1
|
Jamil M, Alagoz Y, Wang JY, Chen GTE, Berqdar L, Kharbatia NM, Moreno JC, Kuijer HNJ, Al-Babili S. Abscisic acid inhibits germination of Striga seeds and is released by them likely as a rhizospheric signal supporting host infestation. Plant J 2024; 117:1305-1316. [PMID: 38169533 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Seeds of the root parasitic plant Striga hermonthica undergo a conditioning process under humid and warm environments before germinating in response to host-released stimulants, particularly strigolactones (SLs). The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates different growth and developmental processes, and stress response; however, its role during Striga seed germination and early interactions with host plants is under-investigated. Here, we show that ABA inhibited Striga seed germination and that hindering its biosynthesis induced conditioning and germination in unconditioned seeds, which was significantly enhanced by treatment with the SL analog rac-GR24. However, the inhibitory effect of ABA remarkably decreased during conditioning, confirming the loss of sensitivity towards ABA in later developmental stages. ABA measurement showed a substantial reduction of its content during the early conditioning stage and a significant increase upon rac-GR24-triggered germination. We observed this increase also in released seed exudates, which was further confirmed by using the Arabidopsis ABA-reporter GUS marker line. Seed exudates of germinated seeds, containing elevated levels of ABA, impaired the germination of surrounding Striga seeds in vitro and promoted root growth of a rice host towards germinated Striga seeds. Application of ABA as a positive control caused similar effects, indicating its function in Striga/Striga and Striga/host communications. In summary, we show that ABA is an essential player during seed dormancy and germination processes in Striga and acts as a rhizospheric signal likely to support host infestation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Jamil
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yagiz Alagoz
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jian You Wang
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Guan-Ting Erica Chen
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lamis Berqdar
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najeh M Kharbatia
- Analytical Chemistry Core Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Juan C Moreno
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hendrik N J Kuijer
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ablazov A, Felemban A, Braguy J, Kuijer HNJ, Al-Babili S. A Fast and Cost-Effective Genotyping Method for CRISPR-Cas9-Generated Mutant Rice Lines. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:plants12112189. [PMID: 37299168 DOI: 10.3390/plants12112189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
With increasing throughput in both the generation and phenotyping of mutant lines in plants, it is important to have an efficient and reliable genotyping method. Traditional workflows, still commonly used in many labs, have time-consuming and expensive steps, such as DNA purification, cloning and growing E. coli cultures. We propose an alternative workflow where these steps are bypassed, using Phire polymerase on fresh plant tissue, and ExoProStar treatment as preparation for sequencing. We generated CRISPR-Cas9 mutants for ZAS (ZAXINONE SYNTHASE) in rice with two guide RNAs. Using both a traditional workflow and our proposed workflow, we genotyped nine T1 plants. To interpret the sequencing output, which is often complex in CRISPR-generated mutants, we used free online automatic analysis systems and compared the results. Our proposed workflow produces results of the same quality as the old workflow, but in 1 day instead of 3 days and about 35 times cheaper. This workflow also consists of fewer steps and reduces the risk of cross contamination and mistakes. Furthermore, the automated sequence analysis packages are mostly accurate and could easily be used for bulk analysis. Based on these advantages, we encourage academic and commercial labs conducting genotyping to consider switching over to our proposed workflow.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdugaffor Ablazov
- Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), The BioActives Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- The Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abrar Felemban
- Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), The BioActives Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Justine Braguy
- Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), The BioActives Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hendrik N J Kuijer
- Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), The BioActives Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), The BioActives Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- The Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zheng X, Zhang Y, Balakrishna A, Liew KX, Kuijer HNJ, Xiao TT, Blilou I, Al-Babili S. Installing the Neurospora carotenoid pathway in plants enables cytosolic formation of provitamin A and its sequestration in lipid droplets. Mol Plant 2023:S1674-2052(23)00137-5. [PMID: 37198885 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Vitamin A deficiency remains a severe global health issue, which creates a need to biofortify crops with provitamin A carotenoids (PACs). Expanding plant cell capacity for synthesis and storing of PACs outside the plastids is a promising biofortification strategy that has been little explored. Here, we engineered PACs formation and sequestration in the cytosol of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, Arabidopsis seeds, and citrus callus cells, using a fungal (Neurospora crassa) carotenoid pathway that consists of only three enzymes converting C5 isopentenyl building blocks formed from mevalonic acid into PACs, including β-carotene. This strategy led to the accumulation of significant amounts of phytoene, γ- and β-carotene, in addition to fungal, health-promoting carotenes with thirteen conjugated double bonds, such as the PAC torulene, in the cytosol. Increasing the isopentenyl diphosphate pool by adding a truncated Arabidopsis hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase substantially increased cytosolic carotenes production. Engineered carotenes accumulate in cytosolic lipid droplets (CLDs) that represent a novel sequestering sink for storing these pigments in plant cytosol. Importantly, β-carotene accumulated in the cytosol of citrus callus cells was more light-stable, compared to plastidial β-carotene. Moreover, engineering cytosolic carotenes formation increased the number of large-sized CLDs and the levels of β-apocarotenoids, including retinal, the aldehyde corresponding to vitamin A. Our study opens up the possibility of exploiting the high-flux mevalonic acid pathway for PACs biosynthesis and enhancing carotenoid sink capacity in green and non-green plant tissues, especially in lipid-storing seeds, and paves the way for further optimization of carotenoid biofortification in crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiongjie Zheng
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasha Zhang
- The Laboratory of Plant Cell and Developmental Biology (LPCDB), Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aparna Balakrishna
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kit Xi Liew
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hendrik N J Kuijer
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ting Ting Xiao
- The Laboratory of Plant Cell and Developmental Biology (LPCDB), Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; T.T.X. present address is College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Agricultural Application and New Technique, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Ikram Blilou
- The Laboratory of Plant Cell and Developmental Biology (LPCDB), Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kuijer HNJ, Shirley NJ, Khor SF, Shi J, Schwerdt J, Zhang D, Li G, Burton RA. Transcript Profiling of MIKCc MADS-Box Genes Reveals Conserved and Novel Roles in Barley Inflorescence Development. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:705286. [PMID: 34539699 PMCID: PMC8442994 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.705286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
MADS-box genes have a wide range of functions in plant reproductive development and grain production. The ABCDE model of floral organ development shows that MADS-box genes are central players in these events in dicotyledonous plants but the applicability of this model remains largely unknown in many grass crops. Here, we show that transcript analysis of all MIKCc MADS-box genes through barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) inflorescence development reveals co-expression groups that can be linked to developmental events. Thirty-four MIKCc MADS-box genes were identified in the barley genome and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scanning of 22,626 barley varieties revealed that the natural variation in the coding regions of these genes is low and the sequences have been extremely conserved during barley domestication. More detailed transcript analysis showed that MADS-box genes are generally expressed at key inflorescence developmental phases and across various floral organs in barley, as predicted by the ABCDE model. However, expression patterns of some MADS genes, for example HvMADS58 (AGAMOUS subfamily) and HvMADS34 (SEPALLATA subfamily), clearly deviate from predicted patterns. This places them outside the scope of the classical ABCDE model of floral development and demonstrates that the central tenet of antagonism between A- and C-class gene expression in the ABC model of other plants does not occur in barley. Co-expression across three correlation sets showed that specifically grouped members of the barley MIKCc MADS-box genes are likely to be involved in developmental events driving inflorescence meristem initiation, floral meristem identity and floral organ determination. Based on these observations, we propose a potential floral ABCDE working model in barley, where the classic model is generally upheld, but that also provides new insights into the role of MIKCc MADS-box genes in the developing barley inflorescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik N. J. Kuijer
- School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Neil J. Shirley
- School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Shi F. Khor
- School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Jin Shi
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Julian Schwerdt
- School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Dabing Zhang
- School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Li
- School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China
| | - Rachel A. Burton
- School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li G, Kuijer HNJ, Yang X, Liu H, Shen C, Shi J, Betts N, Tucker MR, Liang W, Waugh R, Burton RA, Zhang D. MADS1 maintains barley spike morphology at high ambient temperatures. Nat Plants 2021; 7:1093-1107. [PMID: 34183784 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-00957-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Temperature stresses affect plant phenotypic diversity. The developmental stability of the inflorescence, required for reproductive success, is tightly regulated by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. However, the mechanisms underpinning how plant inflorescence architecture responds to temperature are largely unknown. We demonstrate that the barley SEPALLATA MADS-box protein HvMADS1 is responsible for maintaining an unbranched spike architecture at high temperatures, while the loss-of-function mutant forms a branched inflorescence-like structure. HvMADS1 exhibits increased binding to target promoters via A-tract CArG-box motifs, which change conformation with temperature. Target genes for high-temperature-dependent HvMADS1 activation are predominantly associated with inflorescence differentiation and phytohormone signalling. HvMADS1 directly regulates the cytokinin-degrading enzyme HvCKX3 to integrate temperature response and cytokinin homeostasis, which is required to repress meristem cell cycle/division. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which genetic factors direct plant thermomorphogenesis, extending the recognized role of plant MADS-box proteins in floral development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gang Li
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia.
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China.
| | - Hendrik N J Kuijer
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Xiujuan Yang
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Huiran Liu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaoqun Shen
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Shi
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Natalie Betts
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew R Tucker
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Wanqi Liang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Robbie Waugh
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
- James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK
- Division of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Rachel A Burton
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dabing Zhang
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia.
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zheng X, Kuijer HNJ, Al-Babili S. Carotenoid Biofortification of Crops in the CRISPR Era. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 39:857-860. [PMID: 33384170 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids are micronutrients important for human health. The continuous improvements in clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based genome-editing techniques make rapid, DNA/transgene-free and targeted multiplex genetic modification a reality, thus promising to accelerate the breeding and generation of 'golden' staple crops. We discuss here the progress and future prospects of CRISPR/Cas9 applications for carotenoid biofortification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiongjie Zheng
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Center for Desert Agriculture, the BioActives Laboratory, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hendrik N J Kuijer
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Center for Desert Agriculture, the BioActives Laboratory, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Center for Desert Agriculture, the BioActives Laboratory, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|