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Parajuli A, Borphukan B, Sanguinet KA, Zhang Z. In silico analysis identified bZIP transcription factors genes responsive to abiotic stress in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). BMC Genomics 2024; 25:497. [PMID: 38773372 PMCID: PMC11106943 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10277-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most cultivated forage legume around the world. Under a variety of growing conditions, forage yield in alfalfa is stymied by biotic and abiotic stresses including heat, salt, drought, and disease. Given the sessile nature of plants, they use strategies including, but not limited to, differential gene expression to respond to environmental cues. Transcription factors control the expression of genes that contribute to or enable tolerance and survival during periods of stress. Basic-leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors have been demonstrated to play a critical role in regulating plant growth and development as well as mediate the responses to abiotic stress in several species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula. However, there is little information about bZIP transcription factors in cultivated alfalfa. RESULT In the present study, 237 bZIP genes were identified in alfalfa from publicly available sequencing data. Multiple sequence alignments showed the presence of intact bZIP motifs in the identified sequences. Based on previous phylogenetic analyses in A. thaliana, alfalfa bZIPs were similarly divided and fell into 10 groups. The physico-chemical properties, motif analysis and phylogenetic study of the alfalfa bZIPs revealed high specificity within groups. The differential expression of alfalfa bZIPs in a suite of tissues indicates that bZIP genes are specifically expressed at different developmental stages in alfalfa. Similarly, expression analysis in response to ABA, cold, drought and salt stresses, indicates that a subset of bZIP genes are also differentially expressed and likely play a role in abiotic stress signaling and/or tolerance. RT-qPCR analysis on selected genes further verified these differential expression patterns. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, this work provides a framework for the future study of bZIPs in alfalfa and presents candidate bZIPs involved in stress-response signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atit Parajuli
- Department of Crop and Soil Science, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Bhabesh Borphukan
- Department of Crop and Soil Science, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Karen A Sanguinet
- Department of Crop and Soil Science, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Zhiwu Zhang
- Department of Crop and Soil Science, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA.
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Yu W, Luo L, Qi X, Cao Y, An J, Xie Z, Hu T, Yang P. Insights into the Impact of Trans-Zeatin Overproduction-Engineered Sinorhizobium meliloti on Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) Tolerance to Drought Stress. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:8650-8663. [PMID: 38564678 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have been shown to enhance plant tolerance to drought stress through various mechanisms. However, there is limited research on improving drought resistance in alfalfa by genetically modifying PGPR to produce increased levels of cytokinins. Herein, we employed synthetic biology approaches to engineer two novel strains of Sinorhizobium meliloti capable of overproducing trans-Zeatin and investigated their potential in enhancing drought tolerance in alfalfa. Our results demonstrate that alfalfa plants inoculated with these engineered S. meliloti strains exhibited reduced wilting and yellowing while maintaining higher relative water content under drought conditions. The engineered S. meliloti-induced tZ activated the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the accumulation of osmolytes. Additionally, the increased endogenous tZ content in plants alleviated the impact of drought stress on the alfalfa photosynthetic rate. However, under nondrought conditions, inoculation with the engineered S. meliloti strains had no significant effect on alfalfa biomass and nodule formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhe Yu
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Li Luo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-Energy Crops, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xiangyu Qi
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yuman Cao
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jie An
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Zhiguo Xie
- Shaanxi Academy of Forestry, Xi'an 710082, China
| | - Tianming Hu
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Peizhi Yang
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
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Li S, Guo S, Gao X, Wang X, Liu Y, Wang J, Li X, Zhang J, Fu B. Genome-wide identification of B-box zinc finger (BBX) gene family in Medicago sativa and their roles in abiotic stress responses. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:110. [PMID: 38267840 PMCID: PMC10809573 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10036-4] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND B-box (BBX) family is a class of zinc finger transcription factors (TFs) that play essential roles in regulating plant growth, development, as well as abiotic stress. However, no systematic analysis of BBX genes has yet been conducted in alfalfa (Medica go sativa L.), and their functions have not been elucidated up to now. RESULTS In this study, 28 MsBBX genes were identified from the alfalfa genome, which were clustered into 4 subfamilies according to an evolutionary tree of BBX proteins. Exon-intron structure and conserved motif analysis reflected the evolutionary conservation of MsBBXs in alfalfa. Collinearity analysis showed that segmental duplication promoted the expansion of the MsBBX family. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements suggested that the MsBBX genes possessed many growth/development-, light-, phytohormone-, and abiotic stress-related elements. MsBBX genes were differentially expressed in leaves, flowers, pre-elongated stems, elongated stems, roots and nodules, and most MsBBXs were remarkably induced by drought, salt and various plant growth regulators (ABA, JA, and SA). Further functional verification demonstrated that overexpressing of the MsBBX11 gene clearly promoted salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis by regulating growth and physiological processes of seedlings. CONCLUSIONS This research provides insights into further functional research and regulatory mechanisms of MsBBX family genes under abiotic stress of alfalfa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxia Li
- College of Forestry and Prataculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China.
- Ningxia Grassland and Animal Husbandry Engineering Technology Research Center, Yinchuan, China.
- Key Laboratory for Model Innovation in Forage Production Efficiency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yinchuan, China.
| | - Shuaiqi Guo
- Fujian Xinnong Dazheng Bio-Engineering Co., Ltd, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xueqin Gao
- College of Forestry and Prataculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- College of Forestry and Prataculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yaling Liu
- Inner Mongolia Pratacultural Technology Innovation Center Co., Ltd, Hohhot, China
| | - Jing Wang
- College of Forestry and Prataculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- College of Forestry and Prataculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Jinqing Zhang
- College of Forestry and Prataculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Bingzhe Fu
- College of Forestry and Prataculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China.
- Ningxia Grassland and Animal Husbandry Engineering Technology Research Center, Yinchuan, China.
- Key Laboratory for Model Innovation in Forage Production Efficiency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yinchuan, China.
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Chen F, Zhang J, Ha X, Ma H. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the Auxin-Response factor (ARF) gene family in Medicago sativa under abiotic stress. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:498. [PMID: 37644390 PMCID: PMC10463752 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09610-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the most widely planted legume forage and one of the most economically valuable crops in the world. The periodic changes in its growth and development and abiotic stress determine its yield and economic benefits. Auxin controls many aspects of alfalfa growth by regulating gene expression, including organ differentiation and stress response. Auxin response factors (ARF) are transcription factors that play an essential role in auxin signal transduction and regulate the expression of auxin-responsive genes. However, the function of ARF transcription factors is unclear in autotetraploid-cultivated alfalfa. RESULT A total of 81 ARF were identified in the alfalfa genome in this study. Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were analyzed, identifying that ARF genes are mainly involved in transcriptional regulation and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. Phylogenetic analysis showed that MsARF was divided into four clades: I, II, III, and IV, each containing 52, 13, 7, and 9 genes, respectively. The promoter region of the MsARF gene contained stress-related elements, such as ABRE, TC-rich repeats, MBS, LTR. Proteins encoded by 50 ARF genes were localized in the nucleus without guide peptides, signal peptides, or transmembrane structures, indicating that most MsARF genes are not secreted or transported but only function in the nucleus. Protein structure analysis revealed that the secondary and tertiary structures of the 81 MsARF genes varied. Chromosomal localization analysis showed 81 MsARF genes were unevenly distributed on 25 chromosomes, with the highest distribution on chromosome 5. Furthermore, 14 segmental duplications and two sets of tandem repeats were identified. Expression analysis indicated that the MsARF was differentially expressed in different tissues and under various abiotic stressors. The quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression profiles of 23 MsARF genes were specific to abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, high temperature, and low temperature, as well as tissue-specific and closely related to the duration of stress. CONCLUSION This study identified MsARF in the cultivated alfalfa genome based on the autotetraploid level, which GO, KEGG analysis, phylogenetic analysis, sequence characteristics, and expression pattern analysis further confirmed. Together, these findings provide clues for further investigation of MsARF functional verification and molecular breeding of alfalfa. This study provides a novel approach to systematically identify and characterize ARF transcription factors in autotetraploid cultivated alfalfa, revealing 23 MsARF genes significantly involved in response to various stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenqi Chen
- College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Pratacultural Engineering Laboratory of Gansu Province, Sino-U.S. Center for Grazingland Ecosystem Sustainability, Yingmencun, Anning District, Gansu province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China
| | - Jinqing Zhang
- College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Pratacultural Engineering Laboratory of Gansu Province, Sino-U.S. Center for Grazingland Ecosystem Sustainability, Yingmencun, Anning District, Gansu province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China
| | - Xue Ha
- College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Pratacultural Engineering Laboratory of Gansu Province, Sino-U.S. Center for Grazingland Ecosystem Sustainability, Yingmencun, Anning District, Gansu province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China
| | - Huiling Ma
- College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Pratacultural Engineering Laboratory of Gansu Province, Sino-U.S. Center for Grazingland Ecosystem Sustainability, Yingmencun, Anning District, Gansu province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China.
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Shi W, Wang X, Liu H, Cai Z, Lu C, Chen Y. A novel ABA-insensitive mutant in Arabidopsis reveals molecular network of ABA-induced anthocyanin accumulation and abiotic stress tolerance. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 278:153810. [PMID: 36162212 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153810] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA) plays primary regulatory roles in abiotic stress tolerance and seed germination. Here, we report a unique novel Arabidopsis abscisic acid-insensitive mutant, abr (abscisic acid resistance), which was able to germinate in medium containing high ABA concentrations and tolerant to abiotic stress tolerance. We observed that abr mutant accumulated more anthocyanins by ABA treatment than did the wild type (WT). Dimethylthiourea (DMTU, an H2O2 scavenger) was effective in inhibiting ABA-induced anthocyanins accumulation. RNA-seq showed that the expression of anthocyanins synthesis, antioxidant enzyme and stress-related genes were specifically increased in ABA-treated abr seedlings, suggesting that the abr mutation affects stress response as well as ABA responses. Interestingly, seedlings accumulating anthocyanins exhibited more tolerance to mannitol and NaCl compared to wild type. We propose that ABA-induced H2O2 generation triggers the foliar anthocyanins accumulation, which, in turn, enhances the abiotic stress tolerance in abr mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Shi
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Huan Liu
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zian Cai
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Cunfu Lu
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Yuzhen Chen
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
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Luo D, Liu J, Wu Y, Zhang X, Zhou Q, Fang L, Liu Z. NUCLEAR TRANSPORT FACTOR 2-LIKE improves drought tolerance by modulating leaf water loss in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 112:429-450. [PMID: 36006043 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15955] [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: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Drought is a major environmental factor that limits the production of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). In the present study, M. sativa NUCLEAR TRANSPORT FACTOR 2-LIKE (MsNTF2L) was identified as a nucleus-, cytoplasm-, and plasma membrane-localized protein. Its transcriptional expression was highly induced by ABA and drought stress. Overexpression of MsNTF2L in Arabidopsis resulted in hypersensitivity to ABA during both the seed germination and seedling growth stages. However, transgenic Arabidopsis plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to drought stress by reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increasing the expression of stress/ABA-inducible genes. Consistently, analysis of MsNTF2L overexpression (OE) and RNA interference (RNAi) alfalfa plants revealed that MsNTF2L confers drought tolerance through promoting ROS scavenging, a decrease in stomatal density, ABA-induced stomatal closure, and epicuticular wax crystal accumulation. MsNTF2L highly affected epicuticular wax deposition, as a large group of wax biosynthesis and transport genes were influenced in the alfalfa OE and RNAi lines. Furthermore, transcript profiling of drought-treated alfalfa WT, OE, and RNAi plants showed a differential drought response for genes related to stress/ABA signaling, antioxidant defense, and photosynthesis. Taken together, these results reveal that MsNTF2L confers drought tolerance in alfalfa via modulation of leaf water loss (by regulating both stomata and wax deposition), antioxidant defense, and photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
- Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Yuguo Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Longfa Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
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Zhao L, Li M, Ma X, Luo D, Zhou Q, Liu W, Liu Z. Transcriptome analysis and identification of abscisic acid and gibberellin-related genes during seed development of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). BMC Genomics 2022; 23:651. [PMID: 36100883 PMCID: PMC9472388 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08875-0] [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: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a widely cultivated plant. Unlike many crops, the main goal of breeding alfalfa is to increase its aboveground biomass rather than the biomass of its seeds. However, the low yield of alfalfa seeds limits alfalfa production. Many studies have explored the factors affecting seed development, in which phytohormones, especially ABA and GAs, play an important role in seed development. RESULTS Here, we performed a transcriptome analysis of alfalfa seeds at five development stages. A total of 16,899 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and classified into 10 clusters, and the enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were determined. The contents of ABA, GA1, GA3, GA4 and GA7 in alfalfa seeds at five development stages were determined. In addition, 14 ABA-related DEGs and 20 GA-related DEGs were identified and analysed. These DEGs are involved in plant hormone pathways and play an important role in seed development. Moreover, morphological and physiological analyses revealed the dynamic changes during the development of alfalfa seeds. CONCLUSION Overall, our study is the first to analyse the transcriptome across various stages of seed development in alfalfa. The results of our study could be used to improve alfalfa seed yield. The key ABA and GA related-genes are potential targets for improving alfalfa seed yield via genetic engineering in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyu Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomei Ma
- The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxian Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, People's Republic of China.
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Genome-Wide Identification of the Q-type C2H2 Transcription Factor Family in Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa) and Expression Analysis under Different Abiotic Stresses. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121906. [PMID: 34946855 PMCID: PMC8701282 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Q-type C2H2 zinc-finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) transcription factors are associated with many plant growth development and environmental stress responses. To date, there have been few analyses of the Q-type C2H2-ZFP gene family in alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa). In this study, we identified 58 Q-type C2H2-ZFPs across the entire alfalfa genome, and the gene structure, motif composition, chromosomal mapping, and cis-regulatory elements were explored, as well as the expression profiles of specific tissues and the response under different abiotic stresses. According to their phylogenetic features, these 58 MsZFPs were divided into 12 subgroups. Synteny analysis showed that duplication events play a vital role in the expansion of the MsZFP gene family. The collinearity results showed that a total of 26 and 42 of the 58 MsZFP genes were homologous with Arabidopsis and M. truncatula, respectively. The expression profiles showed that C2H2-ZFP genes played various roles in different tissues and abiotic stresses. The results of subsequent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the nine selected MsZFP genes were rapidly induced under different abiotic stresses, indicating that C2H2-ZFP genes are closely related to abiotic stress. This study provides results on MsZFP genes, their response to various abiotic stresses, and new information on the C2H2 family in alfalfa.
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Wu H, Li H, Zhang W, Tang H, Yang L. Transcriptional regulation and functional analysis of Nicotiana tabacum under salt and ABA stress. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 570:110-116. [PMID: 34280613 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Soil salinization is an important factor that restricts crop quality and yield and causes an enormous toll to human beings. Salt stress and abscisic acid (ABA) stress will occur in the process of soil salinization. In this study, transcriptome sequencing of tobacco leaves under salt and ABA stress in order to further study the resistance mechanism of tobacco. Compared with controlled groups, 1654 and 3306 DEGs were obtained in salt and ABA stress, respectively. The genes function enrichment analysis showed that the up-regulated genes in salt stress were mainly concentrated in transcription factor WRKY family and PAR1 resistance gene family, while the up-regulated genes were mainly concentrated on bHLH transcription factor, Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, dehydrin (Xero1) gene and CAT (Catalase) family protein genes in ABA stress. Tobacco MAPK cascade triggered stress response through up-regulation of gene expression in signal transduction. The expression products of these up-regulated genes can improve the abiotic stress resistance of plants. These results have an important implication for further understanding the mechanism of salinity tolerance in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wu
- Agricultural Big-Data Research Center and College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Huayang Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Grape Science and Enology and Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Yinan Agricultural Technology Extension Center Agricultural Technology Extension Center of Yinan County, China
| | - Heng Tang
- Agricultural Big-Data Research Center and College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Long Yang
- Agricultural Big-Data Research Center and College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China.
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Dong X, Deng H, Ma W, Zhou Q, Liu Z. Genome-wide identification of the MADS-box transcription factor family in autotetraploid cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and expression analysis under abiotic stress. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:603. [PMID: 34362293 PMCID: PMC8348820 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07911-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alfalfa, the “queen of forage”, is the most extensively cultivated forage legume in the world. The development and yield of alfalfa are seriously limited by abiotic stress. MADS-box transcription factors are one of the largest gene families and play a pivotal role in plant development and abiotic stress. However, little is known regarding the MADS-box transcription factors in autotetraploid cultivated alfalfa. Results In the present study, we identified 120 MsMADS-box genes in the alfalfa genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that 75 type-I MsMADS-box genes were classified into the Mα, Mβ, and Mγ subgroups, and 45 type-II MsMADS-box genes were classified into 11 subgroups. The promoter region of MsMADS-box genes containing several hormone and stress related elements. Chromosomal location analysis revealed that 117 MsMADS-box genes were unevenly distributed on 32 chromosomes, and the remaining three genes were located on unmapped scaffolds. A total of nine pairs of segmental duplications and four groups of tandem duplications were found. Expression analysis showed that MsMADS-box genes were differentially expressed in various tissues and under abiotic stresses. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression profiles of eight selected MsMADS-box genes were distinct under various stresses. Conclusions In this study, MsMADS-box genes were identified in the cultivated alfalfa genome based on autotetraploid level, and further confirmed by Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, phylogenetic analysis, sequence features and expression analysis. Taken together, these findings will provide clues for further study of MsMADS-box functions and alfalfa molecular breeding. Our study is the first to systematically identify and characterize the MADS-box transcription factors in autotetraploid cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and eight MsMADS-box genes were significantly involved in response to various stresses. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07911-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxue Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
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Chakraborty S, Driscoll HE, Abrahante JE, Zhang F, Fisher RF, Harris JM. Salt Stress Enhances Early Symbiotic Gene Expression in Medicago truncatula and Induces a Stress-Specific Set of Rhizobium-Responsive Genes. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2021; 34:904-921. [PMID: 33819071 PMCID: PMC8578154 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-01-21-0019-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Salt stress is a major agricultural concern inhibiting not only plant growth but also the symbiotic association between legume roots and the soil bacteria rhizobia. This symbiotic association is initiated by a molecular dialogue between the two partners, leading to the activation of a signaling cascade in the legume host and, ultimately, the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Here, we show that a moderate salt stress increases the responsiveness of early symbiotic genes in Medicago truncatula to its symbiotic partner, Sinorhizobium meliloti while, conversely, inoculation with S. meliloti counteracts salt-regulated gene expression, restoring one-third to control levels. Our analysis of early nodulin 11 (ENOD11) shows that salt-induced expression is dynamic, Nod-factor dependent, and requires the ionic but not the osmotic component of salt. We demonstrate that salt stimulation of rhizobium-induced gene expression requires NSP2, which functions as a node to integrate the abiotic and biotic signals. In addition, our work reveals that inoculation with S. meliloti succinoglycan mutants also hyperinduces ENOD11 expression in the presence or absence of salt, suggesting a possible link between rhizobial exopolysaccharide and the plant response to salt stress. Finally, we identify an accessory set of genes that are induced by rhizobium only under conditions of salt stress and have not been previously identified as being nodulation-related genes. Our data suggest that interplay of core nodulation genes with different accessory sets, specific for different abiotic conditions, functions to establish the symbiosis. Together, our findings reveal a complex and dynamic interaction between plant, microbe, and environment.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanhita Chakraborty
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Heather E. Driscoll
- Vermont Biomedical Research Network (VBRN), Department of Biology, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont 05663, USA
| | - Juan E. Abrahante
- University of Minnesota Informatics Institute (UMII) (CCRB 1-210C), 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Vermont Biomedical Research Network (VBRN), Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA
- Institute for Translational Research and Department of family medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107
| | - Robert F. Fisher
- Stanford University, Department of Biology, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, California 94305-5020, USA
| | - Jeanne M. Harris
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Corresponding author: Jeanne M. Harris ()
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Hrbáčková M, Dvořák P, Takáč T, Tichá M, Luptovčiak I, Šamajová O, Ovečka M, Šamaj J. Biotechnological Perspectives of Omics and Genetic Engineering Methods in Alfalfa. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:592. [PMID: 32508859 PMCID: PMC7253590 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
For several decades, researchers are working to develop improved major crops with better adaptability and tolerance to environmental stresses. Forage legumes have been widely spread in the world due to their great ecological and economic values. Abiotic and biotic stresses are main factors limiting legume production, however, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) shows relatively high level of tolerance to drought and salt stress. Efforts focused on alfalfa improvements have led to the release of cultivars with new traits of agronomic importance such as high yield, better stress tolerance or forage quality. Alfalfa has very high nutritional value due to its efficient symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, while deep root system can help to prevent soil water loss in dry lands. The use of modern biotechnology tools is challenging in alfalfa since full genome, unlike to its close relative barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.), was not released yet. Identification, isolation, and improvement of genes involved in abiotic or biotic stress response significantly contributed to the progress of our understanding how crop plants cope with these environmental challenges. In this review, we provide an overview of the progress that has been made in high-throughput sequencing, characterization of genes for abiotic or biotic stress tolerance, gene editing, as well as proteomic and metabolomics techniques bearing biotechnological potential for alfalfa improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jozef Šamaj
- Department of Cell Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
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Zhou Q, Jia C, Ma W, Cui Y, Jin X, Luo D, Min X, Liu Z. MYB transcription factors in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa): genome-wide identification and expression analysis under abiotic stresses. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7714. [PMID: 31576246 PMCID: PMC6753925 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alfalfa is the most widely cultivated forage legume and one of the most economically valuable crops in the world. Its survival and production are often hampered by environmental changes. However, there are few studies on stress-resistance genes in alfalfa because of its incomplete genomic information and rare expression profile data. The MYB proteins are characterized by a highly conserved DNA-binding domain, which is large, functionally diverse, and represented in all eukaryotes. The role of MYB proteins in plant development is essential; they function in diverse biological processes, including stress and defense responses, and seed and floral development. Studies on the MYB gene family have been reported in several species, but they have not been comprehensively analyzed in alfalfa. Methods To identify more comprehensive MYB transcription factor family genes, the sequences of 168 Arabidopsis thaliana, 430 Glycine max, 185 Medicago truncatula, and 130 Oryza sativa MYB proteins were downloaded from the Plant Transcription Factor Database. These sequences were used as queries in a BLAST search against the M. sativa proteome sequences provided by the Noble Research Institute. Results In the present study, a total of 265 MsMYB proteins were obtained, including 50 R1-MYB, 186 R2R3-MYB, 26 R1R2R3-MYB, and three atypical-MYB proteins. These predicted MsMYB proteins were divided into 12 subgroups by phylogenetic analysis, and gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that most of the MsMYB genes are involved in various biological processes. The expression profiles and quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that some MsMYB genes might play a crucial role in the response to abiotic stresses. Additionally, a total of 170 and 914 predicted protein–protein and protein-DNA interactions were obtained, respectively. The interactions between MsMYB043 and MSAD320162, MsMYB253 and MSAD320162, and MsMYB253 and MSAD308489 were confirmed by a yeast two-hybrid system. This work provides information on the MYB family in alfalfa that was previously lacking and might promote the cultivation of stress-resistant alfalfa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chenglin Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenxue Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yue Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xueyang Min
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Kumar J, Choudhary AK, Gupta DS, Kumar S. Towards Exploitation of Adaptive Traits for Climate-Resilient Smart Pulses. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E2971. [PMID: 31216660 PMCID: PMC6627977 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20122971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulses are the main source of protein and minerals in the vegetarian diet. These are primarily cultivated on marginal lands with few inputs in several resource-poor countries of the world, including several in South Asia. Their cultivation in resource-scarce conditions exposes them to various abiotic and biotic stresses, leading to significant yield losses. Furthermore, climate change due to global warming has increased their vulnerability to emerging new insect pests and abiotic stresses that can become even more serious in the coming years. The changing climate scenario has made it more challenging to breed and develop climate-resilient smart pulses. Although pulses are climate smart, as they simultaneously adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, their narrow genetic diversity has always been a major constraint to their improvement for adaptability. However, existing genetic diversity still provides opportunities to exploit novel attributes for developing climate-resilient cultivars. The mining and exploitation of adaptive traits imparting tolerance/resistance to climate-smart pulses can be accelerated further by using cutting-edge approaches of biotechnology such as transgenics, genome editing, and epigenetics. This review discusses various classical and molecular approaches and strategies to exploit adaptive traits for breeding climate-smart pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitendra Kumar
- Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kalyanpur, Kanpur 208 024, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | | | - Debjyoti Sen Gupta
- Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kalyanpur, Kanpur 208 024, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Shiv Kumar
- Biodiversity and Integrated Gene Management Program, International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 6299, Rabat-Institute, Rabat, Morocco.
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