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Qu Y, Fernie AR, Liu J, Yan J. Doubled haploid technology and synthetic apomixis: Recent advances and applications in future crop breeding. MOLECULAR PLANT 2024; 17:1005-1018. [PMID: 38877700 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.06.005] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Doubled haploid (DH) technology and synthetic apomixis approaches can considerably shorten breeding cycles and enhance breeding efficiency. Compared with traditional breeding methods, DH technology offers the advantage of rapidly generating inbred lines, while synthetic apomixis can effectively fix hybrid vigor. In this review, we focus on (i) recent advances in identifying and characterizing genes responsible for haploid induction (HI), (ii) the molecular mechanisms of HI, (iii) spontaneous haploid genome doubling, and (iv) crop synthetic apomixis. We also discuss the challenges and potential solutions for future crop breeding programs utilizing DH technology and synthetic apomixis. Finally, we provide our perspectives about how to integrate DH and synthetic apomixis for precision breeding and de novo domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhi Qu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Max- Planck- Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany; Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Jie Liu
- Yazhouwan National Laboratory, Sanya 572024, China.
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China; Yazhouwan National Laboratory, Sanya 572024, China.
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2
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Pankaj R, Shoejaeyfar S, Figueiredo DD. An epiQTL underlying asexual seed formation in Arabidopsis. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2024:10.1007/s00497-024-00504-y. [PMID: 38836892 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-024-00504-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE The DNA methylation status at an epigenetic quantitative trait locus in the Arabidopsis chromosome 2 is linked to the formation of apomictic-like endosperms. Seed development in most angiosperms is coupled to fertilization of the maternal gametes by two sperm cells. However, apomictic species can reproduce asexually via seeds. This trait is of great agricultural interest, as it would fix complex genotypes and allow for pollen-independent seed production. However, engineering full apomixis requires three independent processes: apomeiosis, parthenogenesis and autonomous endosperm development. While the first two have been successfully engineered in some crops, the formation of autonomous endosperms remains a challenge. Although it is known that this trait is under epigenetic control, such as of DNA methylation, the underlying mechanisms remain mostly undiscovered. Here, using epigenetic recombinant inbred lines, we identified an epigenetic quantitative trait locus in the Arabidopsis chromosome 2, which correlates with permissiveness for the formation of asexual seeds: hypomethylation at this genomic region allows the formation of larger autonomous endosperms. Importantly, the methylation at this locus only correlates with asexual seed size, and not to the size of sexual seeds or that of other organs. With this, we aim to show that screening for epialleles is a promising strategy to uncover loci underlying relevant traits and could pave the way to identifying genes necessary for the engineering of apomixis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishabh Pankaj
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam Science Park, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Shiana Shoejaeyfar
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam Science Park, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
- Business Academy Aarhus, 8260, Viby J, Denmark
| | - Duarte D Figueiredo
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam Science Park, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
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3
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Hojsgaard D, Nagel M, Feingold SE, Massa GA, Bradshaw JE. New Frontiers in Potato Breeding: Tinkering with Reproductive Genes and Apomixis. Biomolecules 2024; 14:614. [PMID: 38927018 PMCID: PMC11202281 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060614] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Potato is the most important non-cereal crop worldwide, and, yet, genetic gains in potato have been traditionally delayed by the crop's biology, mostly the genetic heterozygosity of autotetraploid cultivars and the intricacies of the reproductive system. Novel site-directed genetic modification techniques provide opportunities for designing climate-smart cultivars, but they also pose new possibilities (and challenges) for breeding potato. As potato species show a remarkable reproductive diversity, and their ovules have a propensity to develop apomixis-like phenotypes, tinkering with reproductive genes in potato is opening new frontiers in potato breeding. Developing diploid varieties instead of tetraploid ones has been proposed as an alternative way to fill the gap in genetic gain, that is being achieved by using gene-edited self-compatible genotypes and inbred lines to exploit hybrid seed technology. In a similar way, modulating the formation of unreduced gametes and synthesizing apomixis in diploid or tetraploid potatoes may help to reinforce the transition to a diploid hybrid crop or enhance introgression schemes and fix highly heterozygous genotypes in tetraploid varieties. In any case, the induction of apomixis-like phenotypes will shorten the time and costs of developing new varieties by allowing the multi-generational propagation through true seeds. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on potato reproductive phenotypes and underlying genes, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using potato's natural variability to modulate reproductive steps during seed formation, and consider strategies to synthesize apomixis. However, before we can fully modulate the reproductive phenotypes, we need to understand the genetic basis of such diversity. Finally, we visualize an active, central role for genebanks in this endeavor by phenotyping properly genotyped genebank accessions and new introductions to provide scientists and breeders with reliable data and resources for developing innovations to exploit market opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Hojsgaard
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany;
| | - Manuela Nagel
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Seeland, Germany;
| | - Sergio E. Feingold
- Laboratorio de Agrobiotecnología, EEA Balcarce-IPADS (UEDD INTA–CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Balcarce B7620, Argentina; (S.E.F.); (G.A.M.)
| | - Gabriela A. Massa
- Laboratorio de Agrobiotecnología, EEA Balcarce-IPADS (UEDD INTA–CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Balcarce B7620, Argentina; (S.E.F.); (G.A.M.)
- Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Balcarce B7620, Argentina
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Setayeshnasab M, Sabzalian MR, Rahimmalek M. The relation between apomictic seed production and morpho-physiological characteristics in a world collection of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.). Sci Rep 2024; 14:5013. [PMID: 38424457 PMCID: PMC10904805 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53700-1] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Ricinus communis is one of the most important oilseed plants with many medicinal and industrial applications. Variation in 30 genotypes of castor bean collected from different regions of the world was evaluated for two consecutive years and the difference in seed production with two different reproductive modes (including apomixis and open-pollination) was compared based on yield components, agronomic traits, and phytochemical properties. Results of data analysis demonstrated that castor bean has the ability for a wide range of apomixis for seed production and the highest percentages of apomixis ability in the first and second years were 86.3% and 92.31%, respectively. Apomixis ability had a high positive correlation with yield components, seed oil content, and the amount of leaf rutin. Two genotypes from Brazil and Syria revealed the highest phenolic content in the first and second years, respectively. In addition, the Afghanistan genotype in two modes of apomixis and open-pollination in the first year and the Syria and Yazd genotypes in apomixis and open-pollination modes, respectively, in the second year showed the highest content of seed fatty acids. It is possible to maintain superior genotypes of castor bean in terms of phytochemical traits, yield, and oil quality through apomixis reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maedeh Setayeshnasab
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad R Sabzalian
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Rahimmalek
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran
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Vernet A, Meynard D, Guiderdoni E. Clonal reproduction by seed of a cultivated hybrid plant: a new perspective for small-scale rice growers. C R Biol 2024; 346:107-116. [PMID: 38206040 DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.125] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Transferring an asexual mode of reproduction by seeds (apomixis) to cultivated plants would enable clonal reproduction of heterozygous genotypes such as F1 hybrids with hybrid vigor (heterosis), facilitating their access and multiplication by small-scale growers. Although sources of apomixis and the genetic loci controlling its constituent elements have been identified in wild species, their transfer by crossing to cultivated species has so far been unsuccessful. Here, we have introduced synthetic apomixis in hybrid rice to produce a high (95-100%) frequency of clonal seeds, via the inactivation of three meiotic genes-resulting in unreduced, non-recombined gametes-and the addition of an egg cell parthenogenesis trigger. The genotype and phenotype, including grain quality, of the F1 hybrid are reproduced identically in the clonal apomictic progenies. These results make synthetic apomixis compatible with future use in agriculture.
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Williams BR, Miller AJ, Edwards CE. How do threatened plant species with low genetic diversity respond to environmental stress? Insights from comparative conservation epigenomics and phenotypic plasticity. Mol Ecol Resour 2023. [PMID: 37988186 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13897] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Many threatened plants have low genetic diversity, which may reduce their capacity for genetically based adaptation, increasing their extinction risk. Non-genetic variation (e.g. epigenomic modifications such as DNA methylation) and plasticity may facilitate the persistence of threatened plants, yet are rarely incorporated into conservation assessments. We present a case study investigating variation and plasticity in DNA methylation and phenotypic traits in four genetically depauperate species of Leavenworthia (Brassicaceae), including one widespread species and one asexual, threatened species. We grew individuals from several maternal lines and populations per species in contrasting watering treatments, measured phenotypic traits and analysed DNA methylation using whole-genome bisulphite sequencing. We addressed four questions: (1) How do patterns of DNA methylation differ within and among species? (2) Within species, how do phenotypic traits and patterns of DNA methylation vary in response to drought? (3) Does variation in DNA methylation correspond to phenotypic variation? (4) What are the implications for conservation? We found that taxa were epigenomically distinct and that each species exhibited variation in DNA methylation among populations that could be relevant for conservation. Within species, the DNA methylation response to environmental stress corresponded to its phenotypic response. Species differed in their DNA methylation and phenotypic responses to environmental stress, with the extent of plasticity possibly related to species geographic range size. We also found phenotypic and DNA methylation variation in the asexual, threatened species that may be relevant for conservation. Our results suggest that variation in DNA methylation may promote the persistence of genetically depauperate threatened plants, highlighting its potential as a novel conservation target to reduce extinction risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigette R Williams
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Allison J Miller
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Christine E Edwards
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Tonosaki K, Kinoshita T. Polycomb repression of the asexual embryo. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:1783-1784. [PMID: 37814023 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01537-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Tonosaki
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.
| | - Tetsu Kinoshita
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.
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Wu X, Xie L, Sun X, Wang N, Finnegan EJ, Helliwell C, Yao J, Zhang H, Wu X, Hands P, Lu F, Ma L, Zhou B, Chaudhury A, Cao X, Luo M. Mutation in Polycomb repressive complex 2 gene OsFIE2 promotes asexual embryo formation in rice. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:1848-1861. [PMID: 37814022 PMCID: PMC10654051 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01536-4] [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: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Prevention of autonomous division of the egg apparatus and central cell in a female gametophyte before fertilization ensures successful reproduction in flowering plants. Here we show that rice ovules of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) Osfie1 and Osfie2 double mutants exhibit asexual embryo and autonomous endosperm formation at a high frequency, while ovules of single Osfie2 mutants display asexual pre-embryo-like structures at a lower frequency without fertilization. Earlier onset, higher penetrance and better development of asexual embryos in the double mutants compared with those in Osfie2 suggest that the autonomous endosperm facilitated asexual embryo development. Transcriptomic analysis showed that male genome-expressed OsBBM1 and OsWOX8/9 were activated in the asexual embryos. Similarly, the maternal alleles of the paternally expressed imprinted genes were activated in the autonomous endosperm, suggesting that the egg apparatus and central cell convergently adopt PRC2 to maintain the non-dividing state before fertilization, possibly through silencing of the maternal alleles of male genome-expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoba Wu
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| | - Liqiong Xie
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, P. R. China
| | - Xizhe Sun
- The State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, P. R. China
- Division of Plant Science, Research School of Biology, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ningning Wang
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - E Jean Finnegan
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Chris Helliwell
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Jialing Yao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Xianjun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Phil Hands
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Falong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Lisong Ma
- The State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, P. R. China
- Division of Plant Science, Research School of Biology, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Bing Zhou
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Abed Chaudhury
- Krishan Foundation Pty Ltd, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Xiaofeng Cao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and National Center for Plant Gene Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Ming Luo
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
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Bicknell R, Gaillard M, Catanach A, McGee R, Erasmuson S, Fulton B, Winefield C. Genetic mapping of the LOSS OF PARTHENOGENESIS locus in Pilosella piloselloides and the evolution of apomixis in the Lactuceae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1239191. [PMID: 37692427 PMCID: PMC10485273 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1239191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Pilosella piloselloides var. praealta (syn. P. praealta; Hieracium praealtum) is a versatile model used to study gametophytic apomixis. In this system apomixis is controlled by three loci: one that controls the avoidance of meiosis (LOA), one that controls the avoidance of fertilization (LOP) and a third that controls autonomous endosperm formation (AutE). Using a unique polyhaploid mapping approach the LOP locus was mapped to a 654 kb genomic interval syntenic to linkage group 8 of Lactuca sativa. Polyhaploids form through the gametophytic action of a dominant determinant at LOP, so the mapped region represents both a functional and a physical domain for LOP in P. piloselloides. Allele sequence divergence (ASD) analysis of the PARTHENOGENESIS (PAR) gene within the LOP locus revealed that dominant PAR alleles in Pilosella remain highly similar across the genus, whilst the recessive alleles are more divergent. A previous report noted that dominant PAR alleles in both Pilosella and Taraxacum are modified by the presence of a class II transposable element (TE) in the promoter of the gene. This observation was confirmed and further extended to the related genus Hieracium. Sufficient differences were noted in the structure and location of the TE elements to conclude that TE insertional events had occurred independently in the three genera. Measures of allele crossover amongst the polyhaploids revealed that P. piloselloides is an autopolyploid species with tetrasomic inheritance. It was also noted that the dominant determinant of LOP in P. piloselloides could transmit via a diploid gamete (pollen or egg) but not via a haploid gamete. Using this information, a model is presented of how gametophytic apomixis may have evolved in several members of the Lactuceae, a tribe of the Asteraceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Bicknell
- Department of Breeding and Genomics, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Marion Gaillard
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Catanach
- Department of Breeding and Genomics, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Robert McGee
- Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Lincoln, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvia Erasmuson
- Department of Breeding and Genomics, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Beatrice Fulton
- Department of Breeding and Genomics, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Christopher Winefield
- Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand
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Carra A, Catalano C, Pathirana R, Sajeva M, Inglese P, Motisi A, Carimi F. Increased Zygote-Derived Plantlet Formation through In Vitro Rescue of Immature Embryos of Highly Apomictic Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2758. [PMID: 37570913 PMCID: PMC10421068 DOI: 10.3390/plants12152758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
O. ficus-indica (prickly pear cactus) is an important forage and food source in arid and semiarid ecosystems and is the most important cactus species in cultivation globally. The high degree of apomixis in the species is a hindrance in plant breeding programs where genetic segregation is sought for the selection of superior genotypes. To understand if in ovulo embryo rescue could increase the proportion of zygotic seedlings, we compared the mature seed-derived seedlings with those regenerated from in vitro embryo rescue at 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 post-anthesis days (PADs) in four Italian cultivars. The seedlings were classified as apomictic or zygotic based on molecular marker analysis using inter-sequence single repeat (ISSR) primers. Multiple embryos were recovered from all the cultured immature ovules, and plantlets were regenerated and acclimatized to the field post hardening, with success rates ranging from 62% ('Senza spine') to 83% ('Gialla'). The level of polyembryony differed among cultivars and recovery dates, with the highest being 'Rossa', producing 4.8 embryos/ovule at 35 PADs, and 'Gialla', the lowest, with 2.7 at 40 PADs. The maximum number of embryos observed within a single ovule was 14 in 'Trunzara bianca'. ISSR analysis revealed that ovule culture at 35 PADs produced the highest percentage of zygotic seedlings in all the cultivars, from 51% ('Rossa') to 98% ('Gialla'), with a high genotype effect as well. Mature seeds produced much fewer seedlings per seed, ranging from 1.2 in 'Trunzara bianca' to 2.0 in 'Rossa' and a lower percentage of zygotic seedlings (from 14% in 'Rossa' to 63% in 'Gialla'). Our research opens a pathway to increase the availability of zygotic seedlings in O. ficus-indica breeding programs through in ovulo embryo culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Carra
- CNR—Istituto di Bioscienze e BioRisorse, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (A.C.); (C.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Caterina Catalano
- CNR—Istituto di Bioscienze e BioRisorse, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (A.C.); (C.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Ranjith Pathirana
- Plant & Food Research Australia Pty Ltd., #46 Plant Breeding, Waite Road, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia;
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Road, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Maurizio Sajeva
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Paolo Inglese
- Department of Agricultural Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Antonio Motisi
- CNR—Istituto di Bioscienze e BioRisorse, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (A.C.); (C.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Francesco Carimi
- CNR—Istituto di Bioscienze e BioRisorse, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (A.C.); (C.C.); (A.M.)
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He Z, Lei Y, Gong W, Ye M, Luo X. Karyotype and Phylogenetic Relationship Analysis of Five Varieties and Cultivars of Zanthoxylum armatum Based on Oligo-FISH. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1459. [PMID: 37510363 PMCID: PMC10379346 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071459] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Green prickly ash (Zanthoxylum armatum) has edible and medicinal value and is an economically significant plant in many countries. Z. armatum has many cultivars and varieties with similar phenotypes that are difficult to distinguish via traditional methods. In this study, we utilized oligo-FISH to distinguish five varieties and cultivars of Z. armatum on the basis of three oligonucleotide probes of 5S rDNA, (AG3T3)3, and (GAA)6. Karyotype analysis of the five varieties and cultivars of Z. armatum showed that the Z. armatum 'Tengjiao' karyotype formula was 2n = 2x = 98m with karyotype type 1C and an arm ratio of 4.3237, including two pairs of 5S rDNA signals and five pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The karyotype formula of Z. armatum 'Youkangtengjiao' was 2n = 2x = 128m + 8sm with karyotype type 2B and an arm ratio of 3.5336, including three pairs of 5S rDNA signals and 17 pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The karyotype formula of Z. armatum var. novemfolius was 2n = 2x = 134m + 2sm with karyotype type 1C and an arm ratio of 5.5224, including two pairs of 5S rDNA signals and eight pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The karyotype formula of Z. armatum 'YT-03' was 2n = 2x = 2M + 128m + 4sm + 2st with karyotype type 2C and an arm ratio of 4.1829, including three pairs of 5S rDNA signals and nine pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The karyotype formula of Z. armatum 'YT-06' was 2n = 2x = 126m + 10sm with cytotype 2B and an arm ratio of 3.3011, including three pairs of 5S rDNA signals and two pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The five varieties and cultivars of Z. armatum had (AG3T3)3 signals on all chromosomes. The chromosomal symmetry of Z. armatum 'Tengjiao' was high, whereas the chromosomal symmetry of Z. armatum 'YT-03' was low, with the karyotypes of the five materials showing a trend toward polyploid evolution. The phylogenetic relationship between Z. armatum 'Tengjiao' and Z. armatum var. novemfolius was the closest, while that between Z. armatum 'YT-03' and Z. armatum 'YT-06' was closer than with Z. armatum 'Youkangtengjiao' according to oligo-FISH. The results provided a karyotype profile and a physical map that contributes to the distinction of varieties and cultivars of Z. armatum and provides strategies for distinguishing other cultivated species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhoujian He
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yuting Lei
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Wei Gong
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Meng Ye
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Xiaomei Luo
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
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12
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Xiao Y, Chen X, Yin Y, Zheng J, Yi H, Song L. Comparative genetic and epigenetic of the Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski from different regions in China. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:289. [PMID: 37254044 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04277-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski is a prevalent and widely distributed invasive plant in South China. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying its rapid adaptation, we employed DNA methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis to study 60 S. trilobata individuals collected from Fuzhou (FZ), Haikou (HK), Jinghong (JH) and Guangzhou (GZ). RESULTS In this study, we computed the Shannon diversity index (I) of SSR and MSAP as 0.354 and 0.303, respectively. The UPGMA phylogenetic tree and PCoA analyses showed that MSAP had a better discriminatory power to distinguish populations from different regions. Notably, the GZ population was found to be the most distinct from the other three populations. Moreover, Mantel analysis revealed a significantly higher correlation between epigenetic distance and geographic distance as compared to genetic distance and geographic distance. Consequently, the correlation between epigenetic distance and geographic distance observed to be markedly stronger than that between genetic distance and geographical distance on Mantel analysis. CONCLUSIONS The S. trilobata populations in various regions displayed a high of complementary genetic and epigenetic diversity, which was a key feature contributing to their rapid invasion. Interestingly, the correlation between epigenetics and geographical distance was significantly stronger than that observed for genetics and geographical distance. These findings indicated that the epigenetic mechanism of S. trilobar exhibited high plasticity, leading to significant differences in methylation pattern across different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusha Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiuqing Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuhan Yin
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jiening Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Huixian Yi
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Liying Song
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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13
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Dusi DMA, Alves ER, Cabral GB, Mello LV, Rigden DJ, Silveira ÉD, Alves-Ferreira M, Guimarães LA, Gomes ACMM, Rodrigues JCM, Carneiro VTC. An exonuclease V homologue is expressed predominantly during early megasporogenesis in apomictic Brachiaria brizantha. PLANTA 2023; 258:5. [PMID: 37219749 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04162-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION An exonuclease V homologue from apomictic Brachiaria brizantha is expressed and localized in nucellar cells at key moments when these cells differentiate to give rise to unreduced gametophytes. Brachiaria is a genus of forage grasses with economical and agricultural importance to Brazil. Brachiaria reproduces by aposporic apomixis, in which unreduced embryo sacs, derived from nucellar cells, other than the megaspore mother cell (MMC), are formed. The unreduced embryo sacs produce an embryo without fertilization resulting in clones of the mother plant. Comparative gene expression analysis in ovaries of sexual and apomictic Brachiaria spp. revealed a sequence from B. brizantha that showed a distinct pattern of expression in ovaries of sexual and apomictic plants. In this work, we describe a gene named BbrizExoV with strong identity to exonuclease V (Exo V) genes from other grasses. Sequence analysis in signal prediction tools showed that BbrizExoV might have dual localization, depending on the translation point. A longer form to the nucleus and a shorter form which would be directed to the chloroplast. This is also the case for monocot sequences analyzed from other species. The long form of BbrizExoV protein localizes to the nucleus of onion epidermal cells. Analysis of ExoV proteins from dicot species, with exception of Arabidopsis thaliana ExoVL protein, showed only one localization. Using a template-based AlphaFold 2 modelling approach the structure of BbrizExoV in complex with metal and ssDNA was predicted based on the holo structure of the human counterpart. Features predicted to define ssDNA binding but a lack of sequence specificity are shared between the human enzyme and BbrizExoV. Expression analyses indicated the precise site and timing of transcript accumulation during ovule development, which coincides with the differentiation of nucelar cells to form the typical aposporic four-celled unreduced gametophyte. A putative function for this protein is proposed based on its homology and expression pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diva M A Dusi
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Cx. Postal 02372, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Elizângela R Alves
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Cx. Postal 02372, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- Department of Celular Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Gláucia B Cabral
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Cx. Postal 02372, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Luciane V Mello
- School of Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Daniel J Rigden
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Érica D Silveira
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Cx. Postal 02372, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Prof. Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, s/n Prédio do CCS Instituto de Biologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Márcio Alves-Ferreira
- Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Prof. Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, s/n Prédio do CCS Instituto de Biologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Larissa A Guimarães
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Cx. Postal 02372, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
- Department of Celular Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina M M Gomes
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Cx. Postal 02372, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Júlio C M Rodrigues
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Cx. Postal 02372, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil.
| | - Vera T C Carneiro
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Cx. Postal 02372, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, Brazil.
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14
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Mahlandt A, Singh DK, Mercier R. Engineering apomixis in crops. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2023; 136:131. [PMID: 37199785 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04357-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is an asexual mode of reproduction through seeds where progeny are clones of the mother plants. Naturally apomictic modes of reproduction are found in hundreds of plant genera distributed across more than 30 plant families, but are absent in major crop plants. Apomixis has the potential to be a breakthrough technology by allowing the propagation through seed of any genotype, including F1 hybrids. Here, we have summarized the recent progress toward synthetic apomixis, where combining targeted modifications of both the meiosis and fertilization processes leads to the production of clonal seeds at high frequencies. Despite some remaining challenges, the technology has approached a level of maturity that allows its consideration for application in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Mahlandt
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dipesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, Cologne, Germany
| | - Raphael Mercier
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, Cologne, Germany.
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15
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Luo M, Wu X, Xie L, Sun X, Wang N, Finnegan J, Helliwell C, Yao J, Zhang H, Wu X, Lu F, Ma L, Zhou B, Chaudhury A, Cao X, Hands P. Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) suppresses asexual embryo and autonomous endosperm formation in rice.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1087314/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/19/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Prevention of autonomous division of the egg apparatus and central cell in a female gametophyte before fertilization ensures successful reproduction in flowering plants. Here we show that rice ovules with PRC2 Osfie1 and Osfie2 double mutations exhibit asexual embryo and autonomous endosperm formation at a high frequency, while ovules with a single Osfie2 mutation display asexual pre-embryo-like structures at a lower frequency without fertilization. Confocal microscopy images indicate that the asexual embryos were mainly derived from eggs in the double mutants, while the asexual pre-embryos likely originated from eggs or synergids. Early onsetting, higher penetrance and better development of asexual embryos in the double mutants compared with those in Osfie2 suggest that autonomous endosperm facilitated the asexual embryo development. Transcriptomic analysis showed pluripotency factors such as male genome expressed OsBBM1 and OsWOX8/9 were activated in the asexual embryos. Similarly, the maternal alleles of the paternally expressed imprinted genes were activated in the autonomous endosperm. Our results suggest that the egg apparatus and central cell convergently adopt PRC2 to suppresses asexual embryo and autonomous endosperm formation possibly through silencing male genome-expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Luo
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Box 1700, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Xiaoba Wu
- Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Liqiong Xie
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, P. R. China
| | - Xizhe Sun
- Division of Plant Science, Research School of Biology, the Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Ningning Wang
- Faculty of agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, P.R. China
| | - Jean Finnegan
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Box 1700, ACT 2601, Australia
| | | | | | - Hongyu Zhang
- Sate Key Laboratory of Gene Discovery and Utilization, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, P. R. China
| | | | - Falong Lu
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Lisong Ma
- Division of Plant Science, Research School of Biology, the Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Bing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing
| | | | - Xiaofeng Cao
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Phil Hands
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Box 1700, ACT 2601, Australia
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16
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Abstract
Wang and Underwood introduce apomixis in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazhong Wang
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829 Cologne, Germany
| | - Charles J Underwood
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829 Cologne, Germany.
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17
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Cornaro L, Banfi C, Cucinotta M, Colombo L, van Dijk PJ. Asexual reproduction through seeds: the complex case of diplosporous apomixis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:2462-2478. [PMID: 36794770 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad054] [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: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is considered a potentially revolutionary tool to generate high-quality food at a lower cost and shorter developmental time due to clonal seed production through apomeiosis and parthenogenesis. In the diplosporous type of apomixis, meiotic recombination and reduction are circumvented either by avoiding or failing meiosis or by a mitotic-like division. Here, we review the literature on diplospory, from early cytological studies dating back to the late 19th century to recent genetic findings. We discuss diplosporous developmental mechanisms, including their inheritance. Furthermore, we compare the strategies adopted to isolate the genes controlling diplospory with those to produce mutants forming unreduced gametes. Nowadays, the dramatically improved technologies of long-read sequencing and targeted CRISPR/Cas mutagenesis justify the expectation that natural diplospory genes will soon be identified. Their identification will answer questions such as how the apomictic phenotype can be superimposed upon the sexual pathway and how diplospory genes have evolved. This knowledge will contribute to the application of apomixis in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Cornaro
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Camilla Banfi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Mara Cucinotta
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Colombo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Peter J van Dijk
- KeyGene N.V., Agro Business Park 90, 6708 PW Wageningen, The Netherlands
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18
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Ferreira LG, Dusi DMA, Irsigler AST, Gomes ACMM, Florentino LH, Mendes MA, Colombo L, Carneiro VTC. Identification of IPT9 in Brachiaria brizantha (syn. Urochloa brizantha) and expression analyses during ovule development in sexual and apomictic plants. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:4887-4897. [PMID: 37072653 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08295-7] [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: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Brachiaria sexual reproduction, during ovule development, a nucellar cell differentiates into a megaspore mother cell (MMC) that, through meiosis and mitosis, gives rise to a reduced embryo sac. In aposporic apomictic Brachiaria, next to the MMC, other nucellar cells differentiate into aposporic initials that enter mitosis directly forming an unreduced embryo sac. The IPT (isopentenyltransferase) family comprises key genes in the cytokinin (CK) pathway which are expressed in Arabidopsis during ovule development. BbrizIPT9, a B. brizantha (syn. Urochloa brizantha) IPT9 gene, highly similar to genes of other Poaceae plants, also shows similarity with Arabidopsis IPT9, AtIPT9. In this work, we aimed to investigate association of BbrizIPT9 with ovule development in sexual and apomictic plants. METHODS AND RESULTS RT-qPCR showed higher BbrizIPT9 expression in the ovaries of sexual than in the apomictic B. brizantha. Results of in-situ hybridization showed strong signal of BbrizIPT9 in the MMC of both plants, at the onset of megasporogenesis. By analyzing AtIPT9 knockdown mutants, we verified enlarged nucellar cell, next to the MMC, in a percentage significantly higher than in the wild type, suggesting that knockout of AtIPT9 gene triggered the differentiation of extra MMC-like cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that AtIPT9 might be involved in the proper differentiation of a single MMC during ovule development. The expression of a BbrizIPT9, localized in male and female sporocytes, and lower in apomicts than in sexuals, and effect of IPT9 knockout in Arabidopsis, suggest involvement of IPT9 in early ovule development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana G Ferreira
- Department of Biology, University of Brasília - UnB, Campus Darcy Ribeiro S/N - Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70.910-900, Brazil
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB Av. W5 Norte., Caixa Postal 02372, Brasília, DF, 70.770-917, Brazil
| | - Diva M A Dusi
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB Av. W5 Norte., Caixa Postal 02372, Brasília, DF, 70.770-917, Brazil
| | - André S T Irsigler
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB Av. W5 Norte., Caixa Postal 02372, Brasília, DF, 70.770-917, Brazil
| | - Ana C M M Gomes
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB Av. W5 Norte., Caixa Postal 02372, Brasília, DF, 70.770-917, Brazil
| | - Lilian H Florentino
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB Av. W5 Norte., Caixa Postal 02372, Brasília, DF, 70.770-917, Brazil
| | - Marta A Mendes
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Lucia Colombo
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Vera T C Carneiro
- Department of Biology, University of Brasília - UnB, Campus Darcy Ribeiro S/N - Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70.910-900, Brazil.
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB Av. W5 Norte., Caixa Postal 02372, Brasília, DF, 70.770-917, Brazil.
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19
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Caperta AD, Fernandes I, Conceição SIR, Marques I, Róis AS, Paulo OS. Ovule Transcriptome Analysis Discloses Deregulation of Genes and Pathways in Sexual and Apomictic Limonium Species (Plumbaginaceae). Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040901. [PMID: 37107659 PMCID: PMC10137852 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Limonium Mill. (sea lavenders) includes species with sexual and apomixis reproductive strategies, although the genes involved in these processes are unknown. To explore the mechanisms beyond these reproduction modes, transcriptome profiling of sexual, male sterile, and facultative apomictic species was carried out using ovules from different developmental stages. In total, 15,166 unigenes were found to be differentially expressed with apomictic vs. sexual reproduction, of which 4275 were uniquely annotated using an Arabidopsis thaliana database, with different regulations according to each stage and/or species compared. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated that genes related to tubulin, actin, the ubiquitin degradation process, reactive oxygen species scavenging, hormone signaling such as the ethylene signaling pathway and gibberellic acid-dependent signal, and transcription factors were found among differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between apomictic and sexual plants. We found that 24% of uniquely annotated DEGs were likely to be implicated in flower development, male sterility, pollen formation, pollen-stigma interactions, and pollen tube formation. The present study identifies candidate genes that are highly associated with distinct reproductive modes and sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of apomixis expression in Limonium sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana D Caperta
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Research Center, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Fernandes
- cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sofia I R Conceição
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Research Center, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
- LASIGE Computer Science and Engineering Research Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Marques
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Research Center, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana S Róis
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Research Center, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
- School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias (ULHT), Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Octávio S Paulo
- cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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20
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Niccolò T, Anderson AW, Emidio A. Apomixis: oh, what a tangled web we have! PLANTA 2023; 257:92. [PMID: 37000270 PMCID: PMC10066125 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04124-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is a complex evolutionary trait with many possible origins. Here we discuss various clues and causes, ultimately proposing a model harmonizing the three working hypotheses on the topic. Asexual reproduction through seeds, i.e., apomixis, is the holy grail of plant biology. Its implementation in modern breeding could be a game-changer for agriculture. It has the potential to generate clonal crops and maintain valuable complex genotypes and their associated heterotic traits without inbreeding depression. The genetic basis and origins of apomixis are still unclear. There are three central hypothesis for the development of apomixis that could be: i) a deviation from the sexual developmental program caused by an asynchronous development, ii) environmentally triggered through epigenetic regulations (a polyphenism of sex), iii) relying on one or more genes/alleles. Because of the ever-increasing complexity of the topic, the path toward a detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying apomixis remains unclear. Here, we discuss the most recent advances in the evolution perspective of this multifaceted trait. We incorporated our understanding of the effect of endogenous effectors, such as small RNAs, epigenetic regulation, hormonal pathways, protein turnover, and cell wall modification in response to an upside stress. This can be either endogenous (hybridization or polyploidization) or exogenous environmental stress, mainly due to oxidative stress and the corresponding ROS (Reacting Oxygen Species) effectors. Finally, we graphically represented this tangled web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terzaroli Niccolò
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Aaron W Anderson
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
- Fulbright Scholar From Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Albertini Emidio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie (CIB), Trieste, Italy
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21
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Yao TL, Nazre M, McKey D, Jalonen R, Duminil J. The origin of cultivated mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana L. var. mangostana): Critical assessments and an evolutionary-ecological perspective. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9792. [PMID: 36937066 PMCID: PMC10020034 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9792] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana var. mangostana) is a popular tropical fruit, yet many aspects of its biology and evolutionary history are little known. Its origin remains contentious, although recent findings suggest G. mangostana L. var. malaccensis (Hook. f.) Nazre (synonym: G. malaccensis Hook. f.) as the sole progenitor. We review hypotheses on the origin of mangosteen and clarify points that have been affected by errors of fact and interpretation. The narrow focus and lack of detail in published results make their interpretation difficult. When possible, we support our interpretations with field observations and examination of herbarium specimens. We outline the main biological traits (e.g., dioecy, facultative apomixis, and polyploidy) of mangosteen and its wild relatives to infer traits that might have evolved during domestication of mangosteen. We find no clear indication that apomixis and polyploidy evolved during domestication. Polyploidy is known in the wild relatives, but apomixis has not yet been demonstrated. Also, we propose a testable new evolutionary-ecological framework that we call "Forest-Dusun Interface" to infer processes in the origin of mangosteen. Dusun (Malay) refers to subsistence orchards in this context. Lastly, we propose future studies to address identified knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. L. Yao
- DIADEUniversity of Montpellier, IRD, CIRADMontpellierFrance
- Faculty of Forestry and EnvironmentUniversiti Putra MalaysiaSerdangSelangorMalaysia
- Forestry and Environment DivisionForest Research Institute MalaysiaKepongSelangorMalaysia
| | - M. Nazre
- Faculty of Forestry and EnvironmentUniversiti Putra MalaysiaSerdangSelangorMalaysia
| | - D. McKey
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRDMontpellierFrance
| | - R. Jalonen
- Alliance of Bioversity International and CIATAsia – Malaysia Office, c/o WorldFish HeadquartersPenangMalaysia
| | - J. Duminil
- DIADEUniversity of Montpellier, IRD, CIRADMontpellierFrance
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22
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Liu DD, Wang DR, Yang XY, Zhao CH, Li SH, Sha GL, Zhang RF, Ge HJ, Tong XS, You CX. Apomictic Malus plants exhibit abnormal pollen development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1065032. [PMID: 36890893 PMCID: PMC9986266 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1065032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is the asexual reproduction through seeds that leads to the production of genetically uniform progeny. It has become an important tool in plant breeding because it facilitates the retention of genotypes with desirable traits and allows seeds to be obtained directly from mother plants. Apomixis is rare in most economically important crops, but it occurs in some Malus species. Here, the apomictic characteristics of Malus were examined using four apomictic and two sexually reproducing Malus plants. Results from transcriptome analysis showed that plant hormone signal transduction was the main factor affecting apomictic reproductive development. Four of the apomictic Malus plants examined were triploid, and pollen was either absent or present in very low densities in the stamen. Variation in the presence of pollen was associated with variation in the apomictic percentage; specifically, pollen was absent in the stamens of tea crabapple plants with the highest apomictic percentage. Furthermore, pollen mother cells failed to progress normally into meiosis and pollen mitosis, a trait mostly observed in apomictic Malus plants. The expression levels of meiosis-related genes were upregulated in apomictic plants. Our findings indicate that our simple method of detecting pollen abortion could be used to identify apple plants that are capable of apomictic reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Dan Liu
- College of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Da-Ru Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
| | - Xuan-Yu Yang
- College of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chang-Hui Zhao
- College of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shao-Hua Li
- College of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Guang-Li Sha
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Rui-Fen Zhang
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Hong-Juan Ge
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xian-Song Tong
- Fu-ning Popularizing Agricultural Techniques Center, Fu-ning, Yunnan, China
| | - Chun-Xiang You
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China
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23
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Hörandl E. Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:844. [PMID: 36840192 PMCID: PMC9959270 DOI: 10.3390/plants12040844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The term "Geographical parthenogenesis" describes the phenomenon that asexual organisms usually occupy larger and more northern distribution areas than their sexual relatives, and tend to colonize previously glaciated areas. Several case studies on alpine and arctic plants confirm the geographical pattern, but the causal factors behind the phenomenon are still unclear. Research of the last decade in several plant families has shed light on the question and evaluated some of the classical evolutionary theories. Results confirmed, in general, that the advantages of uniparental reproduction enable apomictic plants to re-colonize faster in larger and more northern distribution areas. Associated factors like polyploidy seem to contribute mainly to the spatial separation of sexual and asexual cytotypes. Ecological studies suggest a better tolerance of apomicts to colder climates and temperate extremes, whereby epigenetic flexibility and phenotypic plasticity play an important role in occupying ecological niches under harsh conditions. Genotypic diversity appears to be of lesser importance for the distributional success of asexual plants. Classical evolutionary theories like a reduced pressure of biotic interactions in colder climates and hence an advantage to asexuals (Red Queen hypothesis) did not gain support from studies on plants. However, it is also still enigmatic why sexual outcrossing remains the predominant mode of reproduction also in alpine floras. Constraints for the origin of apomixis might play a role. Interestingly, some studies suggest an association of sexuality with abiotic stresses. Light stress in high elevations might explain why most alpine plants retain sexual reproduction despite other environmental factors that would favor apomixis. Directions for future research will be given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Hörandl
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), University of Goettingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
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24
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Synthetic apomixis: the beginning of a new era. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 79:102877. [PMID: 36628906 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is a process of asexual reproduction that enables plants to bypass meiosis and fertilization to generate clonal seeds that are identical to the maternal genotype. Apomixis has tremendous potential for breeding plants with desired characteristics, given its ability to fix any elite genotype. However, little is known about the origin and dynamics of natural apomictic plant systems. The introgression of apomixis-related genes from natural apomicts has achieved limited success. Therefore, synthetic apomixis, engineered to include apomeiosis, autonomous embryo formation, and autonomous endosperm development, has been proposed as a promising platform to effectuate apomixis in any crop. In this study, we have summarized recent advances in the understanding of synthetic apomixis and discussed the limitations of current synthetic apomixis systems and ways to overcome them.
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25
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Karami O, Philipsen C, Rahimi A, Nurillah AR, Boutilier K, Offringa R. Endogenous auxin maintains embryonic cell identity and promotes somatic embryo development in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 113:7-22. [PMID: 36345646 PMCID: PMC10098609 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis (SE), or embryo development from in vitro cultured vegetative explants, can be induced in Arabidopsis by the synthetic auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or by overexpression of specific transcription factors, such as AT-HOOK MOTIF NUCLEAR LOCALIZED 15 (AHL15). Here, we explored the role of endogenous auxin [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)] during 2,4-D and AHL15-induced SE. Using the pWOX2:NLS-YFP reporter, we identified three distinct developmental stages for 2,4-D and AHL15-induced SE in Arabidopsis, with these being (i) acquisition of embryo identity; (ii) formation of pro-embryos; and (iii) somatic embryo patterning and development. The acquisition of embryo identity coincided with enhanced expression of the indole-3-pyruvic acid auxin biosynthesis YUCCA genes, resulting in an enhanced pDR5:GFP-reported auxin response in the embryo-forming tissues. Chemical inhibition of the indole-3-pyruvic acid pathway did not affect the acquisition of embryo identity, but significantly reduced or completely inhibited the formation of pro-embryos. Co-application of IAA with auxin biosynthesis inhibitors in the AHL15-induced SE system rescued differentiated somatic embryo formation, confirming that increased IAA levels are important during the last two stages of SE. Our analyses also showed that polar auxin transport, with AUXIN/LIKE-AUX influx and PIN-FORMED1 efflux carriers as important drivers, is required for the transition of embryonic cells to proembryos and, later, for correct cell fate specification and differentiation. Taken together, our results indicate that endogenous IAA biosynthesis and its polar transport are not required for the acquisition of embryo identity, but rather to maintain embryonic cell identity and for the formation of multicellular proembryos and their development into histodifferentiated embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Karami
- Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biology LeidenLeiden UniversitySylviusweg 722333 BELeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Cheryl Philipsen
- Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biology LeidenLeiden UniversitySylviusweg 722333 BELeidenThe Netherlands
- Present address:
Plus ProjectsZwaardstraat 162584 TXThe HagueThe Netherlands
| | - Arezoo Rahimi
- Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biology LeidenLeiden UniversitySylviusweg 722333 BELeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Annisa Ratna Nurillah
- Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biology LeidenLeiden UniversitySylviusweg 722333 BELeidenThe Netherlands
- Present address:
BearingPoint CaribbeanKaya Flamboyan 7WillemstadCuraçao
| | - Kim Boutilier
- Bioscience, Wageningen University and ResearchDroevendaalsesteeg 16708 PBWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Remko Offringa
- Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biology LeidenLeiden UniversitySylviusweg 722333 BELeidenThe Netherlands
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26
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Abstract
Introducing asexual reproduction through seeds - apomixis - into crop species could revolutionize agriculture by allowing F1 hybrids with enhanced yield and stability to be clonally propagated. Engineering synthetic apomixis has proven feasible in inbred rice through the inactivation of three genes (MiMe), which results in the conversion of meiosis into mitosis in a line ectopically expressing the BABYBOOM1 (BBM1) parthenogenetic trigger in egg cells. However, only 10-30% of the seeds are clonal. Here, we show that synthetic apomixis can be achieved in an F1 hybrid of rice by inducing MiMe mutations and egg cell expression of BBM1 in a single step. We generate hybrid plants that produce more than 95% of clonal seeds across multiple generations. Clonal apomictic plants maintain the phenotype of the F1 hybrid along successive generations. Our results demonstrate that there is no barrier to almost fully penetrant synthetic apomixis in an important crop species, rendering it compatible with use in agriculture.
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27
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Wang FX, Shang GD, Wang JW. Towards a hierarchical gene regulatory network underlying somatic embryogenesis. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:1209-1217. [PMID: 35810071 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Genome-editing technologies have advanced in recent years but designing future crops remains limited by current methods of improving somatic embryogenesis (SE) capacity. In this Opinion, we provide an update on the molecular event by which the phytohormone auxin promotes the acquisition of plant cell totipotency through evoking massive changes in transcriptome and chromatin accessibility. We propose that the chromatin states and individual totipotency-related transcription factors (TFs) from disparate gene families organize into a hierarchical gene regulatory network underlying SE. We conclude with a discussion of the practical paths to probe the cellular origin of the somatic embryo and the epigenetic landscape of the totipotent cell state in the era of single-cell genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Xiang Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics (NKLPMG), CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 200032 Shanghai, PR China
| | - Guan-Dong Shang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics (NKLPMG), CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 200032 Shanghai, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Jia-Wei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics (NKLPMG), CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 200032 Shanghai, PR China; ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, PR China.
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28
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Xia Y, Wang Y, Hu Y, Zhan Y, Dan J, Tang N, Tian J, Cao M. Double-seedlings and embryo-free seeds generated by genetic engineering. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:999031. [PMID: 36262658 PMCID: PMC9576183 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.999031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis can fix the heterosis of Hybrid F1, by maintaining its heterozygous genotype, and is an ideal way for the development of hybrid rice. In this paper, we designed an engineering strategy for realizing apomictic reproduction of hybrid rice in the way of induce adventitious embryos. An embryogenesis gene, AtWUS, controlled by the ovule-specific promoter, a ribonuclease gene Barnase driven by the egg cell-specific promoter pDD45, and an inactivation gene ZmAA1 driven by the pollen-specific promoter pG47 were simultaneously integrated into one T-DNA, and co-transformed with the second T-DNA carrying a Barstar gene. Double-seedlings were observed in transgenic line. Whole-genome sequencing and ploidy levels confirmed by flow cytometry showed that one of the double-seedlings was heterozygous diploid and the other seedling was homozygous haploid, which confirmed that embryogenesis in one of the double-seedlings arises from the zygote after fertilization and the other derived from an unfertilized gamete. Meanwhile we obtained embryo-free seeds at frequencies of 2.6% to 3.8% in T1 generation, and 0.75% to 3% in T2 generation. Though we did not obtained adventitious embryos in hybrid rice in this study, the phenomenon of double-seedlings and embryo-free seeds in transgenic line was informative and strongly suggested that endosperm development is an autonomously organized process in rice, independent of egg cell fertilization and embryo-endosperm communication. This provides novel insights into the induction of haploid embryos and lends theoretical support to successful clonal propagation using synthetic apomixis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice in Sanya, Sanya, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Long Ping Branch, Graduate School of Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuanyi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice in Sanya, Sanya, China
| | - Yijie Zhan
- Long Ping Branch, Graduate School of Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Junhao Dan
- Long Ping Branch, Graduate School of Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Ning Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, Changsha, China
| | - Junyou Tian
- Long Ping Branch, Graduate School of Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengliang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, Changsha, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice in Sanya, Sanya, China
- Long Ping Branch, Graduate School of Hunan University, Changsha, China
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29
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Noyes RD. Mendelian segregation for parthenogenetic embryo development at the diploid level in the flowering plant Erigeron. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2022; 109:1641-1651. [PMID: 36112611 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16071] [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: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Parthenogenesis is the capacity of organisms to develop embryos from unfertilized eggs. When parthenogenesis is coupled with unreduced gamete formation (apomeiosis), genetically maternal progeny result. Genetic elucidation of this form of reproduction in plants, apomixis, has important agronomic implications. However, genetic characterization of apomeiosis and parthenogenesis has been problematic in part because the traits usually co-occur and are restricted to polyploids. In this work, the inheritance of parthenogenetic embryo development, by itself, was studied at the diploid level. METHODS Progeny resulting from a cross between a diploid (2n = 18), heterozygous, parthenogenetic pollen donor, and a diploid, wildtype, sexual seed parent were evaluated. Paternity was tested with conserved orthologous sequence (COS) markers, reproductive development of F1s was evaluated with microscopy of cleared ovules, and an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker (Eagc × Macg.615) co-segregating with parthenogenesis was characterized at the sequence level. RESULTS Of 102 diploid biparental progeny, 47 exhibited parthenogenetic embryo and endosperm development, and 55 lacked development of the egg and central cell. This result is consistent with Mendelian inheritance for a single locus (P = 0.43). Isolation and sequencing of the AFLP marker indicates that it is likely a portion of a Ty-Gypsy retrotransposon. Attempts to develop a sequence-characterized amplified region marker from the AFLP were unsuccessful. CONCLUSIONS This work shows that parthenogenesis can be transmitted simply at the diploid level. This advance is key in the development of a tractable system in Erigeron aimed at the identification of the parthenogenesis locus using genetic mapping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Noyes
- Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, US 72035
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30
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Wang N, Song X, Ye J, Zhang S, Cao Z, Zhu C, Hu J, Zhou Y, Huang Y, Cao S, Liu Z, Wu X, Chai L, Guo W, Xu Q, Gaut BS, Koltunow AMG, Zhou Y, Deng X. Structural variation and parallel evolution of apomixis in citrus during domestication and diversification. Natl Sci Rev 2022; 9:nwac114. [PMID: 36415319 PMCID: PMC9671666 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwac114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Apomixis, or asexual seed formation, is prevalent in Citrinae via a mechanism termed nucellar or adventitious embryony. Here, multiple embryos of a maternal genotype form directly from nucellar cells in the ovule and can outcompete the developing zygotic embryo as they utilize the sexually derived endosperm for growth. Whilst nucellar embryony enables the propagation of clonal plants of maternal genetic constitution, it is also a barrier to effective breeding through hybridization. To address the genetics and evolution of apomixis in Citrinae, a chromosome-level genome of the Hongkong kumquat (Fortunella hindsii) was assembled following a genome-wide variation map including structural variants (SVs) based on 234 Citrinae accessions. This map revealed that hybrid citrus cultivars shelter genome-wide deleterious mutations and SVs into heterozygous states free from recessive selection, which may explain the capability of nucellar embryony in most cultivars during Citrinae diversification. Analyses revealed that parallel evolution may explain the repeated origin of apomixis in different genera of Citrinae. Within Fortunella, we found that apomixis of some varieties originated via introgression. In apomictic Fortunella, the locus associated with apomixis contains the FhRWP gene, encoding an RWP-RK domain-containing protein previously shown to be required for nucellar embryogenesis in Citrus. We found the heterozygous SV in the FhRWP and CitRWP promoters from apomictic Citrus and Fortunella, due to either two or three miniature inverted transposon element (MITE) insertions. A transcription factor, FhARID, encoding an AT-rich interaction domain-containing protein binds to the MITEs in the promoter of apomictic varieties, which facilitates induction of nucellar embryogenesis. This study provides evolutionary genomic and molecular insights into apomixis in Citrinae and has potential ramifications for citrus breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xietian Song
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Junli Ye
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Siqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhen Cao
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chenqiao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jianbing Hu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yue Huang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shuo Cao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Zhongjie Liu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Xiaomeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lijun Chai
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wenwu Guo
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Brandon S Gaut
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Anna M G Koltunow
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Yongfeng Zhou
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518124, China
| | - Xiuxin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Pasten MC, Carballo J, Gallardo J, Zappacosta D, Selva JP, Rodrigo JM, Echenique V, Garbus I. A combined transcriptome - miRNAome approach revealed that a kinesin gene is differentially targeted by a novel miRNA in an apomictic genotype of Eragrostis curvula. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1012682. [PMID: 36247597 PMCID: PMC9563718 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1012682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula [Shrad.] Nees) is a perennial grass typically established in semi-arid regions, with good adaptability to dry conditions and sandy soils. This polymorphic complex includes both sexual and apomictic cytotypes, with different ploidy levels (2x-8x). Diploids are known to be sexual, while most polyploids are facultative apomicts, and full apomicts have also been reported. Plant breeding studies throughout the years have focused on achieving the introgression of apomixis into species of agricultural relevance, but, given the complexity of the trait, a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of regulatory mechanisms of apomixis is still required. Apomixis is thought to be associated with silencing or disruption of the sexual pathway, and studies have shown it is influenced by epigenetic mechanisms. In a previous study, we explored the role of miRNA-mRNA interactions using two contrasting E. curvula phenotypes. Here, the sexual OTA-S, the facultative Don Walter and the obligate apomictic Tanganyika cDNA and sRNA libraries were inquired, searching for miRNA discovery and miRNA expression regulation of genes related to the reproductive mode. This allowed for the characterization of seven miRNAs and the validation of their miRNA-target interactions. Interestingly, a kinesin gene was found to be repressed in the apomictic cultivar Tanganyika, targeted by a novel miRNA that was found to be overexpressed in this genotype, suggestive of an involvement in the reproductive mode expression. Our work provided additional evidence of the contribution of the epigenetic regulation of the apomictic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cielo Pasten
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - José Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Jimena Gallardo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Selva
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Rodrigo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ingrid Garbus
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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32
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Zhou R, Wang Y, Zhang X, Jia F, Liu Y. Cloning and expression analysis of SERK1 gene in Diospyros lotus. Open Life Sci 2022; 17:1296-1308. [PMID: 36249531 PMCID: PMC9518663 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0490] [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: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinases (SERKs), a subfamily of receptor-like kinases, play important roles in response to abiotic stresses in addition to apomictic reproductive development in numerous plant species. The purpose of the present work was to determine if an ortholog of the SERK gene is present in the Diospyros lotus genome, isolate it and analyze its expression during embryogeny and abiotic stress. An ortholog of the SERK gene was isolated from the D. lotus genome, and designated as DlSERK1. The physical and chemical properties, protein structure, and evolutionary relationship of the DlSERK1 protein were analyzed by bioinformatics methods, and the expression of DlSERK1 gene during embryonic development and under low-temperature, salt, and drought stresses was examined through real-time quantitative PCR analysis. DlSERK1 contained 1,881 bp open reading frame encoding 626 amino acids, with a molecular mass of 69.18 kDa and pI of 5.34. DlSERK1 had strong hydrophilic property, signal peptide cleavage sites, and two transmembrane regions, indicating that DlSERK1 is a secretory protein. The secondary structure of DlSERK1 was consistent with the tertiary structure, both of which were dominated by random curls and alpha-helices. DlSERK1 had the typical structure of SERK proteins, and harbored multiple phosphorylation and glycosylation sites. Quantitative analysis showed that DlSERK1 was expressed during the embryonic development period, and the highest expression level was at 10 days post-flowering. The DlSERK1 expression level was down-regulated under low-temperature stress and up-regulated under drought and salt stresses. Our study showed that DlSERK1 was expressed in embryo development and could respond to low-temperature, drought, and salt stresses, which lays a foundation for further research on the function of SERK1 in the apomixis growth and development of environmental adaptation in D. lotus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijin Zhou
- School of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Henan Province Engineering Research Centers of Horticultural Plant Research Utilization and Germplasm Enhancement, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, No. 90, East Section of Hualan Avenue, Hongqi District, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- School of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Xiaona Zhang
- School of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Fengqin Jia
- School of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Yunli Liu
- School of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
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Spotting the Targets of the Apospory Controller TGS1 in Paspalum notatum. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11151929. [PMID: 35893633 PMCID: PMC9332697 DOI: 10.3390/plants11151929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sexuality and apomixis are interconnected plant reproductive routes possibly behaving as polyphenic traits under the influence of the environment. In the subtropical grass Paspalum notatum, one of the controllers of apospory, a main component of gametophytic apomixis reproduction, is TRIMETHYLGUANOSINE SYNTHASE 1 (TGS1), a multifunctional gene previously associated with RNA cleavage regulation (including mRNA splicing as well as rRNA and miRNA processing), transcriptional modulation and the establishment of heterochromatin. In particular, the downregulation of TGS1 induces a sexuality decline and the emergence of aposporous-like embryo sacs. The present work was aimed at identifying TGS1 target RNAs expressed during reproductive development of Paspalum notatum. First, we mined available RNA databases originated from spikelets of sexual and apomictic plants, which naturally display a contrasting TGS1 representation, to identify differentially expressed mRNA splice variants and miRNAs. Then, the role of TGS1 in the generation of these particular molecules was investigated in antisense tgs1 sexual lines. We found that CHLOROPHYLL A-B BINDING PROTEIN 1B-21 (LHC Ib-21, a component of the chloroplast light harvesting complex), QUI-GON JINN (QGJ, encoding a MAP3K previously associated with apomixis) and miR2275 (a meiotic 24-nt phasi-RNAs producer) are directly or indirectly targeted by TGS1. Our results point to a coordinated control exercised by signal transduction and siRNA machineries to induce the transition from sexuality to apomixis.
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Chandana BS, Mahto RK, Singh RK, Ford R, Vaghefi N, Gupta SK, Yadav HK, Manohar M, Kumar R. Epigenomics as Potential Tools for Enhancing Magnitude of Breeding Approaches for Developing Climate Resilient Chickpea. Front Genet 2022; 13:900253. [PMID: 35937986 PMCID: PMC9355295 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.900253] [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: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenomics has become a significant research interest at a time when rapid environmental changes are occurring. Epigenetic mechanisms mainly result from systems like DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA interference. Epigenetic mechanisms are gaining importance in classical genetics, developmental biology, molecular biology, cancer biology, epidemiology, and evolution. Epigenetic mechanisms play important role in the action and interaction of plant genes during development, and also have an impact on classical plant breeding programs, inclusive of novel variation, single plant heritability, hybrid vigor, plant-environment interactions, stress tolerance, and performance stability. The epigenetics and epigenomics may be significant for crop adaptability and pliability to ambient alterations, directing to the creation of stout climate-resilient elegant crop cultivars. In this review, we have summarized recent progress made in understanding the epigenetic mechanisms in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses and have also tried to provide the ways for the efficient utilization of epigenomic mechanisms in developing climate-resilient crop cultivars, especially in chickpea, and other legume crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. S. Chandana
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), New Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Rebecca Ford
- Center for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Niloofar Vaghefi
- School of Agriculture and Food, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Murli Manohar
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Rajendra Kumar
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Rajendra Kumar,
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Variation of Residual Sexuality Rates along Reproductive Development in Apomictic Tetraploids of Paspalum. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11131639. [PMID: 35807591 PMCID: PMC9269205 DOI: 10.3390/plants11131639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Most apomictic plants are facultative, maintaining the ability to reproduce sexually at different frequencies depending on the taxa, ploidy, and reproductive stage. In this context, Paspalum species are good model systems for studies evaluating the varying levels of apomixis expression. We aimed to identify, in apomictic tetraploid Paspalum species, the degree of apomixis and residual sexuality in three stages of reproductive development, and if their expression varies along them in order to predict their realized impact on the genetic diversity of future generations. Three main stages in the reproductive development (i.e., ovule, seed, and progeny) were studied in tetraploids from populations of P. cromyorhizon and P. maculosum. Mature ovules were studied using cytoembryological analysis, seeds by flow cytometry, and progeny tests with molecular markers. The expression of sexuality and apomixis was compared in each stage. We observed a decline in expression of sexual reproduction through the consecutive stages, jointly with an increase of apomixis expression. Both species showed at least one tetraploid plant capable of producing progeny by sexual means. These small rates of sexually originated progeny prove the ability of apomictic plants to produce low levels of genetic variation through rare events of sexuality. This study also demonstrates the importance of analyzing different reproductive stages in order to get a whole picture of the reproductive outcomes in plant evolution.
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Mau M, Mandáková TM, Ma X, Ebersbach J, Zou L, Lysak MA, Sharbel TF. Evolution of an Apomixis-Specific Allele Class in Supernumerary Chromatin of Apomictic Boechera. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:890038. [PMID: 35720540 PMCID: PMC9198585 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.890038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Asexual reproduction through seeds in plants (i.e., apomixis) is a heritable trait, and apomixis- linked loci have been identified in multiple species. However, direct identification of genomic elements is typically hindered as apomixis-linked loci and are commonly found in recombination-suppressed and repetitive regions. Heterochromatinized elements, such as B chromosomes and other supernumerary chromosomal DNA fragments have long been known to be associated with asexuality in both plants and animals and are prime candidate regions for the evolution of multiple apomixis factors controlling the individual elements of apomixis. Here, we examined molecular evolution, gene regulation, and chromosomal location of a male apomeiosis factor (UPG2), a long noncoding RNA gene, in sexual and apomictic Boechera with and without male apomeiosis (i.e., balanced and unbalanced apomicts). We revealed the origin of the gene in the apomixis genome on an apomixis-specific, supernumerary heterochromatic Boechera chromosome (Boe1). The UPG2 is active in the tapetum at male meiosis. We found allele classes specific to apomictic and sexual Boechera accessions and a third class that shares the features of both and points to a convergent transition state. Sex alleles are found only in some of the sexual accessions and have higher nucleotide divergence and lower transcriptional activity compared to apo alleles. These data demonstrate selective pressure to maintain the function of UPG2 for unreduced pollen formation in apomicts as the occasional transmission of the allele from unbalanced apomicts into sexual organisms that lead to pseudogenization and functional decay of copies in sexual organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mau
- Apomixis Research Group, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
- Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Xingliang Ma
- Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Jana Ebersbach
- Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lifang Zou
- Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Martin A. Lysak
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Timothy F. Sharbel
- Apomixis Research Group, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
- Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Siena LA, Azzaro CA, Podio M, Stein J, Leblanc O, Pessino SC, Ortiz JPA. The Auxin-Response Repressor IAA30 Is Down-Regulated in Reproductive Tissues of Apomictic Paspalum notatum. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11111472. [PMID: 35684245 PMCID: PMC9182604 DOI: 10.3390/plants11111472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The capacity for apomixis in Paspalum notatum is controlled by a single-dominant genomic region, which shows strong synteny to a portion of rice chromosome 12 long arm. The locus LOC_Os12g40890, encoding the Auxin/Indole-3-Acetic Acid (Aux/IAA) family member OsIAA30, is located in this rice genomic segment. The objectives of this work were to identify transcripts coding for Aux/IAA proteins expressed in reproductive tissues of P. notatum, detect the OsIAA30 putative ortholog and analyze its temporal and spatial expression pattern in reproductive organs of sexual and apomictic plants. Thirty-three transcripts coding for AUX/IAA proteins were identified. Predicted protein alignment and phylogenetic analysis detected a highly similar sequence to OsIAA30 (named as PnIAA30) present in both sexual and apomictic samples. The expression assays of PnIAA30 showed a significant down-regulation in apomictic spikelets compared to sexual ones at the stages of anthesis and post-anthesis, representation levels negatively correlated with apospory expressivity and different localizations in sexual and apomictic ovules. Several PnIAA30 predicted interactors also appeared differentially regulated in the sexual and apomictic floral transcriptomes. Our results showed that an auxin-response repressor similar to OsIAA30 is down-regulated in apomictic spikelets of P. notatum and suggests a contrasting regulation of auxin signaling during sexual and asexual seed formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Adelina Siena
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Celeste Antonela Azzaro
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Maricel Podio
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Juliana Stein
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Olivier Leblanc
- DIADE, Université de Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, 34394 Montpellier, France;
| | - Silvina Claudia Pessino
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
| | - Juan Pablo Amelio Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR) CONICET-UNR, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Campo Experimental Villarino, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina; (L.A.S.); (C.A.A.); (M.P.); (J.S.); (S.C.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-341-4970080/85 (ext. 1180)
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Edwards CE, Bassüner B, Williams BR. Population Genetic Analysis of the Threatened Plant Leavenworthia exigua var. laciniata (Brassicaceae) Reveals Virtually No Genetic Diversity and a Unique Mating System. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.831085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leavenworthia (Brassicaceae) has served as a model group for investigating the evolution of mating systems in plants, yet several Leavenworthia species remain understudied. One such taxon is Leavenworthia exigua var. laciniata, one of three varieties of L. exigua, a winter-annual plant endemic to the central United States. Because L. exigua var. laciniata occupies a narrow geographic range and is experiencing major habitat loss, it was recently listed as threatened; however, little is known about its genetic diversity and implications for conservation. We conducted a range-wide population genetic study of L. exigua var. laciniata and L. exigua var. exigua to understand: (1) levels of genetic diversity within and among populations, (2) whether L. exigua var. laciniata is genetically distinct from L. exigua var. exigua, and (3) implications for conservation. L. exigua var. laciniata showed identical genotypes at all 16 microsatellite loci across most of its range, fixed heterozygosity at some loci, and significant heterozygote excesses, consistent with a lack of recombination associated with an asexual mating system, which has not been documented previously in Leavenworthia. Because L. exigua var. laciniata is an annual and the same genotype occurs across multiple populations, asexuality may be caused by apomixis, asexual reproduction via seed. In contrast, most populations of L. exigua var. exigua demonstrated population genetic patterns consistent with a self-compatible mating system. Because L. exigua var. laciniata is morphologically, geographically, and genetically distinct, it should be recognized as an evolutionarily significant unit for conservation. We recommend maintaining large population sizes to conserve evolutionary potential in L. exigua var. laciniata, as the likelihood that facultative sexual reproduction may occur may be greater in larger populations. Additional research in L. exigua var. laciniata is needed to confirm the occurrence of asexuality and apomixis, clarify its reproductive isolation from other taxa, and to understand whether it exhibits residual sexual reproduction, epigenetic variation, or phenotypic plasticity to help it persist in response to environmental variation. In the future, L. exigua var. laciniata may serve as an important model in which to investigate the conservation of threatened plant species with little genetic variation in a changing climate.
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Yin PP, Tang LP, Zhang XS, Su YH. Options for Engineering Apomixis in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:864987. [PMID: 35371148 PMCID: PMC8967160 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.864987] [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: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In plants, embryogenesis and reproduction are not strictly dependent on fertilization. Several species can produce embryos in seeds asexually, a process known as apomixis. Apomixis is defined as clonal asexual reproduction through seeds, whereby the progeny is identical to the maternal genotype, and provides valuable opportunities for developing superior cultivars, as its induction in agricultural crops can facilitate the development and maintenance of elite hybrid genotypes. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of apomixis and highlight the successful introduction of apomixis methods into sexual crops. In addition, we discuss several genes whose overexpression can induce somatic embryogenesis as candidate genes to induce parthenogenesis, a unique reproductive method of gametophytic apomixis. We also summarize three schemes to achieve engineered apomixis, which will offer more opportunities for the realization of apomictic reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xian Sheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai' an, China
| | - Ying Hua Su
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai' an, China
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40
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Xu Y, Jia H, Tan C, Wu X, Deng X, Xu Q. Apomixis: genetic basis and controlling genes. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2022; 9:uhac150. [PMID: 36072837 PMCID: PMC9437720 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhac150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is the phenomenon of clonal reproduction by seed. As apomixis can produce clonal progeny with exactly the same genotype as the maternal plant, it has an important application in genotype fixation and accelerating agricultural breeding strategies. The introduction of apomixis to major crops would bring many benefits to agriculture, including permanent fixation of superior genotypes and simplifying the procedures of hybrid seed production, as well as purification and rejuvenation of crops propagated vegetatively. Although apomixis naturally occurs in more than 400 plant species, it is rare among the major crops. Currently, with better understanding of apomixis, some achievements have been made in synthetic apomixis. However, due to prevailing limitations, there is still a long way to go to achieve large-scale application of apomixis to crop breeding. Here, we compare the developmental features of apomixis and sexual plant reproduction and review the recent identification of apomixis genes, transposons, epigenetic regulation, and genetic events leading to apomixis. We also summarize the possible strategies and potential genes for engineering apomixis into crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuantao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Huihui Jia
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Chunming Tan
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Xiaomeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Xiuxin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
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Underwood CJ, Vijverberg K, Rigola D, Okamoto S, Oplaat C, Camp RHMOD, Radoeva T, Schauer SE, Fierens J, Jansen K, Mansveld S, Busscher M, Xiong W, Datema E, Nijbroek K, Blom EJ, Bicknell R, Catanach A, Erasmuson S, Winefield C, van Tunen AJ, Prins M, Schranz ME, van Dijk PJ. A PARTHENOGENESIS allele from apomictic dandelion can induce egg cell division without fertilization in lettuce. Nat Genet 2022; 54:84-93. [PMID: 34992267 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00984-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis, the clonal formation of seeds, is a rare yet widely distributed trait in flowering plants. We have isolated the PARTHENOGENESIS (PAR) gene from apomictic dandelion that triggers embryo development in unfertilized egg cells. PAR encodes a K2-2 zinc finger, EAR-domain protein. Unlike the recessive sexual alleles, the dominant PAR allele is expressed in egg cells and has a miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) transposon insertion in the promoter. The MITE-containing promoter can invoke a homologous gene from sexual lettuce to complement dandelion LOSS OF PARTHENOGENESIS mutants. A similar MITE is also present in the promoter of the PAR gene in apomictic forms of hawkweed, suggesting a case of parallel evolution. Heterologous expression of dandelion PAR in lettuce egg cells induced haploid embryo-like structures in the absence of fertilization. Sexual PAR alleles are expressed in pollen, suggesting that the gene product releases a block on embryogenesis after fertilization in sexual species while in apomictic species PAR expression triggers embryogenesis in the absence of fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J Underwood
- Keygene N.V., Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kitty Vijverberg
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Shunsuke Okamoto
- Keygene N.V., Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Takii & Co. Ltd, Plant Breeding and Experiment Station, Konan Shiga, Japan
| | - Carla Oplaat
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- National Reference Centre of Plant Health, National Plant Protection Organization, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Kim Jansen
- Keygene N.V., Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Marco Busscher
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Wei Xiong
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Ross Bicknell
- New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Andrew Catanach
- New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Sylvia Erasmuson
- New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - M Eric Schranz
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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Ferreira RCU, da Costa Lima Moraes A, Chiari L, Simeão RM, Vigna BBZ, de Souza AP. An Overview of the Genetics and Genomics of the Urochloa Species Most Commonly Used in Pastures. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:770461. [PMID: 34966402 PMCID: PMC8710810 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.770461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pastures based on perennial monocotyledonous plants are the principal source of nutrition for ruminant livestock in tropical and subtropical areas across the globe. The Urochloa genus comprises important species used in pastures, and these mainly include Urochloa brizantha, Urochloa decumbens, Urochloa humidicola, and Urochloa ruziziensis. Despite their economic relevance, there is an absence of genomic-level information for these species, and this lack is mainly due to genomic complexity, including polyploidy, high heterozygosity, and genomes with a high repeat content, which hinders advances in molecular approaches to genetic improvement. Next-generation sequencing techniques have enabled the recent release of reference genomes, genetic linkage maps, and transcriptome sequences, and this information helps improve our understanding of the genetic architecture and molecular mechanisms involved in relevant traits, such as the apomictic reproductive mode. However, more concerted research efforts are still needed to characterize germplasm resources and identify molecular markers and genes associated with target traits. In addition, the implementation of genomic selection and gene editing is needed to reduce the breeding time and expenditure. In this review, we highlight the importance and characteristics of the four main species of Urochloa used in pastures and discuss the current findings from genetic and genomic studies and research gaps that should be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aline da Costa Lima Moraes
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Lucimara Chiari
- Embrapa Gado de Corte, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Maria Simeão
- Embrapa Gado de Corte, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | | | - Anete Pereira de Souza
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Plant Biology, Biology Institute, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
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Martins FB, Moraes ACL, Aono AH, Ferreira RCU, Chiari L, Simeão RM, Barrios SCL, Santos MF, Jank L, do Valle CB, Vigna BBZ, de Souza AP. A Semi-Automated SNP-Based Approach for Contaminant Identification in Biparental Polyploid Populations of Tropical Forage Grasses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:737919. [PMID: 34745171 PMCID: PMC8569613 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.737919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Artificial hybridization plays a fundamental role in plant breeding programs since it generates new genotypic combinations that can result in desirable phenotypes. Depending on the species and mode of reproduction, controlled crosses may be challenging, and contaminating individuals can be introduced accidentally. In this context, the identification of such contaminants is important to avoid compromising further selection cycles, as well as genetic and genomic studies. The main objective of this work was to propose an automated multivariate methodology for the detection and classification of putative contaminants, including apomictic clones (ACs), self-fertilized individuals, half-siblings (HSs), and full contaminants (FCs), in biparental polyploid progenies of tropical forage grasses. We established a pipeline to identify contaminants in genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) data encoded as allele dosages of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers by integrating principal component analysis (PCA), genotypic analysis (GA) measures based on Mendelian segregation, and clustering analysis (CA). The combination of these methods allowed for the correct identification of all contaminants in all simulated progenies and the detection of putative contaminants in three real progenies of tropical forage grasses, providing an easy and promising methodology for the identification of contaminants in biparental progenies of tetraploid and hexaploid species. The proposed pipeline was made available through the polyCID Shiny app and can be easily coupled with traditional genetic approaches, such as linkage map construction, thereby increasing the efficiency of breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Bitencourt Martins
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Costa Lima Moraes
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Hild Aono
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Lucimara Chiari
- Embrapa Gado de Corte, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Maria Simeão
- Embrapa Gado de Corte, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | | | | | - Liana Jank
- Embrapa Gado de Corte, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | | | | | - Anete Pereira de Souza
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Plant Biology, Biology Institute, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Stein RE, Nauerth BH, Binmöller L, Zühl L, Loreth A, Reinert M, Ibberson D, Schmidt A. RH17 restricts reproductive fate and represses autonomous seed coat development in sexual Arabidopsis. Development 2021; 148:272091. [PMID: 34495331 DOI: 10.1242/dev.198739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Plant sexual and asexual reproduction through seeds (apomixis) is tightly controlled by complex gene regulatory programs, which are not yet fully understood. Recent findings suggest that RNA helicases are required for plant germline development. This resembles their crucial roles in animals, where they are involved in controlling gene activity and the maintenance of genome integrity. Here, we identified previously unknown roles of Arabidopsis RH17 during reproductive development. Interestingly, RH17 is involved in repression of reproductive fate and of elements of seed development in the absence of fertilization. In lines carrying a mutant rh17 allele, development of supernumerary reproductive cell lineages in the female flower tissues (ovules) was observed, occasionally leading to formation of two embryos per seed. Furthermore, seed coat, and putatively also endosperm development, frequently initiated autonomously. Such induction of several features phenocopying distinct elements of apomixis by a single mutation is unusual and suggests that RH17 acts in regulatory control of plant reproductive development. Furthermore, an in-depth understanding of its action might be of use for agricultural applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Eric Stein
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Berit Helge Nauerth
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura Binmöller
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luise Zühl
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Loreth
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Reinert
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Ibberson
- Deep Sequencing Core Facility, CellNetworks Excellence Cluster, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Schmidt
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Zhou W, Li Z, Zhang J, Mou B, Zhou W. The OsIME4 gene identified as a key to meiosis initiation by RNA in situ hybridization. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2021; 23:861-873. [PMID: 33884735 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The formation of asexual seeds in plants holds great promise as a breeding system for one-line hybrid rice. Entry into meiosis is a key developmental decision in gametogenesis, especially in formation of asexual seeds in plants. Apomeiosis in MeMCs can be achieved by identifying and manipulating meiosis-specific genes. Using methods based on in situ hybridization and expression analysis, we identified OsIME4 (inducer of meiosis 4) sense and antisense transcripts involved in rice meiosis initiation, similar to initiation of meiosis in budding yeast. Our data suggest that the OsIME4 sense transcript, which encodes a putative mRNA N6-adenosine methyltransferase, keeps rice cells at mitosis stage through some form of epigenesis (DNA/RNA methylation), and the non-coding antisense transcript of OsIME4 converts the cell status from mitosis to meiosis by inhibiting expression (transcription and translation) of the sense transcript. We identified that the non-coding antisense transcript of OsIME4 converts archesporial cell status from mitosis to meiosis by inhibiting expression of the OsIME4 sense transcript in rice. Our results provide novel insights into meiosis initiation in rice and for engineering of apomixis in sexual crops by manipulating the OsIME4 sense and antisense transcripts, which has great promise for producing apomictic rice in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Zhou
- Crop Research Institute, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730070, PR China
| | - Z Li
- Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100094, PR China
| | - J Zhang
- Crop Research Institute, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730070, PR China
| | - B Mou
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, USDA-ARS), 1636 E. Alisal Street, Salinas, CA, 93905, USA
| | - W Zhou
- Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100094, PR China
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, USDA-ARS), 1636 E. Alisal Street, Salinas, CA, 93905, USA
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Dias ACC, Marinho RC, Sampaio DS, Bonetti AM, Oliveira PE. Clone worth? Genetic diversity in obligate apomictic Miconia albicans (Melastomataceae). PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2021; 23:743-748. [PMID: 33884736 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13273] [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: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is the asexual production of seeds by plants and, in theory, would render low genetic diversity and even clonal lineages. However, recent studies have shown otherwise, although is not always clear where the genetic diversity of obligate apomicts comes from. We evaluated the genetic diversity among sister seedlings of M. albicans, an obligate apomictic species in Cerrado, Neotropical Savannas in Central Brazil. A total of 50 seedlings from five individuals were analysed using ISSR primers. We obtained 107 fragments, all with good resolution, consistently observed and replicable. The percentage of polymorphic loci ranged from 28.04% to 33.64% and Shannon's information index (I) averaged 0.173. The expected heterozygosity (He) averaged 0.117, similar to the observed for populations of M. albicans and other selfed species. Only two seedlings showed the same genotype (possible clones), but most differed at least for five loci. Most of variance was among progenies (62%), but we found that 38% was within progenies. Genetic distances separated the progenies in two groups, and analogous analyses between individuals reconstructed the original progenies clustering. The results confirmed a relatively high genetic diversity among sister seedling of this obligatory apomictic plant and clones were rare. This diversity can be generated during development, probably by restitutional meiosis or other recombination processes. These differences may accumulate into lineages and populations well adapted to heterogenous Cerrado environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C C Dias
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Biotecnologia - IBTEC, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - R C Marinho
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Biologia - INBIO, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - D S Sampaio
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Biologia - INBIO, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - A M Bonetti
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Biotecnologia - IBTEC, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - P E Oliveira
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Biologia - INBIO, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
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Carballo J, Zappacosta D, Selva JP, Caccamo M, Echenique V. Eragrostis curvula, a Model Species for Diplosporous Apomixis. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1818. [PMID: 34579351 PMCID: PMC8472828 DOI: 10.3390/plants10091818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Ness is a grass with a particular apomictic embryo sac development called Eragrostis type. Apomixis is a type of asexual reproduction that produces seeds without fertilization in which the resulting progeny is genetically identical to the mother plant and with the potential to fix the hybrid vigour from more than one generation, among other advantages. The absence of meiosis and the occurrence of only two rounds of mitosis instead of three during embryo sac development make this model unique and suitable to be transferred to economically important crops. Throughout this review, we highlight the advances in the knowledge of apomixis in E. curvula using different techniques such as cytoembryology, DNA methylation analyses, small-RNA-seq, RNA-seq, genome assembly, and genotyping by sequencing. The main bulk of evidence points out that apomixis is inherited as a single Mendelian factor, and it is regulated by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms controlled by a complex network. With all this information, we propose a model of the mechanisms involved in diplosporous apomixis in this grass. All the genetic and epigenetic resources generated in E. curvula to study the reproductive mode changed its status from an orphan to a well-characterised species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carballo
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; (J.C.); (J.P.S.); (V.E.)
| | - Diego Zappacosta
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; (J.C.); (J.P.S.); (V.E.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Selva
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; (J.C.); (J.P.S.); (V.E.)
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Juan 670, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina
| | - Mario Caccamo
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK;
| | - Viviana Echenique
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS–CCT–CONICET Bahía Blanca), Camino de la Carrindanga km 7, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina; (J.C.); (J.P.S.); (V.E.)
- Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina
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Belyaeva EV, Elkonin LA, Vladimirova AA, Panin VM. Manifestation of apomictic potentials in the line AS-3 of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. PLANTA 2021; 254:37. [PMID: 34309737 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03681-6] [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: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
AS-3 line of Sorghum bicolor possesses functional components of apomixis-apospory, parthenogenesis and autonomous endospermogenesis. The data obtained indicate efficiency of selection for apomixis components in diploid species of cultivated crops. Apomixis (seed formation without fertilization) is one of most attractive phenomena in plant biology. In this paper, we provide the results of long-term selection for apomixis components in the progeny of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) hybrid plants with male sterility mutation. Selection was carried out for a high frequency of aposporous embryo sacs (ESs), autonomous pro-embryos, and the presence of maternal-type plants in test crosses with the line Volzhskoe-4v (V4v) homozygous for the Rs1 genes determining the red color of the leaves and stem of the hybrids. As a result of using this approach, the line, AS-3, was created, in which the frequency of ovaries with parthenogenetic embryos reached 42-45%. The autonomous development of embryos and endosperm was observed in the panicles of each of the 10 cytologically studied plants of this line. The frequency of parthenogenesis positively correlated with the high average daily air temperature during the first five out of 10 days preceding the onset of flowering (r = 0.75; P > 0.01). Genotyping of the plants from the progeny of hand-emasculated panicles of AS-3 pollinated with V4v performed using co-dominant SSR markers revealed that the F1 hybrids carrying the Rs1 gene (chromosome 6) possessed both paternal and maternal alleles of Sb1-10 (chromosome 4) and Xtxp320 (chromosome 10) markers, while in the maternal-type plants (rs1rs1), only the maternal alleles of these markers were present. In the endosperm of the kernels from which the maternal-type seedlings were obtained, only the maternal alleles were present, while in the endosperm of the kernels that produced hybrid seedlings, both the paternal and maternal alleles were observed. The data obtained indicate the presence of functional components of apomixis (apospory, parthenogenesis, autonomous endospermogenesis) in the grain sorghum line AS-3, and the efficiency of selection for apomixis in functionally diploid species of cultivated crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V Belyaeva
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal Center of Agriculture Research of the South-East Region, Saratov, 410010, Russia
| | - Lev A Elkonin
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal Center of Agriculture Research of the South-East Region, Saratov, 410010, Russia.
| | - Anastasia A Vladimirova
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal Center of Agriculture Research of the South-East Region, Saratov, 410010, Russia
| | - Valery M Panin
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal Center of Agriculture Research of the South-East Region, Saratov, 410010, Russia
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The Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase Beta Subunit Is Essential for Embryo and Seed Development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157907. [PMID: 34360673 PMCID: PMC8347404 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Auxin is a key regulator of plant development affecting the formation and maturation of reproductive structures. The apoplastic route of auxin transport engages influx and efflux facilitators from the PIN, AUX and ABCB families. The polar localization of these proteins and constant recycling from the plasma membrane to endosomes is dependent on Rab-mediated vesicular traffic. Rab proteins are anchored to membranes via posttranslational addition of two geranylgeranyl moieties by the Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase enzyme (RGT), which consists of RGTA, RGTB and REP subunits. Here, we present data showing that seed development in the rgtb1 mutant, with decreased vesicular transport capacity, is disturbed. Both pre- and post-fertilization events are affected, leading to a decrease in seed yield. Pollen tube recognition at the stigma and its guidance to the micropyle is compromised and the seed coat forms incorrectly. Excess auxin in the sporophytic tissues of the ovule in the rgtb1 plants leads to an increased tendency of autonomous endosperm formation in unfertilized ovules and influences embryo development in a maternal sporophytic manner. The results show the importance of vesicular traffic for sexual reproduction in flowering plants, and highlight RGTB1 as a key component of sporophytic-filial signaling.
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Janas AB, Szeląg Z, Musiał K. In search of female sterility causes in the tetraploid and pentaploid cytotype of Pilosella brzovecensis (Asteraceae). JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2021; 134:803-810. [PMID: 33813645 PMCID: PMC8245384 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-021-01290-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Within the agamic Pilosella complex, apomixis (asexual reproduction through seed) involves apospory, parthenogenesis, and autonomous endosperm development. Observations of reproductive biology in P. brzovecensis throughout four growing seasons in the garden have shown that both tetraploid and pentaploid plants of this species do not produce viable seeds and reproduce exclusively vegetatively by underground stolons. The reasons for the seed development failure were unknown, therefore our research focused on the analysis of reproductive events in the ovules of this taxon. We found that apospory was initiated in the ovules of both cytotypes. Multiple aposporous initial (AI) cells differentiated in close proximity to the megaspore mother cell (MMC) and suppressed megasporogenesis at the stage of early prophase I. However, none of the AI cells was able to further develop into a multi-nucleate aposporous embryo sac (AES) due to the inhibition of mitotic divisions. It was unusual that callose was accumulated in the walls of AI cells and its synthesis was most likely associated with a response to the dysfunction of these cells. Callose is regarded as the isolating factor and its surprising deposition in the ovules of P. brzovecensis may signal disruption of reproductive processes that cause premature termination of the aposporous development pathway and ultimately lead to ovule sterility. The results of our embryological analysis may be the basis for undertaking advanced molecular studies aimed at fully understanding of the causes of female sterility in P. brzovecensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Barbara Janas
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Cracow, Poland.
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Cracow, Poland.
| | - Zbigniew Szeląg
- Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Podchorążych 2, 30-084, Cracow, Poland
| | - Krystyna Musiał
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Cracow, Poland
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