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Tian J, Tang Z, Niu R, Zhou Y, Yang D, Chen D, Luo M, Mou R, Yuan M, Xu G. Engineering disease-resistant plants with alternative translation efficiency by switching uORF types through CRISPR. Sci China Life Sci 2024:10.1007/s11427-024-2588-9. [PMID: 38679667 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-024-2588-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Engineering disease-resistant plants can be a powerful solution to the issue of food security. However, it requires addressing two fundamental questions: what genes to express and how to control their expressions. To find a solution, we screen CRISPR-edited upstream open reading frame (uORF) variants in rice, aiming to optimize translational control of disease-related genes. By switching uORF types of the 5'-leader from Arabidopsis TBF1, we modulate the ribosome accessibility to the downstream firefly luciferase. We assume that by switching uORF types using CRISPR, we could generate uORF variants with alternative translation efficiency (CRISPR-aTrE-uORF). These variants, capable of boosting translation for resistance-associated genes and dampening it for susceptible ones, can help pinpoint previously unidentified genes with optimal expression levels. To test the assumption, we screened edited uORF variants and found that enhanced translational suppression of the plastic glutamine synthetase 2 can provide broad-spectrum disease resistance in rice with minimal fitness costs. This strategy, which involves modifying uORFs from none to some, or from some to none or different ones, demonstrates how translational agriculture can speed up the development of disease-resistant crops. This is vital for tackling the food security challenges we face due to growing populations and changing climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Tian
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhijuan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Ruixia Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yulu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Dan Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Dan Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Ming Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Rui Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Guoyong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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Wang C, Li J, Fang K, Yao H, Chai X, Du Y, Wang J, Hao N, Cao J, Li B, Wu T. CsHLS1-CsSCL28 module regulates compact plant architecture in cucumber. Plant Biotechnol J 2024. [PMID: 38261466 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Increased planting densities boost crop yields. A compact plant architecture facilitates dense planting. However, the mechanisms regulating compact plant architecture in cucurbits remain unclear. In this study, we identified a cucumber (Cucumis sativus) compact plant architecture (cpa1) mutant from an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized library that exhibited distinctive phenotypic traits, including reduced leaf petiole angle and leaf size. The candidate mutation causes a premature stop codon in CsaV3_1G036420, which shares similarity to Arabidopsis HOOKLESS 1 (HLS1) encoding putative histone N-acetyltransferase (HAT) protein and was named CsHLS1. Consistent with the mutant phenotype, CsHLS1 was predominantly expressed in leaf petiole bases and leaves. Constitutive overexpressing CsHLS1 in cpa1 restored the wild-type plant architecture. Knockout of CsHLS1 resulted in reduces leaf petiole angle and leaf size and as well as decreased acetylation levels. Furthermore, CsHLS1 directly interacted with CsSCL28 and negatively regulated compact plant architecture in cucumber. Importantly, CsHLS1 knockout increased the photosynthesis rate and leaf nitrogen in cucumbers, thereby maintaining cucumber yield at normal density. Overall, our research provides valuable genetic breeding resource and gene target for creating a compact plant architecture for dense cucumber planting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhua Wang
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Li
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Kai Fang
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Hongxin Yao
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Xingwen Chai
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Yalin Du
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Junwei Wang
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Ning Hao
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Jiajian Cao
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
| | - Baohai Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tao Wu
- College of Horticulture/Yuelushan Lab/Whampoa Innovation Research Institute, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Gene Resources of Horticultural Crops (Vegetables, Tea, etc.), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Changsha, China
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Ma K, Yuan Y, Fang C. Mainstreaming production and nutrient resilience of vegetable crops in megacities: pre-breeding for terrace cultivation. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1237099. [PMID: 38053771 PMCID: PMC10694833 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1237099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Modern megacities offer convenient lifestyles to their citizens. However, agriculture is becoming increasingly vulnerable, especially during unexpected public health emergencies such as pandemics. Fortunately, the adaptability of terrace vegetables cultivation presents an opportunity to grow horticultural crops in residential spaces, bringing numerous benefits to citizens, including enhanced nutrition and recreational engagement in the cultivation process. Although certain planting skills and equipment have been developed, the citizens tend to sow some seeds with unknown pedigree, it is rare to find new plant varieties specifically bred for cultivation as terrace vegetables. To expand the genetic basis of new breeding materials, elite parents, and varieties (pre-breeding) for terrace cultivation, this review not only discusses the molecular breeding strategy for the identification, creation, and application of rational alleles for improving horticultural characteristics including plant architecture, flavor quality, and ornamental character, but also assesses the potential for terrace cultivation of some representative vegetable crops. We conclude that the process of pre-breeding specifically for terrace cultivation environments is vital for generating a genetic basis for urban terrace vegetable crops.
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Dou J, Kang Q, Li T, Umer MJ, Alharthi B, Liu D, Yang S, Niu H, Ma C, Zhu H, Yang L. Construction and application of a new watermelon germplasm with the phenotype of dwarf and branchless. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:310. [PMID: 37743454 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01239-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a widely cultivated cucurbitaceae crop appreciated by consumers worldwide. However, the long vine and abundant lateral branches of currently cultivated watermelon varieties hinder light simplification and mechanized cultivation, affecting plant spacing and row spacing requirements. To address this, the development of watermelon with dwarf and branchless traits has become a crucial direction for the industry. In previous studies, the genes controlling dwarf (Cldw-1) and branchless (Clbl) traits were mapped and cloned. Marker-assisted selection markers, dCAPS3 and dCAPS10, were developed for these traits, respectively. In this study, the dwarf germplasm WM102 and the branchless germplasm WCZ were crossed to obtain F1 .Further self-crossing of the F1 individuals resulted in the F2 population. Through multiple generations of self-pollination, a new watermelon germplasm DM with double mutation (dwarf and branchless) was obtained. DM exhibited stable inheritance without segregation. Moreover, DM was used as a donor parent for crossing with commercial watermelon materials, and near-isogenic lines (NILs) with the dwarf and branchless traits were developed. These NILs carry additional desirable agronomic traits and provide valuable genetic resources for future watermelon breeding programs, particularly in improving plant architecture and overall quality. The development and application of DM and NILs hold great potential for advancing the watermelon industry toward industrialization, large-scale cultivation, and enhanced plant architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junling Dou
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Qishuai Kang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Tengwei Li
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Muhammad Jawad Umer
- Cotton Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huanghe Avenue No.38, Anyang, 455000, China
| | - Badr Alharthi
- Department of Biology, University College of Al Khurmah, Taif University, Box 11099, Taif, PO, 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dongming Liu
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Sen Yang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Huanhuan Niu
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Changsheng Ma
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Huayu Zhu
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Luming Yang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Ping'an Avenue No.218, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
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Hernandez CO, Labate J, Reitsma K, Fabrizio J, Bao K, Fei Z, Grumet R, Mazourek M. Characterization of the USDA Cucurbita pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima germplasm collections. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1130814. [PMID: 36993863 PMCID: PMC10040574 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1130814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The Cucurbita genus is home to a number of economically and culturally important species. We present the analysis of genotype data generated through genotyping-by-sequencing of the USDA germplasm collections of Cucurbita pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima. These collections include a mixture of wild, landrace, and cultivated specimens from all over the world. Roughly 1,500 - 32,000 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were called in each of the collections, which ranged in size from 314 to 829 accessions. Genomic analyses were conducted to characterize the diversity in each of the species. Analysis revealed extensive structure corresponding to a combination of geographical origin and morphotype/market class. Genome-wide associate studies (GWAS) were conducted using both historical and contemporary data. Signals were observed for several traits, but the strongest was for the bush (Bu) gene in C. pepo. Analysis of genomic heritability, together with population structure and GWAS results, was used to demonstrate a close alignment of seed size in C. pepo, maturity in C. moschata, and plant habit in C. maxima with genetic subgroups. These data represent a large, valuable collection of sequenced Cucurbita that can be used to direct the maintenance of genetic diversity, for developing breeding resources, and to help prioritize whole-genome re-sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher O. Hernandez
- Department of Agriculture Nutrition and Food Systems, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States
| | - Joanne Labate
- Plant Genetic Resource Conservation Unit, United States Department of Agricultural Research Service, Geneva, NY, United States
| | - Kathleen Reitsma
- North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Jack Fabrizio
- Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Kan Bao
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Zhangjun Fei
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Rebecca Grumet
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Michael Mazourek
- Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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Dong NQ, Lin HX. Compact plants enhance productivity. Nat Plants 2022; 8:1335-1336. [PMID: 36509844 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-022-01311-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nai-Qian Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Xuan Lin
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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