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Song B, Chen J, Lev-Yadun S, Niu Y, Gao Y, Ma R, Armbruster WS, Sun H. Multifunctionality of angiosperm floral bracts: a review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1100-1120. [PMID: 38291834 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Floral bracts (bracteoles, cataphylls) are leaf-like organs that subtend flowers or inflorescences but are of non-floral origin; they occur in a wide diversity of species, representing multiple independent origins, and exhibit great variation in form and function. Although much attention has been paid to bracts over the past 150 years, our understanding of their adaptive significance remains remarkably incomplete. This is because most studies of bract function and evolution focus on only one or a few selective factors. It is widely recognised that bracts experience selection mediated by pollinators, particularly for enhancing pollinator attraction through strong visual, olfactory, or echo-acoustic contrast with the background and through signalling the presence of pollinator rewards, either honestly (providing rewards for pollinators), or deceptively (attraction without reward or even trapping pollinators). However, studies in recent decades have demonstrated that bract evolution is also affected by agents other than pollinators. Bracts can protect flowers, fruits, or seeds from herbivores by displaying warning signals, camouflaging conspicuous reproductive organs, or by providing physical barriers or toxic chemicals. Reviews of published studies show that bracts can also promote seed dispersal and ameliorate the effects of abiotic stressors, such as low temperature, strong ultraviolet radiation, heavy rain, drought, and/or mechanical abrasion, on reproductive organs or for the plants' pollinators. In addition, green bracts and greening of colourful bracts after pollination promote photosynthetic activity, providing substantial carbon (photosynthates) for fruit or seed development, especially late in a plant's life cycle or season, when leaves have started to senesce. A further layer of complexity derives from the fact that the agents of selection driving the evolution of bracts vary between species and even between different developmental stages within a species, and selection by one agent can be reinforced or opposed by other agents. In summary, our survey of the literature reveals that bracts are multifunctional and subject to multiple agents of selection. To understand fully the functional and evolutionary significance of bracts, it is necessary to consider multiple selection agents throughout the life of the plant, using integrative approaches to data collection and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Song
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia/Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia/Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Huannan Road, East of University Town, Chenggong New Area, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Simcha Lev-Yadun
- Department of Biology and Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa at Oranim, Kiryat Tiv'on, 36006, Israel
| | - Yang Niu
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia/Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yongqian Gao
- Yunnan Forestry Technological College, 1 Jindian, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Rong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia/Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - W Scott Armbruster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, PO Box 757000, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Hang Sun
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia/Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, China
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Bioinformatic approach for the identification of plant species that accumulate palmitoleic acid. ELECTRON J BIOTECHN 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejbt.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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Chavez Mendoza K, Peña-Valdivia CB, Hernández Rodríguez M, Vázquez Sánchez M, Morales Elías NC, Jiménez Galindo JC, García Esteva A, Padilla Chacón D. Phenotypic, Anatomical, and Diel Variation in Sugar Concentration Linked to Cell Wall Invertases in Common Bean Pod Racemes under Water Restriction. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11131622. [PMID: 35807573 PMCID: PMC9268661 DOI: 10.3390/plants11131622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) pod wall is essential for seed formation and to protect seeds. To address the effect of water restriction on sugar metabolism in fruits differing in sink strength under light–dark cycles, we used plants of cv. OTI at 100% field capacity (FC) and at 50% FC over 10 days at the beginning of pod filling. Water restriction intensified the symptoms of leaf senescence. However, pods maintained a green color for several days longer than leaves did. In addition, the functionality of pods of the same raceme was anatomically demonstrated, and no differences were observed between water regimes. The glucose and starch concentrations were lower than those of sucrose, independent of pod wall size. Remarkably, the fructose concentration decreased only under water restriction. The cell wall invertase activity was twofold higher in the walls of small pods than in those of large ones in both water regimes; similar differences were not evident for cytosolic or vacuolar invertase. Using bioinformatics tools, six sequences of invertase genes were identified in the P. vulgaris genome. The PvINVCW4 protein sequence contains substitutions for conserved residues in the sucrose-binding site, while qPCR showed that transcript levels were induced in the walls of small pods under stress. The findings support a promising strategy for addressing sink strength under water restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Chavez Mendoza
- Programa de Posgrado en Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Carretera México-Texcoco, km 36.5, Montecillo 56230, Mexico; (K.C.M.); (C.B.P.-V.); (M.V.S.); (N.C.M.E.); (A.G.E.)
| | - Cecilia Beatriz Peña-Valdivia
- Programa de Posgrado en Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Carretera México-Texcoco, km 36.5, Montecillo 56230, Mexico; (K.C.M.); (C.B.P.-V.); (M.V.S.); (N.C.M.E.); (A.G.E.)
| | - Martha Hernández Rodríguez
- Postgrado en Recursos Genéticos y Productividad-Genética, Colegio de Postgraduados, Carretera México-Texcoco, km 36.5, Montecillo 56230, Mexico;
| | - Monserrat Vázquez Sánchez
- Programa de Posgrado en Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Carretera México-Texcoco, km 36.5, Montecillo 56230, Mexico; (K.C.M.); (C.B.P.-V.); (M.V.S.); (N.C.M.E.); (A.G.E.)
| | - Norma Cecilia Morales Elías
- Programa de Posgrado en Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Carretera México-Texcoco, km 36.5, Montecillo 56230, Mexico; (K.C.M.); (C.B.P.-V.); (M.V.S.); (N.C.M.E.); (A.G.E.)
| | | | - Antonio García Esteva
- Programa de Posgrado en Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Carretera México-Texcoco, km 36.5, Montecillo 56230, Mexico; (K.C.M.); (C.B.P.-V.); (M.V.S.); (N.C.M.E.); (A.G.E.)
| | - Daniel Padilla Chacón
- CONACYT-Programa de Posgrado en Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Carretera México-Texcoco, km 36.5, Montecillo 56230, Mexico
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-595-952-0200 (ext. 1344)
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Liu YS, Geng JC, Sha XY, Zhao YX, Hu TM, Yang PZ. Effect of Rhizobium Symbiosis on Low-Temperature Tolerance and Antioxidant Response in Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:538. [PMID: 31114600 PMCID: PMC6503086 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Low temperature-induced stress is a major environmental factor limiting the growth and development of plants. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a legume well known for its tolerance of extreme environments. In this study, we sought to experimentally investigate the role of rhizobium symbiosis in alfalfa's performance under a low-temperature stress condition. To do this, alfalfa "Ladak+" plants carrying active nodules (AN), inactive nodules (IN), or no nodules (NN) were exposed to an imposed low temperature stress and their survivorship calculated. The antioxidant defense responses, the accumulation of osmotic regulation substances, the cell membrane damage, and the expression of low temperature stress-related genes were determined in both the roots and the shoots of alfalfa plants. We found that more plants with AN survived than those with IN or NN under the same low temperature-stress condition. Greater activity of oxidation protective enzymes was observed in the AN and IN groups, conferring higher tolerance to low temperature in these plants. In addition, rhizobia nodulation also enhanced alfalfa's ability to tolerate low temperature by altering the expression of regulatory and metabolism-associated genes, which resulted in the accumulation of soluble proteins and sugars in the nodulated plants. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that rhizobium inoculation offers a practical way to promote the persistence and growth potential of alfalfa "Ladak+" in cold areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shi Liu
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | | | - Xu-Yang Sha
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yi-Xin Zhao
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Tian-Ming Hu
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Pei-Zhi Yang
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Brazel AJ, Ó'Maoiléidigh DS. Photosynthetic activity of reproductive organs. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:1737-1754. [PMID: 30824936 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
During seed development, carbon is reallocated from maternal tissues to support germination and subsequent growth. As this pool of resources is depleted post-germination, the plant begins autotrophic growth through leaf photosynthesis. Photoassimilates derived from the leaf are used to sustain the plant and form new organs, including other vegetative leaves, stems, bracts, flowers, fruits, and seeds. In contrast to the view that reproductive tissues act only as resource sinks, many studies demonstrate that flowers, fruits, and seeds are photosynthetically active. The photosynthetic contribution to development is variable between these reproductive organs and between species. In addition, our understanding of the developmental control of photosynthetic activity in reproductive organs is vastly incomplete. A further complication is that reproductive organ photosynthesis (ROP) appears to be particularly important under suboptimal growth conditions. Therefore, the topic of ROP presents the community with a challenge to integrate the fields of photosynthesis, development, and stress responses. Here, we attempt to summarize our understanding of the contribution of ROP to development and the molecular mechanisms underlying its control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailbhe J Brazel
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
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Zhu X, Zhang L, Kuang C, Guo Y, Huang C, Deng L, Sun X, Zhan G, Hu Z, Wang H, Hua W. Important photosynthetic contribution of silique wall to seed yield-related traits in Arabidopsis thaliana. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2018; 137:493-501. [PMID: 29959749 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-018-0532-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In plants, green non-foliar organs are able to perform photosynthesis just as leaves do, and the seed-enclosing pod acts as an essential photosynthetic organ in legume and Brassica species. To date, the contribution of pod photosynthesis to seed yield and related components still remains largely unexplored, and in Arabidopsis thaliana, the photosynthetic activity of the silique (pod) is unknown. In this study, an Arabidopsis glk1/glk2 mutant defective in both leaf and silique photosynthesis was used to create tissue-specific functional complementation lines. These lines were used to analyze the contribution of silique wall photosynthesis to seed yield and related traits, and to permit the comparison of this contribution with that of leaf photosynthesis. Our results showed that, together with leaves, the photosynthetic assimilation of the silique wall greatly contributed to total seed yield per plant. As for individual components of yield traits, leaf photosynthesis alone contributed to the seed number per silique and silique length, while silique wall photosynthesis alone contributed to thousand-seed weight. In addition, enhancing the photosynthetic capacity of the silique wall by overexpressing the photosynthesis-related RCA gene in this tissue resulted in significantly increased seed weight and oil content in the wild-type (WT) background. These results reveal that silique wall photosynthesis plays an important role in seed-related traits, and that enhancing silique photosynthesis in WT plants can further improve seed yield-related traits and oil production. This finding may have significant implications for improving the seed yield and oil production of oilseed crops and other species with pod-like organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Kuang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunqian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Linbin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingchao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Gaomiao Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyong Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanzhong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Hua
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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