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Kohler AR, Scheil A, Hill JL, Allen JR, Al-Haddad JM, Goeckeritz CZ, Strader LC, Telewski FW, Hollender CA. Defying gravity: WEEP promotes negative gravitropism in peach trees by establishing asymmetric auxin gradients. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:1229-1255. [PMID: 38366651 PMCID: PMC11142379 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Trees with weeping shoot architectures are valued for their beauty and are a resource for understanding how plants regulate posture control. The peach (Prunus persica) weeping phenotype, which has elliptical downward arching branches, is caused by a homozygous mutation in the WEEP gene. Little is known about the function of WEEP despite its high conservation throughout Plantae. Here, we present the results of anatomical, biochemical, biomechanical, physiological, and molecular experiments that provide insight into WEEP function. Our data suggest that weeping peach trees do not have defects in branch structure. Rather, transcriptomes from the adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower) sides of standard and weeping branch shoot tips revealed flipped expression patterns for genes associated with early auxin response, tissue patterning, cell elongation, and tension wood development. This suggests that WEEP promotes polar auxin transport toward the lower side during shoot gravitropic response, leading to cell elongation and tension wood development. In addition, weeping peach trees exhibited steeper root systems and faster lateral root gravitropic response. This suggests that WEEP moderates root gravitropism and is essential to establishing the set-point angle of lateral roots from the gravity vector. Additionally, size exclusion chromatography indicated that WEEP proteins self-oligomerize, like other proteins with sterile alpha motif domains. Collectively, our results from weeping peach provide insight into polar auxin transport mechanisms associated with gravitropism and lateral shoot and root orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea R Kohler
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Andrew Scheil
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Joseph L Hill
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Allen
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Jameel M Al-Haddad
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Charity Z Goeckeritz
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Lucia C Strader
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Frank W Telewski
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Courtney A Hollender
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Kohler AR, Scheil A, Hill JL, Allen JR, Al-Haddad JM, Goeckeritz CZ, Strader LC, Telewski FW, Hollender CA. Defying Gravity: WEEP promotes negative gravitropism in Prunus persica (peach) shoots and roots by establishing asymmetric auxin gradients. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.26.542472. [PMID: 37292987 PMCID: PMC10245973 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.26.542472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Trees with weeping shoot architectures are valued for their beauty and serve as tremendous resources for understanding how plants regulate posture control. The Prunus persica (peach) weeping phenotype, which has elliptical downward arching branches, is caused by a homozygous mutation in the WEEP gene. Until now, little was known about the function of WEEP protein despite its high conservation throughout Plantae. Here, we present the results of anatomical, biochemical, biomechanical, physiological, and molecular experiments that provide insight into WEEP function. Our data suggest that weeping peach does not have defects in branch structure. Rather, transcriptomes from the adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower) sides of standard and weeping branch shoot tips revealed flipped expression patterns for genes associated with early auxin response, tissue patterning, cell elongation, and tension wood development. This suggests that WEEP promotes polar auxin transport toward the lower side during shoot gravitropic response, leading to cell elongation and tension wood development. In addition, weeping peach trees exhibited steeper root systems and faster root gravitropic response, just as barley and wheat with mutations in their WEEP homolog EGT2. This suggests that the role of WEEP in regulating lateral organ angles and orientations during gravitropism may be conserved. Additionally, size-exclusion chromatography indicated that WEEP proteins self-oligomerize, like other SAM-domain proteins. This oligomerization may be required for WEEP to function in formation of protein complexes during auxin transport. Collectively, our results from weeping peach provide new insight into polar auxin transport mechanisms associated with gravitropism and lateral shoot and root orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea R. Kohler
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Andrew Scheil
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Joseph L. Hill
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | | | - Jameel M. Al-Haddad
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | | | | | - Frank W. Telewski
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
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Liu Z, Guo C, Wu R, Wang J, Zhou Y, Yu X, Zhang Y, Zhao Z, Liu H, Sun S, Hu M, Qin A, Liu Y, Yang J, Bawa G, Sun X. Identification of the Regulators of Epidermis Development under Drought- and Salt-Stressed Conditions by Single-Cell RNA-Seq. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052759. [PMID: 35269904 PMCID: PMC8911155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As sessile organisms, plants constantly face challenges from the external environment. In order to meet these challenges and survive, plants have evolved a set of sophisticated adaptation strategies, including changes in leaf morphology and epidermal cell development. These developmental patterns are regulated by both light and hormonal signaling pathways. However, our mechanistic understanding of the role of these signaling pathways in regulating plant response to environmental stress is still very limited. By applying single-cell RNA-Seq, we determined the expression pattern of PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR (PIF) 1, PIF3, PIF4, and PIF5 genes in leaf epidermal pavement cells (PCs) and guard cells (GCs). PCs and GCs are very sensitive to environmental stress, and our previous research suggests that these PIFs may be involved in regulating the development of PCs, GCs, and leaf morphology under environmental stress. Growth analysis showed that pif1/3/4/5 quadruple mutant maintained tolerance to drought and salt stress, and the length to width ratio of leaves and petiole length under normal growth conditions were similar to those of wild-type (WT) plants under drought and salt treatment. Analysis of the developmental patterns of PCs and GCs, and whole leaf morphology, further confirmed that these PIFs may be involved in mediating the development of epidermal cells under drought and salt stress, likely by regulating the expression of MUTE and TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM) genes. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of plant adaptation to adverse growth environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Chenxi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Rui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Jiajing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Yaping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Xiaole Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Zihao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Hao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Susu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Mengke Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Aizhi Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Yumeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Jincheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - George Bawa
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Xuwu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China; (Z.L.); (C.G.); (R.W.); (J.W.); (Y.Z.); (X.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.Z.); (H.L.); (S.S.); (M.H.); (A.Q.); (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (G.B.)
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-135-2401-6285
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Hollender CA, Pascal T, Tabb A, Hadiarto T, Srinivasan C, Wang W, Liu Z, Scorza R, Dardick C. Loss of a highly conserved sterile alpha motif domain gene ( WEEP) results in pendulous branch growth in peach trees. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E4690-E4699. [PMID: 29712856 PMCID: PMC5960274 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1704515115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant shoots typically grow upward in opposition to the pull of gravity. However, exceptions exist throughout the plant kingdom. Most conspicuous are trees with weeping or pendulous branches. While such trees have long been cultivated and appreciated for their ornamental value, the molecular basis behind the weeping habit is not known. Here, we characterized a weeping tree phenotype in Prunus persica (peach) and identified the underlying genetic mutation using a genomic sequencing approach. Weeping peach tree shoots exhibited a downward elliptical growth pattern and did not exhibit an upward bending in response to 90° reorientation. The causative allele was found to be an uncharacterized gene, Ppa013325, having a 1.8-Kb deletion spanning the 5' end. This gene, dubbed WEEP, was predominantly expressed in phloem tissues and encodes a highly conserved 129-amino acid protein containing a sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain. Silencing WEEP in the related tree species Prunus domestica (plum) resulted in more outward, downward, and wandering shoot orientations compared to standard trees, supporting a role for WEEP in directing lateral shoot growth in trees. This previously unknown regulator of branch orientation, which may also be a regulator of gravity perception or response, provides insights into our understanding of how tree branches grow in opposition to gravity and could serve as a critical target for manipulating tree architecture for improved tree shape in agricultural and horticulture applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A Hollender
- Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Kearneysville, WV 25430
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Thierry Pascal
- Unité Génétique et Amélioration de Fruits et Légumes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 84140 Montfavet, France
| | - Amy Tabb
- Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Kearneysville, WV 25430
| | - Toto Hadiarto
- Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development (BB Biogen), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Chinnathambi Srinivasan
- Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Kearneysville, WV 25430
| | - Wanpeng Wang
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, College of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Zhongchi Liu
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, College of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Ralph Scorza
- Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Kearneysville, WV 25430
| | - Chris Dardick
- Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Kearneysville, WV 25430;
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