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Alenazi AS, Pereira L, Christin PA, Osborne CP, Dunning LT. Identifying genomic regions associated with C 4 photosynthetic activity and leaf anatomy in Alloteropsis semialata. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024. [PMID: 38953386 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis is a complex trait requiring multiple developmental and metabolic alterations. Despite this complexity, it has independently evolved over 60 times. However, our understanding of the transition to C4 is complicated by the fact that variation in photosynthetic type is usually segregated between species that diverged a long time ago. Here, we perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the grass Alloteropsis semialata, the only known species to have C3, intermediate, and C4 accessions that recently diverged. We aimed to identify genomic regions associated with the strength of the C4 cycle (measured using δ13C), and the development of C4 leaf anatomy. Genomic regions correlated with δ13C include regulators of C4 decarboxylation enzymes (RIPK), nonphotochemical quenching (SOQ1), and the development of Kranz anatomy (SCARECROW-LIKE). Regions associated with the development of C4 leaf anatomy in the intermediate individuals contain additional leaf anatomy regulators, including those responsible for vein patterning (GSL8) and meristem determinacy (GIF1). The parallel recruitment of paralogous leaf anatomy regulators between A. semialata and other C4 lineages implies the co-option of these genes is context-dependent, which likely has implications for the engineering of the C4 trait into C3 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed S Alenazi
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Northern Border University, Arar, 91431, Saudi Arabia
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Lara Pereira
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Pascal-Antoine Christin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Colin P Osborne
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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2
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Hao X, Gong Y, Chen S, Ma C, Duanmu H. Genome-Wide Identification of GRAS Transcription Factors and Their Functional Analysis in Salt Stress Response in Sugar Beet. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7132. [PMID: 39000240 PMCID: PMC11241673 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
GAI-RGA-and-SCR (GRAS) transcription factors can regulate many biological processes such as plant growth and development and stress defense, but there are few related studies in sugar beet. Salt stress can seriously affect the yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). Therefore, this study used bioinformatics methods to identify GRAS transcription factors in sugar beet and analyzed their structural characteristics, evolutionary relationships, regulatory networks and salt stress response patterns. A total of 28 BvGRAS genes were identified in the whole genome of sugar beet, and the sequence composition was relatively conservative. According to the topology of the phylogenetic tree, BvGRAS can be divided into nine subfamilies: LISCL, SHR, PAT1, SCR, SCL3, LAS, SCL4/7, HAM and DELLA. Synteny analysis showed that there were two pairs of fragment replication genes in the BvGRAS gene, indicating that gene replication was not the main source of BvGRAS family members. Regulatory network analysis showed that BvGRAS could participate in the regulation of protein interaction, material transport, redox balance, ion homeostasis, osmotic substance accumulation and plant morphological structure to affect the tolerance of sugar beet to salt stress. Under salt stress, BvGRAS and its target genes showed an up-regulated expression trend. Among them, BvGRAS-15, BvGRAS-19, BvGRAS-20, BvGRAS-21, LOC104892636 and LOC104893770 may be the key genes for sugar beet's salt stress response. In this study, the structural characteristics and biological functions of BvGRAS transcription factors were analyzed, which provided data for the further study of the molecular mechanisms of salt stress and molecular breeding of sugar beet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Hao
- Engineering Research Center of Agricultural Microbiology Technology, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration and Resource Utilization for Cold Region, School of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Yongyong Gong
- Engineering Research Center of Agricultural Microbiology Technology, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration and Resource Utilization for Cold Region, School of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Sixue Chen
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
| | - Chunquan Ma
- Engineering Research Center of Agricultural Microbiology Technology, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Genetic Engineering and Biological Fermentation Engineering for Cold Region, School of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Huizi Duanmu
- Engineering Research Center of Agricultural Microbiology Technology, Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration and Resource Utilization for Cold Region, School of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
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3
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Chen L. Regulation of stomatal development by epidermal, subepidermal and long-distance signals. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 114:80. [PMID: 38940934 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-024-01456-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Plant leaves consist of three layers, including epidermis, mesophyll and vascular tissues. Their development is meticulously orchestrated. Stomata are the specified structures on the epidermis for uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) while release of water vapour and oxygen (O2), and thus play essential roles in regulation of plant photosynthesis and water use efficiency. To function efficiently, stomatal formation must coordinate with the development of other epidermal cell types, such as pavement cell and trichome, and tissues of other layers, such as mesophyll and leaf vein. This review summarizes the regulation of stomatal development in three dimensions (3D). In the epidermis, specific stomatal transcription factors determine cell fate transitions and also activate a ligand-receptor- MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE (MAPK) signaling for ensuring proper stomatal density and patterning. This forms the core regulation network of stomatal development, which integrates various environmental cues and phytohormone signals to modulate stomatal production. Under the epidermis, mesophyll, endodermis of hypocotyl and inflorescence stem, and veins in grasses secrete mobile signals to influence stomatal formation in the epidermis. In addition, long-distance signals which may include phytohormones, RNAs, peptides and proteins originated from other plant organs modulate stomatal development, enabling plants to systematically adapt to the ever changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Vlad D, Zaidem M, Perico C, Sedelnikova O, Bhattacharya S, Langdale JA. The WIP6 transcription factor TOO MANY LATERALS specifies vein type in C 4 and C 3 grass leaves. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1670-1686.e10. [PMID: 38531358 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Grass leaves are invariantly strap shaped with an elongated distal blade and a proximal sheath that wraps around the stem. Underpinning this shape is a scaffold of leaf veins, most of which extend in parallel along the proximo-distal leaf axis. Differences between species are apparent both in the vein types that develop and in the distance between veins across the medio-lateral leaf axis. A prominent engineering goal is to increase vein density in leaves of C3 photosynthesizing species to facilitate the introduction of the more efficient C4 pathway. Here, we discover that the WIP6 transcription factor TOO MANY LATERALS (TML) specifies vein rank in both maize (C4) and rice (C3). Loss-of-function tml mutations cause large lateral veins to develop in positions normally occupied by smaller intermediate veins, and TML transcript localization in wild-type leaves is consistent with a role in suppressing lateral vein development in procambial cells that form intermediate veins. Attempts to manipulate TML function in rice were unsuccessful because transgene expression was silenced, suggesting that precise TML expression is essential for shoot viability. This finding may reflect the need to prevent the inappropriate activation of downstream targets or, given that transcriptome analysis revealed altered cytokinin and auxin signaling profiles in maize tml mutants, the need to prevent local or general hormonal imbalances. Importantly, rice tml mutants display an increased occupancy of veins in the leaf, providing a step toward an anatomical chassis for C4 engineering. Collectively, a conserved mechanism of vein rank specification in grass leaves has been revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vlad
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Maricris Zaidem
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Chiara Perico
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Olga Sedelnikova
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Samik Bhattacharya
- Resolve BioSciences GmbH, Alfred-Nobel-Straße 10, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Jane A Langdale
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.
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Uyehara AN, Diep BN, Allsman LA, Gayer SG, Martinez SE, Kim JJ, Agarwal S, Rasmussen CG. De Novo TANGLED1 Recruitment to Aberrant Cell Plate Fusion Sites in Maize. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.07.583939. [PMID: 38496554 PMCID: PMC10942460 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.07.583939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Division plane positioning is critical for proper growth and development in many organisms. In plants, the division plane is established before mitosis, by accumulation of a cytoskeletal structure called the preprophase band (PPB). The PPB is thought to be essential for recruitment of division site localized proteins, which remain at the division site after the PPB disassembles. Here, we show that a division site localized protein, TANGLED1 (TAN1), is recruited independently of the PPB to the cell cortex at sites, by the plant cytokinetic machinery, the phragmoplast. TAN1 recruitment to de novo sites on the cortex is partially dependent on intact actin filaments and the myosin XI motor protein OPAQUE1 (O1). These data imply a yet unknown role for TAN1 and possibly other division site localized proteins during the last stages of cell division when the phragmoplast touches the cell cortex to complete cytokinesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee N. Uyehara
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA 92521
| | - Beatrice N. Diep
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA 92521
- Current address: Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA 53706
| | - Lindy A. Allsman
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA 92521
| | - Sarah G. Gayer
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA 92521
| | - Stephanie E. Martinez
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA 92521
| | - Janice J. Kim
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA 92521
| | - Shreya Agarwal
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA 92521
| | - Carolyn G. Rasmussen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA 92521
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Wu R, Liu Z, Sun S, Qin A, Liu H, Zhou Y, Li W, Liu Y, Hu M, Yang J, Rochaix JD, An G, Herrera-Estrella L, Tran LSP, Sun X. Identification of bZIP Transcription Factors That Regulate the Development of Leaf Epidermal Cells in Arabidopsis thaliana by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2553. [PMID: 38473801 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidermal cells are the main avenue for signal and material exchange between plants and the environment. Leaf epidermal cells primarily include pavement cells, guard cells, and trichome cells. The development and distribution of different epidermal cells are tightly regulated by a complex transcriptional regulatory network mediated by phytohormones, including jasmonic acid, and transcription factors. How the fate of leaf epidermal cells is determined, however, is still largely unknown due to the diversity of cell types and the complexity of their regulation. Here, we characterized the transcriptional profiles of epidermal cells in 3-day-old true leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana using single-cell RNA sequencing. We identified two genes encoding BASIC LEUCINE-ZIPPER (bZIP) transcription factors, namely bZIP25 and bZIP53, which are highly expressed in pavement cells and early-stage meristemoid cells. Densities of pavement cells and trichome cells were found to increase and decrease, respectively, in bzip25 and bzip53 mutants, compared with wild-type plants. This trend was more pronounced in the presence of jasmonic acid, suggesting that these transcription factors regulate the development of trichome cells and pavement cells in response to jasmonic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Zhixin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Susu Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Aizhi Qin
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Hao Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Yaping Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Weiqiang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Yumeng Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Mengke Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Jincheng Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Jean-David Rochaix
- Departments of Molecular Biology and Plant Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Guoyong An
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Luis Herrera-Estrella
- Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Lam-Son Phan Tran
- Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Xuwu Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
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7
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Zaman Z, Iqbal R, Jabbar A, Zahra N, Saleem B, Kiran A, Maqbool S, Rasheed A, Naeem MK, Khan MR. Genetic Signature Controlling Root System Architecture in Diverse Spring Wheat Germplasm. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2024; 176:e14183. [PMID: 38343301 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Roots are the main sensing organ, initiating multiple signaling pathways in response to abiotic factors, including nutrients, drought, and salt stress. A focus on improving the root system architecture is a key strategy to mitigate these stresses in wheat crop. In the present study, a diversity panel comprising indigenous landraces and historical cultivars from Pakistan was characterized for the root system architecture (RSA) and important loci were identified using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). RSA of the diversity panel was characterized 30 days after sowing in brunch tubes, and root images were taken. A high-throughput root imaging analysis using Rhizovision software was performed by setting the scale to extract the eight RSA traits and four plant biomass-related traits. GWAS identified 323 association signals for 12 root and biomass traits present on all wheat chromosomes, while the most important and reliable genetic loci (based on pleotropic loci and candidate genes) were identified on chromosomes 2A, 2B, 5A, 5D, 6A, 7B, and 7D for RSA. SNP annotation and transcriptome profiling identified nine candidate genes regulating the RSA and plant biomass traits, including ROOTLESS WITH UNDETECTABLE MERISTEM1, MYB TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR4, BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1, SLENDER RICE1, AUXIN-RESPONSIVE FACTOR25, SCARECROW, NARROW LEAF2, PIN-FORMED1 AND PHOSPHATE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR1. This study provided pre-breeding information for deep-rooting genotypes and associated markers that will accelerate the incorporation of such traits in breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Zaman
- Department of Biotechnology, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Pakistan
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Rubab Iqbal
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), Islamabad, Pakistan
- Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Biotechnology, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Pakistan
| | - Nageen Zahra
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Bilal Saleem
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Aysha Kiran
- Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
| | - Saman Maqbool
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Awais Rasheed
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Kashif Naeem
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ramzan Khan
- National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), Islamabad, Pakistan
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8
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Neves C, Ribeiro B, Amaro R, Expósito J, Grimplet J, Fortes AM. Network of GRAS transcription factors in plant development, fruit ripening and stress responses. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad220. [PMID: 38077496 PMCID: PMC10699852 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
The plant-specific family of GRAS transcription factors has been wide implicated in the regulation of transcriptional reprogramming associated with a diversity of biological functions ranging from plant development processes to stress responses. Functional analyses of GRAS transcription factors supported by in silico structural and comparative analyses are emerging and clarifying the regulatory networks associated with their biological roles. In this review, a detailed analysis of GRAS proteins' structure and biochemical features as revealed by recent discoveries indicated how these characteristics may impact subcellular location, molecular mechanisms, and function. Nomenclature issues associated with GRAS classification into different subfamilies in diverse plant species even in the presence of robust genomic resources are discussed, in particular how it affects assumptions of biological function. Insights into the mechanisms driving evolution of this gene family and how genetic and epigenetic regulation of GRAS contributes to subfunctionalization are provided. Finally, this review debates challenges and future perspectives on the application of this complex but promising gene family for crop improvement to cope with challenges of environmental transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Neves
- BioISI–Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Beatriz Ribeiro
- BioISI–Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rute Amaro
- BioISI–Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jesús Expósito
- BioISI–Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jérôme Grimplet
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Departamento de Ciencia Vegetal, Gobierno de Aragón, Avda. Montañana 930, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón—IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Calle Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Margarida Fortes
- BioISI–Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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9
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Mendieta JP, Sangra A, Yan H, Minow MAA, Schmitz RJ. Exploring plant cis-regulatory elements at single-cell resolution: overcoming biological and computational challenges to advance plant research. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 115:1486-1499. [PMID: 37309871 PMCID: PMC10598807 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16351] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) are important sequences for gene expression and for plant biological processes such as development, evolution, domestication, and stress response. However, studying CREs in plant genomes has been challenging. The totipotent nature of plant cells, coupled with the inability to maintain plant cell types in culture and the inherent technical challenges posed by the cell wall has limited our understanding of how plant cell types acquire and maintain their identities and respond to the environment via CRE usage. Advances in single-cell epigenomics have revolutionized the field of identifying cell-type-specific CREs. These new technologies have the potential to significantly advance our understanding of plant CRE biology, and shed light on how the regulatory genome gives rise to diverse plant phenomena. However, there are significant biological and computational challenges associated with analyzing single-cell epigenomic datasets. In this review, we discuss the historical and foundational underpinnings of plant single-cell research, challenges, and common pitfalls in the analysis of plant single-cell epigenomic data, and highlight biological challenges unique to plants. Additionally, we discuss how the application of single-cell epigenomic data in various contexts stands to transform our understanding of the importance of CREs in plant genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ankush Sangra
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, Georgia, USA
| | - Haidong Yan
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, Georgia, USA
| | - Mark A A Minow
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, Georgia, USA
| | - Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, Georgia, USA
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10
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Liu Q, Teng S, Deng C, Wu S, Li H, Wang Y, Wu J, Cui X, Zhang Z, Quick WP, Brutnell TP, Sun X, Lu T. SHORT ROOT and INDETERMINATE DOMAIN family members govern PIN-FORMED expression to regulate minor vein differentiation in rice. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:2848-2870. [PMID: 37154077 PMCID: PMC10396363 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
C3 and C4 grasses directly and indirectly provide the vast majority of calories to the human diet, yet our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving photosynthetic productivity in grasses is largely unexplored. Ground meristem cells divide to form mesophyll or vascular initial cells early in leaf development in C3 and C4 grasses. Here we define a genetic circuit composed of SHORT ROOT (SHR), INDETERMINATE DOMAIN (IDD), and PIN-FORMED (PIN) family members that specifies vascular identify and ground cell proliferation in leaves of both C3 and C4 grasses. Ectopic expression and loss-of-function mutant studies of SHR paralogs in the C3 plant Oryza sativa (rice) and the C4 plant Setaria viridis (green millet) revealed the roles of these genes in both minor vein formation and ground cell differentiation. Genetic and in vitro studies further suggested that SHR regulates this process through its interactions with IDD12 and 13. We also revealed direct interactions of these IDD proteins with a putative regulatory element within the auxin transporter gene PIN5c. Collectively, these findings indicate that a SHR-IDD regulatory circuit mediates auxin transport by negatively regulating PIN expression to modulate minor vein patterning in the grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiming Liu
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shouzhen Teng
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Chen Deng
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Suting Wu
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Haoshu Li
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yanwei Wang
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jinxia Wu
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xuean Cui
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - William Paul Quick
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
- C4 Rice Centre, International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Laguna 4030, Philippines
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Thomas P Brutnell
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xuehui Sun
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Tiegang Lu
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
- Joint Laboratory for Photosynthesis Enhancement and C4 Rice Development, BRI, CAAS, Beijing 100081, China
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11
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Marsh JI, Nestor BJ, Petereit J, Tay Fernandez CG, Bayer PE, Batley J, Edwards D. Legume-wide comparative analysis of pod shatter locus PDH1 reveals phaseoloid specificity, high cowpea expression, and stress responsive genomic context. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 36970933 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pod dehiscence is a major source of yield loss in legumes, which is exacerbated by aridity. Disruptive mutations in "Pod indehiscent 1" (PDH1), a pod sclerenchyma-specific lignin biosynthesis gene, has been linked to significant reductions in dehiscence in several legume species. We compared syntenic PDH1 regions across 12 legumes and two outgroups to uncover key historical evolutionary trends at this important locus. Our results clarified the extent to which PDH1 orthologs are present in legumes, showing the typical genomic context surrounding PDH1 has only arisen relatively recently in certain phaseoloid species (Vigna, Phaseolus, Glycine). The notable absence of PDH1 in Cajanus cajan may be a major contributor to its indehiscent phenotype compared with other phaseoloids. In addition, we identified a novel PDH1 ortholog in Vigna angularis and detected remarkable increases in PDH1 transcript abundance during Vigna unguiculata pod development. Investigation of the shared genomic context of PDH1 revealed it lies in a hotspot of transcription factors and signaling gene families that respond to abscisic acid and drought stress, which we hypothesize may be an additional factor influencing expression of PDH1 under specific environmental conditions. Our findings provide key insights into the evolutionary history of PDH1 and lay the foundation for optimizing the pod dehiscence role of PDH1 in major and understudied legume species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob I Marsh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Nestor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jakob Petereit
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Cassandria G Tay Fernandez
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Philipp E Bayer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Batley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - David Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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12
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Shaar-Moshe L, Brady SM. SHORT-ROOT and SCARECROW homologs regulate patterning of diverse cell types within and between species. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:1542-1549. [PMID: 36457304 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18654] [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: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The roles of SHORT-ROOT (SHR) and SCARECROW (SCR) in ground tissue patterning and differentiation have been well established in the root of Arabidopsis thaliana. Recently, work in additional organs and species revealed the extensive functional diversification of these genes, including regulation of cortical divisions essential for nodule organogenesis in legume roots, bundle sheath specification in the Arabidopsis leaf, patterning of inner leaf cell layers in maize, and stomatal development in rice. The co-option of distinct functions and cell types is attributed to different mechanisms, including paralog retention, spatiotemporal changes in gene expression, and novel protein functions. Elaborating our knowledge of the SHR-SCR module further unravels the developmental regulation that controls diverse forms and functions within and between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidor Shaar-Moshe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Siobhan M Brady
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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13
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Eckardt NA, Ainsworth EA, Bahuguna RN, Broadley MR, Busch W, Carpita NC, Castrillo G, Chory J, DeHaan LR, Duarte CM, Henry A, Jagadish SVK, Langdale JA, Leakey ADB, Liao JC, Lu KJ, McCann MC, McKay JK, Odeny DA, Jorge de Oliveira E, Platten JD, Rabbi I, Rim EY, Ronald PC, Salt DE, Shigenaga AM, Wang E, Wolfe M, Zhang X. Climate change challenges, plant science solutions. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:24-66. [PMID: 36222573 PMCID: PMC9806663 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is a defining challenge of the 21st century, and this decade is a critical time for action to mitigate the worst effects on human populations and ecosystems. Plant science can play an important role in developing crops with enhanced resilience to harsh conditions (e.g. heat, drought, salt stress, flooding, disease outbreaks) and engineering efficient carbon-capturing and carbon-sequestering plants. Here, we present examples of research being conducted in these areas and discuss challenges and open questions as a call to action for the plant science community.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth A Ainsworth
- USDA ARS Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Rajeev N Bahuguna
- Centre for Advanced Studies on Climate Change, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur 848125, Bihar, India
| | - Martin R Broadley
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Wolfgang Busch
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Nicholas C Carpita
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Gabriel Castrillo
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Joanne Chory
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | | | - Carlos M Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amelia Henry
- International Rice Research Institute, Rice Breeding Innovations Platform, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - S V Krishna Jagadish
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79410, USA
| | - Jane A Langdale
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Andrew D B Leakey
- Department of Plant Biology, Department of Crop Sciences, and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - James C Liao
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11528, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Jen Lu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11528, Taiwan
| | - Maureen C McCann
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - John K McKay
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Damaris A Odeny
- The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics–Eastern and Southern Africa, Gigiri 39063-00623, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - J Damien Platten
- International Rice Research Institute, Rice Breeding Innovations Platform, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Ismail Rabbi
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320 Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - Ellen Youngsoo Rim
- Department of Plant Pathology and the Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Pamela C Ronald
- Department of Plant Pathology and the Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, California 94704, USA
| | - David E Salt
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Alexandra M Shigenaga
- Department of Plant Pathology and the Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Ertao Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Marnin Wolfe
- Auburn University, Dept. of Crop Soil and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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14
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Narawatthana S, Phansenee Y, Thammasamisorn BO, Vejchasarn P. Multi-model genome-wide association studies of leaf anatomical traits and vein architecture in rice. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1107718. [PMID: 37123816 PMCID: PMC10130391 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1107718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The anatomy of rice leaves is closely related to photosynthesis and grain yield. Therefore, exploring insight into the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and alleles related to rice flag leaf anatomical and vein traits is vital for rice improvement. Methods Here, we aimed to explore the genetic architecture of eight flag leaf traits using one single-locus model; mixed-linear model (MLM), and two multi-locus models; fixed and random model circulating probability unification (FarmCPU) and Bayesian information and linkage disequilibrium iteratively nested keyway (BLINK). We performed multi-model GWAS using 329 rice accessions of RDP1 with 700K single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers. Results The phenotypic correlation results indicated that rice flag leaf thickness was strongly correlated with leaf mesophyll cells layer (ML) and thickness of both major and minor veins. All three models were able to identify several significant loci associated with the traits. MLM identified three non-synonymous SNPs near NARROW LEAF 1 (NAL1) in association with ML and the distance between minor veins (IVD) traits. Discussion Several numbers of significant SNPs associated with known gene function in leaf development and yield traits were detected by multi-model GWAS performed in this study. Our findings indicate that flag leaf traits could be improved via molecular breeding and can be one of the targets in high-yield rice development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supatthra Narawatthana
- Rice Department, Thailand Rice Science Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Suphan Buri, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Supatthra Narawatthana,
| | - Yotwarit Phansenee
- Ubon Ratchathani Rice Research Center, Rice Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
| | - Bang-On Thammasamisorn
- Rice Department, Thailand Rice Science Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Suphan Buri, Thailand
| | - Phanchita Vejchasarn
- Ubon Ratchathani Rice Research Center, Rice Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
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15
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SCR Suppressor Mutants: Role in Hypocotyl Gravitropism and Root Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/ijpb13040041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The SCARECROW (SCR) transcription factor plays a key role in plant growth and development. However, we know very little about the role of SCR regulated pathways in plant development. Here, we used the homozygous scr1 mutant Arabidopsis thaliana (Wassilewskija ecotype), which had a T-DNA insertion in the SCR coding region and lacks a detectable SCR transcript. This scr1 mutant has a determinate mode of root growth, shoot agravitropism and abnormal internal architecture in all organs examined. To screen for mutants that suppress the scr1 abnormal phenotypes, we exposed homozygous scr1 seeds to ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) mutagen. Upon growth out of these mutagenized seeds, thirteen suppressor mutant-harboring strains were identified. All thirteen suppressor-harboring strains were homozygous for scr1 and lacked the SCR transcript. Ten scr hypocotyl gravitropic suppressor lines showed improved hypocotyl gravitropic response. These ten suppressors fall into six complementation groups suggesting six different gene loci. Similarly, three independent scr root length suppressor lines rescued only the root growth phenotype and fell into three complementation groups, suggesting the involvement of three different gene loci. These suppressors might identify novel functions of the SCR gene in plant development.
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16
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Chen W, Hu X, Hu L, Hou X, Xu Z, Yang F, Yuan M, Chen F, Wang Y, Tu B, Li T, Kang L, Tang S, Ma B, Wang Y, Li S, Qin P, Yuan H. Wide Grain 3, a GRAS Protein, Interacts with DLT to Regulate Grain Size and Brassinosteroid Signaling in Rice. RICE (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 15:55. [PMID: 36326916 PMCID: PMC9633911 DOI: 10.1186/s12284-022-00601-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grain size is a direct determinant of grain weight and yield in rice; however, the genetic and molecular mechanisms determining grain size remain largely unknown. FINDINGS We identified a mutant, wide grain 3 (wg3), which exhibited significantly increased grain width and 1000-grain weight. Cytological analysis showed that WG3 regulates grain size by affecting cell proliferation. MutMap-based gene cloning and a transgenic experiment demonstrated that WG3 encodes a GRAS protein. Moreover, we found that WG3 directly interacts with DWARF AND LOW-TILLERING (DLT), a previously reported GRAS protein, and a genetic experiment demonstrated that WG3 and DLT function in a common pathway to regulate grain size. Additionally, a brassinosteroid (BR) sensitivity test suggested that WG3 has a positive role in BR signaling in rice. Collectively, our results reveal a new genetic and molecular mechanism for the regulation of grain size in rice by the WG3-DLT complex, and highlight the important functions of the GRAS protein complex in plants. CONCLUSION WG3 functions directly in regulating grain size and BR signaling in rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weilan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoling Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Li Hu
- College of Agriculture, Forestry and Health, The Open University of Sichuan, 610073, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinyue Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhengyan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fanmin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Min Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Feifan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yunxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bin Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Liangzhu Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shiwen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bingtian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shigui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Peng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Hua Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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17
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Vlad D, Langdale JA. DEFECTIVELY ORGANIZED TRIBUTARIES 5 is not required for leaf venation patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 112:451-459. [PMID: 36042697 PMCID: PMC9826136 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The search for genetic regulators of leaf venation patterning started over 30 years ago, primarily focused on mutant screens in the eudicotyledon Arabidopsis thaliana. Developmental perturbations in either cotyledons or true leaves led to the identification of transcription factors required to elaborate the characteristic reticulated vein network. An ortholog of one of these, the C2H2 zinc finger protein DEFECTIVELY ORGANIZED TRIBUTARIES 5 (AtDOT5), was recently identified through transcriptomics as a candidate regulator of parallel venation in maize (Zea mays) leaves. To elucidate how AtDOT5 regulates vein patterning, we generated three independent loss-of-function mutations by gene editing in Arabidopsis. Surprisingly, none of them exhibited any obvious phenotypic perturbations. To reconcile our findings with earlier reports, we re-evaluated the original Atdot5-1 and Atdot5-2 alleles. By genome sequencing, we show that reported mutations at the Atdot5-1 locus are actually polymorphisms between Landsberg erecta and Columbia ecotypes, and that other mutations present in the background most likely cause the pleiotropic mutant phenotype observed. We further show that a T-DNA insertion in the Atdot5-2 locus has no impact on leaf venation patterns when segregated from other T-DNA insertions present in the original line. We thus conclude that AtDOT5 plays no role in leaf venation patterning in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vlad
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OxfordSouth Parks RdOxfordOX1 3RBUK
| | - Jane A. Langdale
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OxfordSouth Parks RdOxfordOX1 3RBUK
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