimental Station, EEAD-CSIC, Avenida Montañana, 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ernesto Igartua
- Department of Genetics and Plant Production, Aula Dei Experimental Station, EEAD-CSIC, Avenida Montañana, 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zhu T, De Lima CFF, De Smet I. The Heat is On: How Crop Growth, Development and Yield Respond to High Temperature. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021:erab308. [PMID: 34185832 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plants are exposed to a wide range of temperatures during their life cycle and need to continuously adapt. These adaptations need to deal with temperature changes on a daily and seasonal level and with temperatures affected by climate change. Increasing global temperatures negatively impact crop performance, and several physiological, biochemical, morphological and developmental responses to increased temperature have been described that allow plants to mitigate this. In this review, we assess various growth, development, and yield-related responses of crops to extreme and moderate high temperature, focusing on knowledge gained from both monocot (e.g. wheat, barley, maize, rice) and dicot crops (e.g. soybean and tomato) and incorporating information from model plants (e.g. Arabidopsis and Brachypodium). This revealed common and different responses between dicot and monocot crops, and defined different temperature thresholds depending on the species, growth stage and organ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhu
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cassio Flavio Fonseca De Lima
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ive De Smet
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Snowdon RJ, Wittkop B, Chen TW, Stahl A. Crop adaptation to climate change as a consequence of long-term breeding. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2021; 134:1613-1623. [PMID: 33221941 PMCID: PMC8205907 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-020-03729-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Major global crops in high-yielding, temperate cropping regions are facing increasing threats from the impact of climate change, particularly from drought and heat at critical developmental timepoints during the crop lifecycle. Research to address this concern is frequently focused on attempts to identify exotic genetic diversity showing pronounced stress tolerance or avoidance, to elucidate and introgress the responsible genetic factors or to discover underlying genes as a basis for targeted genetic modification. Although such approaches are occasionally successful in imparting a positive effect on performance in specific stress environments, for example through modulation of root depth, major-gene modifications of plant architecture or function tend to be highly context-dependent. In contrast, long-term genetic gain through conventional breeding has incrementally increased yields of modern crops through accumulation of beneficial, small-effect variants which also confer yield stability via stress adaptation. Here we reflect on retrospective breeding progress in major crops and the impact of long-term, conventional breeding on climate adaptation and yield stability under abiotic stress constraints. Looking forward, we outline how new approaches might complement conventional breeding to maintain and accelerate breeding progress, despite the challenges of climate change, as a prerequisite to sustainable future crop productivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rod J Snowdon
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Wittkop
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tsu-Wei Chen
- Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt University Berlin, Lentzeallee 75, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Stahl
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Erwin-Baur-Strasse 27, 06484, Quedlinburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Gauley A, Boden SA. Stepwise increases in FT1 expression regulate seasonal progression of flowering in wheat (Triticum aestivum). THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:1163-1176. [PMID: 32909250 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Flowering is regulated by genes that respond to changing daylengths and temperature, which have been well studied using controlled conditions; however, the molecular processes underpinning flowering in nature remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the genetic pathways that coordinate flowering and inflorescence development of wheat (Triticum aestivum) as daylengths extend naturally in the field, using lines that contain variant alleles for the key photoperiod gene, Photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1). We found flowering involves a stepwise increase in the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T1 (FT1), which initiates under day-neutral conditions of early spring. The incremental rise in FT1 expression is overridden in plants that contain a photoperiod-insensitive allele of Ppd-1, which hastens the completion of spikelet development and accelerates flowering time. The accelerated inflorescence development of photoperiod-insensitive lines is promoted by advanced seasonal expression of floral meristem identity genes. The completion of spikelet formation is promoted by FLOWERING LOCUS T2, which regulates spikelet number and is activated by Ppd-1. In wheat, flowering under natural photoperiods is regulated by stepwise increases in the expression of FT1, which responds dynamically to extending daylengths to promote early inflorescence development. This research provides a strong foundation to improve yield potential by fine-tuning the photoperiod-dependent control of inflorescence development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gauley
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Scott A Boden
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Sharma N, Geuten K, Giri BS, Varma A. The molecular mechanism of vernalization in Arabidopsis and cereals: role of Flowering Locus C and its homologs. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2020; 170:373-383. [PMID: 32623749 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Winter varieties of plants can flower only after exposure to prolonged cold. This phenomenon is known as vernalization and has been widely studied in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana as well as in monocots. Through the repression of floral activator genes, vernalization prevents flowering in winter. In Arabidopsis, FLOWERING LOCUS C or FLC is the key repressor during vernalization, while in monocots vernalization is regulated through VRN1, VRN2 and VRN3 (or FLOWERING LOCUS T). Interestingly, VRN genes are not homologous to FLC but FLC homologs are found to have a significant role in vernalization response in cereals. The presence of FLC homologs in monocots opens new dimensions to understand, compare and retrace the evolution of vernalization pathways between monocots and dicots. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanism of vernalization-induced flowering along with epigenetic regulations in Arabidopsis and temperate cereals. A better understanding of cold-induced flowering will be helpful in crop breeding strategies to modify the vernalization requirement of economically important temperate cereals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neha Sharma
- Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201313, India
| | - Koen Geuten
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium
| | - Balendu Shekhar Giri
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India
| | - Ajit Varma
- Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201313, India
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Rychel-Bielska S, Plewiński P, Kozak B, Galek R, Ksia̧żkiewicz M. Photoperiod and Vernalization Control of Flowering-Related Genes: A Case Study of the Narrow-Leafed Lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:572135. [PMID: 33193508 PMCID: PMC7663182 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.572135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is a moderate-yielding legume crop known for its high grain protein content and contribution to soil improvement. It is cultivated under photoperiods ranging from 9 to 17 h, as a spring-sown (in colder locations) or as an autumn-sown crop (in warmer regions). Wild populations require a prolonged cold period, called vernalization, to induce flowering. The key achievement of L. angustifolius domestication was the discovery of two natural mutations (named Ku and Jul) conferring vernalization independence. These mutations are overlapping deletion variants in the promoter of LanFTc1, a homolog of the Arabidopsis thaliana FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene. The third deletion, named here as Pal, was recently found in primitive germplasm. In this study, we genotyped L. angustifolius germplasm that differs in domestication status and geographical origin for LanFTc1 alleles, which we then phenotyped to establish flowering time and vernalization responsiveness. The Ku and Jul lines were vernalization-independent and early flowering, wild (ku) lines were vernalization-dependent and late flowering, whereas the Pal line conferred intermediate phenotype. Three lines representing ku, Pal, and Ku alleles were subjected to gene expression surveys under 8- and 16-h photoperiods. FT homologs (LanFTa1, LanFTa2, LanFTc1, and LanFTc2) and some genes selected by recent expression quantitative trait loci mapping were analyzed. Expression profiles of LanFTc1 and LanAGL8 (AGAMOUS-like 8) matched observed differences in flowering time between genotypes, highlighted by high induction after vernalization in the ku line. Moreover, these genes revealed altered circadian clock control in Pal line under short days. LanFD (FD) and LanCRLK1 (CALCIUM/CALMODULIN-REGULATED RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1) were negatively responsive to vernalization in Ku and Pal lines but positively responsive or variable in ku, whereas LanUGT85A2 (UDP-GLUCOSYL TRANSFERASE 85A2) was significantly suppressed by vernalization in all lines. Such a pattern suggests the opposite regulation of these gene pairs in the vernalization pathway. LanCRLK1 and LanUGT85A2 are homologs of A. thaliana genes involved in the FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) vernalization pathway. Lupins, like many other legumes, do not have any FLC homologs. Therefore, candidate genes surveyed in this study, namely LanFTc1, LanAGL8, LanCRLK1, and LanUGT85A2, may constitute anchors for further elucidation of molecular components contributing to vernalization response in legumes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Rychel-Bielska
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Plewiński
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Bartosz Kozak
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Renata Galek
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Michał Ksia̧żkiewicz
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Jacott CN, Boden SA. Feeling the heat: developmental and molecular responses of wheat and barley to high ambient temperatures. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:5740-5751. [PMID: 32667992 PMCID: PMC7540836 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The increasing demand for global food security in the face of a warming climate is leading researchers to investigate the physiological and molecular responses of cereals to rising ambient temperatures. Wheat and barley are temperate cereals whose yields are adversely affected by high ambient temperatures, with each 1 °C increase above optimum temperatures reducing productivity by 5-6%. Reproductive development is vulnerable to high-temperature stress, which reduces yields by decreasing grain number and/or size and weight. In recent years, analysis of early inflorescence development and genetic pathways that control the vegetative to floral transition have elucidated molecular processes that respond to rising temperatures, including those involved in the vernalization- and photoperiod-dependent control of flowering. In comparison, our understanding of genes that underpin thermal responses during later developmental stages remains poor, thus highlighting a key area for future research. This review outlines the responses of developmental genes to warmer conditions and summarizes our knowledge of the reproductive traits of wheat and barley influenced by high temperatures. We explore ways in which recent advances in wheat and barley research capabilities could help identify genes that underpin responses to rising temperatures, and how improved knowledge of the genetic regulation of reproduction and plant architecture could be used to develop thermally resilient cultivars.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine N Jacott
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, UK
| | - Scott A Boden
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, UK
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, Waite Research Precinct, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Niu J, Zheng S, Shi X, Si Y, Tian S, He Y, Ling HQ. Fine mapping and characterization of the awn inhibitor B1 locus in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cj.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
32
|
Preston JC, Fjellheim S. Understanding Past, and Predicting Future, Niche Transitions based on Grass Flowering Time Variation. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 183:822-839. [PMID: 32404414 PMCID: PMC7333695 DOI: 10.1104/pp.20.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Since their origin in the early Cretaceous, grasses have diversified across every continent on Earth, with a handful of species (rice [Oryza sativa], maize [Zea mays], and wheat [Triticum aestivum]) providing most of the caloric intake of contemporary humans and their livestock. The ecological dominance of grasses can be attributed to a number of physiological innovations, many of which contributed to shifts from closed to open habitats that incur daily (e.g. tropical mountains) and/or seasonal extremes in temperature (e.g. temperate/continental regions) and precipitation (e.g. tropical savannas). In addition to strategies that allow them to tolerate or resist periodically stressful environments, plants can adopt escape behaviors by modifying the relative timing of distinct development phases. Flowering time is one of these behaviors that can also act as a postzygotic barrier to reproduction and allow temporal partitioning of resources to promote coexistence. In this review, we explore what is known about the phylogenetic pattern of flowering control in grasses, and how this relates to broad- and fine-scale niche transitions within the family. We then synthesize recent findings on the genetic basis of flowering time evolution as a way to begin deciphering why certain aspects of flowering are seemingly so conserved, and what the implications of this are for future adaptation under climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jill C Preston
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405
| | - Siri Fjellheim
- Department of Plant Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1430 Ås, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ke YT, Lin KF, Gu CH, Yeh CH. Molecular Characterization and Expression Profile of PaCOL1, a CONSTANS-like Gene in Phalaenopsis Orchid. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:plants9010068. [PMID: 31947959 PMCID: PMC7020484 DOI: 10.3390/plants9010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
CONSTANS (CO) and CONSTANS-like (COL) genes play important roles in coalescing signals from photoperiod and temperature pathways. However, the mechanism of CO and COLs involved in regulating the developmental stage transition and photoperiod/temperature senescing remains unclear. In this study, we identified a COL ortholog gene from the Taiwan native orchid Phalaenopsis aphrodite. The Phalaenopsis aphrodite CONSTANS-like 1 (PaCOL1) belongs to the B-box protein family and functions in the nucleus and cytosol. Expression profile analysis of Phalaenopsis aphrodite revealed that PaCOL1 was significantly expressed in leaves, but its accumulation was repressed during environmental temperature shifts. We found a differential profile for PaCOL1 accumulation, with peak accumulation at late afternoon and at the middle of the night. Arabidopsis with PaCOL1 overexpression showed earlier flowering under short-day (SD) conditions (8 h/23 °C light and 16 h/23 °C dark) but similar flowering time under long-day (LD) conditions (16 h/23 °C light and 8 h/23 °C dark). Transcriptome sequencing revealed several genes upregulated in PaCOL1-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants that were previously involved in flowering regulation of the photoperiod pathway. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) analysis and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analysis revealed that PaCOL1 could interact with a crucial clock-associated regulator, AtCCA1, and a flowering repressor, AtFLC. Furthermore, expressing PaCOL1 in cca1.lhy partially reversed the mutant flowering time under photoperiod treatment, which confirms the role of PaCOL1 function in the rhythmic associated factors for modulating flowering.
Collapse
|
34
|
Rychel-Bielska S, Plewiński P, Kozak B, Galek R, Ksia Żkiewicz M. Photoperiod and Vernalization Control of Flowering-Related Genes: A Case Study of the Narrow-Leafed Lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:572135. [PMID: 33193508 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.572135/bibtex] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is a moderate-yielding legume crop known for its high grain protein content and contribution to soil improvement. It is cultivated under photoperiods ranging from 9 to 17 h, as a spring-sown (in colder locations) or as an autumn-sown crop (in warmer regions). Wild populations require a prolonged cold period, called vernalization, to induce flowering. The key achievement of L. angustifolius domestication was the discovery of two natural mutations (named Ku and Jul) conferring vernalization independence. These mutations are overlapping deletion variants in the promoter of LanFTc1, a homolog of the Arabidopsis thaliana FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene. The third deletion, named here as Pal, was recently found in primitive germplasm. In this study, we genotyped L. angustifolius germplasm that differs in domestication status and geographical origin for LanFTc1 alleles, which we then phenotyped to establish flowering time and vernalization responsiveness. The Ku and Jul lines were vernalization-independent and early flowering, wild (ku) lines were vernalization-dependent and late flowering, whereas the Pal line conferred intermediate phenotype. Three lines representing ku, Pal, and Ku alleles were subjected to gene expression surveys under 8- and 16-h photoperiods. FT homologs (LanFTa1, LanFTa2, LanFTc1, and LanFTc2) and some genes selected by recent expression quantitative trait loci mapping were analyzed. Expression profiles of LanFTc1 and LanAGL8 (AGAMOUS-like 8) matched observed differences in flowering time between genotypes, highlighted by high induction after vernalization in the ku line. Moreover, these genes revealed altered circadian clock control in Pal line under short days. LanFD (FD) and LanCRLK1 (CALCIUM/CALMODULIN-REGULATED RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1) were negatively responsive to vernalization in Ku and Pal lines but positively responsive or variable in ku, whereas LanUGT85A2 (UDP-GLUCOSYL TRANSFERASE 85A2) was significantly suppressed by vernalization in all lines. Such a pattern suggests the opposite regulation of these gene pairs in the vernalization pathway. LanCRLK1 and LanUGT85A2 are homologs of A. thaliana genes involved in the FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) vernalization pathway. Lupins, like many other legumes, do not have any FLC homologs. Therefore, candidate genes surveyed in this study, namely LanFTc1, LanAGL8, LanCRLK1, and LanUGT85A2, may constitute anchors for further elucidation of molecular components contributing to vernalization response in legumes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Rychel-Bielska
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Plewiński
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Bartosz Kozak
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Renata Galek
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Michał Ksia Żkiewicz
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Kennedy A, Geuten K. The Role of FLOWERING LOCUS C Relatives in Cereals. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:617340. [PMID: 33414801 PMCID: PMC7783157 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.617340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) is one of the best characterized genes in plant research and is integral to vernalization-dependent flowering time regulation. Yet, despite the abundance of information on this gene and its relatives in Arabidopsis thaliana, the role FLC genes play in other species, in particular cereal crops and temperate grasses, remains elusive. This has been due in part to the comparative reduced availability of bioinformatic and mutant resources in cereals but also on the dominant effect in cereals of the VERNALIZATION (VRN) genes on the developmental process most associated with FLC in Arabidopsis. The strong effect of the VRN genes has led researchers to believe that the entire process of vernalization must have evolved separately in Arabidopsis and cereals. Yet, since the confirmation of the existence of FLC-like genes in monocots, new light has been shed on the roles these genes play in both vernalization and other mechanisms to fine tune development in response to specific environmental conditions. Comparisons of FLC gene function and their genetic and epigenetic regulation can now be made between Arabidopsis and cereals and how they overlap and diversify is coming into focus. With the advancement of genome editing techniques, further study on these genes is becoming increasingly easier, enabling us to investigate just how essential FLC-like genes are to modulating flowering time behavior in cereals.
Collapse
|
36
|
Muterko A, Salina E. VRN1-ratio test for polyploid wheat. PLANTA 2019; 250:1955-1965. [PMID: 31529399 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03279-z] [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: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The duplications of the dominantVrn-A1alleles as well as theVRN-B1gene, revealed for the first time, are new sources of polymorphism in polyploid wheat at these agronomically valuable genomic locations. Flowering time is an important trait in wheat breeding. In spring wheat, this feature is mainly determined by the variants and number of the homoeologous dominant VRN1 alleles. Previously, multiplication of the recessive vrn-A1 allele was shown for winter hexaploid wheat (Würschum et al., BMC Genet 29:16-96, 2015). In the present study, VRN1 gene copy-number variation as well as the copy number of VRN-A1 with the alternative exon 4 haplotype were investigated in spring and winter accessions of different tetraploid and hexaploid wheat species. Two ratio tests were optimized based on end-point quantification of PCR fragments and results were verified by a qPCR assay. It was defined that since the genomic environment affects the accessibility of amplified VRN1 regions, the DNA template should be fragmented for proper quantification of VRN1 copy number during PCR-based assays. For the first time, it was shown that the dominant Vrn-A1 alleles are most often duplicated in hexaploid wheat. In tetraploid wheat, both the dominant and recessive alleles were represented as a single haploid copy, and in only two accessions of T. dicoccum, vrn-A1b.3 was duplicated. Multiplication of VRN-A1 was often associated with awnless spikes. Five haploid combinations of the recessive vrn-A1 copies with alternative exon 4 were identified in hexaploid wheat. Finally for the first time, duplication of VRN-B1 was found in hexaploid wheat of T. compactum and T. spelta. These results expand our knowledge of the genetic diversity of VRN1 genes in wheat and provide additional strategies for the manipulation of flowering time in this strategic crop.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandr Muterko
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Lavrentyeva Avenue 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation.
| | - Elena Salina
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Lavrentyeva Avenue 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Li M, Kennedy A, Huybrechts M, Dochy N, Geuten K. The Effect of Ambient Temperature on Brachypodium distachyon Development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1011. [PMID: 31497030 PMCID: PMC6712961 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Due to climate change, the effect of temperature on crops has become a global concern. It has been reported that minor changes in temperature can cause large decreases in crop yield. While not a crop, the model Brachypodium distachyon can help to efficiently investigate ambient temperature responses of temperate grasses, which include wheat and barley. Here, we use different accessions to explore the effect of ambient temperature on Brachypodium phenology. We recorded leaf initiation, heading time, leaf and branch number at heading, seed set time, seed weight, seed size, seed dormancy, and seed germination at different temperatures. We found that warmer temperatures promote leaf initiation so that leaf number at heading is positively correlated to temperature. Heading time is not correlated to temperature but accessions show an optimal temperature at which heading is earliest. Cool temperatures prolong seed maturation which increases seed weight. The progeny seeds of plants grown at these cool ambient temperatures show stronger dormancy, while imbibition of seeds at low temperature improves germination. Among all developmental stages, it is the duration of seed maturation that is most sensitive to temperature. The results we found reveal that temperature responses in Brachypodium are highly conserved with temperate cereals, which makes Brachypodium a good model to explore temperature responsive pathways in temperate grasses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Koen Geuten
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|