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Schmid MW, Moradi A, Leigh DM, Schuman MC, van Moorsel SJ. Covering the bases: Population genomic structure of Lemna minor and the cryptic species L. japonica in Switzerland. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11599. [PMID: 38882534 PMCID: PMC11178436 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Duckweeds, including the common duckweed Lemna minor, are increasingly used to test eco-evolutionary theories. Yet, despite its popularity and near-global distribution, the understanding of its population structure (and genetic variation therein) is still limited. It is essential that this is resolved, because of the impact genetic diversity has on experimental responses and scientific understanding. Through whole-genome sequencing, we assessed the genetic diversity and population genomic structure of 23 natural Lemna spp. populations from their natural range in Switzerland. We used two distinct analytical approaches, a reference-free kmer approach and the classical reference-based one. Two genetic clusters were identified across the described species distribution of L. minor, surprisingly corresponding to species-level divisions. The first cluster contained the targeted L. minor individuals and the second contained individuals from a cryptic species: Lemna japonica. Within the L. minor cluster, we identified a well-defined population structure with little intra-population genetic diversity (i.e., within ponds) but high inter-population diversity (i.e., between ponds). In L. japonica, the population structure was significantly weaker and genetic variation between a subset of populations was as low as within populations. This study revealed that L. japonica is more widespread than previously thought. Our findings signify that thorough genotype-to-phenotype analyses are needed in duckweed experimental ecology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aboubakr Moradi
- Department of Geography University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Deborah M Leigh
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Meredith C Schuman
- Department of Geography University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
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Thingujam D, Pajerowska-Mukhtar KM, Mukhtar MS. Duckweed: Beyond an Efficient Plant Model System. Biomolecules 2024; 14:628. [PMID: 38927032 PMCID: PMC11201744 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060628] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Duckweed (Lemnaceae) rises as a crucial model system due to its unique characteristics and wide-ranging utility. The significance of physiological research and phytoremediation highlights the intricate potential of duckweed in the current era of plant biology. Special attention to duckweed has been brought due to its distinctive features of nutrient uptake, ion transport dynamics, detoxification, intricate signaling, and stress tolerance. In addition, duckweed can alleviate environmental pollutants and enhance sustainability by participating in bioremediation processes and wastewater treatment. Furthermore, insights into the genomic complexity of Lemnaceae species and the flourishing field of transgenic development highlight the opportunities for genetic manipulation and biotechnological innovations. Novel methods for the germplasm conservation of duckweed can be adopted to preserve genetic diversity for future research endeavors and breeding programs. This review centers around prospects in duckweed research promoting interdisciplinary collaborations and technological advancements to drive its full potential as a model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doni Thingujam
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 3100 East Science Hall, 902 14th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 132 Long Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Karolina M. Pajerowska-Mukhtar
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 3100 East Science Hall, 902 14th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 132 Long Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - M. Shahid Mukhtar
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 3100 East Science Hall, 902 14th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- Department of Genetics & Biochemistry, Clemson University, 105 Collings St. Biosystems Research Complex, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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3
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Smith KE, Cowan L, Taylor B, McAusland L, Heatley M, Yant L, Murchie EH. Physiological adaptation to irradiance in duckweeds is species and accession specific and depends on light habitat niche. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:2046-2063. [PMID: 38217537 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Duckweeds span 36 species of free-floating aquatic organisms with body sizes ranging from 2 mm to 10 mm, where each plant body plan is reduced to a largely leaf-like structure. As an emerging crop, their fast growth rates offer potential for cultivation in closed systems. We describe a novel UK collection derived from low light (dLL) or high light (dHL) habitats, profiled for growth, photosynthesis, and photoprotection (non-photochemical quenching, NPQ) responses. Twenty-three accessions of three Lemna species and one Spirodela polyrhiza were grown under relatively low light (LL: 100 μmol m-2 s-1) and high light (HL: 350 μmol m-2 s-1) intensities. We observed broad within- and between-species level variation in photosynthesis acclimation. Duckweeds grown under HL exhibited a lower growth rate, biomass, chlorophyll, and quantum yield of photosynthesis. In HL compared with LL, carotenoid de-epoxidation state and NPQ were higher, whilst PSII efficiency (φPSII) and Chl a:b ratios were unchanged. The dLL plants showed relatively stronger acclimation to HL compared with dHL plants, especially Lemna japonica accessions. These achieved faster growth in HL with concurrent higher carotenoid levels and NPQ, and less degradation of chlorophyll. We conclude that these data support local adaptation to the light environment in duckweed affecting acclimation in controlled conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellie E Smith
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Laura Cowan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Beth Taylor
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Lorna McAusland
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Matthew Heatley
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Levi Yant
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Erik H Murchie
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK
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Irfan M, Mészáros I, Szabó S, Oláh V. Comparative Phytotoxicity of Metallic Elements on Duckweed Lemna gibba L. Using Growth- and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Induction-Based Endpoints. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:215. [PMID: 38256768 PMCID: PMC10821045 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we exposed a commonly used duckweed species-Lemna gibba L.-to twelve environmentally relevant metals and metalloids under laboratory conditions. The phytotoxic effects were evaluated in a multi-well-plate-based experimental setup by means of the chlorophyll fluorescence imaging method. This technique allowed the simultaneous measuring of the growth and photosynthetic parameters in the same samples. The inhibition of relative growth rates (based on frond number and area) and photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fo and Y(II)) were both calculated from the obtained chlorophyll fluorescence images. In the applied test system, growth-inhibition-based phytotoxicity endpoints proved to be more sensitive than chlorophyll-fluorescence-based ones. Frond area growth inhibition was the most responsive parameter with a median EC50 of 1.75 mg L-1, while Fv/Fo, the more responsive chlorophyll-fluorescence-based endpoint, resulted in a 5.34 mg L-1 median EC50 for the tested metals. Ag (EC50 0.005-1.27 mg L-1), Hg (EC50 0.24-4.87 mg L-1) and Cu (EC50 0.37-1.86 mg L-1) were the most toxic elements among the tested ones, while As(V) (EC50 47.15-132.18 mg L-1), Cr(III) (EC50 6.22-19.92 mg L-1), Se(VI) (EC50 1.73-10.39 mg L-1) and Zn (EC50 3.88-350.56 mg L-1) were the least toxic ones. The results highlighted that multi-well-plate-based duckweed phytotoxicity assays may reduce space, time and sample volume requirements compared to the standard duckweed growth inhibition tests. These benefits, however, come with lowered test sensitivity. Our multi-well-plate-based test setup resulted in considerably higher median EC50 (3.21 mg L-1) for frond-number-based growth inhibition than the 0.683 mg L-1 median EC50 derived from corresponding data from the literature with standardized Lemna-tests. Under strong acute phytotoxicity, frond parts with impaired photochemical functionality may become undetectable by chlorophyll fluorometers. Consequently, the plant parts that are still detectable display a virtually higher average photosynthetic performance, leading to an underestimation of phytotoxicity. Nevertheless, multi-well-plate-based duckweed phytotoxicity assays, combined with chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, offer definite advantages in the rapid screening of large sample series or multiple species/clones. As chlorophyll fluorescence images provide information both on the photochemical performance of the test plants and their morphology, a joint analysis of the two endpoint groups is recommended in multi-well-plate-based duckweed phytotoxicity assays to maximize the information gained from the tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Irfan
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem Square 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (M.I.); (I.M.)
| | - Ilona Mészáros
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem Square 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (M.I.); (I.M.)
| | - Sándor Szabó
- Department of Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Nyiregyhaza, H-4401 Nyiregyhaza, Hungary
| | - Viktor Oláh
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem Square 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (M.I.); (I.M.)
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Luo J, Hu S, Li T, He F, Tian C, Han Y, Mao Y, Jing L, Yang L, Wang Y. A Preliminary Study of the Impacts of Duckweed Coverage during Rice Growth on Grain Yield and Quality. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:57. [PMID: 38202364 PMCID: PMC10781075 DOI: 10.3390/plants13010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The overuse and misuse of fertilizers have been causing duckweed outbreaks in irrigation ditches and paddy fields in many rice-growing areas. However, how duckweed coverage in a paddy field affects the rice yield and grain quality is under debate because duckweed may act as either a weed, competing with rice for mineral nutrients, or a "nutrient buffer", providing significant ecological and economic benefits. To understand the effects of duckweed coverage throughout rice growth on the yield and quality of rice grains, an experiment with three Japonica rice cultivars was conducted with fertile lotus-pond bottom soil as a growth medium to provide sufficient mineral nutrients for both the duckweed and rice. Averaged across three rice cultivars, duckweed coverage decreased the panicle density but increased the spikelet density and grain weight, resulting in no significant change in the rice yield. Duckweed coverage had no impact on the processing and appearance quality in general, but significant duckweed-by-cultivar interactions were detected in the head rice percentage and grain chalkiness, indicating different sensitivities of different cultivars in response to the duckweed treatment. The decrease in breakdown and increase in setback values in the rapid visco analyzer (RVA) profile of rice flour suggested that duckweed coverage during rice growth worsened the cooking quality of the rice. However, no significant change in the palatability of the cooked rice was found. The most profound change induced by the duckweed was the nutritional quality; duckweed coverage increased the protein concentration but decreased the concentrations of Mg, Mn, Cu, and Zn in rice grains. This preliminary study suggested that duckweed coverage during rice growth has profound effects on the rice nutrient uptake and grain nutritional quality under the circumstances, and further research on the responses of the rice quality to the duckweed coverage in paddy fields in multiple locations and years is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsheng Luo
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Quality Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China; (J.L.)
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
| | - Shaowu Hu
- Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Tong Li
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Quality Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China; (J.L.)
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
| | - Fuhao He
- Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Chao Tian
- Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yu Han
- Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yulin Mao
- Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Liquan Jing
- Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Lianxin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yunxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Quality Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China; (J.L.)
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
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Oláh V, Appenroth KJ, Sree KS. Duckweed: Research Meets Applications. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3307. [PMID: 37765471 PMCID: PMC10535908 DOI: 10.3390/plants12183307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The Special Issue "Duckweed: Research Meets Applications" of the journal Plants (ISSN 2223-7747) presents a comprehensive update of the current progress in the field [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Oláh
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Klaus-Juergen Appenroth
- Matthias Schleiden Institute–Plant Physiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - K. Sowjanya Sree
- Department of Environmental Science, Central University of Kerala, Periye 671320, India
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