1
|
Li W, Li Y, Shi H, Wang H, Ji K, Zhang L, Wang Y, Dong Y, Li Y. ZmMPK6, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, regulates maize kernel weight. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:3287-3299. [PMID: 38457358 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae104] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Kernel weight is a critical agronomic trait in maize production. Many genes are related to kernel weight but only a few of them have been applied to maize breeding and cultivation. Here, we identify a novel function of maize mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (ZmMPK6) in the regulation of maize kernel weight. Kernel weight was reduced in zmmpk6 mutants and increased in ZmMPK6-overexpressing lines. In addition, starch granules, starch content, protein content, and grain-filling characteristics were also affected by the ZmMPK6 expression level. ZmMPK6 is mainly localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, widely distributed across various tissues, and is expressed during kernel development, which is consistent with its role in kernel weight. Thus, these results provide new insights into the role of ZmMPK6, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, in maize kernel weight, and could be applied to further molecular breeding for kernel quality and yield in maize.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Yayong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Huiyue Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Han Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Kun Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Long Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Yongbin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| | - Yuling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Longzi Lake Campus, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ma N, Sun P, Li ZY, Zhang FJ, Wang XF, You CX, Zhang CL, Zhang Z. Plant disease resistance outputs regulated by AP2/ERF transcription factor family. STRESS BIOLOGY 2024; 4:2. [PMID: 38163824 PMCID: PMC10758382 DOI: 10.1007/s44154-023-00140-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Plants have evolved a complex and elaborate signaling network to respond appropriately to the pathogen invasion by regulating expression of defensive genes through certain transcription factors. The APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) family members have been determined as key regulators in growth, development, and stress responses in plants. Moreover, a growing body of evidence has demonstrated the critical roles of AP2/ERFs in plant disease resistance. In this review, we describe recent advances for the function of AP2/ERFs in defense responses against microbial pathogens. We summarize that AP2/ERFs are involved in plant disease resistance by acting downstream of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, and regulating expression of genes associated with hormonal signaling pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and formation of physical barriers in an MAPK-dependent or -independent manner. The present review provides a multidimensional perspective on the functions of AP2/ERFs in plant disease resistance, which will facilitate the understanding and future investigation on the roles of AP2/ERFs in plant immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ma
- College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271000, Shandong, China
| | - Ping Sun
- College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271000, Shandong, China
| | - Zhao-Yang Li
- College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271000, Shandong, China
| | - Fu-Jun Zhang
- College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271000, Shandong, China
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xiao-Fei Wang
- College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271000, Shandong, China
| | - Chun-Xiang You
- College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271000, Shandong, China
| | - Chun-Ling Zhang
- College of Agricultural Science and Technology, Shandong Agriculture and Engineering University, Jinan, 250100, Shandong, China.
| | - Zhenlu Zhang
- College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271000, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lipps S, Lipka AE, Mideros S, Jamann T. Inhibition of ethylene involved in resistance to E. turcicum in an exotic-derived double haploid maize population. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1272951. [PMID: 37868313 PMCID: PMC10587583 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1272951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) is an economically important disease of maize. While the genetic architecture of NCLB has been well characterized, the pathogen is known to overcome currently deployed resistance genes, and the role of hormones in resistance to NCLB is an area of active research. The objectives of the study were (i) to identify significant markers associated with resistance to NCLB, (ii) to identify metabolic pathways associated with NCLB resistance, and (iii) to examine role of ethylene in resistance to NCLB. We screened 252 lines from the exotic-derived double haploid BGEM maize population for resistance to NCLB in both field and greenhouse environments. We used a genome wide association study (GWAS) and stepwise regression to identify four markers associated with resistance, followed by a pathway association study tool (PAST) to identify important metabolic pathways associated with disease severity and incubation period. The ethylene synthesis pathway was significant for disease severity and incubation period. We conducted a greenhouse assay in which we inhibited ethylene to examine the role of ethylene in resistance to NCLB. We observed a significant increase in incubation period and a significant decrease in disease severity between plants treated with the ethylene inhibitor and mock-treated plants. Our study confirms the potential of the BGEM population as a source of novel alleles for resistance. We also confirm the role of ethylene in resistance to NCLB and contribute to the growing body of literature on ethylene and disease resistance in monocots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tiffany Jamann
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Charfeddine M, Chiab N, Charfeddine S, Ferjani A, Gargouri-Bouzid R. Heat, drought, and combined stress effect on transgenic potato plants overexpressing the StERF94 transcription factor. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2023; 136:549-562. [PMID: 36988761 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-023-01454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite their economic importance worldwide, potato plants are sensitive to various abiotic constraints, such as drought and high temperatures, which cause significant losses in yields and tuber quality. Moreover, because of the climate change phenomenon, plants are frequently subjected to combined stresses, mainly high temperatures and drought. In this context, breeding for tolerant varieties should consider not only plant response to drought or high temperature but also to combined stresses. In the current study, we studied transgenic potato plants overexpressing an ethylene response transcription factor (TF; StERF94) involved in abiotic stress response signaling pathways. Our previous results showed that these transgenic plants display tolerance to salt stress more than wildtype (WT). In this work, we aimed to investigate the effects of drought, heat, and combined stresses on transgenic potato plants overexpressing StERF94 TF under in vitro culture conditions. The obtained results revealed that StERF94 overexpression improved the tolerance of the transgenic plants to drought, heat, and combined stresses through better control of the leaf water and chlorophyll contents, activation of antioxidant enzymes, and an accumulation of proline, especially in the leaves. Indeed, the expression level of antioxidant enzyme-encoding genes (CuZnSOD, FeSOD, CAT1, and CAT2) was significantly induced by the different stress conditions in the transgenic potato plants compared with the WT plants. This study further confirms that StERF94 TF may be implicated in regulating the expression of target genes encoding antioxidant enzymes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Charfeddine
- Plant Amelioration and Valorization of Agri-resource Laboratory, National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS), Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Nour Chiab
- Plant Amelioration and Valorization of Agri-resource Laboratory, National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS), Sfax, Tunisia.
| | - Safa Charfeddine
- Plant Amelioration and Valorization of Agri-resource Laboratory, National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS), Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Aziza Ferjani
- Plant Amelioration and Valorization of Agri-resource Laboratory, National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS), Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Radhia Gargouri-Bouzid
- Plant Amelioration and Valorization of Agri-resource Laboratory, National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS), Sfax, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Advances of Apetala2/Ethylene Response Factors in Regulating Development and Stress Response in Maize. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065416. [PMID: 36982510 PMCID: PMC10049130 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Apetala2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) is one of the largest families of transcription factors, regulating growth, development, and stress response in plants. Several studies have been conducted to clarify their roles in Arabidopsis and rice. However, less research has been carried out on maize. In this review, we systematically identified the AP2/ERFs in the maize genome and summarized the research progress related to AP2/ERF genes. The potential roles were predicted from rice homologs based on phylogenetic and collinear analysis. The putative regulatory interactions mediated by maize AP2/ERFs were discovered according to integrated data sources, implying that they involved complex networks in biological activities. This will facilitate the functional assignment of AP2/ERFs and their applications in breeding strategy.
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu Y, Li X, Zhang J, Zhao H, Tan S, Xu W, Pan J, Yang F, Pi E. ERF subfamily transcription factors and their function in plant responses to abiotic stresses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1042084. [PMID: 36531407 PMCID: PMC9748296 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1042084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ethylene Responsive Factor (ERF) subfamily comprise the largest number of proteins in the plant AP2/ERF superfamily, and have been most extensively studied on the biological functions. Members of this subfamily have been proven to regulate plant resistances to various abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, chilling and some other adversities. Under these stresses, ERFs are usually activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase induced phosphorylation or escape from ubiquitin-ligase enzymes, and then form complex with nucleic proteins before binding to cis-element in promoter regions of stress responsive genes. In this review, we will discuss the phylogenetic relationships among the ERF subfamily proteins, summarize molecular mechanism how the transcriptional activity of ERFs been regulated and how ERFs of different subgroup regulate the transcription of stress responsive genes, such as high-affinity K+ transporter gene PalHKT1;2, reactive oxygen species related genes LcLTP, LcPrx, and LcRP, flavonoids synthesis related genes FtF3H and LhMYBSPLATTER, etc. Though increasing researches demonstrate that ERFs are involved in various abiotic stresses, very few interact proteins and target genes of them have been comprehensively annotated. Hence, future research prospects are described on the mechanisms of how stress signals been transited to ERFs and how ERFs regulate the transcriptional expression of stress responsive genes.
Collapse
|
7
|
Yang D, Peng Q, Cheng Y, Xi D. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase promotes the infection of Chilli veinal mottle virus through affecting ROS signaling in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANTA 2022; 256:96. [PMID: 36217064 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-022-04010-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
G6PDH negatively regulates viral accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana through RBOHB-associated ROS signaling. Anti-oxidative metabolism and phytohormone-mediated immunity responses play important roles in virus infection. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) is an enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, which plays an important role in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis and has functions in plant growth, development and stress tolerance. However, the role of G6PDH in plants response to virus infection is poorly understood. In this study, NbG6PDH was found to be down-regulated after Chilli veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV-GFP) infection in Nicotiana benthamiana. Subcellular localization of NbG6PDH showed that it was punctate distributed in the protoplasm. Silencing of NbG6PDH reduced the sensitivity of N. benthamiana plants to ChiVMV-GFP. By contrast, transient overexpression of NbG6PDH promoted the accumulation of the virus. The results of physiological indexes showed that glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and proline played an important role in maintaining plants physiological homeostasis. The results of gene expression detection showed that jasmonic acid/ethylene (JA/ET) signaling pathway was significantly correlated with the response of N. benthamiana to ChiVMV-GFP infection, and the changes of N. benthamiana respiratory burst oxidase homologues B (NbRBOHB) indicated that the NbG6PDH-dependent ROS may be regulated by NbRBOHB. Pretreatment of the inducer of reactive oxygen species (ROS) promoted virus infection, whereas inhibitor of ROS alleviated virus infection. Thus, our results indicate that the promoting effect of NbG6PDH on ChiVMV-GFP infection may be related to the NbRBOHB-regulated ROS production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daoyong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiding Peng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongchao Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Dehui Xi
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhu Y, Zhang X, Zhang Q, Chai S, Yin W, Gao M, Li Z, Wang X. The transcription factors VaERF16 and VaMYB306 interact to enhance resistance of grapevine to Botrytis cinerea infection. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2022; 23:1415-1432. [PMID: 35822262 PMCID: PMC9452770 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is a fungus that infects cultivated grape (Vitis vinifera); the identification and characterization of resistance mechanisms in the host is of great importance for the grape industry. Here, we report that a transcription factor in the ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) family (VaERF16) from Chinese wild grape (Vitis amurensis 'Shuang You') is expressed during B. cinerea infection and in response to treatments with the hormones ethylene and methyl jasmonate. Heterologous overexpression of VaERF16 in Arabidopsis thaliana substantially enhanced resistance to B. cinerea and the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 via the salicylic acid and jasmonate/ethylene signalling pathways. Yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and co-immunoprecipitation assays indicated that VaERF16 interacts with the MYB family transcription factor VaMYB306. Overexpression of VaERF16 or VaMYB306 in grape leaves increased resistance to B. cinerea and caused an up-regulation of the defence-related gene PDF1.2, which encodes a defensin-like protein. Conversely, silencing of either gene resulted in increased susceptibility to B. cinerea. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays indicated that VaERF16 increased the transcript levels of VaPDF1.2 by binding directly to the GCC box in its promoter. Notably, VaMYB306 alone did not bind to the VaPDF1.2 promoter, but the VaERF16-VaMYB306 transcriptional complex resulted in higher transcript levels of VaPDF1.2, suggesting that the proteins function through their mutual interaction. Elucidation of this regulatory module may be of value in enhancing resistance of grapevine to B. cinerea infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanxun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest ChinaMinistry of AgricultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Xiuming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest ChinaMinistry of AgricultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Qihan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest ChinaMinistry of AgricultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Shengyue Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest ChinaMinistry of AgricultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Wuchen Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest ChinaMinistry of AgricultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Min Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest ChinaMinistry of AgricultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest ChinaMinistry of AgricultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Xiping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest ChinaMinistry of AgricultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| |
Collapse
|