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Wang S, Zhou H, He Z, Ma D, Sun W, Xu X, Tian Q. Effects of Drought Stress on Leaf Functional Traits and Biomass Characteristics of Atriplex canescens. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2006. [PMID: 39065532 PMCID: PMC11281204 DOI: 10.3390/plants13142006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Drought is a critical factor constraining plant growth in arid regions. However, the performance and adaptive mechanism of Atriplex canescens (A. canescens) under drought stress remain unclear. Hence, a three-year experiment with three drought gradients was performed in a common garden, and the leaf functional traits, biomass and biomass partitioning patterns of A. canescens were investigated. The results showed that drought stress had significant effects on A. canescens leaf functional traits. A. canescens maintained the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), but the peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity decreased, and the content of proline (Pro) and soluble sugar (SS) increased only under heavy drought stress. Under drought stress, the leaves became smaller but denser, the specific leaf area (SLA) decreased, but the dry matter content (LDMC) maintained stability. Total biomass decreased 60% to 1758 g under heavy drought stress and the seed and leaf biomass was only 10% and 20% of non-stress group, but there had no significant difference on root biomass. More biomass was allocated to root under drought stress. The root biomass allocation ratio was doubled from 9.62% to 19.81% under heavy drought, and the root/shoot ratio (R/S) increased from 0.11 to 0.25. The MDA was significantly and negatively correlated with biomass, while the SPAD was significantly and positively correlated with total and aboveground organs biomass. The POD, CAT, Pro and SS had significant correlations with root and seed allocation ratio. The leaf morphological traits related to leaf shape and weight had significant correlations with total and aboveground biomass and biomass allocation. Our study demonstrated that under drought stress, A. canescens made tradeoffs between growth potential and drought tolerance and evolved with a conservative strategy. These findings provide more information for an in-depth understanding of the adaption strategies of A. canescens to drought stress and provide potential guidance for planting and sustainable management of A. canescens in arid and semi-arid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Wang
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; (S.W.); (H.Z.); (D.M.); (W.S.); (Q.T.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hai Zhou
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; (S.W.); (H.Z.); (D.M.); (W.S.); (Q.T.)
| | - Zhibin He
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; (S.W.); (H.Z.); (D.M.); (W.S.); (Q.T.)
| | - Dengke Ma
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; (S.W.); (H.Z.); (D.M.); (W.S.); (Q.T.)
| | - Weihao Sun
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; (S.W.); (H.Z.); (D.M.); (W.S.); (Q.T.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xingzhi Xu
- College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
| | - Quanyan Tian
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; (S.W.); (H.Z.); (D.M.); (W.S.); (Q.T.)
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Manitašević Jovanović S, Hočevar K, Vuleta A, Tucić B. Predicting the Responses of Functional Leaf Traits to Global Warming: An In Situ Temperature Manipulation Design Using Iris pumila L. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3114. [PMID: 37687360 PMCID: PMC10490406 DOI: 10.3390/plants12173114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity is widely acknowledged as one of the most common solutions for coping with novel environmental conditions following climate change. However, it is less known whether the current amounts of trait plasticity, which is sufficient for matching with the contemporary climate, will be adequate when global temperatures exceed historical levels. We addressed this issue by exploring the responses of functional and structural leaf traits in Iris pumila clonal individuals to experimentally increased temperatures (~1.5 °C) using an open top chamber (OTC) design. We determined the phenotypic values of the specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, specific leaf water content, and leaf thickness in the leaves sampled from the same clone inside and outside of the OTC deployed on it, over seasons and years within two natural populations. We analyzed the data using a repeated multivariate analysis of variance, which primarily focusses on the profiles (reaction norms (RNs)) of a variable gathered from the same individual at several different time points. We found that the mean RNs of all analyzed traits were parallel regardless of experienced temperatures, but differed in the level and the shape. The populations RNs were similar as well. As the amount of plasticity in the analyzed leaf trait was adequate for coping with elevated temperatures inside the OTCs, we predict that it will be also sufficient for responding to increased temperatures if they exceed the 1.5 °C target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Manitašević Jovanović
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia; (K.H.); (A.V.)
| | - Katarina Hočevar
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia; (K.H.); (A.V.)
| | - Ana Vuleta
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia; (K.H.); (A.V.)
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Khan R, Ma X, Hussain Q, Chen K, Farooq S, Asim M, Ren X, Shah S, Shi Y. Transcriptome and anatomical studies reveal alterations in leaf thickness under long-term drought stress in tobacco. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 281:153920. [PMID: 36680840 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.153920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Drought is one of the foremost environmental factors that limit the growth of plants. Leaf thickness (LT) is an important quantitative trait in plant physiology. The experiment was carried out in a growth room and the plants were divided into two groups such as well-watered and drought-stressed. This work investigated leaf growth in terms of leaf surface growth and expansion rate, leaf stomata traits, LT, anticlinal growth, and leaf cell layers. The results showed that the leaf area and leaf surface expansion rate were decreased by drought stress (DS). Similarly, LT, anticlinal expansion rate, palisade and spongy tissue thickness, and their related expansion rates were also decreased at different days' time points (DTP) of DS. However, a steady increase was observed in the aforementioned parameters after 12 DTP of DS. The stomatal density increased while stomata size decreased at 3 DTP and 12 DTP (low leaf water potential and relative leaf water content at these time points) and vice versa at 24 DTP compared with the well-watered plants indicating adaptations in these traits in response to DS, and thus the leaf water status played a role in the regulation of leaf stomata traits. The cell length decreased in the upper epidermis, palisade and spongy tissues by DS up to 12 DTP led to lower LT while an increase was observed after 12 DTP that resulted in higher LT. The increase in the LT was supported by the upregulation of starch and sucrose metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathways at 18 DTP along with the differentially expressed genes induced that were related to cell wall remodeling (cellulose, expansin, xyloglucans) and cell expansion (auxin response factors and aquaporin). The results explain the response of leaf thickness to drought stress and show alterations in LT and leaf stomatal traits. This study might serve as a valuable source of gene information for functional studies and provide a theoretical basis to understand leaf growth in terms of leaf anatomy and leaf stomatal traits under drought stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayyan Khan
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China
| | - Xinghua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China.
| | - Quaid Hussain
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, 666 Wusu Street, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Keling Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China
| | - Saqib Farooq
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Muhammad Asim
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China
| | - Xiaochun Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China
| | - Shahen Shah
- Department of Agronomy, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, 25130, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Yi Shi
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China.
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Niu Y, Chen T, Zheng Z, Zhao C, Liu C, Jia J, Zhou M. A new major QTL for flag leaf thickness in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:305. [PMID: 35751018 PMCID: PMC9229122 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03694-7] [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: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbohydrate accumulation of photosynthetic organs, mainly leaves, are the primary sources of grain yield in cereals. The flag leaf plays a vital role in seed development, which is probably the most neglected morphological characteristic during traditional selection processes. RESULTS In this experiment, four flag leaf morphological traits and seven yield-related traits were investigated in a DH population derived from a cross between a wild barley and an Australian malting barley cultivar. Flag leaf thickness (FLT) showed significantly positive correlations with grain size. Four QTL, located on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 3H, and 5H, respectively, were identified for FLT. Among them, a major QTL was located on chromosome 3H with a LOD value of 18.4 and determined 32% of the phenotypic variation. This QTL showed close links but not pleiotropism to the previously reported semi-dwarf gene sdw1 from the cultivated barley. This QTL was not reported before and the thick leaf allele from the wild barley could provide a useful source for improving grain yield through breeding. CONCLUSIONS Our results also provided valuable evidence that source traits and sink traits in barley are tightly connected and suggest further improvement of barley yield potential with enhanced and balanced source and sink relationships by exploiting potentialities of the wild barley resources. Moreover, this study will provide a novel sight on understanding the evolution and development of leaf morphology in barley and improving barley production by rewilding for lost superior traits during plant evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Niu
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 1375, 7250, Prospect, TAS, Australia
| | - Tianxiao Chen
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 1375, 7250, Prospect, TAS, Australia
| | - Zhi Zheng
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 4067, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Chenchen Zhao
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 1375, 7250, Prospect, TAS, Australia
| | - Chunji Liu
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 4067, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jizeng Jia
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China.
| | - Meixue Zhou
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 1375, 7250, Prospect, TAS, Australia.
- College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801, Taigu, China.
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Zheng Z, Hu H, Gao S, Zhou H, Luo W, Kage U, Liu C, Jia J. Leaf thickness of barley: genetic dissection, candidate genes prediction and its relationship with yield-related traits. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2022; 135:1843-1854. [PMID: 35348823 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-022-04076-1] [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: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this first genetic study on assessing leaf thickness directly in cereals, major and environmentally stable QTL were detected in barley and candidate genes underlying a major locus were identified. Leaf thickness (LT) is an important characteristic affecting leaf functions which have been intensively studied. However, as LT has a small dimension in many plant species and technically difficult to measure, previous studies on this characteristic are often based on indirect estimations. In the first study of detecting QTL controlling LT by directly measuring the characteristic in barley, large and stable loci were detected from both field and glasshouse trials conducted in different cropping seasons by assessing a population of 201 recombinant inbred lines. Four loci (locating on chromosome arms 2H, 3H, 5H and 6H, respectively) were consistently detected for flag leaf thickness (FLT) in each of these trials. The one on 6H had the largest effect, with a maximum LOD 9.8 explaining up to 20.9% of phenotypic variance. FLT does not only show strong interactions with flag leaf width and flag leaf area but has also strong correlations with fertile tiller number, spike row types, kernel number per spike and heading date. Though with reduced efficiency, these loci were also detectable from assessing second last leaf of fully grown plants or even from assessing the third leaves of seedlings. Taking advantage of the high-quality genome assemblies for both parents of the mapping population used in this study, three candidate genes underlying the 6H QTL were predicted based on orthologous analysis. These results do not only broaden our understanding on genetic basis of LT and its relationship with other traits in cereal crops but also form the bases for cloning and functional analysis of genes regulating LT in barley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zheng
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Haiyan Hu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Shang Gao
- School of Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Wei Luo
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
- Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Udaykumar Kage
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Chunji Liu
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia.
| | - Jizeng Jia
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Habermann E, Contin DR, Afonso LF, Barosela JR, de Pinho Costa KA, Viciedo DO, Groppo M, Martinez CA. Future warming will change the chemical composition and leaf blade structure of tropical C 3 and C 4 forage species depending on soil moisture levels. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153342. [PMID: 35093366 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Temperature and soil moisture strongly affect the nutritional value and digestibility of forage plants through changes in leaf chemical composition or the proportion of leaf blade tissues. In this study, we aimed to evaluate leaf blade anatomical modifications of two tropical forage species, Stylosanthes capitata (C3) and Megathyrsus maximus (C4) under warmed conditions (+2 °C) at well-watered and rainfed conditions and investigate the interactions between leaf anatomical alterations, leaf chemical composition, and leaf digestibility. Experiments were conducted under field conditions using a Temperature-free air-controlled enhancement (T-FACE) system. We observed that plants under elevated temperature produced leaves with smaller stomata and thinner mesophyll tissue and reduced total leaf thickness, potentially impacting gas exchange. On the other hand, reduced soil moisture increased stomatal density and thickness of the adaxial epidermis. In both species, leaf fibrous fractions concentration increased under warmed and non-irrigated conditions, while crude protein concentration and digestibility decreased. However, leaf digestibility was associated with leaf chemical composition rather than the proportion of different leaf blade tissues. We concluded that although both species developed leaf anatomical modifications to acclimate under future warming conditions, leaf nutritional value and digestibility will be reduced, potentially impacting future livestock production and methane emissions by ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Habermann
- Department of Biology, FFCLRP, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniele Ribeiro Contin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, FCFRP, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Dilier Olivera Viciedo
- Department of Soils and Fertilizers, FCAV, Jaboticabal, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Milton Groppo
- Department of Biology, FFCLRP, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Eng WH, Ho WS, Ling KH. In vitro induction and identification of polyploid Neolamarckia cadamba plants by colchicine treatment. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12399. [PMID: 34760387 PMCID: PMC8556713 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyploidization has played a crucial role in plant breeding and crop improvement. However, studies on the polyploidization of tropical tree species are still very scarce in this region. This paper described the in vitro induction and identification of polyploid plants of Neolamarckia cadamba by colchicine treatment. N. cadamba belongs to the Rubiaceae family is a natural tetraploid plant with 44 chromosomes (2n = 4x = 44). Nodal segments were treated with colchicine (0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5%) for 24 h and 48 h before transferring to shoot regeneration medium. Flow cytometry (FCM) and chromosome count were employed to determine the ploidy level and chromosome number of the regenerants, respectively. Of 180 colchicine-treated nodal segments, 39, 14 and 22 were tetraploids, mixoploids and octoploids, respectively. The highest percentage of polyploidization (20% octoploids; 6.7% mixoploids) was observed after treated with 0.3% colchicine for 48 h. The DNA content of tetraploid (4C) and octoploid (8C) was 2.59 ± 0.09 pg and 5.35 ± 0.24 pg, respectively. Mixoploid plants are made up of mixed tetraploid and octoploid cells. Chromosome count confirmed that tetraploid cell has 44 chromosomes and colchicine-induced octoploid cell has 88 chromosomes. Both octoploids and mixoploids grew slower than tetraploids under in vitro conditions. Morphological characterizations showed that mixoploid and octoploid leaves had thicker leaf blades, thicker midrib, bigger stomata size, lower stomata density, higher SPAD value and smaller pith layer than tetraploids. This indicates that polyploidization has changed and resulted in traits that are predicted to increase photosynthetic capacity of N. cadamba. These novel polyploid plants could be valuable resources for advanced N. cadamba breeding programs to produce improved clones for planted forest development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wee Hiang Eng
- Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Wei Seng Ho
- Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
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8
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Ferguson JN, Fernandes SB, Monier B, Miller ND, Allen D, Dmitrieva A, Schmuker P, Lozano R, Valluru R, Buckler ES, Gore MA, Brown PJ, Spalding EP, Leakey ADB. Machine learning-enabled phenotyping for GWAS and TWAS of WUE traits in 869 field-grown sorghum accessions. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:1481-1500. [PMID: 34618065 PMCID: PMC9040483 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a model C4 crop made experimentally tractable by extensive genomic and genetic resources. Biomass sorghum is studied as a feedstock for biofuel and forage. Mechanistic modeling suggests that reducing stomatal conductance (gs) could improve sorghum intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) and biomass production. Phenotyping to discover genotype-to-phenotype associations remains a bottleneck in understanding the mechanistic basis for natural variation in gs and iWUE. This study addressed multiple methodological limitations. Optical tomography and a machine learning tool were combined to measure stomatal density (SD). This was combined with rapid measurements of leaf photosynthetic gas exchange and specific leaf area (SLA). These traits were the subject of genome-wide association study and transcriptome-wide association study across 869 field-grown biomass sorghum accessions. The ratio of intracellular to ambient CO2 was genetically correlated with SD, SLA, gs, and biomass production. Plasticity in SD and SLA was interrelated with each other and with productivity across wet and dry growing seasons. Moderate-to-high heritability of traits studied across the large mapping population validated associations between DNA sequence variation or RNA transcript abundance and trait variation. A total of 394 unique genes underpinning variation in WUE-related traits are described with higher confidence because they were identified in multiple independent tests. This list was enriched in genes whose Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) putative orthologs have functions related to stomatal or leaf development and leaf gas exchange, as well as genes with nonsynonymous/missense variants. These advances in methodology and knowledge will facilitate improving C4 crop WUE.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N Ferguson
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Samuel B Fernandes
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Brandon Monier
- Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, New
York 14853, USA
| | - Nathan D Miller
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
53706, USA
| | - Dylan Allen
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Anna Dmitrieva
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Peter Schmuker
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Roberto Lozano
- Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science,
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Ravi Valluru
- Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, New
York 14853, USA
- Present address: Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology,
University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN2 2LG, UK
| | - Edward S Buckler
- Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, New
York 14853, USA
- Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science,
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Michael A Gore
- Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science,
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Patrick J Brown
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
- Present address: Section of Agricultural Plant Biology,
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, California 95616,
USA
| | - Edgar P Spalding
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
53706, USA
| | - Andrew D B Leakey
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
- Author for communication: ,
Present address: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA,
UK
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9
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Ferguson JN, Fernandes SB, Monier B, Miller ND, Allen D, Dmitrieva A, Schmuker P, Lozano R, Valluru R, Buckler ES, Gore MA, Brown PJ, Spalding EP, Leakey ADB. Machine learning-enabled phenotyping for GWAS and TWAS of WUE traits in 869 field-grown sorghum accessions. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:1481-1500. [PMID: 34618065 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a model C4 crop made experimentally tractable by extensive genomic and genetic resources. Biomass sorghum is studied as a feedstock for biofuel and forage. Mechanistic modeling suggests that reducing stomatal conductance (gs) could improve sorghum intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) and biomass production. Phenotyping to discover genotype-to-phenotype associations remains a bottleneck in understanding the mechanistic basis for natural variation in gs and iWUE. This study addressed multiple methodological limitations. Optical tomography and a machine learning tool were combined to measure stomatal density (SD). This was combined with rapid measurements of leaf photosynthetic gas exchange and specific leaf area (SLA). These traits were the subject of genome-wide association study and transcriptome-wide association study across 869 field-grown biomass sorghum accessions. The ratio of intracellular to ambient CO2 was genetically correlated with SD, SLA, gs, and biomass production. Plasticity in SD and SLA was interrelated with each other and with productivity across wet and dry growing seasons. Moderate-to-high heritability of traits studied across the large mapping population validated associations between DNA sequence variation or RNA transcript abundance and trait variation. A total of 394 unique genes underpinning variation in WUE-related traits are described with higher confidence because they were identified in multiple independent tests. This list was enriched in genes whose Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) putative orthologs have functions related to stomatal or leaf development and leaf gas exchange, as well as genes with nonsynonymous/missense variants. These advances in methodology and knowledge will facilitate improving C4 crop WUE.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N Ferguson
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Samuel B Fernandes
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Brandon Monier
- Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Nathan D Miller
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Dylan Allen
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Anna Dmitrieva
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Peter Schmuker
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Roberto Lozano
- Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Ravi Valluru
- Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Edward S Buckler
- Institute for Genomic Diversity, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Michael A Gore
- Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Patrick J Brown
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
| | - Edgar P Spalding
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Andrew D B Leakey
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61901, USA
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10
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Lawrence EH, Springer CJ, Helliker BR, Scott Poethig R. MicroRNA156-mediated changes in leaf composition lead to altered photosynthetic traits during vegetative phase change. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:1008-1022. [PMID: 33064860 PMCID: PMC8299463 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Plant morphology and physiology change with growth and development. Some of these changes are due to change in plant size and some are the result of genetically programmed developmental transitions. In this study we investigate the role of the developmental transition, vegetative phase change (VPC), on morphological and photosynthetic changes. We used overexpression of microRNA156, the master regulator of VPC, to modulate the timing of VPC in Populus tremula × alba, Zea mays, and Arabidopsis thaliana to determine its role in trait variation independent of changes in size and overall age. Here, we find that juvenile and adult leaves in all three species photosynthesize at different rates and that these differences are due to phase-dependent changes in specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf N but not photosynthetic biochemistry. Further, we found juvenile leaves with high SLA were associated with better photosynthetic performance at low light levels. This study establishes a role for VPC in leaf composition and photosynthetic performance across diverse species and environments. Variation in leaf traits due to VPC are likely to provide distinct benefits under specific environments; as a result, selection on the timing of this transition could be a mechanism for environmental adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica H. Lawrence
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Clint J. Springer
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Brent R. Helliker
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - R. Scott Poethig
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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11
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Nelson TC, Muir CD, Stathos AM, Vanderpool DD, Anderson K, Angert AL, Fishman L. Quantitative trait locus mapping reveals an independent genetic basis for joint divergence in leaf function, life-history, and floral traits between scarlet monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis) populations. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2021; 108:844-856. [PMID: 34036561 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Across taxa, vegetative and floral traits that vary along a fast-slow life-history axis are often correlated with leaf functional traits arrayed along the leaf economics spectrum, suggesting a constrained set of adaptive trait combinations. Such broad-scale convergence may arise from genetic constraints imposed by pleiotropy (or tight linkage) within species, or from natural selection alone. Understanding the genetic basis of trait syndromes and their components is key to distinguishing these alternatives and predicting evolution in novel environments. METHODS We used a line-cross approach and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to characterize the genetic basis of twenty leaf functional/physiological, life history, and floral traits in hybrids between annualized and perennial populations of scarlet monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis). RESULTS We mapped both single and multi-trait QTLs for life history, leaf function and reproductive traits, but found no evidence of genetic co-ordination across categories. A major QTL for three leaf functional traits (thickness, photosynthetic rate, and stomatal resistance) suggests that a simple shift in leaf anatomy may be key to adaptation to seasonally dry habitats. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the co-ordination of resource-acquisitive leaf physiological traits with a fast life-history and more selfing mating system results from environmental selection rather than functional or genetic constraint. Independent assortment of distinct trait modules, as well as a simple genetic basis to leaf physiological traits associated with drought escape, may facilitate adaptation to changing climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Nelson
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
| | - Christopher D Muir
- Departments of Botany and Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawai'i, 96822, USA
| | - Angela M Stathos
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
| | - Daniel D Vanderpool
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
| | - Kayli Anderson
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
| | - Amy L Angert
- Departments of Botany and Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Lila Fishman
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
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12
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Abstract
Flow cytometry and sorting represents a valuable and mature experimental platform for the analysis of cellular populations. Applications involving higher plants started to emerge around 40 years ago and are now widely employed both to provide unique information regarding basic and applied questions in the biosciences and to advance agricultural productivity in practical ways. Further development of this platform is being actively pursued, and this promises additional progress in our understanding of the interactions of cells within complex tissues and organs. Higher plants offer unique challenges in terms of flow cytometric analysis, first since their organs and tissues are, almost without exception, three-dimensional assemblies of different cell types held together by tough cell walls, and, second, because individual plant cells are generally larger than those of mammals.This chapter, which updates work last reviewed in 2014 [Galbraith DW (2014) Flow cytometry and sorting in Arabidopsis. In: Sanchez Serrano JJ, Salinas J (eds) Arabidopsis Protocols, 3rd ed. Methods in molecular biology, vol 1062. Humana Press, Totowa, pp 509-537], describes the application of techniques of flow cytometry and sorting to the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana, in particular emphasizing (a) fluorescence labeling in vivo of specific cell types and of subcellular components, (b) analysis using both conventional cytometers and spectral analyzers, (c) fluorescence-activated sorting of protoplasts and nuclei, and (d) transcriptome analyses using sorted protoplasts and nuclei, focusing on population analyses at the level of single protoplasts and nuclei. Since this is an update, details of new experimental methods are emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Galbraith
- University of Arizona, School of Plant Sciences and Bio5 Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA. .,Henan University, Institute of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Kaifeng, China.
| | - Guiling Sun
- Henan University, Institute of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Kaifeng, China
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13
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Ibañez VN, Masuelli RW, Marfil CF. Environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity and DNA methylation changes in a wild potato growing in two contrasting Andean experimental gardens. Heredity (Edinb) 2021; 126:50-62. [PMID: 32801346 PMCID: PMC7853039 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-00355-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation can be environmentally modulated and plays a role in phenotypic plasticity. To understand the role of environmentally induced epigenetic variation and its dynamics in natural populations and ecosystems, it is relevant to place studies in a real-world context. Our experimental model is the wild potato Solanum kurtzianum, a close relative of the cultivated potato S. tuberosum. It was evaluated in its natural habitat, an arid Andean region in Argentina characterised by spatial and temporal environmental fluctuations. The dynamics of phenotypic and epigenetic variability (with Methyl Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism markers, MSAP) were assayed in three genotypes across three growing seasons. These genotypes were cultivated permanently and also reciprocally transplanted between experimental gardens (EG) differing in ca. 1000 m of altitude. In two seasons, the genotypes presented differential methylation patterns associated to the EG. In the reciprocal transplants, a rapid epigenomic remodelling occurred according to the growing season. Phenotypic plasticity, both spatial (between EGs within season) and temporal (between seasons), was detected. The epigenetic and phenotypic variability was positively correlated. The lack of an evident mitotic epigenetic memory would be a common response to short-term environmental fluctuations. Thus, the environmentally induced phenotypic and epigenetic variation could contribute to populations persistence through time. These results have implications for understanding the great ecological diversity of wild potatoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Noé Ibañez
- IBAM (Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Williams Masuelli
- IBAM (Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Carlos Federico Marfil
- IBAM (Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina.
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