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Fang J, Chai Z, Huang C, Huang R, Chen B, Yao W, Zhang M. Functional characterization of sugarcane ScFTIP1 reveals its role in Arabidopsis flowering. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 210:108629. [PMID: 38626657 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108629] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The timing of floral transition is essential for reproductive success in flowering plants. In sugarcane, flowering time affects the production of sugar and biomass. Although the function of the crucial floral pathway integrators, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), in sugarcane, has been uncovered, the proteins responsible for FT export and the underlying mechanism remain unexplored. In this study, we identified a member of the multiple C2 domain and transmembrane region proteins (MCTPs) family in sugarcane, FT-interacting protein 1 (ScFTIP1), which was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. Ectopic expression of ScFTIP1 in the Arabidopsis mutant ftip1-1 rescued the late-flowering phenotype. ScFTIP1 interacted with AtFT in vitro and in vivo assays. Additionally, ScFTIP1 interacted with ScFT1 and the floral inducer ScFT3. Furthermore, we found that the NAC member, ScNAC23, could directly bind to the ScFTIP1 promoter and negatively regulate its transcription. Overall, our findings revealed the function of ScFTIP1 and proposed a potential mechanism underlying flowering regulation in sugarcane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlan Fang
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources & Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China
| | - Zhe Chai
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources & Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Cuilin Huang
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China
| | - Run Huang
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources & Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China
| | - Wei Yao
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources & Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China.
| | - Muqing Zhang
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources & Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China.
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Lu HC, Huang CW, Mimura T, Sukma D, Chan MT. Temperature-Regulated Flowering Locus T-Like Gene Coordinates the Spike Initiation in Phalaenopsis Orchid. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 65:405-419. [PMID: 38153763 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Phalaenopsis aphrodite can be induced to initiate spike growth and flowering by exposure to low ambient temperatures. However, the factors and mechanisms responsible for spike initiation in P. aphrodite remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that a repressor Flowing Locus T-like (FTL) gene, FTL, can act as a negative regulator of spike initiation in P. aphrodite. The mRNA transcripts of PaFTL are consistently high during high ambient temperature, thereby preventing premature spike initiation. However, during low ambient temperature, PaFTL expression falls while FT expression increases, allowing for spike initiation. Knock-down of PaFTL expression through virus-inducing gene silencing promoted spike initiation at 30/28°C. Moreover, PaFTL interacts with FLOWERING LOCUS D in a similar manner to FT to regulate downstream flowering initiation genes. Transgenic P. aphrodite plants exhibiting high expression of PaFTL do not undergo spike initiation, even when exposed to low ambient temperatures. These findings shed light on the flowering mechanisms in Phalaenopsis and provide new insights into how perennial plants govern spike initiation in response to temperature cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiang-Chia Lu
- Academia Sinica Biotechnology Center in Southern Taiwan, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 100, Sec. 1, Guiren 13th Rd., Guiren Dist., Tainan 741, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Wen Huang
- Academia Sinica Biotechnology Center in Southern Taiwan, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 100, Sec. 1, Guiren 13th Rd., Guiren Dist., Tainan 741, Taiwan
| | - Tetsuro Mimura
- Graduate Program of Translational Agricultural Sciences, National Cheng Kung University and Academia Sinica, No. 1, Daxue Rd., East Dist., Taiwan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Dewi Sukma
- Department of Agronomy & Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Jl. Meranti, Dramaga Campus, Bogor, West Java 16680, Indonesia
| | - Ming-Tsair Chan
- Academia Sinica Biotechnology Center in Southern Taiwan, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 100, Sec. 1, Guiren 13th Rd., Guiren Dist., Tainan 741, Taiwan
- Graduate Program of Translational Agricultural Sciences, National Cheng Kung University and Academia Sinica, No. 1, Daxue Rd., East Dist., Taiwan 70101, Taiwan
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Wickramasinghe KP, Kong CY, Lin XQ, Zhao PF, Mehdi F, Li XJ, Liu XL, Mao J, Lu X. Photoperiodic and lighting treatments for flowering control and its genetic regulation in sugarcane breeding. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28531. [PMID: 38586380 PMCID: PMC10998108 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Improvement of sugarcane is hampered due to its narrow genetic base, and the difficulty in synchronizing flowering further hinders the exploitation of the genetic potential of available germplasm resources. Therefore, the continuous evaluation and optimization of flowering control and induction techniques are vital for sugarcane improvement. In view of this, the review was conducted to investigate the current understanding of photoperiodic and lighting treatment effects on sugarcane flowering and its genetic regulation. Photoperiod facilities have made a significant contribution to flowering control in sugarcane; however, inductive photoperiods are still unknown for some genotypes, and some intended crosses are still impossible to produce because of unresponsive varieties. The effectiveness of lower red/far-red ratios in promoting sugarcane flowering has been widely understood. Furthermore, there is vast potential for utilizing blue, red, and far-red light wavelengths in the flowering control of sugarcane. In this context, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) remain efficient sources of light. Therefore, the combined use of photoperiod regimes with different light wavelengths and optimization of such treatment combinations might help to control and induce flowering in sugarcane parental clones. In sugarcane, FLOWERING LOCUS T (ScFT) orthologues from ScFT1 to ScFT13 have been identified, and interestingly, ScFT3 has evidently been identified as a floral inducer in sugarcane. However, independent assessments of different FT-like gene family members are recommended to comprehensively understand their role in the regulation of flowering. Similarly, we believe this review provides substantial information that is vital for the manipulation of flowering and exploitation of germplasm resources in sugarcane breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Priyananda Wickramasinghe
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawa, 70190, Sri Lanka
| | - Chun-yan Kong
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiu-qin Lin
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Pei-fang Zhao
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Faisal Mehdi
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, Hainan, China
| | - Xu-juan Li
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Xin-long Liu
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Jun Mao
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
| | - Xin Lu
- National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan, Yunnan, China
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Fang J, Chai Z, Huang R, Huang C, Ming Z, Chen B, Yao W, Zhang M. Receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase ScRIPK in sugarcane regulates disease resistance and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1191449. [PMID: 37304725 PMCID: PMC10248867 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1191449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Receptor-like cytoplastic kinases (RLCKs) are known in many plants to be involved in various processes of plant growth and development and regulate plant immunity to pathogen infection. Environmental stimuli such as pathogen infection and drought restrict the crop yield and interfere with plant growth. However, the function of RLCKs in sugarcane remains unclear. Methods and results In this study, a member of the RLCK VII subfamily, ScRIPK, was identified in sugarcane based on sequence similarity to the rice and Arabidopsis RLCKs. ScRIPK was localized to the plasma membrane, as predicted, and the expression of ScRIPK was responsive to polyethylene glycol treatment and Fusarium sacchari infection. Overexpression of ScRIPK in Arabidopsis enhanced drought tolerance and disease susceptibility of seedlings. Moreover, the crystal structure of the ScRIPK kinase domain (ScRIPK KD) and the mutant proteins (ScRIPK-KD K124R and ScRIPK-KD S253A|T254A) were characterized in order to determine the activation mechanism. We also identified ScRIN4 as the interacting protein of ScRIPK. Discussion Our work identified a RLCK in sugarcane, providing a potential target for sugarcane responses to disease infection and drought, and a structural basis for kinase activation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlan Fang
- College of Agricultural, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources and Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhe Chai
- College of Agricultural, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources and Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Run Huang
- College of Agricultural, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Cuilin Huang
- College of Agricultural, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhenhua Ming
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources and Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources and Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Wei Yao
- College of Agricultural, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources and Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Muqing Zhang
- College of Agricultural, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources and Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
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He Y, Chen W, Tan J, Luo X, Zhou Y, Gong X, Yao J, Zhuang C, Jiang D. Rice CENTRORADIALIS 2 regulates seed germination and salt tolerance via ABA-mediated pathway. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2022; 135:4245-4259. [PMID: 36181524 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-022-04215-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A FT/TFL1 subfamily gene, rice CENTRORADIALIS 2, also known as RCN1, regulates seed germination and increase salt tolerance via ABA-mediated pathway. The ABA synthesis and metabolism related genes were changed relative expression levels. Seed germination is a complex biological process that is affected by many factors. Although a number of germination-related genes have been reported, the molecular mechanism of germination regulation has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we reported that the rice OsCEN2 gene can negatively regulate seed germination. The germination speed of OsCEN2-RNAi seeds was significantly faster while that of OsCEN2-overexpression (OE) seeds was slower than that of the wild type (WT). The results of qRT-PCR showed that the OsCEN2 expression was increased in the early stage of seed germination. Exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) on seeds and seedlings showed that OsCEN2-OE seeds and seedlings were highly sensitive to ABA during germination and post-germination growth, respectively. The determination of endogenous ABA content in seeds also showed that the ABA content of OsCEN2-RNAi seeds was lower, while that of OsCEN2-OE seeds was higher. Moreover, the transgenic plants changed salt tolerance because of the altered ABA level. In addition, differences were also observed in the expression of genes related to ABA synthesis and metabolism in the seeds of OsCEN2-transgenic lines. This study reveals that OsCEN2 regulates the germination speed by affecting the content of ABA during seed germination and provides a theoretical basis for research on rice direct seeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying He
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Weiting Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Juhong Tan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xixiu Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yanjin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xiaoting Gong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Juan Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Chuxiong Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Dagang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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Cardon CH, de Oliveira RR, Lesy V, Ribeiro THC, Fust C, Pereira LP, Colasanti J, Chalfun-Junior A. Expression of coffee florigen CaFT1 reveals a sustained floral induction window associated with asynchronous flowering in tropical perennials. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 325:111479. [PMID: 36181945 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111479] [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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The behavior of florigen(s) and environment-influenced regulatory pathways that control floral initiation in tropical perennials species with complex phenological cycles is poorly understood. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this process is important for food production in the face of climate change, thus, we used Coffea sp. L. (Rubiaceae) as a model to explore this issue. Homologs of FLOWERING LOCUS T (CaFT1) and environment-related regulators CONSTANS (CaCO), PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (CaPIF4) and FLOWERING LOCUS C (CaFLC) were retrieved from coffee genomes and identified through phylogenetic analysis. Overexpression of CaFT1 in Arabidopsis caused early-flowering phenotype and yeast two hybrid studies indicated CaFT1 binding to bZIP floral regulator FD, which suggests that CaFT1 is a coffee florigen. Expression of CaFT1 and other floral regulators, together with carbohydrate analysis, were evaluated over one year using three contrasting genotypes, two C. arabica cultivars and C. canephora. All genotypes showed active and variable CaFT1 transcription from February until October, indicating the potential window for floral induction that reached a maximum in the cold period of June. CaCO expression, as expected, varied over a 24-hour day period and monthly with day length, whereas expression of temperature-responsive homologs, CaFLC and CaPIF4, did not correlate with temperature changes nor CaFT1 expression, suggesting alternative FT regulatory pathways in coffee. Based on our results, we suggest a continuum of floral induction that allows different starting points for floral activation, which explains developmental asynchronicity and prolonged anthesis events in tropical perennial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Henrique Cardon
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Plant Physiology Sector, Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - Raphael Ricon de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Plant Physiology Sector, Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Victoria Lesy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - Thales Henrique Cherubino Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Plant Physiology Sector, Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Catherine Fust
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - Luísa Peloso Pereira
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Plant Physiology Sector, Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Joseph Colasanti
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - Antonio Chalfun-Junior
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Plant Physiology Sector, Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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He Y, Li L, Shi W, Tan J, Luo X, Zheng S, Chen W, Li J, Zhuang C, Jiang D. Florigen repression complexes involving rice CENTRORADIALIS2 regulate grain size. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:1260-1274. [PMID: 35861433 PMCID: PMC9516737 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Grain size is one of the crucial factors determining grain yield. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of florigen repression complexes (FRCs) underlying grain size in rice (Oryza sativa L.) have not been reported. Here, we report that the rice CENTRORADIALIS (CEN) family member OsCEN2 (also known as Rice TFL1/CEN homolog, RCN1), a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family protein, negatively controls grain size in rice. Overexpression of OsCEN2 led to small grains, and knockout of OsCEN2 resulted in large, heavy grains. OsCEN2 influenced grain size by restricting cell expansion in the spikelet hull and seed filling. In in vivo and in vitro experiments, OsCEN2 physically interacted with a G-box factor 14-3-3 homolog, GF14f, which negatively regulates grain size. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation and yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that GF14f directly interacts with the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, OsFD2. Plants overexpressing OsFD2 produced smaller and lighter grains than wild-type plants. We found that OsFD2 also influences grain size by controlling cell expansion and division in the spikelet hull. Our results reveal the molecular mechanisms of the OsCEN2-GF14f-OsFD2 regulatory module in controlling grain size. Additionally, our study provides insight into the functions of the FRC in rice and suggests a strategy for improving seed size and weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying He
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Liuyu Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Weibiao Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Juhong Tan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xixiu Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Shaoyan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Weiting Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Venail J, da Silva Santos PH, Manechini JR, Alves LC, Scarpari M, Falcão T, Romanel E, Brito M, Vicentini R, Pinto L, Jackson SD. Analysis of the PEBP gene family and identification of a novel FLOWERING LOCUS T orthologue in sugarcane. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:2035-2049. [PMID: 34893811 PMCID: PMC8982381 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important economic crop for both sugar and biomass, the yields of which are negatively affected by flowering. The molecular mechanisms controlling flowering in sugarcane are nevertheless poorly understood. RNA-seq data analysis and database searches have enabled a comprehensive description of the PEBP gene family in sugarcane. It is shown to consist of at least 13 FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like genes, two MOTHER OF FT AND TFL (MFT)-like genes, and four TERMINAL FLOWER (TFL)-like genes. As expected, these genes all show very high homology to their corresponding genes in Sorghum, and also to FT-like, MFT-like, and TFL-like genes in maize, rice, and Arabidopsis. Functional analysis in Arabidopsis showed that the sugarcane ScFT3 gene can rescue the late flowering phenotype of the Arabidopsis ft-10 mutant, whereas ScFT5 cannot. High expression levels of ScFT3 in leaves of short day-induced sugarcane plants coincided with initial stages of floral induction in the shoot apical meristem as shown by histological analysis of meristem dissections. This suggests that ScFT3 is likely to play a role in floral induction in sugarcane; however, other sugarcane FT-like genes may also be involved in the flowering process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Venail
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Joao Ricardo Manechini
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Maximiliano Scarpari
- Centro de Cana, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais Falcão
- Departamento de Biotecnologia, Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elisson Romanel
- Departamento de Biotecnologia, Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michael Brito
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renato Vicentini
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucia Pinto
- Centro de Cana, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Patil HB, Chaurasia AK, Kumar S, Krishna B, Subramaniam VR, Sane AP, Sane PV. Synchronized flowering in pomegranate, following pruning, is associated with expression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T homolog, PgFT1. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2022; 174:e13620. [PMID: 34989003 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Flowering in angiosperms is a crucial event that marks the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase. In many perennials, pruning is an important horticultural practice that induces synchronized and profuse flowering. In pomegranate, vegetative growth immediately after pruning is associated with activation of PgCENa, a flowering suppressor of the phosphatidyl ethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family, while a reduction is associated with synchronous flowering. We show that flowering in pomegranate is activated by expression of another PEBP family member, PgFT1, a homolog of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene that promotes flowering. PgFT1 shows a rapid reduction in expression during the extensive vegetative growth immediately after pruning but shows robust expression during synchronous flowering post-pruning, in flower-bearing shoots but not in branches that do not bear flowers. A continuous low-level flowering in the absence of pruning is associated with continuous but reduced expression of PgFT1. Flowering by heterologous expression of PgFT1 in Arabidopsis is affected by a single amino acid change in the C-terminal region of PgFT1, which upon correction, promotes flowering in Arabidopsis. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms by which pruning affects flowering pathways in tropical perennial fruit plants such as pomegranate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant Bhagwan Patil
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Laboratory, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, Agri Park, Jalgaon, India
| | - Akhilesh Kumar Chaurasia
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Laboratory, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, Agri Park, Jalgaon, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Laboratory, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, Agri Park, Jalgaon, India
| | - Bal Krishna
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Laboratory, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, Agri Park, Jalgaon, India
| | | | | | - Prafullachandra Vishnu Sane
- Plant Molecular Biology Lab, Jain R&D Laboratory, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, Agri Park, Jalgaon, India
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10
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Jiang L, Jiang X, Li Y, Gao Y, Wang S, Ma Y, Wang G. FT-like paralogs are repressed by an SVP protein during the floral transition in Phalaenopsis orchid. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2022; 41:233-248. [PMID: 34713321 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02805-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An SVP protein, PhSVP, bound to the CArG-boxes in the promoter regions of FT-like paralogs and repressed their expression, thus affecting the floral transition in Phalaenopsis orchid. Phalaenopsis is an important ornamental flower native to tropical rain forests. It usually reaches vegetative maturity after 4-5 leaves and, after a juvenile stage, forms a flower spike (inflorescence) from the axillary buds. The PEBP gene family encodes a phosphatidyl-ethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) domain involved in regulating flowering and other aspects of plant development. Here, we identified eight PEBP family genes in Phalaenopsis and detected the expression patterns of seven of them in various organs. Among them, PhFT1 (Phalaenopsis hybrid FLOWERING LOCUS T1), PhFT3, PhFT5, and PhMFT (Phalaenopsis hybrid MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1) promoted flowering in transgenic Arabidopsis, while PhFT6 inhibited flowering. PhSVP (Phalaenopsis hybrid SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE), an SVP protein that repressed flowering in Arabidopsis, bound to the CArG-boxes in the promoter regions of PhFT3, PhFT6, and PhMFT in a yeast one-hybrid assay. Additionally, dual-luciferase and transient expression assays showed that PhSVP significantly inhibits the expression of both PhFT3 and PhFT6. Together, our work provides a comprehensive understanding of the PhFT-like genes that can promote or repress flowering, and it suggests strategies for regulating the floral transition in Phalaenopsis that exploit the evolutionary versatility of PhFTs to respond to various signals stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Jiang
- Department of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Jiang
- Department of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yanna Li
- Department of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yongxia Gao
- Department of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Shiyao Wang
- Department of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yuehua Ma
- Department of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Guangdong Wang
- Department of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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11
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Lee SH, Choi CW, Park KM, Jung WH, Chun HJ, Baek D, Cho HM, Jin BJ, Park MS, No DH, Lim LH, Shim SI, Chung JI, Kim MC. Diversification in Functions and Expressions of Soybean FLOWERING LOCUS T Genes Fine-Tunes Seasonal Flowering. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:613675. [PMID: 33981322 PMCID: PMC8107440 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.613675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The proper timing of flowering in response to environmental changes is critical for ensuring crop yields. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) homologs of the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein family play important roles as floral integrators in many crops. In soybean, we identified 17 genes of this family, and characterized biological functions in flowering for ten FT homologs. Overexpression of GmFT homologs in Arabidopsis revealed that a set of GmFT homologs, including GmFT2a/2b, GmFT3a/3b, and GmFT5a/5b, promoted flowering similar to FT; in contrast, GmFT1a/1b, GmFT4, and GmFT6 delayed flowering. Consistently, expressions of GmFT2a, GmFT2b, and GmFT5a were induced in soybean leaves in response to floral inductive short days, whereas expressions of GmFT1a and GmFT4 were induced in response to long days. Exon swapping analysis between floral activator GmFT2a and floral repressor GmFT4 revealed that the segment B region in the fourth exon is critical for their antagonistic functions. Finally, expression analysis of GmFT2a, GmFT5a, and GmFT4 in soybean accessions exhibiting various flowering times indicated that the mRNA levels of GmFT2a and GmFT5a were higher in early flowering accessions than in late-flowering accessions, while GmFT4 showed the opposite pattern. Moreover, the relative mRNA levels between GmFT2a/GmFT5a and GmFT4 was important in determining day length-dependent flowering in soybean accessions. Taken together, our results suggest that the functions of GmFT homologs have diversified into floral activators and floral repressors during soybean evolution, and the timing of flowering in response to changing day length is determined by modulating the activities of antagonistic GmFT homologs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Hyeon Lee
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Cheol Woo Choi
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Kyoung Mi Park
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Wook-Hun Jung
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Hyun Jin Chun
- Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Dongwon Baek
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Hyun Min Cho
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Byung Jun Jin
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Mi Suk Park
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Dong Hyeon No
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Lack Hyeon Lim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Sang In Shim
- Department of Agronomy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Jong Il Chung
- Department of Agronomy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Min Chul Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
- Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
- Department of Agronomy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
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12
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Fang J, Chai Z, Yao W, Chen B, Zhang M. Interactions between ScNAC23 and ScGAI regulate GA-mediated flowering and senescence in sugarcane. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 304:110806. [PMID: 33568306 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Control of gene transcription is crucial to regulate plant growth and development events, such as flowering, leaf senescence, and seed germination. Here we identified a NAC transcription factor (ScNAC23) isolated from sugarcane (cv. ROC22). Analysis by qRT-PCR indicated that ScNAC23 expression was strongly induced in mature leaves and flowering varieties and was also responsive to exogenous treatment with the hormone gibberellin (GA). Ectopic expression of ScNAC23 in Arabidopsis accelerated bolting, flowering, and leaf senescence compared to wild type plants. Furthermore, Arabidopsis overexpressed ScNAC23 were more sensitive to GA than the wild type, and exogenous GA significantly accelerated flowering and senescence in the ScNAC23-overexpressed ones. A direct interaction between ScNAC23 and ScGAI, an inhibitor of GA signaling, was confirmed by yeast-two hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and GST-pull down assay. The putative GA-ScNAC23-LFY/SAGs regulator module might provide a new sight into the molecular action of GA to accelerating flowering and leaf senescence in sugarcane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlan Fang
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China.
| | - Zhe Chai
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China.
| | - Wei Yao
- Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China
| | - Muqing Zhang
- State Key Lab for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agri-Biological Resources, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China; Guangxi Key Lab for Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China.
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13
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Selection and validation of reference genes by RT-qPCR under photoperiodic induction of flowering in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Sci Rep 2021; 11:4589. [PMID: 33633157 PMCID: PMC7907395 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83918-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Although reference genes have previously been used in the expression analysis of genes involved in sugarcane flowering they had not been experimentally validated for stability and consistency of expression between different samples over a wide range of experimental conditions. Here we report the analysis of candidate reference genes in different tissue types, at different temporal time-points, in both short and long day photoperiodic treatments. The stability of the candidate reference genes in all conditions was evaluated with NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder algorithms that complement each other for a more robust analysis. As the Normfinder algorithm was more appropriate for our experimental conditions, greater emphasis was placed on Normfinder when choosing the most stable genes. UBQ1 and TUB were shown to be the most stable reference genes to use for normalizing RT-qPCR gene expression data during floral induction, whilst 25SrRNA1 and GAPDH were the least stable. Their use as a reference gene pair was validated by analyzing the expression of two differentially expressed target genes (PIL5 and LHP1). The UBQ1/TUB reference genes combination was able to reveal small significant differences in gene expression of the two target genes that were not detectable when using the least stable reference gene combination. These results can be used to inform the choice of reference genes to use in the study of the sugarcane floral induction pathway. Our work also demonstrates that both PIL5 and LHP1 are significantly up-regulated in the initial stages of photoperiodic induction of flowering in sugarcane.
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14
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Pieper R, Tomé F, Pankin A, von Korff M. FLOWERING LOCUS T4 delays flowering and decreases floret fertility in barley. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:107-121. [PMID: 33048122 PMCID: PMC7816854 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
FLOWERING LOCUS T-like (FT-like) genes control the photoperiodic regulation of flowering in many angiosperm plants. The family of FT-like genes is characterized by extensive gene duplication and subsequent diversification of FT functions which occurred independently in modern angiosperm lineages. In barley, there are 12 known FT-like genes (HvFT), but the function of most of them remains uncharacterized. This study aimed to characterize the role of HvFT4 in flowering time control and development in barley. The overexpression of HvFT4 in the spring cultivar Golden Promise delayed flowering time under long-day conditions. Microscopic dissection of the shoot apical meristem revealed that overexpression of HvFT4 specifically delayed spikelet initiation and reduced the number of spikelet primordia and grains per spike. Furthermore, ectopic overexpression of HvFT4 was associated with floret abortion and with the down-regulation of the barley MADS-box genes VRN-H1, HvBM3, and HvBM8 which promote floral development. This suggests that HvFT4 functions as a repressor of reproductive development in barley. Unraveling the genetic basis of FT-like genes can contribute to the identification of novel breeding targets to modify reproductive development and thereby spike morphology and grain yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Pieper
- Institute for Plant Genetics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Filipa Tomé
- Institute for Plant Genetics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, ‘SMART Plants for Tomorrow’s Needs’, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Artem Pankin
- Institute for Plant Genetics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, ‘SMART Plants for Tomorrow’s Needs’, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Maria von Korff
- Institute for Plant Genetics, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, ‘SMART Plants for Tomorrow’s Needs’, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence:
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15
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Manechini JRV, Santos PHDS, Romanel E, Brito MDS, Scarpari MS, Jackson S, Pinto LR, Vicentini R. Transcriptomic Analysis of Changes in Gene Expression During Flowering Induction in Sugarcane Under Controlled Photoperiodic Conditions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:635784. [PMID: 34211482 PMCID: PMC8239368 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.635784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Flowering is of utmost relevance for the agricultural productivity of the sugarcane bioeconomy, but data and knowledge of the genetic mechanisms underlying its photoperiodic induction are still scarce. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth in sugarcane could provide better control of flowering for breeding. This study aimed to investigate the transcriptome of +1 mature leaves of a sugarcane cultivar subjected to florally inductive and non-inductive photoperiodic treatments to identify gene expression patterns and molecular regulatory modules. We identified 7,083 differentially expressed (DE) genes, of which 5,623 showed significant identity to other plant genes. Functional group analysis showed differential regulation of important metabolic pathways involved in plant development, such as plant hormones (i.e., cytokinin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid), light reactions, and photorespiration. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed evidence of upregulated processes and functions related to the response to abiotic stress, photoprotection, photosynthesis, light harvesting, and pigment biosynthesis, whereas important categories related to growth and vegetative development of plants, such as plant organ morphogenesis, shoot system development, macromolecule metabolic process, and lignin biosynthesis, were downregulated. Also, out of 76 sugarcane transcripts considered putative orthologs to flowering genes from other plants (such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Sorghum bicolor), 21 transcripts were DE. Nine DE genes related to flowering and response to photoperiod were analyzed either at mature or spindle leaves at two development stages corresponding to the early stage of induction and inflorescence primordia formation. Finally, we report a set of flowering-induced long non-coding RNAs and describe their level of conservation to other crops, many of which showed expression patterns correlated against those in the functionally grouped gene network.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Ricardo Vieira Manechini
- Laboratório de Biologia de Sistemas, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Paulo Henrique da Silva Santos
- Departamento de Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual de São Paulo (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Elisson Romanel
- Laboratório de Genômica de Plantas e Bioenergia (PGEMBL), Departamento de Biotecnologia, Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Lorena, Brazil
| | - Michael dos Santos Brito
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | | | - Stephen Jackson
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Luciana Rossini Pinto
- Departamento de Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual de São Paulo (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
- Centro de Cana, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Renato Vicentini
- Laboratório de Biologia de Sistemas, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Renato Vicentini,
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16
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Alternative splicing of flowering time gene FT is associated with halving of time to flowering in coconut. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11640. [PMID: 32669611 PMCID: PMC7363896 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68431-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Coconut palm has two distinct types-"tall" and "dwarf"-which differ morphologically. Tall coconut varieties need 8-10 years to start flowering, while dwarf coconut varieties only require 3-5 years. We compared seedling and reproductive stage transcriptomes for both coconut types to determine potential molecular mechanisms underlying control of flowering time in coconut. Several key genes in the photoperiod pathway were differentially expressed between seedling and reproductive leaf samples in both tall and dwarf coconut. These genes included suppressor of overexpression of constans (SOC1), flowering locus T (FT), and Apetala 1 (AP1). Alternative splicing analysis of genes in the photoperiod pathway further revealed that the FT gene produces different transcripts in tall compared to dwarf coconut. The shorter alternative splice variant of FT [which included a 6 bp deletion, alternative 3' splicing sites (A3SS)] was found to be exclusively present in dwarf coconut varieties but absent in most tall coconut varieties. Our results provide a valuable information resource as well as suggesting a probable mechanism for differentiation of flowering time onset in coconut, providing a target for future breeding work in accelerating time to flowering in this crop species.
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17
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Zhang H, Zhang Y. Molecular cloning and functional characterization of CmFT (FLOWERING LOCUS T) from Cucumis melo L. J Genet 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-020-1191-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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18
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A genetic framework for regulation and seasonal adaptation of shoot architecture in hybrid aspen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:11523-11530. [PMID: 32393640 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2004705117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Shoot architecture is critical for optimizing plant adaptation and productivity. In contrast with annuals, branching in perennials native to temperate and boreal regions must be coordinated with seasonal growth cycles. How branching is coordinated with seasonal growth is poorly understood. We identified key components of the genetic network that controls branching and its regulation by seasonal cues in the model tree hybrid aspen. Our results demonstrate that branching and its control by seasonal cues is mediated by mutually antagonistic action of aspen orthologs of the flowering regulators TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) and APETALA1 (LIKE APETALA 1/LAP1). LAP1 promotes branching through local action in axillary buds. LAP1 acts in a cytokinin-dependent manner, stimulating expression of the cell-cycle regulator AIL1 and suppressing BRANCHED1 expression to promote branching. Short photoperiod and low temperature, the major seasonal cues heralding winter, suppress branching by simultaneous activation of TFL1 and repression of the LAP1 pathway. Our results thus reveal the genetic network mediating control of branching and its regulation by environmental cues facilitating integration of branching with seasonal growth control in perennial trees.
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19
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Atif MJ, Ahanger MA, Amin B, Ghani MI, Ali M, Cheng Z. Mechanism of Allium Crops Bulb Enlargement in Response to Photoperiod: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1325. [PMID: 32079095 PMCID: PMC7072895 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The photoperiod marks a varied set of behaviors in plants, including bulbing. Bulbing is controlled by inner signals, which can be stimulated or subdued by the ecological environment. It had been broadly stated that phytohormones control the plant development, and they are considered to play a significant part in the bulb formation. The past decade has witnessed significant progress in understanding and advancement about the photoperiodic initiation of bulbing in plants. A noticeable query is to what degree the mechanisms discovered in bulb crops are also shared by other species and what other qualities are also dependent on photoperiod. The FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) protein has a role in flowering; however, the FT genes were afterward reported to play further functions in other biological developments (e.g., bulbing). This is predominantly applicable in photoperiodic regulation, where the FT genes seem to have experienced significant development at the practical level and play a novel part in the switch of bulb formation in Alliums. The neofunctionalization of FT homologs in the photoperiodic environments detects these proteins as a new class of primary signaling mechanisms that control the growth and organogenesis in these agronomic-related species. In the present review, we report the underlying mechanisms regulating the photoperiodic-mediated bulb enlargement in Allium species. Therefore, the present review aims to systematically review the published literature on the bulbing mechanism of Allium crops in response to photoperiod. We also provide evidence showing that the bulbing transitions are controlled by phytohormones signaling and FT-like paralogues that respond to independent environmental cues (photoperiod), and we also show that an autorelay mechanism involving FT modulates the expression of the bulbing-control gene. Although a large number of studies have been conducted, several limitations and research gaps have been identified that need to be addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Jawaad Atif
- Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (M.J.A.); (B.A.); (M.I.G.); (M.A.)
- Vegetable Crops Program, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | | | - Bakht Amin
- Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (M.J.A.); (B.A.); (M.I.G.); (M.A.)
| | - Muhammad Imran Ghani
- Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (M.J.A.); (B.A.); (M.I.G.); (M.A.)
- College of Natural Resource and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Muhammad Ali
- Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (M.J.A.); (B.A.); (M.I.G.); (M.A.)
| | - Zhihui Cheng
- Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (M.J.A.); (B.A.); (M.I.G.); (M.A.)
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20
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Ospina-Zapata DA, Madrigal Y, Alzate JF, Pabón-Mora N. Evolution and Expression of Reproductive Transition Regulatory Genes FT/ TFL1 With Emphasis in Selected Neotropical Orchids. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:469. [PMID: 32373149 PMCID: PMC7186885 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Flowering is a rigorously timed and morphologically complex shift in plant development. This change depends on endogenous as well as environmental factors. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) integrates several cues from different pathways acting as a flowering promoter. Contrary to the role of FT, its paralog TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) delays floral transition. Although FT/TFL1 homologs have been studied in model eudicots and monocots, scarce studies are available in non-model monocots like the Orchidaceae. Orchids are very diverse and their floral complexity is translated into a unique aesthetic display, which appeals the ornamental plant market. Nonetheless, orchid trade faces huge limitations due to their long vegetative phase and intractable indoor flowering seasons. Little is known about the genetic basis that control reproductive transition in orchids and, consequently, manipulating their flowering time remains a challenge. In order to contribute to the understanding of the genetic bases that control flowering in orchids we present here the first broad-scale analysis of FT/TFL1-like genes in monocots with an expanded sampling in Orchidaceae. We also compare expression patterns in three selected species and propose hypotheses on the putative role of these genes in their reproductive transition. Our findings show that FT-like genes are by far more diversified than TFL1-like genes in monocots with six subclades in the former and only one in the latter. Within MonFT1, the comparative protein sequences of MonFT1A and MonFT1B suggest that they could have recruited functional roles in delaying flowering, a role typically assigned to TFL1-like proteins. On the other hand, MonFT2 proteins have retained their canonical motifs and roles in promoting flowering transition. This is also shown by their increased expression levels from the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and leaves to inflorescence meristems (IM) and floral buds (FBs). Finally, TFL1-like genes are retained as single copy and often times are lost. Their loss could be linked to the parallel recruitment of MonFT1A and MonFT1B homologs in delaying flowering and maintaining indeterminacy of the inflorescence meristem. These hypotheses lay the foundation for future functional validation in emerging model orchid species and comparative analyses in orchids with high horticultural potential in the market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A. Ospina-Zapata
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Yesenia Madrigal
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan F. Alzate
- Centro Nacional de Secuenciación Genómica, Sede de Investigación Universitaria, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Natalia Pabón-Mora
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- *Correspondence: Natalia Pabón-Mora,
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Flowering time in banana (Musa spp.), a day neutral plant, is controlled by at least three FLOWERING LOCUS T homologues. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5935. [PMID: 28724905 PMCID: PMC5517511 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06118-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Banana is an important day neutral food crop with a long flowering/fruiting cycle that is affected by hot summers or cold winters in different places. Manipulating its life cycle requires an understanding of its flowering time machinery to bypass these stresses. Twelve FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and two TWIN SISTER OF FT (TSF) members were isolated from banana and their organization and expression pattern studied during development in two varieties that differ in flowering time namely Grand Nain (AAA genotype) and Hill banana (AAB genotype). The expression of at least 3 genes namely MaFT1, MaFT2 and MaFT5 (and to some extent MaFT7) increases just prior to initiation of flowering. These four genes and five others (MaFT3, MaFT4, MaFT8, MaFT12 and MaTSF1 could suppress the delayed flowering defect in the Arabidopsis ft-10 mutant and induce early flowering upon over-expression in the Col-0 ecotype. Most genes are diurnally regulated and differentially expressed during development and in various vegetative and reproductive tissues suggesting roles besides flowering. Subtle amino acid changes in these FT/TSF-like proteins provide interesting insights into the structure/function relationships of banana FTs vis-à-vis Arabidopsis. The studies provide a means for manipulation of flowering in banana for better management of resources and to reduce losses through abiotic stresses.
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Li C, Fu Q, Niu L, Luo L, Chen J, Xu ZF. Three TFL1 homologues regulate floral initiation in the biofuel plant Jatropha curcas. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43090. [PMID: 28225036 PMCID: PMC5320528 DOI: 10.1038/srep43090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research revealed that TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) homologues are involved in the critical developmental process of floral initiation in several plant species. In this study, the functions of three putative TFL1 homologues (JcTFL1a, JcTFL1b and JcTFL1c) in the biofuel plant Jatropha curcas were analysed using the transgenic approach. JcTFL1b and JcTFL1c, but not JcTFL1a, could complement the TFL1 function and rescue early flowering and determinate inflorescence phenotype in tfl1-14 Arabidopsis mutant, thus suggesting that JcTFL1b and JcTFL1c may be homologues of TFL1. Transgenic Jatropha overexpressing JcTFL1a, JcTFL1b or JcTFL1c showed late flowering, whereas only JcTFL1b and JcTFL1c overexpression delayed flowering in transgenic Arabidopsis. JcTFL1b-RNAi transgenic Jatropha consistently exhibited moderately early flowering phenotype. JcFT and JcAP1 were significantly downregulated in transgenic Jatropha overexpressing JcTFL1a, JcTFL1b or JcTFL1c, which suggested that the late flowering phenotype of these transgenic Jatropha may result from the repressed expression of JcFT and JcAP1. Our results indicate that these three JcTFL1 genes play redundant roles in repressing flowering in Jatropha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqiong Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China.,College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, Henan, 466001, China
| | - Qiantang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Longjian Niu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Li Luo
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianghua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Zeng-Fu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan 666303, China
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Wang Z, Yang R, Devisetty UK, Maloof JN, Zuo Y, Li J, Shen Y, Zhao J, Bao M, Ning G. The Divergence of Flowering Time Modulated by FT/TFL1 Is Independent to Their Interaction and Binding Activities. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:697. [PMID: 28533784 PMCID: PMC5421193 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1) proteins share highly conserved amino acid residues but they play opposite regulatory roles in promoting and repressing the flowering response, respectively. Previous substitution models and functional analysis have identified several key amino acid residues which are critical for the promotion of flowering. However, the precise relationship between naturally occurring FT/TFL1 homologs and the mechanism of their role in flowering is still unclear. In this study, FT/TFL1 homologs from eight Rosaceae species, namely, Spiraea cantoniensis, Pyracantha fortuneana, Photinia serrulata, Fragaria ananassa, Rosa hybrida, Prunus mume, Prunus persica and Prunus yedoensis, were isolated. Three of these homologs were further characterized by functional analyses involving site-directed mutagenesis. The results showed that these FT/TFL1 homologs might have diverse functions despite sharing a high similarity of sequences or crystal structures. Functional analyses were conducted for the key FT amino acids, Tyr-85 and Gln-140. It revealed that TFL1 homologs cannot promote flowering simply by substitution with key FT amino acid residues. Mutations of the IYN triplet motif within segment C of exon 4 can prevent the FT homolog from promoting the flowering. Furthermore, physical interaction of FT homologous or mutated proteins with the transcription factor FD, together with their lipid-binding properties analysis, showed that it was not sufficient to trigger flowering. Thus, our findings revealed that the divergence of flowering time modulating by FT/TFL1 homologs is independent to interaction and binding activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Ruiguang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | | | - Julin N. Maloof
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, DavisCA, USA
| | - Yang Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Yuxiao Shen
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Manzhu Bao
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Guogui Ning
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Guogui Ning,
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The Evolution of the FT/TFL1 Genes in Amaranthaceae and Their Expression Patterns in the Course of Vegetative Growth and Flowering in Chenopodium rubrum. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:3065-3076. [PMID: 27473314 PMCID: PMC5068931 DOI: 10.1534/g3.116.028639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The FT/TFL1 gene family controls important aspects of plant development: MFT-like genes affect germination, TFL1-like genes act as floral inhibitors, and FT-like genes are floral activators. Gene duplications produced paralogs with modified functions required by the specific lifestyles of various angiosperm species. We constructed the transcriptome of the weedy annual plant Chenopodium rubrum and used it for the comprehensive search for the FT/TFL1 genes. We analyzed their phylogenetic relationships across Amaranthaceae and all angiosperms. We discovered a very ancient phylogenetic clade of FT genes represented by the CrFTL3 gene of C. rubrum Another paralog CrFTL2 showed an unusual structural rearrangement which might have contributed to the functional shift. We examined the transcription patterns of the FT/TFL1 genes during the vegetative growth and floral transition in C. rubrum to get clues about their possible functions. All the genes except for the constitutively expressed CrFTL2 gene, and the CrFTL3 gene, which was transcribed only in seeds, exhibited organ-specific expression influenced by the specific light regime. The CrFTL1 gene was confirmed as a single floral activator from the FT/TFL1 family in C. rubrum Its floral promoting activity may be counteracted by CrTFL1 C. rubrum emerges as an easily manipulated model for the study of floral induction in weedy fast-cycling plants lacking a juvenile phase.
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Molecular and Functional Characterization of FLOWERING LOCUS T Homologs in Allium cepa. Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21020217. [PMID: 26891287 PMCID: PMC6274202 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Onion bulbing is an important agricultural trait affecting economic value and is regulated by flowering-related genes. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like gene function is crucial for the initiation of flowering in various plant species and also in asexual reproduction in tuber plants. By employing various computational analysis using RNA-Seq data, we identified eight FT-like genes (AcFT) encoding PEBP (phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein) domains in Allium cepa. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of FT-like proteins revealed six proteins that were identical to previously reported AcFT1-6 proteins, as well as one (AcFT7) with a highly conserved region shared with AcFT6 and another (comp106231) with low similarity to MFT protein, but containing a PEBP domain. Homology modelling of AcFT7 proteins showed similar structures and conservation of amino acids crucial for function in AtFT (Arabidopsis) and Hd3a (rice), with variation in the C-terminal region. Further, we analyzed AcFT expression patterns in different transitional stages, as well as under SD (short-day), LD (long-day), and drought treatment in two contrasting genotypic lines EM (early maturation, 36101) and LM (late maturation, 36122). The FT transcript levels were greatly affected by various environmental factors such as photoperiod, temperature and drought. Our results suggest that AcFT7 is a member of the FT-like genes in Allium cepa and may be involved in regulation of onion bulbing, similar to other FT genes. In addition, AcFT4 and AcFT7 could be involved in establishing the difference in timing of bulb maturity between the two contrasting onion lines.
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Wickland DP, Hanzawa Y. The FLOWERING LOCUS T/TERMINAL FLOWER 1 Gene Family: Functional Evolution and Molecular Mechanisms. MOLECULAR PLANT 2015; 8:983-97. [PMID: 25598141 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In plant development, the flowering transition and inflorescence architecture are modulated by two homologous proteins, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1). The florigen FT promotes the transition to reproductive development and flowering, while TFL1 represses this transition. Despite their importance to plant adaptation and crop improvement and their extensive study by the plant community, the molecular mechanisms controlling the opposing actions of FT and TFL1 have remained mysterious. Recent studies in multiple species have unveiled diverse roles of the FT/TFL1 gene family in developmental processes other than flowering regulation. In addition, the striking evolution of FT homologs into flowering repressors has occurred independently in several species during the evolution of flowering plants. These reports indicate that the FT/TFL1 gene family is a major target of evolution in nature. Here, we comprehensively survey the conserved and diverse functions of the FT/TFL1 gene family throughout the plant kingdom, summarize new findings regarding the unique evolution of FT in multiple species, and highlight recent work elucidating the molecular mechanisms of these proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Wickland
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yoshie Hanzawa
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Li C, Zhang Y, Zhang K, Guo D, Cui B, Wang X, Huang X. Promoting flowering, lateral shoot outgrowth, leaf development, and flower abscission in tobacco plants overexpressing cotton FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like gene GhFT1. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:454. [PMID: 26136765 PMCID: PMC4469826 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) encodes a mobile signal protein, recognized as major component of florigen, which has a central position in regulating flowering, and also plays important roles in various physiological aspects. A mode is recently emerging for the balance of indeterminate and determinate growth, which is controlled by the ratio of FT-like and TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1)-like gene activities, and has a strong influence on the floral transition and plant architecture. Orthologs of GhFT1 was previously isolated and characterized from Gossypium hirsutum. We demonstrated that ectopic overexpression of GhFT1 in tobacco, other than promoting flowering, promoted lateral shoot outgrowth at the base, induced more axillary bud at the axillae of rosette leaves, altered leaf morphology, increased chlorophyll content, had higher rate of photosynthesis and caused flowers abscission. Analysis of gene expression suggested that flower identity genes were significantly upregulated in transgenic plants. Further analysis of tobacco FT paralogs indicated that NtFT4, acting as flower inducer, was upregulated, whereas NtFT2 and NtFT3 as flower inhibitors were upregulated in transgenic plants under long-day conditions, but downregulated under short-day conditions. Our data suggests that sufficient level of transgenic cotton FT might disturb the balance of the endogenous tobacco FT paralogs of inducers and repressors and resulted in altered phenotype in transgenic tobacco, emphasizing the expanding roles of FT in regulating shoot architecture by advancing determine growth. Manipulating the ratio for indeterminate and determinate growth factors throughout FT-like and TFL1-like gene activity holds promise to improve plant architecture and enhance crop yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Plant Genomics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi UniversityShihezi, China
| | - Yannan Zhang
- Plant Genomics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi UniversityShihezi, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Plant Genomics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi UniversityShihezi, China
| | - Danli Guo
- Plant Genomics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi UniversityShihezi, China
| | - Baiming Cui
- Plant Genomics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi UniversityShihezi, China
| | - Xiyin Wang
- Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, University of Georgia, AthensGA, USA
- *Correspondence: Xianzhong Huang, Plant Genomics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, 221 Fourth North Road, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China; Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, University of Georgia, 111 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA, ; Xiyin Wang, Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, University of Georgia, 111 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA,
| | - Xianzhong Huang
- Plant Genomics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi UniversityShihezi, China
- Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, University of Georgia, AthensGA, USA
- *Correspondence: Xianzhong Huang, Plant Genomics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, 221 Fourth North Road, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China; Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, University of Georgia, 111 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA, ; Xiyin Wang, Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, University of Georgia, 111 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA,
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