Spatio-temporal transcript profiling of rice roots and shoots in response to phosphate starvation and recovery

Extensive transcriptomic and epigenomic remodelling occurs during Arabidopsis thaliana germination

BACKGROUND

Seed germination involves progression from complete metabolic dormancy to a highly active, growing seedling. Many factors regulate germination and these interact extensively, forming a complex network of inputs that control the seed-to-seedling transition. Our understanding of the direct regulation of gene expression and the dynamic changes in the epigenome and small RNAs during germination is limited. The interactions between genome, transcriptome and epigenome must be revealed in order to identify the regulatory mechanisms that control seed germination.

RESULTS

We present an integrated analysis of high-resolution RNA sequencing, small RNA sequencing and MethylC sequencing over ten developmental time points in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, finding extensive transcriptomic and epigenomic transformations associated with seed germination. We identify previously unannotated loci from which messenger RNAs are expressed transiently during germination and find widespread alternative splicing and divergent isoform abundance of genes involved in RNA processing and splicing. We generate the first dynamic transcription factor network model of germination, identifying known and novel regulatory factors. Expression of both microRNA and short interfering RNA loci changes significantly during germination, particularly between the seed and the post-germinative seedling. These are associated with changes in gene expression and large-scale demethylation observed towards the end of germination, as the epigenome transitions from an embryo-like to a vegetative seedling state.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals the complex dynamics and interactions of the transcriptome and epigenome during seed germination, including the extensive remodelling of the seed DNA methylome from an embryo-like to vegetative-like state during the seed-to-seedling transition. Data are available for exploration in a user-friendly browser at https://jbrowse.latrobe.edu.au/germination_epigenome .

Comparative transcriptome analysis of nodules of two Mesorhizobium-chickpea associations with differential symbiotic efficiency under phosphate deficiency

Phosphate (Pi) deficiency is known to be a major limitation for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), and hence legume crop productivity globally. However, very little information is available on the adaptive mechanisms, particularly in the important legume crop chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), which enable nodules to respond to low-Pi availability. Thus, to elucidate these mechanisms in chickpea nodules at molecular level, we used an RNA sequencing approach to investigate transcriptomes of the nodules in Mesorhizobium mediterraneum SWRI9-(MmSWRI9)-chickpea and M. ciceri CP-31-(McCP-31)-chickpea associations under Pi-sufficient and Pi-deficient conditions, of which the McCP-31-chickpea association has a better SNF capacity than the MmSWRI9-chickpea association during Pi starvation. Our investigation revealed that more genes showed altered expression patterns in MmSWRI9-induced nodules than in McCP-31-induced nodules (540 vs. 225) under Pi deficiency, suggesting that the Pi-starvation-more-sensitive MmSWRI9-induced nodules required expression change in a larger number of genes to cope with low-Pi stress than the Pi-starvation-less-sensitive McCP-31-induced nodules. The functional classification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was examined to gain an understanding of how chickpea nodules respond to Pi starvation, caused by soil Pi deficiency. As a result, more DEGs involved in nodulation, detoxification, nutrient/ion transport, transcriptional factors, key metabolic pathways, Pi remobilization and signalling were found in Pi-starved MmSWRI9-induced nodules than in Pi-starved McCP-31-induced nodules. Our findings have enabled the identification of molecular processes that play important roles in the acclimation of nodules to Pi deficiency, ultimately leading to the development of Pi-efficient chickpea symbiotic associations suitable for Pi-deficient soils.

Allele specific expression analysis identifies regulatory variation associated with stress-related genes in the Mexican highland maize landrace Palomero Toluqueño

BACKGROUND

Gene regulatory variation has been proposed to play an important role in the adaptation of plants to environmental stress. In the central highlands of Mexico, farmer selection has generated a unique group of maize landraces adapted to the challenges of the highland niche. In this study, gene expression in Mexican highland maize and a reference maize breeding line were compared to identify evidence of regulatory variation in stress-related genes. It was hypothesised that local adaptation in Mexican highland maize would be associated with a transcriptional signature observable even under benign conditions.

METHODS

Allele specific expression analysis was performed using the seedling-leaf transcriptome of an F1 individual generated from the cross between the highland adapted Mexican landrace Palomero Toluqueño and the reference line B73, grown under benign conditions. Results were compared with a published dataset describing the transcriptional response of B73 seedlings to cold, heat, salt and UV treatments.

RESULTS

A total of 2,386 genes were identified to show allele specific expression. Of these, 277 showed an expression difference between Palomero Toluqueño and B73 alleles under benign conditions that anticipated the response of B73 cold, heat, salt and/or UV treatments, and, as such, were considered to display a prior stress response. Prior stress response candidates included genes associated with plant hormone signaling and a number of transcription factors. Construction of a gene co-expression network revealed further signaling and stress-related genes to be among the potential targets of the transcription factors candidates.

DISCUSSION

Prior activation of responses may represent the best strategy when stresses are severe but predictable. Expression differences observed here between Palomero Toluqueño and B73 alleles indicate the presence of cis-acting regulatory variation linked to stress-related genes in Palomero Toluqueño. Considered alongside gene annotation and population data, allele specific expression analysis of plants grown under benign conditions provides an attractive strategy to identify functional variation potentially linked to local adaptation.

Improvement in phosphate acquisition and utilization by a secretory purple acid phosphatase (OsPAP21b) in rice

Phosphate (Pi) deficiency in soil system is a limiting factor for rice growth and yield. Majority of the soil phosphorus (P) is organic in nature, not readily available for root uptake. Low Pi-inducible purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) are hypothesized to enhance the availability of Pi in soil and cellular system. However, information on molecular and physiological roles of rice PAPs is very limited. Here, we demonstrate the role of a novel rice PAP, OsPAP21b in improving plant utilization of organic-P. OsPAP21b was found to be under the transcriptional control of OsPHR2 and strictly regulated by plant Pi status at both transcript and protein levels. Biochemically, OsPAP21b showed hydrolysis of several organophosphates at acidic pH and possessed sufficient thermostability befitting for high-temperature rice ecosystems with acidic soils. Interestingly, OsPAP21b was revealed to be a secretory PAP and encodes a distinguishable major APase (acid phosphatase) isoform under low Pi in roots. Further, OsPAP21b-overexpressing transgenics showed increased biomass, APase activity and P content in both hydroponics supplemented with organic-P sources and soil containing organic manure as sole P source. Additionally, overexpression lines depicted increased root length, biomass and lateral roots under low Pi while RNAi lines showed reduced root length and biomass as compared to WT. In the light of these evidences, present study strongly proposes OsPAP21b as a useful candidate for improving Pi acquisition and utilization in rice.

Maintenance of phosphate homeostasis and root development are coordinately regulated by MYB1, an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor in rice

The adaptive responses of plants to phosphate (Pi) starvation stress are fine-tuned by an elaborate regulatory network. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel Pi starvation-responsive gene, MYB1, encoding an R2R3-type transcription factor in rice. MYB1 was transcriptionally induced in leaf sheaths and old leaf blades. It was localized to the nucleus and expressed mainly in vascular tissues. Mutation of MYB1 led to an increase in Pi uptake and accumulation, accompanied by altered expression of a subset of Pi transporters and several genes involved in Pi starvation signaling. Furthermore, MYB1 affected the elongation of the primary root in a Pi-dependent manner and lateral roots in a Pi-independent manner. Moreover, gibberellic acid (GA)-triggered lateral root elongation was largely suppressed in wild-type plants under Pi starvation conditions, whereas this suppression was partially rescued in myb1 mutant lines, correlating with the up-regulation of a GA biosynthetic gene upon MYB1 mutation. Taken together, the findings of this study highlight the role of MYB1 as a regulator involved in both Pi starvation signaling and GA biosynthesis. Such a co-regulator might have broad implications for the study of cross-talk between nutrient stress and other signaling pathways.

Temporal development of the barley leaf metabolic response to Pi limitation

The response of plants to P_i limitation involves interplay between root uptake of P_i , adjustment of resource allocation to different plant organs and increased metabolic P_i use efficiency. To identify potentially novel, early-responding, metabolic hallmarks of P_i limitation in crop plants, we studied the metabolic response of barley leaves over the first 7 d of P_i stress, and the relationship of primary metabolites with leaf P_i levels and leaf biomass. The abundance of leaf P_i , Tyr and shikimate were significantly different between low Pi and control plants 1 h after transfer of the plants to low P_i . Combining these data with ¹⁵ N metabolic labelling, we show that over the first 48 h of P_i limitation, metabolic flux through the N assimilation and aromatic amino acid pathways is increased. We propose that together with a shift in amino acid metabolism in the chloroplast a transient restoration of the energetic and redox state of the leaf is achieved. Correlation analysis of metabolite abundances revealed a central role for major amino acids in P_i stress, appearing to modulate partitioning of soluble sugars between amino acid and carboxylate synthesis, thereby limiting leaf biomass accumulation when external P_i is low.

StMYB44 negatively regulates phosphate transport by suppressing expression of PHOSPHATE1 in potato

Phosphorus is an important macronutrient for plant growth, but often deficient in soil. To understand the molecular basis of the complex responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to phosphate (Pi) deficiency stress, the RNA-Seq approach was taken to identify genes responding to Pi starvation in potato roots. A total of 359 differentially expressed genes were identified, among which the Solanum tuberosum transcription factor gene MYB44 (StMYB44) was found to be down-regulated by Pi starvation. StMYB44 was ubiquitously expressed in potato tissues and organs, and StMYB44 protein was exclusively localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of StMYB44 in potato resulted in lower accumulation of Pi in shoots. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the abundance of S. tuberosum PHOSPHATE1 (StPHO1), a Pi transport-related gene, was reduced in StMYB44 overexpression lines. In contrast, knock-out of StMYB44 by a CRISPR/Cas9 system failed to increase transcription of StPHO1. Moreover, StMYB44 was found to interact in the nucleus with AtWRKY6, a known Arabidopsis transcription factor directly regulating PHO1 expression, and StWRKY6, indicating that StMYB44 could be a member of the regulatory complex controlling transcription of StPHO1. Taken together, our study demonstrates that StMYB44 negatively regulates Pi transport in potato by suppressing StPHO1 expression.

Phosphate starvation induced OsPHR4 mediates Pi-signaling and homeostasis in rice

OsPHR4 mediates the regulation of Pi-starvation signaling and Pi-homeostasis in a PHR1-subfamily dependent manner in rice. Phosphate (Pi) starvation response is a sophisticated process for plant in the natural environment. In this process, PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 1 (PHR1) subfamily genes play a central role in regulating Pi-starvation signaling and Pi-homeostasis. Besides the three PHR1 orthologs in Oryza sativa L. (Os) [(Os) PHR1, (Os) PHR2, and (Os) PHR3], which were reported to regulated Pi-starvation signaling and Pi-homeostasis redundantly, a close related PHR1 ortholog [designated as (Os) PHR4] is presented in rice genome with unknown function. In this study, we found that OsPHR4 is a Pi-starvation induced gene and mainly expresses in vascular tissues through all growth and development periods. The expression of OsPHR4 is positively regulated by OsPHR1, OsPHR2 and OsPHR3. The nuclear located OsPHR4 can respectively interact with other three PHR1 subfamily members to regulate downstream Pi-starvation induced genes. Consistent with the positive role of PHR4 in regulating Pi-starvation signaling, the OsPHR4 overexpressors display higher Pi accumulation in the shoot and elevated expression of Pi-starvation induced genes under Pi-sufficient condition. Besides, moderate growth retardation and repression of the Pi-starvation signaling in the OsPHR4 RNA interfering (RNAi) transgenic lines can be observed under Pi-deficient condition. Together, we propose that OsPHR4 mediates the regulation of Pi-starvation signaling and Pi-homeostasis in a PHR1-subfamily dependent manner in rice.

Dynamic and rapid changes in the transcriptome and epigenome during germination and in developing rice (Oryza sativa) coleoptiles under anoxia and re-oxygenation

Detailed molecular profiling of Oryza sativa (rice) was carried out to uncover the features that are essential for germination and early seedling growth under anoxic conditions. Temporal analysis of the transcriptome and methylome from germination to young seedlings under aerobic and anaerobic conditions revealed 82% similarity in the transcriptome and no differences in the epigenome up to 24 h. Following germination, significant changes in the transcriptome and DNA methylation were observed between 4-day aerobically and anaerobically grown coleoptiles. A link between the epigenomic state and cell division versus cell elongation is suggested, as no differences in DNA methylation were observed between 24-h aerobically and anaerobically germinating embryos, when there is little cell division. After that, epigenetic changes appear to correlate with differences between cell elongation (anaerobic conditions) versus cell division (aerobic conditions) in the coleoptiles. Re-oxygenation of 3-day anaerobically grown seedlings resulted in rapid transcriptomic changes in DNA methylation in these coleoptiles. Unlike the transcriptome, changes in DNA methylation upon re-oxygenation did not reflect those seen in aerobic coleoptiles, but instead, reverted to a pattern similar to dry seeds. Reversion to the 'dry seed' state of DNA methylation upon re-oxygenation may act to 'reset the clock' for the rapid molecular changes and cell division that result upon re-oxygenation.

Identification of microRNAs in Response to Drought in Common Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) Shoots and Roots

Background

Drought is the most important factor that limits rice production in drought-prone environments. Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) contains abundant drought-resistant genes, which provide an opportunity to explore these excellent resources as contributors to improve rice resistance, productivity, and quality.

Results

In this study, we constructed four small RNA libraries, called CL and CR from PEG6000-free samples and DL and DR from PEG6000-treated samples, where ‘R’ indicates the root tissue and ‘L’ indicates the shoot tissue. A total of 200 miRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed under the drought-treated conditions (16% PEG6000 for 24 h), and the changes in the miRNA expression profile of the shoot were distinct from those of the root. At the miRNA level, 77 known miRNAs, which belong to 23 families, including 40 up-regulated and 37 down-regulated in the shoot, and 85 known miRNAs in 46 families, including 65 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated in the root, were identified as differentially expressed. In addition, we predicted 26 new miRNA candidates from the shoot and 43 from the root that were differentially expressed during the drought stress. The quantitative real-time PCR analysis results were consistent with high-throughput sequencing data. Moreover, 88 miRNAs that were differentially-expressed were predicted to match with 197 targets for drought-stress.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the miRNAs of O. rufipogon are responsive to drought stress. The differentially expressed miRNAs that are tissue-specific under drought conditions could play different roles in the regulation of the auxin pathway, the flowering pathway, the drought pathway, and lateral root formation. Thus, the present study provides an account of tissue-specific miRNAs that are involved in the drought adaption of O. rufipogon.

Integrated analysis of rice transcriptomic and metabolomic responses to elevated night temperatures identifies sensitivity- and tolerance-related profiles

Transcript and metabolite profiling were performed on leaves from six rice cultivars under high night temperature (HNT) condition. Six genes were identified as central for HNT response encoding proteins involved in transcription regulation, signal transduction, protein-protein interactions, jasmonate response and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Sensitive cultivars showed specific changes in transcript abundance including abiotic stress responses, changes of cell wall-related genes, of ABA signaling and secondary metabolism. Additionally, metabolite profiles revealed a highly activated TCA cycle under HNT and concomitantly increased levels in pathways branching off that could be corroborated by enzyme activity measurements. Integrated data analysis using clustering based on one-dimensional self-organizing maps identified two profiles highly correlated with HNT sensitivity. The sensitivity profile included genes of the functional bins abiotic stress, hormone metabolism, cell wall, signaling, redox state, transcription factors, secondary metabolites and defence genes. In the tolerance profile, similar bins were affected with slight differences in hormone metabolism and transcription factor responses. Metabolites of the two profiles revealed involvement of GABA signaling, thus providing a link to the TCA cycle status in sensitive cultivars and of myo-inositol as precursor for inositol phosphates linking jasmonate signaling to the HNT response specifically in tolerant cultivars.

Two h-Type Thioredoxins Interact with the E2 Ubiquitin Conjugase PHO2 to Fine-Tune Phosphate Homeostasis in Rice

Phosphate overaccumulator2 (PHO2) encodes a ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme that is a major negative regulator of the inorganic phosphate (Pi)-starvation response-signaling pathway. A yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screen in rice (Oryza sativa; Os) using OsPHO2 as bait revealed an interaction between OsPHO2 and two h-type thioredoxins, OsTrxh1 and OsTrxh4. These interactions were confirmed in vivo using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) of OsPHO2 and OsTrxh1/h4 in rice protoplasts and by in vitro pull-down assays with 6His-tagged OsTrxh1/h4 and GST-tagged OsPHO2. Y2H assays revealed that amino acid Cys-445 of OsPHO2 and an N-terminal Cys in the "WCGPC" motif of Trxhs were required for the interaction. Split-ubiquitin Y2H analyses and BiFC assays in rice protoplasts confirmed the interaction of OsPHO2 with PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER TRAFFIC FACILITATOR1 (OsPHF1), and PHOSPHATE1;2 (OsPHO1;2) in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi membrane system, where OsPHO2 mediates the degradation of OsPHF1 in both tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves and rice seedlings. Characterization of rice pho2 complemented lines, transformed with an endogenous genomic OsPHO2 or OsPHO2C445S (a constitutively reduced form) fragment, indicated that OsPHO2C445S restored Pi concentration in rice to statistically significant lower levels compared to native OsPHO2 Moreover, the suppression of OsTrxh1 (knockdown and knockout) resulted in slightly higher Pi concentration than that of wild-type Nipponbare in leaves. These results demonstrate that OsPHO2 is under redox control by thioredoxins, which fine-tune its activity and link Pi homeostasis with redox balance in rice.

Phosphorus remobilization from rice flag leaves during grain filling: an RNA-seq study

The physiology and molecular regulation of phosphorus (P) remobilization from vegetative tissues to grains during grain filling is poorly understood, despite the pivotal role it plays in the global P cycle. To test the hypothesis that a subset of genes involved in the P starvation response are involved in remobilization of P from flag leaves to developing grains, we conducted an RNA-seq analysis of rice flag leaves during the preremobilization phase (6 DAA) and when the leaves were acting as a P source (15 DAA). Several genes that respond to phosphate starvation, including three purple acid phosphatases (OsPAP3, OsPAP9b and OsPAP10a), were significantly up-regulated at 15 DAA, consistent with a role in remobilization of P from flag leaves during grain filling. A number of genes that have not been implicated in the phosphate starvation response, OsPAP26, SPX-MFS1 (a putative P transporter) and SPX-MFS2, also showed expression profiles consistent with involvement in P remobilization from senescing flag leaves. Metabolic pathway analysis using the KEGG system suggested plastid membrane lipid synthesis is a critical process during the P remobilization phase. In particular, the up-regulation of OsPLDz2 and OsSQD2 at 15 DAA suggested phospholipids were being degraded and replaced by other lipids to enable continued cellular function while liberating P for export to developing grains. Three genes associated with RNA degradation that have not previously been implicated in the P starvation response also showed expression profiles consistent with a role in P mobilization from senescing flag leaves.

Updated Rice Kinase Database RKD 2.0: enabling transcriptome and functional analysis of rice kinase genes

BACKGROUND

Protein kinases catalyze the transfer of a phosphate moiety from a phosphate donor to the substrate molecule, thus playing critical roles in cell signaling and metabolism. Although plant genomes contain more than 1000 genes that encode kinases, knowledge is limited about the function of each of these kinases. A major obstacle that hinders progress towards kinase characterization is functional redundancy. To address this challenge, we previously developed the rice kinase database (RKD) that integrated omics-scale data within a phylogenetics context.

RESULTS

An updated version of rice kinase database (RKD) that contains metadata derived from NCBI GEO expression datasets has been developed. RKD 2.0 facilitates in-depth transcriptomic analyses of kinase-encoding genes in diverse rice tissues and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses and hormone treatments. We identified 261 kinases specifically expressed in particular tissues, 130 that are significantly up- regulated in response to biotic stress, 296 in response to abiotic stress, and 260 in response to hormones. Based on this update and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) analysis, we estimated that 19 out of 26 genes characterized through loss-of-function studies confer dominant functions. These were selected because they either had paralogous members with PCC values of <0.5 or had no paralog.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the previous version of RKD, RKD 2.0 enables more effective estimations of functional redundancy or dominance because it uses comprehensive expression profiles rather than individual profiles. The integrated analysis of RKD with PCC establishes a single platform for researchers to select rice kinases for functional analyses.

miRNA alterations are important mechanism in maize adaptations to low-phosphate environments

Maize is a globally important crop, and a low phosphate (LP) supply frequently limits maize yields in many areas. microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in plant development and environmental adaptation. In this study, spatio-temporal miRNA transcript profiling and some of the target genes in the roots and leaves of the maize inbred line Q319 were analyzed in response to LP. Complex small RNA populations were detected after LP culture, and they displayed different patterns in the roots and leaves. Differentially expressed miRNAs can be grouped into 'early' miRNAs, which respond rapidly and are often non-specific to phosphate deficiency, and 'late' miRNAs, which alter the morphology, physiology or metabolism of plants upon prolonged phosphate deficiency. miR827 and miR399-mediated posttranscriptional pathway responses to phosphate availability were conserved and species-specific in maize. Abiotic stress-related miRNAs were engaged in interactions with different signaling and/or metabolic pathways. Auxin-related miRNAs and their targets' expression may be involved in root architecture modification and upland growth retardation in maize when subjected to LP. The changes that were found in the expression of miRNAs and their target genes suggested that miRNA regulation/alterations are pivotal mechanisms in maize adaptations to LP environments. A complex regulatory mechanism involving miRNAs in response to the LP environment is present in maize.

Full-length sequence assembly reveals circular RNAs with diverse non-GT/AG splicing signals in rice

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified in diverse eukaryotic species and are characterized by RNA backsplicing events. Current available methods for circRNA identification are able to determine the start and end locations of circRNAs in the genome but not their full-length sequences. In this study, we developed a method to assemble the full-length sequences of circRNAs using the backsplicing RNA-Seq reads and their corresponding paired-end reads. By applying the method to an rRNA-depleted/RNase R-treated RNA-Seq dataset, we for the first time identified full-length sequences of nearly 3,000 circRNAs in rice. We further showed that alternative circularization of circRNA is a common feature in rice and, surprisingly, found that the junction sites of a large number of rice circRNAs are flanked by diverse non-GT/AG splicing signals while most human exonic circRNAs are flanked by canonical GT/AG splicing signals. Our study provides a method for genome-wide identification of full-length circRNAs and expands our understanding of splicing signals of circRNAs.

Identification and expression analysis of OsLPR family revealed the potential roles of OsLPR3 and 5 in maintaining phosphate homeostasis in rice

BACKGROUND

Phosphorus (P), an essential macronutrient, is often limiting in soils and affects plant growth and development. In Arabidopsis thaliana, Low Phosphate Root1 (LPR1) and its close paralog LPR2 encode multicopper oxidases (MCOs). They regulate meristem responses of root system to phosphate (Pi) deficiency. However, the roles of LPR gene family in rice (Oryza sativa) in maintaining Pi homeostasis have not been elucidated as yet.

RESULTS

Here, the identification and expression analysis for the homologs of LPR1/2 in rice were carried out. Five homologs, hereafter referred to as OsLPR1-5, were identified in rice, which are distributed on chromosome1 over a range of 65 kb. Phylogenetic analysis grouped OsLPR1/3/4/5 and OsLPR2 into two distinct sub-clades with OsLPR3 and 5 showing close proximity. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed higher expression levels of OsLPR3-5 and OsLPR2 in root and shoot, respectively. Deficiencies of different nutrients ie, P, nitrogen (N), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) exerted differential and partially overlapping effects on the relative expression levels of the members of OsLPR family. Pi deficiency (-P) triggered significant increases in the relative expression levels of OsLPR3 and 5. Strong induction in the relative expression levels of OsLPR3 and 5 in osphr2 suggested their negative transcriptional regulation by OsPHR2. Further, the expression levels of OsLPR3 and 5 were either attenuated in ossiz1 and ospho2 or augmented in rice overexpressing OsSPX1.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this study provided insights into the evolutionary expansion and a likely functional divergence of OsLPR family with potential roles of OsLPR3 and 5 in the maintenance of Pi homeostasis in rice.

Physiological, genomic and transcriptional diversity in responses to boron deficiency in rapeseed genotypes

Allotetraploid rapeseed (Brassica napus L. A_nA_nC_nC_n, 2n=4x=38) is highly susceptible to boron (B) deficiency, a widespread limiting factor that causes severe losses in seed yield. The genetic variation in the sensitivity to B deficiency found in rapeseed genotypes emphasizes the complex response architecture. In this research, a B-inefficient genotype, 'Westar 10' ('W10'), responded to B deficiencies during vegetative and reproductive development with an over-accumulation of reactive oxygen species, severe lipid peroxidation, evident plasmolysis, abnormal floral organogenesis, and widespread sterility compared to a B-efficient genotype, 'Qingyou 10' ('QY10'). Whole-genome re-sequencing (WGS) of 'QY10' and 'W10' revealed a total of 1 605 747 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 218 755 insertions/deletions unevenly distributed across the allotetraploid rapeseed genome (~1130Mb). Digital gene expression (DGE) profiling identified more genes related to B transporters, antioxidant enzymes, and the maintenance of cell walls and membranes with higher transcript levels in the roots of 'QY10' than in 'W10' under B deficiency. Furthermore, based on WGS and bulked segregant analysis of the doubled haploid (DH) line pools derived from 'QY10' and 'W10', two significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for B efficiency were characterized on chromosome C2, and DGE-assisted QTL-seq analyses then identified a nodulin 26-like intrinsic protein gene and an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene as the corresponding candidates regulating B efficiency. This research facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the differential physiological and transcriptional responses to B deficiency and abundant genetic diversity in rapeseed genotypes, and the DGE-assisted QTL-seq analyses provide novel insights regarding the rapid dissection of quantitative trait genes in plant species with complex genomes.

Systematic characterization of novel lncRNAs responding to phosphate starvation in Arabidopsis thaliana

BACKGROUND

Previously, several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were characterized as regulators in phosphate (Pi) starvation responses. However, systematic studies of novel lncRNAs involved in the Pi starvation signaling pathways have not been reported.

RESULTS

Here, we used a genome-wide sequencing and bioinformatics approach to identify both poly(A) + and poly(A)- lncRNAs that responded to Pi starvation in Arabidopsis thaliana. We sequenced shoot and root transcriptomes of the Arabidopsis seedlings grown under Pi-sufficient and Pi-deficient conditions, and predicted 1212 novel lncRNAs, of which 78 were poly(A)- lncRNAs. By employing strand-specific RNA libraries, we discovered many novel antisense lncRNAs for the first time. We further defined 309 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed between P+ and P- conditions in either shoots or roots. Through Gene Ontology enrichment of the associated protein-coding genes (co-expressed or close on the genome), we found that many lncRNAs were adjacent or co-expressed with the genes involved in several Pi starvation related processes, including cell wall organization and photosynthesis. In total, we identified 104 potential lncRNA targets of PHR1, a key regulator for transcriptional response to Pi starvation. Moreover, we identified 16 candidate lncRNAs as potential targets of miR399, another key regulator of plant Pi homeostasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, our data provide a rich resource of candidate lncRNAs involved in the Pi starvation regulatory network.

Disruption of OsSULTR3;3 reduces phytate and phosphorus concentrations and alters the metabolite profile in rice grains

Two low phytic acid (lpa) mutants have been developed previously with the aim to improve the nutritional value of rice (Oryza sativa) grains. In the present study, the impacts of lpa mutations on grain composition and underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated. Comparative compositional analyses and metabolite profiling demonstrated that concentrations of both phytic acid (PA) and total phosphorus (P) were significantly reduced in lpa brown rice, accompanied by changes in other metabolites and increased concentrations of nutritionally relevant compounds. The lpa mutations modified the expression of a number of genes involved in PA metabolism, as well as in sulfate and phosphate homeostasis and metabolism. Map-based cloning and complementation identified the underlying lpa gene to be OsSULTR3;3. The promoter of OsSULTR3;3 is highly active in the vascular bundles of leaves, stems and seeds, and its protein is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. No activity of OsSULTR3;3 was revealed for the transport of phosphate, sulfate, inositol or inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate by heterologous expression in either yeast or Xenopus oocytes. The findings reveal that OsSULTR3;3 plays an important role in grain metabolism, pointing to a new route to generate value-added grains in rice and other cereal crops.

Transcriptomics-assisted quantitative trait locus fine mapping for the rapid identification of a nodulin 26-like intrinsic protein gene regulating boron efficiency in allotetraploid rapeseed

Allotetraploid rapeseed (Brassica napus L., An An Cn Cn , 2n = 4x = 38) is extraordinarily susceptible to boron (B) deficiency, a ubiquitous problem causing severe losses in seed yield. The breeding of B-efficient rapeseed germ plasm is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy for the agricultural industry; however, genes regulating B efficiency in allotetraploid rapeseed have not yet been isolated. In this research, quantitative trait locus (QTL) fine mapping and digital gene expression (DGE) profiling were combined to identify the candidate genes underlying the major-effect QTL qBEC-A3a, which regulates B efficiency. Comparative phenotype analyses of the near-isogenic lines (NILs) indicated that qBEC-A3a plays a significant role in improving B efficiency under B deficiency. Exploiting QTL fine mapping and DGE analyses revealed a nodulin 26-like intrinsic protein (NIP) gene, which encodes a likely boric acid channel. The gene co-expression network for putative B transporters also highlighted its central role in the efficiency of B uptake. An integration of whole-genome re-sequencing (WGS) with bulked segregant analysis (BSA) authenticated the emerging availability of QTL-seq for the QTL analyses in allotetraploid rapeseed. Transcriptomics-assisted QTL mapping and comparative genomics provided novel insights into the rapid identification of quantitative trait genes (QTGs) in plant species with complex genomes.

Arabidopsis MYB-Related HHO2 Exerts a Regulatory Influence on a Subset of Root Traits and Genes Governing Phosphate Homeostasis

Phosphate (Pi), an essential macronutrient required for growth and development of plants, is often limiting in soils. Pi deficiency modulates the expression of Pi starvation-responsive (PSR) genes including transcription factors (TFs). Here, we elucidated the role of the MYB-related TF HYPERSENSITIVITY TO LOW PHOSPHATE-ELICITED PRIMARY ROOT SHORTENING1 HOMOLOG2 (HHO2, At1g68670) in regulating Pi acquisition and signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana HHO2 was specifically and significantly induced in different tissues in response to Pi deprivation. Transgenic seedlings expressing 35S::GFP::HHO2 confirmed the localization of HHO2 to the nucleus. Knockout mutants of HHO2 showed significant reduction in number and length of first- and higher-order lateral roots and Pi content of different tissues compared with the wild-type irrespective of the Pi regime. In contrast, HHO2-overexpressing lines exhibited augmented lateral root development, enhanced Pi uptake rate and higher Pi content in leaf compared with the wild-type. Expression levels of PSR genes involved in Pi sensing and signaling in mutants and overexpressors were differentially regulated as compared with the wild-type. Attenuation in the expression of HHO2 in the phr1 mutant suggested a likely influence of PHR1 in HHO2-mediated regulation of a subset of traits governing Pi homeostasis.

Phosphate Treatment Strongly Inhibits New Arbuscule Development But Not the Maintenance of Arbuscule in Mycorrhizal Rice Roots

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial nutrient for plant growth, but its availability to roots is limited in soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a promising strategy for improving plant P acquisition. However, P fertilizer reduces fungal colonization (P inhibition) and compromises mycorrhizal P uptake, warranting studies on the mechanistic basis of P inhibition. In this study, early morphological changes in P inhibition were identified in rice (Oryza sativa) using fungal cell wall staining and live-cell imaging of plant membranes that were associated with arbuscule life cycles. Arbuscule density decreased, and aberrant hyphal branching was observed in roots at 5 h after P treatment. Although new arbuscule development was severely inhibited, preformed arbuscules remained intact and longevity remained constant. P inhibition was accelerated in the rice pt11-1 mutant, which lacks P uptake from arbuscule branches, suggesting that mature arbuscules are stabilized by the symbiotic P transporter under high P condition. Moreover, P treatment led to increases in the number of vesicles, in which lipid droplets accumulated and then decreased within a few days. The development of new arbuscules resumed within by 2 d. Our data established that P strongly and temporarily inhibits new arbuscule development, but not intraradical accommodation of AM fungi.

Phosphate Deficiency Induces the Jasmonate Pathway and Enhances Resistance to Insect Herbivory

During their life cycle, plants are typically confronted by simultaneous biotic and abiotic stresses. Low inorganic phosphate (Pi) is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies limiting plant growth in natural and agricultural ecosystems, while insect herbivory accounts for major losses in plant productivity and impacts ecological and evolutionary changes in plant populations. Here, we report that plants experiencing Pi deficiency induce the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway and enhance their defense against insect herbivory. Pi-deficient Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) showed enhanced synthesis of JA and the bioactive conjugate JA-isoleucine, as well as activation of the JA signaling pathway, in both shoots and roots of wild-type plants and in shoots of the Pi-deficient mutant pho1 The kinetics of the induction of the JA signaling pathway by Pi deficiency was influenced by PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1, the main transcription factor regulating the expression of Pi starvation-induced genes. Phenotypes of the pho1 mutant typically associated with Pi deficiency, such as high shoot anthocyanin levels and poor shoot growth, were significantly attenuated by blocking the JA biosynthesis or signaling pathway. Wounded pho1 leaves hyperaccumulated JA/JA-isoleucine in comparison with the wild type. The pho1 mutant also showed an increased resistance against the generalist herbivore Spodoptera littoralis that was attenuated in JA biosynthesis and signaling mutants. Pi deficiency also triggered increased resistance to S. littoralis in wild-type Arabidopsis as well as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Nicotiana benthamiana, revealing that the link between Pi deficiency and enhanced herbivory resistance is conserved in a diversity of plants, including crops.

NPKS uptake, sensing, and signaling and miRNAs in plant nutrient stress

Sessile nature of higher plants consequently makes it highly adaptable for nutrient absorption and acquisition from soil. Plants require 17 essential elements for their growth and development which include 14 minerals (macronutrients: N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S; micronutrients: Cl, Fe, B, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mo) and 3 non-mineral (C, H, O) elements. The roots of higher plants must acquire these macronutrients and micronutrients from rhizosphere and further allocate to other plant parts for completing their life cycle. Plants evolved an intricate series of signaling and sensing cascades to maintain nutrient homeostasis and to cope with nutrient stress/availability. The specific receptors for nutrients in root, root system architecture, and internal signaling pathways help to develop plasticity in response to the nutrient starvation. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) are essential for various metabolic processes, and their deficiency negatively effects the plant growth and yield. Genes coding for transporters and receptors for nutrients as well as some small non-coding RNAs have been implicated in nutrient uptake and signaling. This review summarizes the N, P, K, and S uptake, sensing and signaling events in nutrient stress condition especially in model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and involvement of microRNAs in nutrient deficiency. This article also provides a framework of uptake, sensing, signaling and to highlight the microRNA as an emerging major players in nutrient stress condition. Nutrient-plant-miRNA cross talk may help plant to cope up nutrient stress, and understanding their precise mechanism(s) will be necessary to develop high yielding smart crop with low nutrient input.

Vascular-mediated signalling involved in early phosphate stress response in plants

Depletion of finite global rock phosphate (Pi) reserves will impose major limitations on future agricultural productivity and food security. Hence, modern breeding programmes seek to develop Pi-efficient crops with sustainable yields under reduced Pi fertilizer inputs. In this regard, although the long-term responses of plants to Pi stress are well documented, the early signalling events have yet to be elucidated. Here, we show plant tissue-specific responses to early Pi stress at the transcription level and a predominant role of the plant vascular system in this process. Specifically, imposition of Pi stress induces rapid and major changes in the mRNA population in the phloem translocation stream, and grafting studies have revealed that many hundreds of phloem-mobile mRNAs are delivered to specific sink tissues. We propose that the shoot vascular system acts as the site of root-derived Pi stress perception, and the phloem serves to deliver a cascade of signals to various sinks, presumably to coordinate whole-plant Pi homeostasis.

Performance and Limitations of Phosphate Quantification: Guidelines for Plant Biologists

Phosphate (Pi) is a macronutrient that is essential for plant life. Several regulatory components involved in Pi homeostasis have been identified, revealing a very high complexity at the cellular and subcellular levels. Determining the Pi content in plants is crucial to understanding this regulation, and short real-time(33)Pi uptake imaging experiments have shown Pi movement to be highly dynamic. Furthermore, gene modulation by Pi is finely controlled by localization of this ion at the tissue as well as the cellular and subcellular levels. Deciphering these regulations requires access to and quantification of the Pi pool in the various plant compartments. This review presents the different techniques available to measure, visualize and trace Pi in plants, with a discussion of the future prospects.

Complex Regulation of Plant Phosphate Transporters and the Gap between Molecular Mechanisms and Practical Application: What Is Missing?

It has been almost 25 years since the first report of the gene encoding a high-affinity phosphate transporter (PT), PHO84, in yeast. Since then, an increasing number of yeast PHO84 homologs as well as other genes encoding proteins with phosphate (Pi) transport activities have been identified and functionally characterized in diverse plant species. Great progress has been made also in deciphering the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of the abundance and/or activity of these genes and their products. The regulatory genes affect plant Pi homeostasis commonly through direct or indirect regulation of the abundance of PTs at different levels. However, little has been achieved in the use of PTs for developing genetically modified crops with high phosphorus use efficiency (PUE). This might be a consequence of overemphasizing Pi uptake from the rhizosphere and lack of knowledge about the roles of PTs in Pi transport and recycling within the plant that are required to optimize PUE. Here, we mainly focused on the genes encoding proteins with Pi transport activities and the emerging understanding of their regulation at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. In addition, we propose potential strategies for effective use of PTs in improving plant growth and development.

Functional analysis of long intergenic non-coding RNAs in phosphate-starved rice using competing endogenous RNA network

Long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) may play widespread roles in gene regulation and other biological processes, however, a systematic examination of the functions of lincRNAs in the biological responses of rice to phosphate (Pi) starvation has not been performed. Here, we used a computational method to predict the functions of lincRNAs in Pi-starved rice. Overall, 3,170 lincRNA loci were identified using RNA sequencing data from the roots and shoots of control and Pi-starved rice. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed for each tissue by considering the competing relationships between lincRNAs and genes, and the correlations between the expression levels of RNAs in ceRNA pairs. Enrichment analyses showed that most of the communities in the networks were related to the biological processes of Pi starvation. The lincRNAs in the two tissues were individually functionally annotated based on the ceRNA networks, and the differentially expressed lincRNAs were biologically meaningful. For example, XLOC_026030 was upregulated from 3 days after Pi starvation, and its functional annotation was ‘cellular response to Pi starvation’. In conclusion, we systematically annotated lincRNAs in rice and identified those involved in the biological response to Pi starvation.

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Studies Disclose Key Metabolism Pathways Contributing to Well-maintained Photosynthesis under the Drought and the Consequent Drought-Tolerance in Rice

In contrast to wild species, drought-tolerance in crops requires a fully functional metabolism during drought (particularly photosynthetic processes). However, the link between drought-tolerance, photosynthetic regulation during drought, and the associated transcript and metabolic foundation, remains largely unknown. For this study, we used two rice cultivars with contrasting drought-tolerance (the drought-intolerant cultivar IRAT109 and the drought-tolerant cultivar IAC1246) to explore transcript and metabolic responses to long-term drought. The drought-tolerant cultivar represented higher osmotic adjustment and antioxidant capacity, as well as higher relative photosynthesis rate under a progressive drought stress occurred in a modified field with shallow soil-layers. A total of 4059 and 2677 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in IRAT109 and IAC1246 between the drought and well-watered conditions, respectively. A total of 69 and 47 differential metabolites (DMs) were identified between the two treatments in IRAT109 and IAC1246, respectively. Compared to IRAT109, the DEGs of IAC1246 displayed enhanced regulatory amplitude during drought. We found significant correlations between DEGs and the osmolality and total antioxidant capacity (AOC) of both cultivars. During the early stages of drought, we detected up-regulation of DEGs in IAC1246 related to photosynthesis, in accordance with its higher relative photosynthesis rate. The contents of six differential metabolites were correlated with the osmotic potential and AOC. Moreover, they were differently regulated between the two cultivars. Particularly, up-regulations of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid and ferulic acid were consistent with the performance of photosynthesis-related DEGs at the early stages of drought in IAC1246. Therefore, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid and ferulic acid were considered as key metabolites for rice drought-tolerance. DEGs involved in pathways of these metabolites are expected to be good candidate genes to improve drought-tolerance. In conclusion, well-maintained photosynthesis under drought should contribute to improved drought-tolerance in rice. Metabolites play vital roles in protecting photosynthesis under dehydration via osmotic adjustments and/or antioxidant mechanisms. A metabolite-based method was thus an effective way to explore drought candidate genes. Metabolic accompanied by transcript responses to drought stress should be further studied to find more useful metabolites, pathways, and genes.

Arabidopsis PHL2 and PHR1 Act Redundantly as the Key Components of the Central Regulatory System Controlling Transcriptional Responses to Phosphate Starvation

When confronted with inorganic phosphate (Pi) starvation, plants activate an array of adaptive responses to sustain their growth. These responses, in a large extent, are controlled at the transcriptional level. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PHOSPHATE RESPONSE1 (PHR1) and its close homolog PHR1-like 1 (PHL1) belong to a 15-member family of MYB-CC transcription factors and are regarded as the key components of the central regulatory system controlling plant transcriptional responses to Pi starvation. The knockout of PHR1 and PHL1, however, causes only a partial loss of the transcription of Pi starvation-induced genes, suggesting the existence of other key components in this regulatory system. In this work, we used the transcription of a Pi starvation-induced acid phosphatase, AtPAP10, to study the molecular mechanism underlying plant transcriptional responses to Pi starvation. We first identified a DNA sequence on the AtPAP10 promoter that is critical for the transcription of AtPAP10. We then demonstrated that PHL2 and PHL3, two other members of the MYB-CC family, specifically bind to this DNA sequence and activate the transcription of AtPAP10. Unlike PHR1 and PHL1, the transcription and protein accumulation of PHL2 and PHL3 are upregulated by Pi starvation. RNA-sequencing analyses indicated that the transcription of most Pi starvation-induced genes is impaired in the phl2 mutant, indicating that PHL2 is also a key component of the central regulatory system. Finally, we showed that PHL2, and perhaps also PHL3, acts redundantly with PHR1 to regulate plant transcriptional response to Pi starvation.

Phosphorus and nitrogen physiology of two contrasting poplar genotypes when exposed to phosphorus and/or nitrogen starvation

Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are the two essential macronutrients for tree growth and development. To elucidate the P and N physiology of woody plants during acclimation to P and/or N starvation, we exposed saplings of the slow-growing Populus simonii Carr (Ps) and the fast-growing Populus × euramericana Dode (Pe) to complete nutrients or starvation of P, N or both elements (NP). P. × euramericana had lower P and N concentrations and greater P and N amounts due to higher biomass production, thereby resulting in greater phosphorus use efficiency/N use efficiency (PUE/NUE) compared with Ps. Compared with the roots of Ps, the roots of Pe exhibited higher enzymatic activities in terms of acid phosphatases (APs) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH), which are involved in P mobilization, and nitrate reductase (NR), glutamate synthase (GOGAT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), which participate in N assimilation. The responsiveness of the transcriptional regulation of key genes encoding transporters for phosphate, ammonium and nitrate was stronger in Pe than in Ps. These results suggest that Pe possesses a higher capacity for P/N uptake and assimilation, which promote faster growth compared with Ps. In both poplars, P or NP starvation caused significant decreases in the P concentrations and increases in PUE. Phosphorus deprivation induced the activity levels of APs, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and MDH in both genotypes. Nitrogen or NP deficiency resulted in lower N concentrations, amino acid levels, NR and GOGAT activities, and higher NUE in both poplars. Thus, in Ps and Pe, the mRNA levels of PHT1;5, PHT1;9, PHT2;1, AMT2;1 and NR increased in the roots, while PHT1;9, PHO1;H1, PHO2, AMT1;1 and NRT2;1 increased in the leaves during acclimation to P, N or NP deprivation. These results suggest that both poplars suppress P/N uptake, mobilization and assimilation during acclimation to P, N or NP starvation.

High-throughput sequencing and degradome analysis reveal neutral evolution of Cercis gigantea microRNAs and their targets

High-throughput sequencing and degradome analysis for Cercis gigantea identified 194 known miRNAs and 23 novel miRNAs with 61 targets. The comparison results of highly conserved miRNAs and non-conserved miRNAs implied that C. gigantea miRNAs were subjected to the neutral evolution. MicroRNAs play a key role in post-transcriptionally regulating gene expression during plant growth, development and other various biological processes. Although numerous miRNAs have been identified and documented, to date, there are no reports on Cercis gigantea (C. gigantea) miRNAs. In this study, C. gigantea miRNAs and their target genes were investigated by extracting RNA from young roots, tender stems, young leaves, and flower buds of C. gigantea to establish a small RNA and a degradome library to further sequence. This study identified 194 known miRNAs belonging to 52 miRNA families and 23 novel miRNAs. Among these, 158 miRNAs from 27 miRNA families were highly conserved and existed in a plurality of plants. In addition, 60 different targets for 30 known families and one target for novel miRNA were identified by high-throughput sequencing and degradome analysis in C. gigantea. The comparison results revealed that highly conserved miRNAs have higher expression levels, more family members and more targets than non-conserved miRNAs, indicating that C. gigantea miRNAs were subjected to the neutral evolution. Meanwhile, these conserved miRNAs were also found to be involved in auxin signal transduction, regulation of transcription, and other developmental processes, which will help further understanding regulatory mechanisms of C. gigantea miRNAs.

Information Commons for Rice (IC4R)

Rice is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population and also a key model organism for plant research. Here, we present Information Commons for Rice (IC4R; http://ic4r.org), a rice knowledgebase featuring adoption of an extensible and sustainable architecture that integrates multiple omics data through community-contributed modules. Each module is developed and maintained by different committed groups, deals with data collection, processing and visualization, and delivers data on-demand via web services. In the current version, IC4R incorporates a variety of rice data through multiple committed modules, including genome-wide expression profiles derived entirely from RNA-Seq data, resequencing-based genomic variations obtained from re-sequencing data of thousands of rice varieties, plant homologous genes covering multiple diverse plant species, post-translational modifications, rice-related literatures and gene annotations contributed by the rice research community. Unlike extant related databases, IC4R is designed for scalability and sustainability and thus also features collaborative integration of rice data and low costs for database update and maintenance. Future directions of IC4R include incorporation of other omics data and association of multiple omics data with agronomically important traits, dedicating to build IC4R into a valuable knowledgebase for both basic and translational researches in rice.

Genome-wide analysis of overlapping genes regulated by iron deficiency and phosphate starvation reveals new interactions in Arabidopsis roots

Background

Iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) are essential mineral nutrients in plants. Knowledge regarding global changes in the abundance of Fe-responsive genes under Pi deficiency as well as the processes these genes are involved in remains largely unavailable at the genome level. In the current study, we comparatively analyzed RNA sequencing data sets relative to Fe deficiency (NCBI: SRP044814) and Pi starvation (NCBI: SRA050356.1).

Results

Analysis showed a total of 579 overlapping genes that are responsible for both Fe deficiency and Pi starvation in Arabidopsis roots. A subset of 137 genes had greater than twofold changes in transcript abundant as a result of the treatments. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the stress-related processes ‘response to salt stress’, ‘response to oxidative stress’, and ‘response to zinc ion’ were enriched in the 579 genes, while Fe response-related processes, including ‘cellular response to nitric oxide’, ‘cellular response to iron ion’, and ‘cellular iron ion homeostasis’, were also enriched in the subset of 137 genes. Co-expression analysis of the 579 genes using the MACCU toolbox yielded a network consisting of 292 nodes (genes). Further analysis revealed that a subset of 90 genes were up-regulated under Fe shortage, but down-regulated under Pi starvation. GO analysis in this group of genes revealed an increased cellular response to iron ion/nitric oxide/ethylene stimuli. Promoter analysis was performed in 35 of the 90 genes with a 1.5-fold or greater change in abundance, showing that 12 genes contained the PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1-binding GNATATNC cis-element within their promoter regions. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the decreased abundance of Fe acquisition genes under Pi deficiency exclusively relied on Fe concentration in Pi-deficient media.

Conclusions

Comprehensive analysis of the overlapping genes derived from Fe deficiency and Pi starvation provides more information to understand the link between Pi and Fe homeostasis. Gene clustering and root-specific co-expression analysis revealed several potentially important genes which likely function as putative novel players in response to Fe and Pi deficiency or in cross-talk between Fe-deficient responses and Pi-deficient signaling.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1524-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Widespread noncoding circular RNAs in plants

A large number of noncoding circular RNAs (circRNAs) with regulatory potency have been identified in animals, but little attention has been given to plant circRNAs. We performed genome-wide identification of circRNAs in Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana using publically available RNA-Seq data, analyzed and compared features of plant and animal circRNAs. circRNAs (12037 and 6012) were identified in Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana, respectively, with 56% (10/18) of the sampled rice exonic circRNAs validated experimentally. Parent genes of over 700 exonic circRNAs were orthologues between rice and Arabidopsis, suggesting conservation of circRNAs in plants. The introns flanking plant circRNAs were much longer than introns from linear genes, and possessed less repetitive elements and reverse complementary sequences than the flanking introns of animal circRNAs. Plant circRNAs showed diverse expression patterns, and 27 rice exonic circRNAs were found to be differentially expressed under phosphate-sufficient and -starvation conditions. A significantly positive correlation was observed for the expression profiles of some circRNAs and their parent genes. Our results demonstrated that circRNAs are widespread in plants, revealed the common and distinct features of circRNAs between plants and animals, and suggested that circRNAs could be a critical class of noncoding regulators in plants.

Genome-wide DNA polymorphisms in low Phosphate tolerant and sensitive rice genotypes

Soil Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major challenges to rice crop world-wide. Modern rice genotypes are highly P-responsive and rely on high input of P fertilizers. However, low P tolerant traditional cultivars and landraces have genetic potential to sustain well under low P. Identification of high resolution DNA polymorphisms (SNPs and InDels) in such contrasting genotypes is largely missing for low P response at gene levels. Here, we report high quality DNA polymorphisms in low P sensitive genotype, PB1 and tolerant traditional genotype, Dular. We performed whole genome resequencing using Illumina NGS platform and identified a total of 5,157,939 sequence variants in PB1 and Dular with reference to Nipponbare genome. We have identified approximately 2.3 million and 2.9 million high quality polymorphisms in PB1 and Dular, respectively, with an average read depth of ≥24X. We further mapped several DNA polymorphisms (non-synonymous and regulatory variants) having potential functional significance to key Phosphate Starvation Responsive (PSR) and root architecture genes in Dular and Kasalath using a compiled list of low P responsive genes. These identified variants can serve as a useful source of genetic variability for improving low P tolerance and root architecture of high yielding modern genotypes.

Integrative Comparison of the Role of the PHOSPHATE RESPONSE1 Subfamily in Phosphate Signaling and Homeostasis in Rice

Phosphorus (P), an essential macronutrient for all living cells, is indispensable for agricultural production. Although Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PHOSPHATE RESPONSE1 (PHR1) and its orthologs in other species have been shown to function in transcriptional regulation of phosphate (Pi) signaling and Pi homeostasis, an integrative comparison of PHR1-related proteins in rice (Oryza sativa) has not previously been reported. Here, we identified functional redundancy among three PHR1 orthologs in rice (OsPHR1, OsPHR2, and OsPHR3) using phylogenetic and mutation analysis. OsPHR3 in conjunction with OsPHR1 and OsPHR2 function in transcriptional activation of most Pi starvation-induced genes. Loss-of-function mutations in any one of these transcription factors (TFs) impaired root hair growth (primarily root hair elongation). However, these three TFs showed differences in DNA binding affinities and messenger RNA expression patterns in different tissues and growth stages, and transcriptomic analysis revealed differential effects on Pi starvation-induced gene expression of single mutants of the three TFs, indicating some degree of functional diversification. Overexpression of genes encoding any of these TFs resulted in partial constitutive activation of Pi starvation response and led to Pi accumulation in the shoot. Furthermore, unlike OsPHR2-overexpressing lines, which exhibited growth retardation under normal or Pi-deficient conditions, OsPHR3-overexpressing plants exhibited significant tolerance to low-Pi stress but normal growth rates under normal Pi conditions, suggesting that OsPHR3 would be useful for molecular breeding to improve Pi uptake/use efficiency under Pi-deficient conditions. We propose that OsPHR1, OsPHR2, and OsPHR3 form a network and play diverse roles in regulating Pi signaling and homeostasis in rice.

Stress induced gene expression drives transient DNA methylation changes at adjacent repetitive elements

Cytosine DNA methylation (mC) is a genome modification that can regulate the expression of coding and non-coding genetic elements. However, little is known about the involvement of mC in response to environmental cues. Using whole genome bisulfite sequencing to assess the spatio-temporal dynamics of mC in rice grown under phosphate starvation and recovery conditions, we identified widespread phosphate starvation-induced changes in mC, preferentially localized in transposable elements (TEs) close to highly induced genes. These changes in mC occurred after changes in nearby gene transcription, were mostly DCL3a-independent, and could partially be propagated through mitosis, however no evidence of meiotic transmission was observed. Similar analyses performed in Arabidopsis revealed a very limited effect of phosphate starvation on mC, suggesting a species-specific mechanism. Overall, this suggests that TEs in proximity to environmentally induced genes are silenced via hypermethylation, and establishes the temporal hierarchy of transcriptional and epigenomic changes in response to stress.

Stress induced gene expression drives transient DNA methylation changes at adjacent repetitive elements

Cytosine DNA methylation (mC) is a genome modification that can regulate the expression of coding and non-coding genetic elements. However, little is known about the involvement of mC in response to environmental cues. Using whole genome bisulfite sequencing to assess the spatio-temporal dynamics of mC in rice grown under phosphate starvation and recovery conditions, we identified widespread phosphate starvation-induced changes in mC, preferentially localized in transposable elements (TEs) close to highly induced genes. These changes in mC occurred after changes in nearby gene transcription, were mostly DCL3a-independent, and could partially be propagated through mitosis, however no evidence of meiotic transmission was observed. Similar analyses performed in Arabidopsis revealed a very limited effect of phosphate starvation on mC, suggesting a species-specific mechanism. Overall, this suggests that TEs in proximity to environmentally induced genes are silenced via hypermethylation, and establishes the temporal hierarchy of transcriptional and epigenomic changes in response to stress.

Transcriptome-Wide Identification of miRNA Targets under Nitrogen Deficiency in Populus tomentosa Using Degradome Sequencing

miRNAs are endogenous non-coding small RNAs with important regulatory roles in stress responses. Nitrogen (N) is an indispensable macronutrient required for plant growth and development. Previous studies have identified a variety of known and novel miRNAs responsive to low N stress in plants, including Populus. However, miRNAs involved in the cleavage of target genes and the corresponding regulatory networks in response to N stress in Populus remain largely unknown. Consequently, degradome sequencing was employed for global detection and validation of N-responsive miRNAs and their targets. A total of 60 unique miRNAs (39 conserved, 13 non-conserved, and eight novel) were experimentally identified to target 64 mRNA transcripts and 21 precursors. Among them, we further verified the cleavage of 11 N-responsive miRNAs identified previously and provided empirical evidence for the cleavage mode of these miRNAs on their target mRNAs. Furthermore, five miRNA stars (miRNA*s) were shown to have cleavage function. The specificity and diversity of cleavage sites on the targets and miRNA precursors in P. tomentosa were further detected. Identification and annotation of miRNA-mediated cleavage of target genes in Populus can increase our understanding of miRNA-mediated molecular mechanisms of woody plants adapted to low N environments.

Stress responsive miRNAs and isomiRs in cereals

Abiotic and biotic stress conditions are vital determinants in the production of cereals, the major caloric source in human nutrition. Small RNAs, miRNAs and isomiRs are central to post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in a variety of cellular processes including development and stress responses. Several miRNAs have been identified using new technologies and have roles in stress responses in plants, including cereals. The overall knowledge about the cereal miRNA repertoire, as well as an understanding of complex miRNA mediated mechanisms of target regulation in response to stress conditions, is far from complete. Ongoing efforts that add to our understanding of complex miRNA machinery have implications in plant response to stress conditions. Additionally, sequence variants of miRNAs (isomiRNAs or isomiRs), regulation of their expression through dissection of upstream regulatory elements, the role of Processing-bodies (P-bodies) in miRNA exerted gene regulation and yet unveiled organellar plant miRNAs are newly emerging topics, which will contribute to the elucidation of the miRNA machinery and its role in cereal tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses.

Replace, reuse, recycle: improving the sustainable use of phosphorus by plants

The 'phosphorus problem' has recently received strong interest with two distinct strands of importance. The first is that too much phosphorus (P) is entering into waste water, creating a significant economic and ecological problem. Secondly, while agricultural demand for phosphate fertilizer is increasing to maintain crop yields, rock phosphate reserves are rapidly declining. Unravelling the mechanisms by which plants sense, respond to, and acquire phosphate can address both problems, allowing the development of crop plants that are more efficient at acquiring and using limited amounts of phosphate while at the same time improving the potential of plants and other photosynthetic organisms for nutrient recapture and recycling from waste water. In this review, we attempt to synthesize these important but often disparate parts of the debate in a holistic fashion, since solutions to such a complex problem require integrated and multidisciplinary approaches that address both P supply and demand. Rapid progress has been made recently in our understanding of local and systemic signalling mechanisms for phosphate, and of expression and regulation of membrane proteins that take phosphate up from the environment and transport it within the plant. We discuss the current state of understanding of such mechanisms involved in sensing and responding to phosphate stress. We also discuss approaches to improve the P-use efficiency of crop plants and future direction for sustainable use of P, including use of photosynthetic organisms for recapture of P from waste waters.

Long non-coding RNAs and their biological roles in plants

With the development of genomics and bioinformatics, especially the extensive applications of high-throughput sequencing technology, more transcriptional units with little or no protein-coding potential have been discovered. Such RNA molecules are called non-protein-coding RNAs (npcRNAs or ncRNAs). Among them, long npcRNAs or ncRNAs (lnpcRNAs or lncRNAs) represent diverse classes of transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. In recent years, the lncRNAs have been considered as important regulators in many essential biological processes. In plants, although a large number of lncRNA transcripts have been predicted and identified in few species, our current knowledge of their biological functions is still limited. Here, we have summarized recent studies on their identification, characteristics, classification, bioinformatics, resources, and current exploration of their biological functions in plants.

A co-expression gene network associated with developmental regulation of apple fruit acidity

Apple fruit acidity, which affects the fruit's overall taste and flavor to a large extent, is primarily determined by the concentration of malic acid. Previous studies demonstrated that the major QTL malic acid (Ma) on chromosome 16 is largely responsible for fruit acidity variations in apple. Recent advances suggested that a natural mutation that gives rise to a premature stop codon in one of the two aluminum-activated malate transporter (ALMT)-like genes (called Ma1) is the genetic causal element underlying Ma. However, the natural mutation does not explain the developmental changes of fruit malate levels in a given genotype. Using RNA-seq data from the fruit of 'Golden Delicious' taken at 14 developmental stages from 1 week after full-bloom (WAF01) to harvest (WAF20), we characterized their transcriptomes in groups of high (12.2 ± 1.6 mg/g fw, WAF03-WAF08), mid (7.4 ± 0.5 mg/g fw, WAF01-WAF02 and WAF10-WAF14) and low (5.4 ± 0.4 mg/g fw, WAF16-WAF20) malate concentrations. Detailed analyses showed that a set of 3,066 genes (including Ma1) were expressed not only differentially (P FDR < 0.05) between the high and low malate groups (or between the early and late developmental stages) but also in significant (P < 0.05) correlation with malate concentrations. The 3,066 genes fell in 648 MapMan (sub-) bins or functional classes, and 19 of them were significantly (P FDR < 0.05) co-enriched or co-suppressed in a malate dependent manner. Network inferring using the 363 genes encompassed in the 19 (sub-) bins, identified a major co-expression network of 239 genes. Since the 239 genes were also differentially expressed between the early (WAF03-WAF08) and late (WAF16-WAF20) developmental stages, the major network was considered to be associated with developmental regulation of apple fruit acidity in 'Golden Delicious'.

Identification of primary and secondary metabolites with phosphorus status-dependent abundance in Arabidopsis, and of the transcription factor PHR1 as a major regulator of metabolic changes during phosphorus limitation

Massive changes in gene expression occur when plants are subjected to phosphorus (P) limitation, but the breadth of metabolic changes in these conditions and their regulation is barely investigated. Nearly 350 primary and secondary metabolites were profiled in shoots and roots of P-replete and P-deprived Arabidopsis thaliana wild type and mutants of the central P-signalling components PHR1 and PHO2, and microRNA399 overexpresser. In the wild type, the levels of 87 primary metabolites, including phosphorylated metabolites but not 3-phosphoglycerate, decreased, whereas the concentrations of most organic acids, amino acids, nitrogenous compounds, polyhydroxy acids and sugars increased. Furthermore, the levels of 35 secondary metabolites, including glucosinolates, benzoides, phenylpropanoids and flavonoids, were altered during P limitation. Observed changes indicated P-saving strategies, increased photorespiration and crosstalk between P limitation and sulphur and nitrogen metabolism. The phr1 mutation had a remarkably pronounced effect on the metabolic P-limitation response, providing evidence that PHR1 is a key factor for metabolic reprogramming during P limitation. The effects of pho2 or microRNA399 overexpression were comparatively minor. In addition, positive correlations between metabolites and gene transcripts encoding pathway enzymes were revealed. This study provides an unprecedented metabolic phenotype during P limitation in Arabidopsis.

Emerging roles of long non-coding RNA in root developmental plasticity and regulation of phosphate homeostasis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of gene expression in a variety of biological process and in multiple species. In plants, they are transcribed by different RNA polymerases and show diverse structural features. With the aid of next-generation sequencing technologies, a large number of lncRNA have been identified in model plants as well as in crops. This review focuses on the demonstration that lncRNAs control root system architecture, notably in response to phosphate availability, through regulation of transcription, alternative splicing, microRNA activity, messenger RNA stability and translation, illustrating remarkable diversity in their roles in regulating developmental plasticity.

A new insight into root responses to external cues: Paradigm shift in nutrient sensing

Higher plants are sessile and their growth relies on nutrients present in the soil. The acquisition of nutrients is challenging for plants. Phosphate and nitrate sensing and signaling cascades play significant role during adverse conditions of nutrient unavailability. Therefore, it is important to dissect the mechanism by which plant roots acquire nutrients from the soil. Root system architecture (RSA) exhibits extensive developmental flexibility and changes during nutrient stress conditions. Growth of root system in response to external concentration of nutrients is a joint operation of sensor or receptor proteins along with several other cytoplasmic accessory proteins. After nutrient sensing, sensor proteins start the cellular relay involving transcription factors, kinases, ubiquitin ligases and miRNA. The complexity of nutrient sensing is still nebulous and many new players need to be better studied. This review presents a survey of recent paradigm shift in the advancements in nutrient sensing in relation to plant roots.

Phosphate transporter OsPht1;8 in rice plays an important role in phosphorus redistribution from source to sink organs and allocation between embryo and endosperm of seeds

Phosphorus (P) redistribution from source to sink organs within plant is required for optimizing growth and development under P deficient condition. In this study, we knocked down expression of a phosphate transporter gene OsPht1;8 (OsPT8) selectively in shoot and/or in seed endosperm by RNA-interference using RISBZ1 and GluB-1 promoter (designate these transgenic lines as SSRi and EnSRi), respectively, to characterize the role of OsPT8 in P redistribution of rice. In comparison to wild type (WT) and EnSRi lines, SSRi lines under P deficient condition accumulated more P in old blades and less P in young blades, corresponding to attenuated and enriched transcripts of P-responsive genes in old and young blades, respectively. The ratio of total P in young blades to that in old blades decreased from 2.6 for WT to 0.9-1.2 for SSRi lines. During the grain-filling stage, relative to WT, SSRi lines showed the substantial decrease of total P content in both endosperm and embryo, while EnSRi lines showed 40-50% decrease of total P content in embryo but similar P content in endosperm. Taken together, our results demonstrate that OsPT8 plays a critical role in redistribution of P from source to sink organs and P homeostasis in seeds of rice.