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Bowman JL, Moyroud E. Reflections on the ABC model of flower development. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1334-1357. [PMID: 38345422 PMCID: PMC11062442 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The formulation of the ABC model by a handful of pioneer plant developmental geneticists was a seminal event in the quest to answer a seemingly simple question: how are flowers formed? Fast forward 30 years and this elegant model has generated a vibrant and diverse community, capturing the imagination of developmental and evolutionary biologists, structuralists, biochemists and molecular biologists alike. Together they have managed to solve many floral mysteries, uncovering the regulatory processes that generate the characteristic spatio-temporal expression patterns of floral homeotic genes, elucidating some of the mechanisms allowing ABC genes to specify distinct organ identities, revealing how evolution tinkers with the ABC to generate morphological diversity, and even shining a light on the origins of the floral gene regulatory network itself. Here we retrace the history of the ABC model, from its genesis to its current form, highlighting specific milestones along the way before drawing attention to some of the unsolved riddles still hidden in the floral alphabet.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L Bowman
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Edwige Moyroud
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
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Unnikrishnan R, Balakrishnan S, Sumod M, Sujanapal P, Balan B, Dev SA. Gender specific SNP markers in Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. for resource augmentation. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:93. [PMID: 38194000 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09044-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unregulated extraction of highly traded medicinal plant species results in drastic decline of the natural resources and alters viable sex ratio of populations. Conservation and long-term survival of such species, require gender specific restoration programs to ensure reproductive success. However, it is often difficult to differentiate sex of individuals before reaching reproductive maturity. C. fenestratum is one of the medicinally important and overexploited dioecious woody liana, with a reproductive maturity of 15 years. Currently, no information is available to identify sex of C. fenestratum in seedling stage while augmenting the resources. Thus, the current study envisages to utilize transcriptomics approach for gender differentiation which is imperative for undertaking viable resource augmentation programmes. METHODS AND RESULTS Gender specific SNPs with probable role in sexual reproduction/sex determination was located using comparative transcriptomics approach (sampling male and female individuals), alongside gene ontology and annotation. Nine sets of primers were synthesized from 7 transcripts (involved in sexual reproduction/other biological process) containing multiple SNP variants. Out of the nine primer pairs, only one SNP locus with no available information of its role in reproduction, showed consistent and accurate results (males-heterozygous and females-homozygous), in the analyzed 40 matured individuals of known sexes. Thus validated the efficiency of this SNP marker in differentiating male and female individuals. CONCLUSIONS The study could identify SNPs linked to the loci with apparent role in gender differentiation. This SNP marker can be used for early sexing of seedlings for in-situ conservation and resource augmentation of C. fenestratum in Kerala, India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remya Unnikrishnan
- Forest Genetics and Biotechnology Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, 680653, India
- Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Swathi Balakrishnan
- Forest Genetics and Biotechnology Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, 680653, India
- Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - M Sumod
- Sustainable Forest Management Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, 680653, India
| | - P Sujanapal
- Sustainable Forest Management Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, 680653, India
| | - Bipin Balan
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze-Ed. 4, Palermo, 90128, Italy
| | - Suma Arun Dev
- Forest Genetics and Biotechnology Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, 680653, India.
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Cheng JL, Wei XP, Chen Y, Qi YD, Zhang BG, Liu HT. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals candidate genes related to the sex differentiation of Schisandra chinensis. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:344. [PMID: 37991590 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01264-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Schisandra chinensis is a monoecious plant with unisex flowers. The fruit of S. chinensis is of high medical with economic value. The yield of S. chinensis fruit is related to the ratio of its female and male flowers. However, there is little research on its floral development and sex differentiation. To elucidate the possible mechanism for the sex differentiation of S. chinensis, we collected 18 samples of female and male flowers from three developmental stages and performed a comparative RNA-seq analysis aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that may be related to sex differentiation. The results showed 936, 7179, and 6890 differentially expressed genes between female and male flowers at three developmental stages, respectively, and 466 candidate genes may play roles in sex differentiation. KEGG analysis showed genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and DNA replication pathway were essential for the development of female flowers. 51 MADS-box genes and 10 YABBY genes were identified in S. chinensis. The DEGs analysis indicated that MADS-box and YABBY genes were strongly related to the sex determination of S. chinensis. RT-qPCR confirmed the RNA-seq results of 20 differentially expressed genes, including three male-biased genes and 17 female-biased genes. A possible regulatory model of sex differentiation in S. chinensis was proposed according to our results. This study helps reveal the sex-differentiation mechanism of S. chinensis and lays the foundation for regulating the male-female ratio of S. chinensis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Long Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Ping Wei
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Tradition Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yao-Dong Qi
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Tradition Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ben-Gang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Tradition Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Tao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Tradition Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Xiao F, Zhao Y, Wang X, Mao Y, Jian X. Comparative transcriptome analysis of dioecious floral development in Trachycarpus fortunei using Illumina and PacBio SMRT sequencing. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:536. [PMID: 37919651 PMCID: PMC10623883 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04551-x] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trachycarpus fortunei is a plant with significant economic and ornamental value. Both male and female flowers of T. fortunei originate as bisexual flowers, and selective abortion occurs during floral development. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear in T. fortunei. In this study, transcriptome sequencing with Illumina and Pacific BioSciences (PacBio) single-molecule real-time (SMRT) platforms were used to investigate gene expression differences between male and female T. fortunei plants. RESULTS A total of 833,137 full-length non-chimeric (FLNC) reads were obtained, and 726,846 high-quality full-length transcripts were identified. A total of 159 genes were differentially expressed between male and female flowers at all development stages. Some of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed male bias, including serine/threonine-protein kinase (STPK), THUMP1 homolog and other genes. Through single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) identification, 28 genes were considered as potential sex-associated SNPs. Time-Ordered Gene Co-expression Network (TO-GCN) analysis revealed that MADS2 and MADS26 may play important roles in the development of female and male flowers T. fortune plants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide a genetic basis for flower development and differentiation in T. fortunei, and improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying sexual differentiation in T. fortunei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xiao
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China.
| | - Xiurong Wang
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yuexiong Mao
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Xueyan Jian
- School of Continuing Education, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, Jilin, China
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Rakocevic M, Maia ADHN, de Liz MV, Imoski R, Helm CV, Cardozo Junior EL, Wendling I. Stability of Leaf Yerba Mate ( Ilex paraguariensis) Metabolite Concentrations over the Time from the Prism of Secondary Sexual Dimorphism. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12112199. [PMID: 37299178 DOI: 10.3390/plants12112199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The yerba mate leaf metabolic composition depends mainly on genetics, sex, plant and leaf age, light intensity, harvest time, climate, and fertilization. In yerba mate, the secondary sexual dimorphism (SSD), the leaf metabolic SSD association with the frequency of leaf harvests, and the stability of the metabolites in the two genders over the years is not known. It was hypothesized that (1) the SSD in the metabolite segregation would differ among the winter and summer growth pauses, (2) females would show lower metabolite concentrations, and (3) the metabolic concentrations would show stability over the years on the same plants, not obligatorily associated with the SSD stability expression. Variations in theobromine, caffeine, chlorogenic and caffeic acids were correlated to the increasing time since the previous harvest, especially in females. However, the frequency of the metabolic SSD were associated with the studied growth pauses, rejecting the first hypothesis. No regular gender superiority was expressed in the yerba mate leaf secondary metabolites, rejecting our second hypothesis, even though more cases of superior female metabolite accumulation were identified. The stability of the leaf protein was preserved over the four years, with no SSD cases observed. The leaf methylxanthines were time stable, while the decrease in the phenolic content occurred with tree aging, which was not associated with the SSD expression, partially proving our third hypothesis. The novelty was related to the time stability of the leaf metabolic SSD observed over the winter and summer growth pauses, and over the four consecutive years without a regular expression of the male- or female-biased concentrations in the studied metabolites. To demystify the random metabolic gender responses in yerba mate, gender-orientated experiments with a high number of tree repetitions must be conducted, including clonal plants grown in various environments, such as monoculture and agroforestry, or on plantations in different climates and altitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Rakocevic
- Department of Research and Development, Embrapa Florestas, Colombo 83411-000, PR, Brazil
- Statistical Research Group, Embrapa Meio Ambiente, Jaguariúna 13918-110, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Marcus Vinicius de Liz
- Research Group on Water and Wastewater Advanced Treatment Technologies, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Curitiba 81280-340, PR, Brazil
| | - Rafaela Imoski
- Research Group on Water and Wastewater Advanced Treatment Technologies, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Curitiba 81280-340, PR, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Vieira Helm
- Department of Research and Development, Embrapa Florestas, Colombo 83411-000, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Ivar Wendling
- Department of Research and Development, Embrapa Florestas, Colombo 83411-000, PR, Brazil
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Zhang X, Wang X, Pan L, Guo W, Li Y, Wang W. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of MADS-box transcription factors reveal their involvement in sex determination of hardy rubber tree ( Eucommia ulmoides oliv.). Front Genet 2023; 14:1138703. [PMID: 36896236 PMCID: PMC9988917 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1138703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Eucommia ulmoides is a famous rubber-producing and medicinal tree species that produces unisexual flowers on separate individuals from the earliest stage of stamen/pistil primordium formation. To explore the genetic regulation pathway of sex in E. ulmoides, comprehensive genome-wide analyses and tissue-/sex-specific transcriptome comparisons of MADS-box transcription factors were performed for the first time in this work. Quantitative real-time PCR technique was employed to further validate the expression of genes that are assigned to floral organ ABCDE model. A total of 66 non-redundant E. ulmoides MADS-box (EuMADS) genes were identified, they were classified into Type I (M-type, 17 genes) and Type II (MIKC, 49 genes). Complex protein-motif composition, exon-intron structure and phytohormone-response cis-elements were detected in MIKC-EuMADS genes. Furthermore, 24 differentially-expressed EuMADS genes (DEGs) between male and female flowers, and two DEGs between male and female leaves were revealed. Amongst the 14 floral organ ABCDE model-related genes, there were 6 (A/B/C/E-class) and 5 (A/D/E-class) genes displayed male- and female-biased expression respectively. In particular, one B-class gene EuMADS39 and one A-class gene EuMADS65 were almost exclusively expressed in male trees, no matter in flower or leaf tissues. Collectively, these results suggested a critical role of MADS-box transcription factors in sex determination of E. ulmoides, which is conducive to decoding the molecular regulation mechanism of sex in E. ulmoides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhi Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linsi Pan
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Guo
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongquan Li
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wencai Wang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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