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Cobo-Simón I, Maloof JN, Li R, Amini H, Méndez-Cea B, García-García I, Gómez-Garrido J, Esteve-Codina A, Dabad M, Alioto T, Wegrzyn JL, Seco JI, Linares JC, Gallego FJ. Contrasting transcriptomic patterns reveal a genomic basis for drought resilience in the relict fir Abies pinsapo Boiss. Tree Physiol 2023; 43:315-334. [PMID: 36210755 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate change challenges the adaptive capacity of several forest tree species in the face of increasing drought and rising temperatures. Therefore, understanding the mechanistic connections between genetic diversity and drought resilience is highly valuable for conserving drought-sensitive forests. Nonetheless, the post-drought recovery in trees from a transcriptomic perspective has not yet been studied by comparing contrasting phenotypes. Here, experimental drought treatments, gas-exchange dynamics and transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) were performed in the relict and drought-sensitive fir Abies pinsapo Boiss. to identify gene expression differences over immediate (24 h) and extended drought (20 days). Post-drought responses were investigated to define resilient and sensitive phenotypes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were also studied to characterize the genomic basis of A. pinsapo drought resilience. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed an activation of stomatal closing and an inhibition of plant growth-related genes during the immediate drought, consistent with an isohydric dynamic. During the extended drought, transcription factors, as well as cellular damage and homeostasis protection-related genes prevailed. Resilient individuals activate photosynthesis-related genes and inhibit aerial growth-related genes, suggesting a shifting shoot/root biomass allocation to improve water uptake and whole-plant carbon balance. About, 152 fixed SNPs were found between resilient and sensitive seedlings, which were mostly located in RNA-activity-related genes, including epigenetic regulation. Contrasting gene expression and SNPs were found between different post-drought resilience phenotypes for the first time in a forest tree, suggesting a transcriptomic and genomic basis for drought resilience. The obtained drought-related transcriptomic profile and drought-resilience candidate genes may guide conservation programs for this threatened tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Cobo-Simón
- Dpto Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Univ. Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- Dpto Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Unidad de Genética, Facultad de CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Julin N Maloof
- University of California at Davis, Department of Plant Biology, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Ruijuan Li
- University of California at Davis, Department of Plant Biology, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Hajar Amini
- University of California at Davis, Department of Plant Biology, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Belén Méndez-Cea
- Dpto Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Unidad de Genética, Facultad de CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Isabel García-García
- Dpto Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Unidad de Genética, Facultad de CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Jèssica Gómez-Garrido
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Anna Esteve-Codina
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Marc Dabad
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Tyler Alioto
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Jill L Wegrzyn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - José Ignacio Seco
- Dpto Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Univ. Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Linares
- Dpto Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Univ. Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Gallego
- Dpto Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Unidad de Genética, Facultad de CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040, Spain
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Cobo-Simón I, Gómez-Garrido J, Esteve-Codina A, Dabad M, Alioto T, Maloof JN, Méndez-Cea B, Seco JI, Linares JC, Gallego FJ. De novo transcriptome sequencing and gene co-expression reveal a genomic basis for drought sensitivity and evidence of a rapid local adaptation on Atlas cedar ( Cedrus atlantica). Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1116863. [PMID: 37152146 PMCID: PMC10155838 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1116863] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Understanding the adaptive capacity to current climate change of drought-sensitive tree species is mandatory, given their limited prospect of migration and adaptation as long-lived, sessile organisms. Knowledge about the molecular and eco-physiological mechanisms that control drought resilience is thus key, since water shortage appears as one of the main abiotic factors threatening forests ecosystems. However, our current background is scarce, especially in conifers, due to their huge and complex genomes. Methods Here we investigated the eco-physiological and transcriptomic basis of drought response of the climate change-threatened conifer Cedrus atlantica. We studied C. atlantica seedlings from two locations with contrasting drought conditions to investigate a local adaptation. Seedlings were subjected to experimental drought conditions, and were monitored at immediate (24 hours) and extended (20 days) times. In addition, post-drought recovery was investigated, depicting two contrasting responses in both locations (drought resilient and non-resilient). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were also studied to characterize the genomic basis of drought resilience and investigate a rapid local adaptation of C. atlantica. Results De novo transcriptome assembly was performed for the first time in this species, providing differences in gene expression between the immediate and extended treatments, as well as among the post-drought recovery phenotypes. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed a regulation of stomatal closing and photosynthetic activity during the immediate drought, consistent with an isohydric dynamic. During the extended drought, growth and flavonoid biosynthesis inhibition mechanisms prevailed, probably to increase root-to-shoot ratio and to limit the energy-intensive biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Drought sensitive individuals failed in metabolism and photosynthesis regulation under drought stress, and in limiting secondary metabolite production. Moreover, genomic differences (SNPs) were found between drought resilient and sensitive seedlings, and between the two studied locations, which were mostly related to transposable elements. Discussion This work provides novel insights into the transcriptomic basis of drought response of C. atlantica, a set of candidate genes mechanistically involved in its drought sensitivity and evidence of a rapid local adaptation. Our results may help guide conservation programs for this threatened conifer, contribute to advance drought-resilience research and shed light on trees' adaptive potential to current climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Cobo-Simón
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems. University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Genetics Unit. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Irene Cobo-Simón,
| | - Jèssica Gómez-Garrido
- Nacional Center for Genomic Analysis-Center for Genomic Regulation (CNAG-CRG), Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Esteve-Codina
- Nacional Center for Genomic Analysis-Center for Genomic Regulation (CNAG-CRG), Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Dabad
- Nacional Center for Genomic Analysis-Center for Genomic Regulation (CNAG-CRG), Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tyler Alioto
- Nacional Center for Genomic Analysis-Center for Genomic Regulation (CNAG-CRG), Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julin N. Maloof
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Belén Méndez-Cea
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Genetics Unit. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Ignacio Seco
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems. University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Linares
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems. University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Gallego
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Genetics Unit. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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García-García I, Méndez-Cea B, Martín-Gálvez D, Seco JI, Gallego FJ, Linares JC. Challenges and Perspectives in the Epigenetics of Climate Change-Induced Forests Decline. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:797958. [PMID: 35058957 PMCID: PMC8764141 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.797958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Forest tree species are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As sessile organisms with long generation times, their adaptation to a local changing environment may rely on epigenetic modifications when allele frequencies are not able to shift fast enough. However, the current lack of knowledge on this field is remarkable, due to many challenges that researchers face when studying this issue. Huge genome sizes, absence of reference genomes and annotation, and having to analyze huge amounts of data are among these difficulties, which limit the current ability to understand how climate change drives tree species epigenetic modifications. In spite of this challenging framework, some insights on the relationships among climate change-induced stress and epigenomics are coming. Advances in DNA sequencing technologies and an increasing number of studies dealing with this topic must boost our knowledge on tree adaptive capacity to changing environmental conditions. Here, we discuss challenges and perspectives in the epigenetics of climate change-induced forests decline, aiming to provide a general overview of the state of the art.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel García-García
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, UD Genética, Facultad de CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Isabel García-García,
| | - Belén Méndez-Cea
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, UD Genética, Facultad de CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Belén Méndez-Cea,
| | - David Martín-Gálvez
- Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, UD Zoología, Facultad de CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Ignacio Seco
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Gallego
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, UD Genética, Facultad de CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Linares
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
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