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Silvestri A, Bansal C, Rubio-Somoza I. After silencing suppression: miRNA targets strike back. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024:S1360-1385(24)00119-5. [PMID: 38811245 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Within the continuous tug-of-war between plants and microbes, RNA silencing stands out as a key battleground. Pathogens, in their quest to colonize host plants, have evolved a diverse arsenal of silencing suppressors as a common strategy to undermine the host's RNA silencing-based defenses. When RNA silencing malfunctions in the host, genes that are usually targeted and silenced by microRNAs (miRNAs) become active and can contribute to the reprogramming of host cells, providing an additional defense mechanism. A growing body of evidence suggests that miRNAs may act as intracellular sensors to enable a rapid response to pathogen threats. Herein we review how plant miRNA targets play a crucial role in immune responses against different pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Silvestri
- Molecular Reprogramming and Evolution Laboratory, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Chandni Bansal
- Molecular Reprogramming and Evolution Laboratory, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Rubio-Somoza
- Molecular Reprogramming and Evolution Laboratory, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona 08001, Spain.
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2
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Wang X, Song X, Miao H, Feng S, Wu G. Natural variation in CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED ION CHANNEL 4 reveals a novel role of calcium signaling in vegetative phase change in Arabidopsis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:1043-1054. [PMID: 38184789 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19498] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
The timing of vegetative phase change (VPC) in plants is regulated by a temporal decline in the expression of miR156. Both exogenous cues and endogenous factors, such as temperature, light, sugar, nutrients, and epigenetic regulators, have been shown to affect VPC by altering miR156 expression. However, the genetic basis of natural variation in VPC remains largely unexplored. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study on the variation of the timing of VPC in Arabidopsis. We identified CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED ION CHANNEL 4 (CNGC4) as a significant locus associated with the diversity of VPC. Mutations in CNGC4 delayed VPC, accompanied by an increased expression level of miR156 and a corresponding decrease in SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING-LIKE (SPL) gene expression. Furthermore, mutations in CNGC2 and CATION EXCHANGER 1/3 (CAX1/3) also led to a delay in VPC. Polymorphisms in the CNGC4 promoter contribute to the natural variation in CNGC4 expression and the diversity of VPC. Specifically, the early CNGC4 variant promotes VPC and enhances plant adaptation to local environments. In summary, our findings offer genetic insights into the natural variation in VPC in Arabidopsis, and reveal a previously unidentified role of calcium signaling in the regulation of VPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xia Song
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huaiqi Miao
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shengjun Feng
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gang Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
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Asadi M, Millar AA. Review: Plant microRNAs in pathogen defense: A panacea or a piece of the puzzle? PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 341:111993. [PMID: 38266718 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111993] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) control key agronomic traits that are associated with their conserved role(s) in development. However, despite a multitude of studies, the utility of miRNAs in plant-pathogen resistance remains less certain. Reviewing the literature identifies three general classes of miRNAs regarding plant pathogen defense. Firstly, a number of evolutionary dynamic 22 nucleotide miRNA families that repress large numbers of plant immunity genes, either directly, or through triggering the biogenesis of secondary siRNAs. However, understanding of their role in defense and of their manipulation to enhance pathogen resistance are still lacking. Secondly, highly conserved miRNAs that indirectly impact disease resistance through their targets that are primarily regulating development or hormone signaling. Any alteration of these miRNAs usually results in pleiotropic impacts, which may alter disease resistance in some plant species, and against some pathogens. Thirdly, are the comparatively diverse and evolutionary dynamic set of non-conserved miRNAs, some of which contribute to pathogen resistance, but whose narrow evolutionary presence will likely restrict their utility. Therefore, reflecting the diverse and evolving nature of plant-pathogen interactions, a complex interplay of plant miRNAs with pathogen responses exists. Any miRNA-based solution for pathogen resistance will likely be highly specific, rather than a general panacea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Asadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran; Department of Agricultural Science, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Anthony A Millar
- Division of Plant Science, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crop development, ANU, Canberra, Australia.
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Lawrence-Paul EH, Lasky JR. Ontogenetic changes in ecophysiology are an understudied yet important component of plant adaptation. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024; 111:e16294. [PMID: 38384001 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Erica H Lawrence-Paul
- Pennsylvania State University, Department of Biology, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
| | - Jesse R Lasky
- Pennsylvania State University, Department of Biology, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
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Xu D, Yang L. Spatial regulation of immunity: unmasking the secrets of abaxial immunity to powdery mildew. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:1213-1216. [PMID: 38416207 PMCID: PMC10901199 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae019] [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] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
This article comments on: Wu Y, Sexton WK, Zhang Q, Bloodgood D, Wu Y, Hooks C, Coker F, Vasquez A, Wei C-I, Xiao S. 2024. Leaf abaxial immunity to powdery mildew in Arabidopsis is conferred by multiple defense mechanisms. Journal of Experimental Botany 75, 1465-1478.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Xu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Wu Y, Sexton WK, Zhang Q, Bloodgood D, Wu Y, Hooks C, Coker F, Vasquez A, Wei CI, Xiao S. Leaf abaxial immunity to powdery mildew in Arabidopsis is conferred by multiple defense mechanisms. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:1465-1478. [PMID: 37952108 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Powdery mildew fungi are obligate biotrophic pathogens that only invade plant epidermal cells. There are two epidermal surfaces in every plant leaf: the adaxial (upper) side and the abaxial (lower) side. While both leaf surfaces can be susceptible to adapted powdery mildew fungi in many plant species, there have been observations of leaf abaxial immunity in some plant species including Arabidopsis. The genetic basis of such leaf abaxial immunity remains unknown. In this study, we tested a series of Arabidopsis mutants defective in one or more known defense pathways with the adapted powdery mildew isolate Golovinomyces cichoracearum UCSC1. We found that leaf abaxial immunity was significantly compromised in mutants impaired for both the EDS1/PAD4- and PEN2/PEN3-dependent defenses. Consistently, expression of EDS1-yellow fluorescent protein and PEN2-green fluorescent protein fusions from their respective native promoters in the respective eds1-2 and pen2-1 mutant backgrounds was higher in the abaxial epidermal cells than in the adaxial epidermal cells. Altogether, our results indicate that leaf abaxial immunity against powdery mildew in Arabidopsis is at least partially due to enhanced EDS1/PAD4- and PEN2/PEN3-dependent defenses. Such transcriptionally pre-programmed defense mechanisms may underlie leaf abaxial immunity in other plant species such as hemp and may be exploited for engineering adaxial immunity against powdery mildew fungi in crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - W Kyle Sexton
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - David Bloodgood
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Yan Wu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Caroline Hooks
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Frank Coker
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Andrea Vasquez
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Cheng-I Wei
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Shunyuan Xiao
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Poethig RS, Fouracre J. Temporal regulation of vegetative phase change in plants. Dev Cell 2024; 59:4-19. [PMID: 38194910 PMCID: PMC10783531 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
During their vegetative growth, plants reiteratively produce leaves, buds, and internodes at the apical end of the shoot. The identity of these organs changes as the shoot develops. Some traits change gradually, but others change in a coordinated fashion, allowing shoot development to be divided into discrete juvenile and adult phases. The transition between these phases is called vegetative phase change. Historically, vegetative phase change has been studied because it is thought to be associated with an increase in reproductive competence. However, this is not true for all species; indeed, heterochronic variation in the timing of vegetative phase change and flowering has made important contributions to plant evolution. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanism of vegetative phase change, how the timing of this process is controlled by endogenous and environmental factors, and its ecological and evolutionary significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Scott Poethig
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Jim Fouracre
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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Hu L, Kvitko B, Severns PM, Yang L. Shoot Maturation Strengthens FLS2-Mediated Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2023; 36:796-804. [PMID: 37638673 PMCID: PMC10989731 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-02-23-0018-r] [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] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Temporospatial regulation of immunity components is essential for properly activating plant defense response. Flagellin-sensing 2 (FLS2) is a surface-localized receptor that recognizes bacterial flagellin. The immune function of FLS2 is compromised in early stages of shoot development. However, the underlying mechanism for the age-dependent FLS2 signaling is not clear. Here, we show that the reduced basal immunity of juvenile leaves against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 is independent of FLS2. The flg22-induced marker gene expression and reactive oxygen species activation were comparable in juvenile and adult stages, but callose deposition was more evident in the adult stage than the juvenile stage. We further demonstrated that microRNA156, a master regulator of plant aging, does not influence the expression of FLS2 and FRK1 (Flg22-induced receptor-like kinase 1) but mildly suppresses callose deposition in juvenile leaves. Our experiments revealed an intrinsic mechanism that regulates the amplitude of FLS2-mediated resistance during aging. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanxi Hu
- Department of plant pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Brian Kvitko
- Department of plant pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Paul M. Severns
- Department of plant pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Li Yang
- Department of plant pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
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Maeda N, Matsuta F, Noguchi T, Fujii A, Ishida H, Kitagawa Y, Ishikawa A. The Homeodomain-Leucine Zipper Subfamily I Contributes to Leaf Age- and Time-Dependent Resistance to Pathogens in Arabidopsis thaliana. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16356. [PMID: 38003546 PMCID: PMC10671646 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), nonhost resistance (NHR) is influenced by both leaf age and the moment of inoculation. While the circadian clock and photoperiod have been linked to the time-dependent regulation of NHR in Arabidopsis, the mechanism underlying leaf age-dependent NHR remains unclear. In this study, we investigated leaf age-dependent NHR to Pyricularia oryzae in Arabidopsis. Our findings revealed that this NHR type is regulated by both miR156-dependent and miR156-independent pathways. To identify the key players, we utilized rice-FOX Arabidopsis lines and identified the rice HD-Zip I OsHOX6 gene. Notably, OsHOX6 expression confers robust NHR to P. oryzae and Colletotrichum nymphaeae in Arabidopsis, with its effect being contingent upon leaf age. Moreover, we explored the role of AtHB7 and AtHB12, the Arabidopsis closest homologues of OsHOX6, by studying mutants and overexpressors in Arabidopsis-C. higginsianum interaction. AtHB7 and AtHB12 were found to contribute to both penetration resistance and post-penetration resistance to C. higginsianum in a leaf age- and time-dependent manner. These findings highlight the involvement of HD-Zip I AtHB7 and AtHB12, well-known regulators of development and abiotic stress responses, in biotic stress responses in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Atsushi Ishikawa
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, Fukui 910-1195, Japan
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