FPF1 promotes flowering in Arabidopsis

Phenotypic and genomic signatures across wild Rosa species open new horizons for modern rose breeding

The cultivation and domestication of roses reflects cultural exchanges and shifts in aesthetics that have resulted in today's most popular ornamental plant group. However, the narrow genetic foundation of cultivated roses limits their further improvement. Wild Rosa species harbour vast genetic diversity, yet their utilization is impeded by taxonomic confusion. Here we generated a phased and gap-free reference genome of Rosa persica for phylogenetic and population genomic analyses of a large collection of Rosa samples. The robust nuclear and plastid phylogenies support most of the morphology-based traditional taxonomy of Rosa. Population genomic analyses disclosed potential genetic exchanges among sections, indicating the northwest and southwest of China as two independent centres of diversity for Rosa. Analyses of domestication traits provide insights into selection processes related to flower colour, fragrance, double flower and resistance. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of rose domestication and lays a solid foundation for future re-domestication and innovative breeding efforts using wild resources.

Transcriptional Reprogramming and Allelic Variation in Pleiotropic QTL Regulates Days to Flowering and Growth Habit in Pigeonpea

The present study investigated the linkage between days to flowering (DTF) and growth habit (GH) in pigeonpea using QTL mapping, QTL-seq, and GWAS approaches. The linkage map developed here is the largest to date, spanning 1825.56 cM with 7987 SNP markers. In total, eight and four QTLs were mapped for DTF and GH, respectively, harbouring 78 pigeonpea orthologs of Arabidopsis flowering time genes. Corroboratively, QTL-seq analysis identified a single linked QTL for both traits on chromosome 3, possessing 15 genes bearing genic variants. Together, these 91 genes were clustered primarily into autonomous, photoperiod, and epigenetic pathways. Further, we identified 39 associations for DTF and 111 associations for GH through GWAS in the QTL regions. Of these, nine associations were consistent and constituted nine haplotypes (five late, two early, one each for super-early and medium duration). The involvement of multiple genes explained the range of allelic effects and the presence of multiple LD blocks. Further, the linked QTL on chromosome 3 was fine-mapped to the 0.24-Mb region with an LOD score of 8.56, explaining 36.47% of the phenotypic variance. We identified a 10-bp deletion in the first exon of TFL1 gene of the ICPL 20338 variety, which may affect its interaction with the Apetala1 and Leafy genes, resulting in determinate GH and early flowering. Further, the genic marker developed for the deletion in the TFL1 gene could be utilized as a foreground marker in marker-assisted breeding programmes to develop early-flowering pigeonpea varieties.

Surviving floods: Escape and quiescence strategies of rice coping with submergence

Historical and recent insights into the molecular mechanisms of escape and quiescence strategies employed by rice to survive flooding.

A novel strategy to map a locus associated with flowering time in canola (Brassica napus L.)

Flowering time is an important agronomic trait for canola breeders, as it provides growers with options for minimizing exposure to heat stress during flowering and to more effectively utilize soil moisture. Plants have evolved various systems to control seasonal rhythms in reproductive phenology including an internal circadian clock that responds to environmental signals. In this study, we used canola cultivar 'Westar' as a recurrent parent and canola cultivar 'Surpass 400' as the donor parent to generate a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) and to map a flowering time locus on chromosome A10 using molecular marker-assisted selection. This CSSL contains an introgressed 4.6 mega-bases (Mb) segment (between 13 and 17.6 Mb) of Surpass 400, which substantially delayed flowering compared with Westar. To map flowering time gene(s) within this locus, eight introgression lines (ILs) were developed carrying a series of different lengths of introgressed chromosome A10 segments using five co-dominant polymorphic markers located at 13.5, 14.0, 14.5, 15.0, 15.5, and 16.0 Mb. Eight ILs were crossed with Westar reciprocally and flowering time of resultant 16 F1 hybrids and parents were evaluated in a greenhouse (2021 and 2022). Four ILs (IL005, IL017, IL035, and IL013) showed delayed flowering compared to Westar (P < 0.0001), and their reciprocal crosses displayed a phenotype intermediate in flowering time of both homozygote parents. These results indicated that flowering time is partial or incomplete dominance, and the flowering time locus mapped within a 1 Mb region between two co-dominant polymorphic markers at 14.5-15.5 Mb on chromosome A10. The flowering time locus was delineated to be between 14.60 and 15.5 Mb based on genotypic data at the crossover site, and candidate genes within this region are associated with flowering time in canola and/or Arabidopsis. The co-dominant markers identified on chromosome A10 should be useful for marker assisted selection in breeding programs but will need to be validated to other breeding populations or germplasm accessions of canola.

Multi-model GWAS reveals key loci for horticultural traits in reconstructed garden strawberry

The cultivated garden strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) has a rich history, originating from the hybridization of two wild octoploid strawberry species in the 18th century. Two-step reconstruction of Fragaria × ananassa through controlled crossings between pre-improved selections of its parental species is a promising approach for enriching the breeding germplasm of strawberry for wider adaptability. We created a population of reconstructed strawberry by hybridizing elite selections of F. virginiana and F. chiloensis. A replicated field experiment was conducted to evaluate the population's performance for eleven horticulturally important traits, over multiple years. Population structure analyses based on Fana-50 k SNP array data confirmed pedigree-based grouping of the progenies into four distinct groups. As complex traits are often influenced by environmental variables, and population structure can lead to spurious associations, we tested multiple genome-wide association study (GWAS) models. GWAS uncovered 39 quantitative trait loci (QTL) regions for eight traits distributed across twenty chromosomes, including 11 consistent and 28 putative QTLs. Candidate genes for traits including winter survival, flowering time, runnering vigor, and hermaphrodism were identified within the QTL regions. To our knowledge, this study marks the first comprehensive investigation of adaptive and horticultural traits in a large, multi-familial reconstructed strawberry population using SNP markers.

Florigen-producing cells express FPF1-LIKE PROTEIN 1 that accelerates flowering and stem growth in long days with sunlight red/far-red ratio in Arabidopsis

Seasonal changes in spring induce flowering by expressing the florigen, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), in Arabidopsis. FT is expressed in unique phloem companion cells with unknown characteristics. The question of which genes are co-expressed with FT and whether they have roles in flowering remains elusive. Through tissue-specific translatome analysis, we discovered that under long-day conditions with the natural sunlight red/far-red ratio, the FT-producing cells express a gene encoding FPF1-LIKE PROTEIN 1 (FLP1). The master FT regulator, CONSTANS (CO), controls FLP1 expression, suggesting FLP1's involvement in the photoperiod pathway. FLP1 promotes early flowering independently of FT, is active in the shoot apical meristem, and induces the expression of SEPALLATA 3 (SEP3), a key E-class homeotic gene. Unlike FT, FLP1 facilitates inflorescence stem elongation. Our cumulative evidence indicates that FLP1 may act as a mobile signal. Thus, FLP1 orchestrates floral initiation together with FT and promotes inflorescence stem elongation during reproductive transitions.

Identification and functional analysis of a chromosome 2D fragment harboring TaFPF1 gene with the potential for yield improvement using a late heading wheat mutant

KEY MESSAGE

A chromosome fragment influencing wheat heading and grain size was identified using mapping of m406 mutant. The study of TaFPF1 in this fragment provides more insights into wheat yield improvement. In recent years, wheat production has faced formidable challenges driven by rapid population growth and climate change, emphasizing the importance of improving specific agronomic traits such as heading date, spike length, and grain size. To identify potential genes for improving these traits, we screened a wheat EMS mutant library and identified a mutant, designated m406, which exhibited a significantly delayed heading date compared to the wild-type. Intriguingly, the mutant also displayed significantly longer spike and larger grain size. Genetic analysis revealed that a single recessive gene was responsible for the delayed heading. Surprisingly, a large 46.58 Mb deletion at the terminal region of chromosome arm 2DS in the mutant was identified through fine mapping and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Thus, the phenotypes of the mutant m406 are controlled by a group of linked genes. This deletion encompassed 917 annotated high-confidence genes, including the previously studied wheat genes Ppd1 and TaDA1, which could affect heading date and grain size. Multiple genes in this region probably contribute to the phenotypes of m406. We further investigated the function of TaFPF1 using gene editing. TaFPF1 knockout mutants showed delayed heading and increased grain size. Moreover, we identified the direct upstream gene of TaFPF1 and investigated its relationship with other important flowering genes. Our study not only identified more genes affecting heading and grain development within this deleted region but also highlighted the potential of combining these genes for improvement of wheat traits.

VERNALIZATION1 represses FLOWERING PROMOTING FACTOR1-LIKE1 in leaves for timely flowering in Brachypodium distachyon

FLOWERING PROMOTING FACTOR1 (FPF1), a small protein without any known domains, promotes flowering in several plants; however, its functional mechanism remains unknown. Here, we characterized 2 FPF1-like proteins, FPL1 and FPL7, which, in contrast, function as flowering repressors in Brachypodium distachyon. FPL1 and FPL7 interact with the components of the florigen activation complex (FAC) and inhibit FAC activity to restrict expression of its critical target, VERNALIZATION1 (VRN1), in leaves, thereby preventing overaccumulation of FLOWERING LOCUS T1 (FT1) at the juvenile stage. Further, VRN1 can directly bind to the FPL1 promoter and repress FPL1 expression; hence, as VRN1 gradually accumulates during the late vegetative stage, FAC is released. This accurate feedback regulation of FPL1 by VRN1 allows proper FT1 expression in leaves and ensures sufficient FAC formation in shoot apical meristems to trigger timely flowering. Overall, we define a sophisticated modulatory loop for flowering initiation in a temperate grass, providing insights toward resolving the molecular basis underlying fine-tuning flowering time in plants.

Dissection of Developmental Programs and Regulatory Modules Directing Endosperm Transfer Cell and Aleurone Identity in the Syncytial Endosperm of Barley

Endosperm development in barley starts with the formation of a multinucleate syncytium, followed by cellularization in the ventral part of the syncytium generating endosperm transfer cells (ETCs) as first differentiating subdomain, whereas aleurone (AL) cells will originate from the periphery of the enclosing syncytium. Positional signaling in the syncytial stage determines cell identity in the cereal endosperm. Here, we performed a morphological analysis and employed laser capture microdissection (LCM)-based RNA-seq of the ETC region and the peripheral syncytium at the onset of cellularization to dissect developmental and regulatory programs directing cell specification in the early endosperm. Transcriptome data revealed domain-specific characteristics and identified two-component signaling (TCS) and hormone activities (auxin, ABA, ethylene) with associated transcription factors (TFs) as the main regulatory links for ETC specification. On the contrary, differential hormone signaling (canonical auxin, gibberellins, cytokinin) and interacting TFs control the duration of the syncytial phase and timing of cellularization of AL initials. Domain-specific expression of candidate genes was validated by in situ hybridization and putative protein-protein interactions were confirmed by split-YFP assays. This is the first transcriptome analysis dissecting syncytial subdomains of cereal seeds and provides an essential framework for initial endosperm differentiation in barley, which is likely also valuable for comparative studies with other cereal crops.

Profiling of the Candidate Interacting Proteins of SELF-PRUNING 6A (SP6A) in Solanum tuberosum

SELF-PRUNING 6A (SP6A), a homolog of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), has been identified as tuberigen in potato. StSP6A is a mobile signal synthesized in leaves and transmitted to the stolon through phloem, and plays multiple roles in the growth and development of potato. However, the global StSP6A protein interaction network in potato remains poorly understood. In this study, BK-StSP6A was firstly used as the bait to investigate the StSP6A interaction network by screening the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) library of potato, resulting in the selection of 200 independent positive clones and identification of 77 interacting proteins. Then, the interaction between StSP6A and its interactors was further confirmed by the Y2H and BiFC assays, and three interactors were selected for further expression analysis. Finally, the expression pattern of Flowering Promoting Factor 1.1 (StFPF1.1), No Flowering in Short Days 1 and 2 (StNFL1 and StNFL2) was studied. The three genes were highly expressed in flowers or flower buds. StFPF1.1 exhibited an expression pattern similar to that of StSP6A at the stolon swelling stages. StPHYF-silenced plants showed up-regulated expression of StFPF1.1 and StSP6A, while expression of StNFL1 and StNFL2 was down-regulated in the stolon. The identification of these interacting proteins lays a solid foundation for further functional studies of StSP6A.

A mutant allele of the flowering promoting factor 1 gene at the tomato BRACHYTIC locus reduces plant height with high quality fruit

Reduced plant height due to shortened stems is beneficial for improving crop yield potential, better resilience to biotic/abiotic stresses, and rapid crop producer adoption of the agronomic and management practices. Breeding tomato plants with a reduced height, however, poses a particular challenge because this trait is often associated with a significant fruit size (weight) reduction. The tomato BRACHYTIC (BR) locus controls plant height. Genetic mapping and genome assembly revealed three flowering promoting factor 1 (FPF1) genes located within the BR mapping interval, and a complete coding sequence deletion of the telomere proximal FPF1 (Solyc01g066980) was found in the br allele but not in BR. The knock-out of Solyc01g066980 in BR large-fruited fresh-market tomato reduced the height and fruit yield, but the ability to produce large size fruits was retained. However, concurrent yield evaluation of a pair of sister lines with or without the br allele revealed that artificial selection contributes to commercially acceptable yield potential in br tomatoes. A network analysis of gene-expression patterns across genotypes, tissues, and the gibberellic acid (GA) treatment revealed that member(s) of the FPF1 family may play a role in the suppression of the GA biosynthesis in roots and provided a framework for identifying the responsible molecular signaling pathways in br-mediated phenotypic changes. Lastly, mutations of br homologs also resulted in reduced height. These results shed light on the genetic and physiological mechanisms by which the br allele alters tomato architecture.

Transcriptional Regulation of Pine Male and Female Cone Initiation and Development: Key Players Identified Through Comparative Transcriptomics

With long reproductive timescales, large complex genomes, and a lack of reliable reference genomes, understanding gene function in conifers is extremely challenging. Consequently, our understanding of which genetic factors influence the development of reproductive structures (cones) in monoecious conifers remains limited. Genes with inferred roles in conifer reproduction have mostly been identified through homology and phylogenetic reconstruction with their angiosperm counterparts. We used RNA-sequencing to generate transcriptomes of the early morphological stages of cone development in the conifer species Pinus densiflora and used these to gain a deeper insight into the transcriptional changes during male and female cone development. Paired-end Illumina sequencing was used to generate transcriptomes from non-reproductive tissue and male and female cones at four time points with a total of 382.82 Gbp of data generated. After assembly and stringent filtering, a total of 37,164 transcripts were retrieved, of which a third were functionally annotated using the Mercator plant pipeline. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis resulted in the identification of 172,092 DEGs in the nine tissue types. This, alongside GO gene enrichment analyses, pinpointed transcripts putatively involved in conifer reproductive structure development, including co-orthologs of several angiosperm flowering genes and several that have not been previously reported in conifers. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptome resource for male and early female cone development in the gymnosperm species Pinus densiflora. Characterisation of this resource has allowed the identification of potential key players and thus provides valuable insights into the molecular regulation of reproductive structure development in monoecious conifers.

Comparative Analysis of the MADS-Box Genes Revealed Their Potential Functions for Flower and Fruit Development in Longan (Dimocarpus longan)

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is an important economic crop widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions, and flower and fruit development play decisive effects on the longan yield and fruit quality formation. MCM1, AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS, Serum Response Factor (MADS)-box transcription factor family plays important roles for the flowering time, floral organ identity, and fruit development in plants. However, there is no systematic information of MADS-box family in longan. In this study, 114 MADS-box genes were identified from the longan genome, phylogenetic analysis divided them into type I (Mα, Mβ, Mγ) and type II (MIKC*, MIKC ^C ) groups, and MIKC ^C genes were further clustered into 12 subfamilies. Comparative genomic analysis of 12 representative plant species revealed the conservation of type II in Sapindaceae and analysis of cis-elements revealed that Dof transcription factors might directly regulate the MIKC ^C genes. An ABCDE model was proposed for longan based on the phylogenetic analysis and expression patterns of MADS-box genes. Transcriptome analysis revealed that MIKC ^C genes showed wide expression spectrums, particularly in reproductive organs. From 35 days after KClO₃ treatment, 11 MIKC genes were up-regulated, suggesting a crucial role in off-season flower induction, while DlFLC, DlSOC1, DlSVP, and DlSVP-LIKE may act as the inhibitors. The gene expression patterns of longan fruit development indicated that DlSTK, DlSEP1/2, and DlMADS53 could be involved in fruit growth and ripening. This paper carried out the whole genome identification and analysis of the longan MADS-box family for the first time, which provides new insights for further understanding its function in flowers and fruit.

Identification of Flowering Regulatory Networks and Hub Genes Expressed in the Leaves of Elymus sibiricus L. Using Comparative Transcriptome Analysis

Flowering is a significant stage from vegetative growth to reproductive growth in higher plants, which impacts the biomass and seed yield. To reveal the flowering time variations and identify the flowering regulatory networks and hub genes in Elymus sibiricus, we measured the booting, heading, and flowering times of 66 E. sibiricus accessions. The booting, heading, and flowering times varied from 136 to 188, 142 to 194, and 148 to 201 days, respectively. The difference in flowering time between the earliest- and the last-flowering accessions was 53 days. Furthermore, transcriptome analyses were performed at the three developmental stages of six accessions with contrasting flowering times. A total of 3,526 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predicted and 72 candidate genes were identified, including transcription factors, known flowering genes, and plant hormone-related genes. Among them, four candidate genes (LATE, GA2OX6, FAR3, and MFT1) were significantly upregulated in late-flowering accessions. LIMYB, PEX19, GWD3, BOR7, PMEI28, LRR, and AIRP2 were identified as hub genes in the turquoise and blue modules which were related to the development time of flowering by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of LIMYB found by multiple sequence alignment may cause late flowering. The expression pattern of flowering candidate genes was verified in eight flowering promoters (CRY, COL, FPF1, Hd3, GID1, FLK, VIN3, and FPA) and four flowering suppressors (CCA1, ELF3, Ghd7, and COL4) under drought and salt stress by qRT-PCR. The results suggested that drought and salt stress activated the flowering regulation pathways to some extent. The findings of the present study lay a foundation for the functional verification of flowering genes and breeding of new varieties of early- and late-flowering E. sibiricus.

Transposition and duplication of MADS-domain transcription factor genes in annual and perennial Arabis species modulates flowering

Annual and perennial species differ in their timing and intensity of flowering, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We hybridized closely related annual and perennial plants and used genetics, transgenesis, and genomics to characterize differences in the activity and function of their flowering-time genes. We identify a gene encoding a transcription factor that moved between chromosomes and is retained in the annual but absent from the perennial. This gene strongly delays flowering, and we propose that it has been retained in the annual to compensate for reduced activity of closely related genes. This study highlights the value of using direct hybridization between closely related plant species to characterize functional differences in fast-evolving reproductive traits.

The timing of reproduction is an adaptive trait in many organisms. In plants, the timing, duration, and intensity of flowering differ between annual and perennial species. To identify interspecies variation in these traits, we studied introgression lines derived from hybridization of annual and perennial species, Arabis montbretiana and Arabis alpina, respectively. Recombination mapping identified two tandem A. montbretiana genes encoding MADS-domain transcription factors that confer extreme late flowering on A. alpina. These genes are related to the MADS AFFECTING FLOWERING (MAF) cluster of floral repressors of other Brassicaceae species and were named A. montbretiana (Am) MAF-RELATED (MAR) genes. AmMAR1 but not AmMAR2 prevented floral induction at the shoot apex of A. alpina, strongly enhancing the effect of the MAF cluster, and MAR1 is absent from the genomes of all A. alpina accessions analyzed. Exposure of plants to cold (vernalization) represses AmMAR1 transcription and overcomes its inhibition of flowering. Assembly of the tandem arrays of MAR and MAF genes of six A. alpina accessions and three related species using PacBio long-sequence reads demonstrated that the MARs arose within the Arabis genus by interchromosomal transposition of a MAF1-like gene followed by tandem duplication. Time-resolved comparative RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) suggested that AmMAR1 may be retained in A. montbretiana to enhance the effect of the AmMAF cluster and extend the duration of vernalization required for flowering. Our results demonstrate that MAF genes transposed independently in different Brassicaceae lineages and suggest that they were retained to modulate adaptive flowering responses that differ even among closely related species.

Large-scale whole-genome resequencing unravels the domestication history of Cannabis sativa

Cannabis sativa has long been an important source of fiber extracted from hemp and both medicinal and recreational drugs based on cannabinoid compounds. Here, we investigated its poorly known domestication history using whole-genome resequencing of 110 accessions from worldwide origins. We show that C. sativa was first domesticated in early Neolithic times in East Asia and that all current hemp and drug cultivars diverged from an ancestral gene pool currently represented by feral plants and landraces in China. We identified candidate genes associated with traits differentiating hemp and drug cultivars, including branching pattern and cellulose/lignin biosynthesis. We also found evidence for loss of function of genes involved in the synthesis of the two major biochemically competing cannabinoids during selection for increased fiber production or psychoactive properties. Our results provide a unique global view of the domestication of C. sativa and offer valuable genomic resources for ongoing functional and molecular breeding research.

Overexpression of GmGAMYB Accelerates the Transition to Flowering and Increases Plant Height in Soybean

The flowering time and plant height of soybean are important agronomic characters, which control the adaptability and yield of soybean. R2R3 MYB transcription factor plays an important regulatory role in plant growth and development. In this study, soybean GmGAMYB gene of R2R3-MYB type was induced by long-days (LDs). GmGAMYB showed higher transcriptional levels in the flowers, leaves and pods of soybean. Overexpression of GmGAMYB in transgenic soybean showed earlier flowering time and maturity in LDs and short-days (SDs). GmGAMYB interacted with GmGBP1 and might promote flowering time by up-regulating the expression of GmFULc gene in soybean. Moreover, the expression level of GmGAMYB was also induced by gibberellins (GAs) and the plant height of GmGAMYB-ox plants was significantly increased, which was caused by the enlargement of internode cell in stem. Furthermore, GmGAMYB overexpression led to increased GA sensitivity in the hypocotyl of soybean seedlings compared with WT. GmGAMYB may be a positive regulator of GA response of promoting plant height by up-regulating the expression of GmGA20ox gene in soybean. Together, our studies preliminarily showed that the partial functions of GmGAMYB in regulating flowering time and GA pathway.

ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 Negatively Regulates DECREASE WAX BIOSYNTHESIS to Increase Survival during UV-B Stress

Understanding how the distinct cell types of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) withstand ultraviolet radiation (UVR) stress can improve cultivation of plants in high-UVR environments. Here, we show that UV-B irradiation selectively kills epidermal and niche cells in the shoot apex. Plants harboring a mutation in DECREASE WAX BIOSYNTHESIS (DEWAX) are tolerant to UV-B. Our data show that DEWAX negatively regulates genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) binds to the DEWAX promoter elements and represses its expression to promote the anthocyanin biosynthesis. The HY5-DEWAX regulatory network regulates anthocyanin content in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and influences the survivability of plants under UV-B irradiation stress. Our cell sorting-based study of the epidermal cell layer transcriptome confirms that core UV-B stress signaling pathway genes are conserved and upregulated in response to UV-B irradiation of the SAM. Furthermore, we show that UV-B induces genes involved in shoot development and organ patterning. We propose that the HY5-DEWAX regulatory relationship is conserved; however, changes in the expression levels of these genes can determine anthocyanin content in planta and, hence, fitness under UV-B irradiation stress.

De novo transcriptome analysis of the critically endangered alpine Himalayan herb Nardostachys jatamansi reveals the biosynthesis pathway genes of tissue-specific secondary metabolites

The study is the first report on de novo transcriptome analysis of Nardostachys jatamansi, a critically endangered medicinal plant of alpine Himalayas. Illumina GAIIx sequencing of plants collected during end of vegetative growth (August) yielded 48,411 unigenes. 74.45% of these were annotated using UNIPROT. GO enrichment analysis, KEGG pathways and PPI network indicated simultaneous utilization of leaf photosynthates for flowering, rhizome fortification, stress response and tissue-specific secondary metabolites biosynthesis. Among the secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes, terpenoids were predominant. UPLC-PDA analysis of in vitro plants revealed temperature-dependent, tissue-specific differential distribution of various phenolics. Thus, as compared to 25 °C, the phenolic contents of both leaves (gallic acid and rutin) and roots (p-coumaric acid and cinnamic acid) were higher at 15 °C. These phenolics accounted for the therapeutic properties reported in the plant. In qRT-PCR of in vitro plants, secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathway genes showed higher expression at 15 °C and 14 h/10 h photoperiod (conditions representing end of vegetative growth period). This provided cues for in vitro modulation of identified secondary metabolites. Such modulation of secondary metabolites in in vitro systems can eliminate the need for uprooting N. jatamansi from wild. Hence, the study is a step towards effective conservation of the plant.

The GAMYB-like gene SlMYB33 mediates flowering and pollen development in tomato

GAMYBs are positive GA signaling factors that exhibit essential functions in reproductive development, particularly in anther and pollen development. However, there is no direct evidence of the regulation of any GAMYB in these biological processes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Here, we identified a tomato GAMYB-like gene, SlMYB33, and characterized its specific roles. SlMYB33 is predominately expressed in the stamens and pistils. During flower development, high mRNA abundance of SlMYB33 is detected in both male and female organs, such as microspore mother cells, anthers, pollen grains, and ovules. Silencing of SlMYB33 leads to delayed flowering, aberrant pollen viability, and poor fertility in tomato. Histological analyses indicate that SlMYB33 exerts its function in pollen development in the mature stage. Further transcriptomic analyses imply that the knockdown of SlMYB33 significantly inhibits the expression of genes related to flowering in shoot apices, and alters the transcription of genes controlling sugar metabolism in anthers. Taken together, our study suggests that SlMYB33 regulates tomato flowering and pollen maturity, probably by modulating the expression of genes responsible for flowering and sugar metabolism, respectively.

Antagonistic regulation of the gibberellic acid response during stem growth in rice

The size of plants is largely determined by growth of the stem. Stem elongation is stimulated by gibberellic acid^1-3. Here we show that internode stem elongation in rice is regulated antagonistically by an 'accelerator' and a 'decelerator' in concert with gibberellic acid. Expression of a gene we name ACCELERATOR OF INTERNODE ELONGATION 1 (ACE1), which encodes a protein of unknown function, confers cells of the intercalary meristematic region with the competence for cell division, leading to internode elongation in the presence of gibberellic acid. By contrast, upregulation of DECELERATOR OF INTERNODE ELONGATION 1 (DEC1), which encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor, suppresses internode elongation, whereas downregulation of DEC1 allows internode elongation. We also show that the mechanism of internode elongation that is mediated by ACE1 and DEC1 is conserved in the Gramineae family. Furthermore, an analysis of genetic diversity suggests that mutations in ACE1 and DEC1 have historically contributed to the selection of shorter plants in domesticated populations of rice to increase their resistance to lodging, and of taller plants in wild species of rice for adaptation to growth in deep water. Our identification of these antagonistic regulatory factors enhances our understanding of the gibberellic acid response as an additional mechanism that regulates internode elongation and environmental fitness, beyond biosynthesis and gibberellic acid signal transduction.

Transcriptomic analysis of poco1, a mitochondrial pentatricopeptide repeat protein mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana

BACKGROUND

Flowering is a crucial stage during plant development. Plants may respond to unfavorable conditions by accelerating reproductive processes like flowering. In a recent study, we showed that PRECOCIOUS1 (POCO1) is a mitochondrial pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein involved in flowering time and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we use RNA-seq data to investigate global gene expression alteration in the poco1 mutant.

RESULTS

RNA-seq analysis was performed during different developmental stages for wild-type and poco1 plants. The most profound differences in gene expression were found when wild-type and poco1 plants of the same developmental stage were compared. Coverage analysis confirmed the T-DNA insertion in POCO1, which was concomitant with truncated transcripts. Many biological processes were found to be enriched. Several flowering-related genes such as FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), which may be involved in the early-flowering phenotype of poco1, were differentially regulated. Numerous ABA-associated genes, including the core components of ABA signaling such as ABA receptors, protein phosphatases, protein kinases, and ABA-responsive element (ABRE) binding proteins (AREBs)/ABRE-binding factors (ABFs) as well as important genes for stomatal function, were mostly down-regulated in poco1. Drought and oxidative stress-related genes, including ABA-induced stress genes, were differentially regulated. RNA-seq analysis also uncovered differentially regulated genes encoding various classes of transcription factors and genes involved in cellular signaling. Furthermore, the expression of stress-associated nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins (NGEMPs) was found to be altered in poco1. Redox-related genes were affected, suggesting that the redox state in poco1 might be altered.

CONCLUSION

The identification of various enriched biological processes indicates that complex regulatory mechanisms underlie poco1 development. Differentially regulated genes associated with flowering may contribute to the early-flowering phenotype of poco1. Our data suggest the involvement of POCO1 in the early ABA signaling process. The down-regulation of many ABA-related genes suggests an association of poco1 mutation with the ABA signaling deficiency. This condition further affects the expression of many stress-related, especially drought-associated genes in poco1, consistent with the drought sensitivity of poco1. poco1 mutation also affects the expression of genes associated with the cellular regulation, redox, and mitochondrial perturbation.

OsFPFL4 is Involved in the Root and Flower Development by Affecting Auxin Levels and ROS Accumulation in Rice (Oryza sativa)

BACKGROUND

FPF1 (flowering-promoting factor 1) is one of the important family involved in the genetic control of flowering time in plant. Until now, limited knowledge concerning FPF1 family in rice has been understood.

RESULTS

As a homologue of AtFPF1, FPF1-like protein 4 of rice (OsFPFL4) is expressed in various tissues of plants. The functions of OsFPFL4 in rice were investigated by the reverse genetics approaches. Plants overexpressing OsFPFL4 have shorter primary root, more lateral roots and adventitious roots than wild type; however, RNA interference (RNAi) of OsFPFL4 significantly inhibits the growth of root system, and also delays the flowering time in rice. Interestingly, increased or repressed expression of OsFPFL4 leads to shrunken anthers and abnormal pollen grains. It is well recognized that auxin plays important roles in plant root and flower development, and the root elongation is also regulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Here, our results show that rice plants overexpressing OsFPFL4 accumulate more auxin in the shoot and root, whereas RNAi lines have less auxin than wild type. As expected, the transcript levels of genes responsible for auxin biosynthesis and polar transport are altered in these OsFPFL4 transgenic plants. As to ROS, slightly higher ROS levels were detected in overexpression root and inflorescence than the counterparts of wild type; however, the ROS levels were significantly increased in the RNAi lines, due to increased expression of ROS-producers and reduced expression of ROS-scavengers.

CONCLUSION

Our results reveal that OsFPFL4 is involved in modulating the root and flower development by affecting auxin and ROS homeostasis in rice plants. OsFPFL4 controls auxin accumulation via affecting auxin biosynthesis and transport, and also modulates ROS homeostasis by balancing ROS producing and scavenging. Thus, auxin-mediated ROS production might play a role in regulating redox status, which controls plant root and flower development.

Genetic dissection of the mechanism of flowering time based on an environmentally stable and specific QTL in Brassica napus

Flowering time is an important agronomic trait that is highly influenced by the environment. To elucidate the genetic mechanism of flowering time in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), a genome-wide QTL analysis was performed in a doubled haploid population grown in winter, semi-winter and spring ecological conditions. Fifty-five consensus QTLs were identified after combining phenotype and genomic data, including 12 environment-stable QTLs and 43 environment-specific QTLs. Importantly, six major QTLs for flowering time were identified, of which two were considered environment-specific QTLs in spring ecological condition and four were considered environment-stable QTLs in winter and semi-winter ecological conditions. Through QTL comparison, 18 QTLs were colocalized with QTLs from six other published studies. Combining the candidate genes with their functional annotation, in 49 of 55 consensus QTLs, 151 candidate genes in B. napus corresponding to 95 homologous genes in Arabidopsis thaliana related to flowering were identified, including BnaC03g32910D (CO), BnaA02g12130D (FT) and BnaA03g13630D (FLC). Most of the candidate genes were involved in different flowering regulatory pathways. Based on re-sequencing and differences in sequence annotation between the two parents, we found that regions containing some candidate genes have numerous non-frameshift InDels and many non- synonymous mutations, which might directly lead to gene functional variation. Flowering time was negativly correlated with seed yield and thousand seed weight based on a QTL comparison of flowering time and seed yield traits, which has implications in breeding new early-maturing varieties of B. napus. Moreover, a putative flowering regulatory network was constructed, including the photoperiod, circadian clock, vernalization, autonomous and gibberellin pathways. Multiple copies of genes led to functional difference among the different copies of homologous genes, which also increased the complexity of the flowering regulatory networks. Taken together, the present results not only provide new insights into the genetic regulatory network underlying the control of flowering time but also improve our understanding of flowering time regulatory pathways in rapeseed.

Arabidopsis NAP-related proteins (NRPs) contribute to the coordination of plant growth, developmental rate, and age-related pathogen resistance under short days

Plant nucleosome assembly protein-related proteins (NRPs) are histone chaperons involved in nucleosome turnover. Despite this basic cellular function, the Arabidopsis nrp1-1 nrp2-1 knock out mutant has been reported to exhibit only mild seedling root phenotypes and to significantly affect the expression of only few hundred genes Zhu et al. (2006). Here we report that NRP loss-of-function as well as the ectopic overexpression of At NRP1 significantly affected the growth, development, and the pathogen response of Arabidopsis plants under short day conditions. The nrp1-1 nrp2-1 mutant grew faster and flowered weeks earlier than the wild type and the overexpressor. The latter developed slower and flowered at a lower number of leaves than the mutant and the wild type. Moreover, the mutant was more sensitive, the overexpressor was more tolerant to pathogen-induced necrosis correlating with their more adult and juvenile character, respectively. Transcriptomic comparison of mature non-bolting plants agreed with the phenotypes. The presented and other published data indicate that although NRPs might not be absolutely required for normal plant growth and development, their level needs to be controlled to allow the epigenetic coordination of metabolic, growth, defence and developmental processes during the acclimation to unfavourable growth conditions such as short days.

Genome-Wide Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Conserved and Distinct Molecular Mechanisms of Al Resistance in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) Leaves

Being an Al-accumulating crop, buckwheat detoxifies and tolerates Al not only in roots but also in leaves. While much progress has recently been made toward Al toxicity and resistance mechanisms in roots, little is known about the molecular basis responsible for detoxification and tolerance processes in leaves. Here, we carried out transcriptome analysis of buckwheat leaves in response to Al stress (20 µM, 24 h). We obtained 33,931 unigenes with 26,300 unigenes annotated in the NCBI database, and identified 1063 upregulated and 944 downregulated genes under Al stress. Functional category analysis revealed that genes related to protein translation, processing, degradation and metabolism comprised the biological processes most affected by Al, suggesting that buckwheat leaves maintain flexibility under Al stress by rapidly reprogramming their physiology and metabolism. Analysis of genes related to transcription regulation revealed that a large proportion of chromatin-regulation genes are specifically downregulated by Al stress, whereas transcription factor genes are overwhelmingly upregulated. Furthermore, we identified 78 upregulated and 22 downregulated genes that encode transporters. Intriguingly, only a few genes were overlapped with root Al-regulated transporter genes, which include homologs of AtMATE, ALS1, STAR1, ALS3 and a divalent ion symporter. In addition, we identified a subset of genes involved in development, in which genes associated with flowering regulation were important. Based on these data, it is proposed that buckwheat leaves develop conserved and distinct mechanisms to cope with Al toxicity.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of the evolution and development of flower size in Saltugilia (Polemoniaceae)

BACKGROUND

Flower size varies dramatically across angiosperms, representing innovations over the course of >130 million years of evolution and contributing substantially to relationships with pollinators. However, the genetic underpinning of flower size is not well understood. Saltugilia (Polemoniaceae) provides an excellent non-model system for extending the genetic study of flower size to interspecific differences that coincide with variation in pollinators.

RESULTS

Using targeted gene capture methods, we infer phylogenetic relationships among all members of Saltugilia to provide a framework for investigating the genetic control of flower size differences via RNA-Seq de novo assembly. Nuclear concatenation and species tree inference methods provide congruent topologies. The inferred evolutionary trajectory of flower size is from small flowers to larger flowers. We identified 4 to 10,368 transcripts that are differentially expressed during flower development, with many unigenes associated with cell wall modification and components of the auxin and gibberellin pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Saltugilia is an excellent model for investigating covarying floral and pollinator evolution. Four candidate genes from model systems (BIG BROTHER, BIG PETAL, GASA, and LONGIFOLIA) show differential expression during development of flowers in Saltugilia, and four other genes (FLOWERING-PROMOTING FACTOR 1, PECTINESTERASE, POLYGALACTURONASE, and SUCROSE SYNTHASE) fit into hypothesized organ size pathways. Together, these gene sets provide a strong foundation for future functional studies to determine their roles in specifying interspecific differences in flower size.

Transcriptome Profiling of Tiller Buds Provides New Insights into PhyB Regulation of Tillering and Indeterminate Growth in Sorghum

Phytochrome B (phyB) enables plants to modify shoot branching or tillering in response to varying light intensities and ratios of red and far-red light caused by shading and neighbor proximity. Tillering is inhibited in sorghum genotypes that lack phytochrome B (58M, phyB-1) until after floral initiation. The growth of tiller buds in the first leaf axil of wild-type (100M, PHYB) and phyB-1 sorghum genotypes is similar until 6 d after planting when buds of phyB-1 arrest growth, while wild-type buds continue growing and develop into tillers. Transcriptome analysis at this early stage of bud development identified numerous genes that were up to 50-fold differentially expressed in wild-type/phyB-1 buds. Up-regulation of terminal flower1, GA2oxidase, and TPPI could protect axillary meristems in phyB-1 from precocious floral induction and decrease bud sensitivity to sugar signals. After bud growth arrest in phyB-1, expression of dormancy-associated genes such as DRM1, GT1, AF1, and CKX1 increased and ENOD93, ACCoxidase, ARR3/6/9, CGA1, and SHY2 decreased. Continued bud outgrowth in wild-type was correlated with increased expression of genes encoding a SWEET transporter and cell wall invertases. The SWEET transporter may facilitate Suc unloading from the phloem to the apoplast where cell wall invertases generate monosaccharides for uptake and utilization to sustain bud outgrowth. Elevated expression of these genes was correlated with higher levels of cytokinin/sugar signaling in growing buds of wild-type plants.

Sex-Biased Temporal Gene Expression in Male and Female Floral Buds of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Seabuckthorn is an economically important dioecious plant in which mechanism of sex determination is unknown. The study was conducted to identify seabuckthorn homologous genes involved in floral development which may have role in sex determination. Forty four putative Genes involved in sex determination (GISD) reported in model plants were shortlisted from literature survey, and twenty nine seabuckthorn homologous sequences were identified from available seabuckthorn genomic resources. Of these, 21 genes were found to differentially express in either male or female flower bud stages. HrCRY2 was significantly expressed in female flower buds only while HrCO had significant expression in male flowers only. Among the three male and female floral development stages (FDS), male stage II had significant expression of most of the GISD. Information on these sex-specific expressed genes will help in elucidating sex determination mechanism in seabuckthorn.

A Zinc Finger Protein Regulates Flowering Time and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Chrysanthemum by Modulating Gibberellin Biosynthesis

Flowering time and an ability to tolerate abiotic stresses are important for plant growth and development. We characterized BBX24, a zinc finger transcription factor gene, from Chrysanthemum morifolium and found it to be associated with both flowering time and stress tolerance. Transgenic lines with suppressed expression of Cm-BBX24 (Cm-BBX24-RNAi) flowered earlier than wild-type plants and showed decreased tolerance to freezing and drought stresses. Global expression analysis revealed that genes associated with both photoperiod and gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis pathways were upregulated in Cm-BBX24-RNAi lines, relative to the wild type. By contrast, genes that were upregulated in overexpressing lines (Cm-BBX24-OX), but downregulated in Cm-BBX24-RNAi lines (both relative to the wild type), included genes related to compatible solutes and carbohydrate metabolism, both of which are associated with abiotic stress. Cm-BBX24 expression was also influenced by daylength and GA_4/7 application. Under long days, changes in endogenous GA₁, GA₄, GA₁₉, and GA₂₀ levels occurred in young leaves of transgenic lines, relative to the wild type. Regulation of flowering involves the FLOWERING TIME gene, which integrates photoperiod and GA biosynthesis pathways. We postulate that Cm-BBX24 plays a dual role, modulating both flowering time and abiotic stress tolerance in chrysanthemum, at least in part by influencing GA biosynthesis.

Upland cotton gene GhFPF1 confers promotion of flowering time and shade-avoidance responses in Arabidopsis thaliana

Extensive studies on floral transition in model species have revealed a network of regulatory interactions between proteins that transduce and integrate developmental and environmental signals to promote or inhibit the transition to flowering. Previous studies indicated FLOWERING PROMOTING FACTOR 1 (FPF1) gene was involved in the promotion of flowering, but the molecular mechanism was still unclear. Here, FPF1 homologous sequences were screened from diploid Gossypium raimondii L. (D-genome, n = 13) and Gossypium arboreum L. genome (A-genome, n = 13) databases. Orthologous genes from the two species were compared, suggesting that distinctions at nucleic acid and amino acid levels were not equivalent because of codon degeneracy. Six FPF1 homologous genes were identified from the cultivated allotetraploid Gossypium hirsutum L. (AD-genome, n = 26). Analysis of relative transcripts of the six genes in different tissues revealed that this gene family displayed strong tissue-specific expression. GhFPF1, encoding a 12.0-kDa protein (Accession No: KC832319) exerted more transcripts in floral apices of short-season cotton, hinting that it could be involved in floral regulation. Significantly activated APETALA 1 and suppressed FLOWERING LOCUS C expression were induced by over-expression of GhFPF1 in the Arabidopsis Columbia-0 ecotype. In addition, transgenic Arabidopsis displayed a constitutive shade-avoiding phenotype that is characterized by long hypocotyls and petioles, reduced chlorophyll content, and early flowering. We propose that GhFPF1 may be involved in flowering time control and shade-avoidance responses.

The dynamics of soybean leaf and shoot apical meristem transcriptome undergoing floral initiation process

Flowering process governs seed set and thus affects agricultural productivity. Soybean, a major legume crop, requires short-day photoperiod conditions for flowering. While leaf-derived signal(s) are essential for the photoperiod-induced floral initiation process at the shoot apical meristem, molecular events associated with early floral transition stages in either leaves or shoot apical meristems are not well understood. To provide novel insights into the molecular basis of floral initiation, RNA-Seq was used to characterize the soybean transcriptome of leaf and micro-dissected shoot apical meristem at different time points after short-day treatment. Shoot apical meristem expressed a higher number of transcripts in comparison to that of leaf highlighting greater diversity and abundance of transcripts expressed in the shoot apical meristem. A total of 2951 shoot apical meristem and 13,609 leaf sequences with significant profile changes during the time course examined were identified. Most changes in mRNA level occurred after 1short-day treatment. Transcripts involved in mediating responses to stimulus including hormones or in various metabolic processes represent the top enriched GO functional category for the SAM and leaf dataset, respectively. Transcripts associated with protein degradation were also significantly changing in leaf and SAM implicating their involvement in triggering the developmental switch. RNA-Seq analysis of shoot apical meristem and leaf from soybean undergoing floral transition reveal major reprogramming events in leaves and the SAM that point toward hormones gibberellins (GA) and cytokinin as key regulators in the production of systemic flowering signal(s) in leaves. These hormones may form part of the systemic signals in addition to the established florigen, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). Further, evidence is emerging that the conversion of shoot apical meristem to inflorescence meristem is linked with the interplay of auxin, cytokinin and GA creating a low cytokinin and high GA environment.

EMBRYONIC FLOWER1 and ULTRAPETALA1 Act Antagonistically on Arabidopsis Development and Stress Response

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is of fundamental importance for eukaryotic development. EMBRYONIC FLOWER1 (EMF1) is a plant-specific gene that participates in Polycomb group-mediated transcriptional repression of target genes such as the flower MADS box genes AGAMOUS, APETALA3, and PISTILLATA. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the curly leaf and early flowering phenotypes caused by reducing EMF1 activity in the leaf primordia of LFYasEMF1 transgenic plants and propose a combined effect of multiple flower MADS box gene activities on these phenotypes. ULTRAPETALA1 (ULT1) functions as a trithorax group factor that counteracts Polycomb group action in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Removing ULT1 activity rescues both the abnormal developmental phenotypes and most of the misregulated gene expression of LFYasEMF1 plants. Reducing EMF1 activity increases salt tolerance, an effect that is diminished by introducing the ult1-3 mutation into the LFYasEMF1 background. EMF1 is required for trimethylating lysine-27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3), and ULT1 associates with ARABIDOPSIS TRITHORAX1 (ATX1) for trimethylating lysine-3 on histone 4 (H3K4me3) at flower MADS box gene loci. Reducing EMF1 activity decreases H3K27me3 marks and increases H3K4me3 marks on target gene loci. Removing ULT1 activity has the opposite effect on the two histone marks. Removing both gene activities restores the active and repressive marks to near wild-type levels. Thus, ULT1 acts as an antirepressor that counteracts EMF1 action through modulation of histone marks on target genes. Our analysis indicates that, instead of acting as off and on switches, EMF1 and ULT1 mediate histone mark deposition and modulate transcriptional activities of the target genes.

Genetic control and comparative genomic analysis of flowering time in Setaria (Poaceae)

We report the first study on the genetic control of flowering in Setaria, a panicoid grass closely related to switchgrass, and in the same subfamily as maize and sorghum. A recombinant inbred line mapping population derived from a cross between domesticated Setaria italica (foxtail millet) and its wild relative Setaria viridis (green millet), was grown in eight trials with varying environmental conditions to identify a small number of quantitative trait loci (QTL) that control differences in flowering time. Many of the QTL across trials colocalize, suggesting that the genetic control of flowering in Setaria is robust across a range of photoperiod and other environmental factors. A detailed comparison of QTL for flowering in Setaria, sorghum, and maize indicates that several of the major QTL regions identified in maize and sorghum are syntenic orthologs with Setaria QTL, although the maize large effect QTL on chromosome 10 is not. Several Setaria QTL intervals had multiple LOD peaks and were composed of multiple syntenic blocks, suggesting that observed QTL represent multiple tightly linked loci. Candidate genes from flowering time pathways identified in rice and Arabidopsis were identified in Setaria QTL intervals, including those involved in the CONSTANS photoperiod pathway. However, only three of the approximately seven genes cloned for flowering time in maize colocalized with Setaria QTL. This suggests that variation in flowering time in separate grass lineages is controlled by a combination of conserved and lineage specific genes.

Transcriptome profile analysis of resistance induced by burdock fructooligosaccharide in tobacco

Burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO), isolated from the roots of Arcitum lappa, is a novel potential elicitor. Previous studies have shown that BFO induces various defense responses in plants. However, little is known about the mechanism of BFO induced plant responses. The transcriptome profiles in tobacco leaves after treatment with BFO or distilled water were analyzed using Solexa technology. The profiling analysis revealed numerous changes in gene expression after BFO treatment, which resulted in the up-regulation of 169 genes and the down-regulation of 243 genes. The data were confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in stress responses, defense responses, biosynthetic processes, hormone responses, RNA biosynthetic processes, signaling pathways and other processes. The results of this study suggested two important concepts. First, the differential expression of genes involved in plant hormone signaling pathways are related to defense, especially salicylic acid-mediated pathways, such as the genes encoding pathogen related proteins, WRKY transcription factors, Avr9/Cf-9 rapidly elicited protein, SA-activated MAP kinase, jasmonic acid/ethylene-related genes encoding jasmonate ZIM-domain protein and ethylene-responsive transcription factor, gibberellin-related genes encoding flowering promoting factor-like 1 and GA-insensitive dwarf 2, and abscisic acid related gene encoding ABA 8'-hydroxylase CYP707A, indicated that plant hormones and their crosstalk might play a critical role in the defense response to BFO treatment in tobacco. Second, the genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were increased after BFO treatment including epiaristolochene synthase and cinnamoyl-CoA reductase, which serve as attractants in defense against pathogens and herbivores.

Expression dynamics of metabolic and regulatory components across stages of panicle and seed development in indica rice

Carefully analyzed expression profiles can serve as a valuable reference for deciphering gene functions. We exploited the potential of whole genome microarrays to measure the spatial and temporal expression profiles of rice genes in 19 stages of vegetative and reproductive development. We could verify expression of 22,980 genes in at least one of the tissues. Differential expression analysis with respect to five vegetative tissues and preceding stages of development revealed reproductive stage-preferential/-specific genes. By using subtractive logic, we identified 354 and 456 genes expressing specifically during panicle and seed development, respectively. The metabolic/hormonal pathways and transcription factor families playing key role in reproductive development were elucidated after overlaying the expression data on the public databases and manually curated list of transcription factors, respectively. During floral meristem differentiation (P1) and male meiosis (P3), the genes involved in jasmonic acid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were significantly upregulated. P6 stage of panicle, containing mature gametophytes, exhibited enrichment of transcripts involved in homogalacturonon degradation. Genes regulating auxin biosynthesis were induced during early seed development. We validated the stage-specificity of regulatory regions of three panicle-specific genes, OsAGO3, OsSub42, and RTS, and an early seed-specific gene, XYH, in transgenic rice. The data generated here provides a snapshot of the underlying complexity of the gene networks regulating rice reproductive development.

Expression dynamics of metabolic and regulatory components across stages of panicle and seed development in indica rice

Carefully analyzed expression profiles can serve as a valuable reference for deciphering gene functions. We exploited the potential of whole genome microarrays to measure the spatial and temporal expression profiles of rice genes in 19 stages of vegetative and reproductive development. We could verify expression of 22,980 genes in at least one of the tissues. Differential expression analysis with respect to five vegetative tissues and preceding stages of development revealed reproductive stage-preferential/-specific genes. By using subtractive logic, we identified 354 and 456 genes expressing specifically during panicle and seed development, respectively. The metabolic/hormonal pathways and transcription factor families playing key role in reproductive development were elucidated after overlaying the expression data on the public databases and manually curated list of transcription factors, respectively. During floral meristem differentiation (P1) and male meiosis (P3), the genes involved in jasmonic acid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were significantly upregulated. P6 stage of panicle, containing mature gametophytes, exhibited enrichment of transcripts involved in homogalacturonon degradation. Genes regulating auxin biosynthesis were induced during early seed development. We validated the stage-specificity of regulatory regions of three panicle-specific genes, OsAGO3, OsSub42, and RTS, and an early seed-specific gene, XYH, in transgenic rice. The data generated here provides a snapshot of the underlying complexity of the gene networks regulating rice reproductive development.

Influence of over-expression of the Flowering Promoting Factor 1 gene (FPF1) from Arabidopsis on wood formation in hybrid poplar (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.)

Constitutive expression of the FPF1 gene in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) showed a strong effect on wood formation but no effect on flowering time. Gene expression studies showed that activity of flowering time genes PtFT1, PtCO2, and PtFUL was not increased in FPF1 transgenic plants. However, the SOC1/TM3 class gene PTM5, which has been related to wood formation and flowering time, showed a strong activity in stems of all transgenic lines studied. Wood density was lower in transgenic plants, despite significantly reduced vessel frequency which was overcompensated by thinner fibre cell walls. Chemical screening of the wood by pyrolysis GC/MS showed that FPF1 transgenics have higher fractions of cellulose and glucomannan products as well as lower lignin content. The latter observation was confirmed by UV microspectrophotometry on a cellular level. Topochemical lignin distribution revealed a slower increase of lignin incorporation in the developing xylem of the transgenics when compared with the wild-type plants. In line with the reduced wood density, micromechanical wood properties such as stiffness and ultimate stress were also significantly reduced in all transgenic lines. Thus, we provide evidence that FPF1 class genes may play a regulatory role in both wood formation and flowering in poplar.

Analysis of natural allelic variation in Arabidopsis using a multiparent recombinant inbred line population

To exploit the diversity in Arabidopsis thaliana, eight founder accessions were crossed to produce six recombinant inbred line (RIL) subpopulations, together called an Arabidopsis multiparent RIL (AMPRIL) population. Founders were crossed pairwise to produce four F1 hybrids. These F1s were crossed according to a diallel scheme. The resulting offspring was then selfed for three generations. The F4 generation was genotyped with SNP and microsatellite markers. Data for flowering time and leaf morphology traits were determined in the F5 generation. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for these traits was performed using especially developed mixed-model methodology, allowing tests for QTL main effects, QTL by background interactions, and QTL by QTL interactions. Because RILs were genotyped in the F4 generation and phenotyped in the F5 generation, residual heterozygosity could be used to confirm and fine-map a number of the QTLs in the selfed progeny of lines containing such heterozygosity. The AMPRIL population is an attractive resource for the study of complex traits.

Genetic analyses of interactions among gibberellin, abscisic acid, and brassinosteroids in the control of flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana

Background

Genetic interactions between phytohormones in the control of flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana have not been extensively studied. Three phytohormones have been individually connected to the floral-timing program. The inductive function of gibberellins (GAs) is the most documented. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been demonstrated to delay flowering. Finally, the promotive role of brassinosteroids (BRs) has been established. It has been reported that for many physiological processes, hormone pathways interact to ensure an appropriate biological response.

Methodology

We tested possible genetic interactions between GA-, ABA-, and BR-dependent pathways in the control of the transition to flowering. For this, single and double mutants deficient in the biosynthesis of GAs, ABA, and BRs were used to assess the effect of hormone deficiency on the timing of floral transition. Also, plants that over-express genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes in each biosynthetic pathway were generated and the flowering time of these lines was investigated.

Conclusions

Loss-of-function studies revealed a complex relationship between GAs and ABA, and between ABA and BRs, and suggested a cross-regulatory relation between GAs to BRs. Gain-of-function studies revealed that GAs were clearly limiting in their sufficiency of action, whereas increases in BRs and ABA led to a more modest phenotypic effect on floral timing. We conclude from our genetic tests that the effects of GA, ABA, and BR on timing of floral induction are only in partially coordinated action.

ODDSOC2 is a MADS box floral repressor that is down-regulated by vernalization in temperate cereals

In temperate cereals, such as wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), the transition to reproductive development can be accelerated by prolonged exposure to cold (vernalization). We examined the role of the grass-specific MADS box gene ODDSOC2 (OS2) in the vernalization response in cereals. The barley OS2 gene (HvOS2) is expressed in leaves and shoot apices but is repressed by vernalization. Vernalization represses OS2 independently of VERNALIZATION1 (VRN1) in a VRN1 deletion mutant of einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum), but VRN1 is required to maintain down-regulation of OS2 in vernalized plants. Furthermore, barleys that carry active alleles of the VRN1 gene (HvVRN1) have reduced expression of HvOS2, suggesting that HvVRN1 down-regulates HvOS2 during development. Overexpression of HvOS2 delayed flowering and reduced spike, stem, and leaf length in transgenic barley plants. Plants overexpressing HvOS2 showed reduced expression of barley homologs of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) gene FLOWERING PROMOTING FACTOR1 (FPF1) and increased expression of RNase-S-like genes. FPF1 promotes floral development and enhances cell elongation, so down-regulation of FPF1-like genes might explain the phenotypes of HvOS2 overexpression lines. We present an extended model of the genetic pathways controlling vernalization-induced flowering in cereals, which describes the regulatory relationships between VRN1, OS2, and FPF1-like genes. Overall, these findings highlight differences and similarities between the vernalization responses of temperate cereals and the model plant Arabidopsis.

APC-targeted RAA1 degradation mediates the cell cycle and root development in plants

Protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system is necessary for a normal cell cycle. As compared with knowledge of the mechanism in animals and yeast, that in plants is less known. Here we summarize research into the regulatory mechanism of protein degradation in the cell cycle in plants. Anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC), in the E3 family of enzymes, plays an important role in maintaining normal mitosis. APC activation and substrate specificity is determined by its activators, which can recognize the destruction box (D-box) in APC target proteins. Oryza sativa root architecture-associated 1 (OsRAA1) with GTP-binding activity was originally cloned from rice. Overexpression of of OsRAA1 inhibits the growth of primary roots in rice. Knockdown lines showed reduced height of seedlings because of abnormal cell division. OsRAA1 transgenic rice and fission yeast show a higher proportion of metaphase cells than that of controls, which suggests a blocked transition from metaphase to anaphase during mitosis. OsRAA1 co-localizes with spindle tubulin. It contains the D-box motif and interacts with OsRPT4 of the regulatory particle of 26S proteasome. OsRAA1 may be a cell cycle inhibitor that can be degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and its disruption is necessary for the transition from metaphase to anaphase during root growth in rice.

Distinct patterns of genetic variation alter flowering responses of Arabidopsis accessions to different daylengths

Many plants flower in response to seasonal changes in daylength. This response often varies between accessions of a single species. We studied the variation in photoperiod response found in the model species Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Seventy-two accessions were grown under six daylengths varying in 2-h intervals from 6 to 16 h. The typical response was sigmoidal, so that plants flowered early under days longer than 14 h, late under days shorter than 10 h, and at intermediate times under 12-h days. However, many accessions diverged from this pattern and were clustered into groups showing related phenotypes. Thirty-one mutants and transgenic lines were also scored under the same conditions. Statistical comparisons demonstrated that some accessions show stronger responses to different daylengths than are found among the mutants. Genetic analysis of two such accessions demonstrated that different quantitative trait loci conferred an enhanced response to shortening the daylength from 16 to 14 h. Our data illustrate the spectrum of daylength response phenotypes present in accessions of Arabidopsis and demonstrate that similar phenotypic variation in photoperiodic response can be conferred by different combinations of loci.

Identification of flowering genes in strawberry, a perennial SD plant

BACKGROUND

We are studying the regulation of flowering in perennial plants by using diploid wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) as a model. Wild strawberry is a facultative short-day plant with an obligatory short-day requirement at temperatures above 15 degrees C. At lower temperatures, however, flowering induction occurs irrespective of photoperiod. In addition to short-day genotypes, everbearing forms of wild strawberry are known. In 'Baron Solemacher' recessive alleles of an unknown repressor, SEASONAL FLOWERING LOCUS (SFL), are responsible for continuous flowering habit. Although flower induction has a central effect on the cropping potential, the molecular control of flowering in strawberries has not been studied and the genetic flowering pathways are still poorly understood. The comparison of everbearing and short-day genotypes of wild strawberry could facilitate our understanding of fundamental molecular mechanisms regulating perennial growth cycle in plants.

RESULTS

We have searched homologs for 118 Arabidopsis flowering time genes from Fragaria by EST sequencing and bioinformatics analysis and identified 66 gene homologs that by sequence similarity, putatively correspond to genes of all known genetic flowering pathways. The expression analysis of 25 selected genes representing various flowering pathways did not reveal large differences between the everbearing and the short-day genotypes. However, putative floral identity and floral integrator genes AP1 and LFY were co-regulated during early floral development. AP1 mRNA was specifically accumulating in the shoot apices of the everbearing genotype, indicating its usability as a marker for floral initiation. Moreover, we showed that flowering induction in everbearing 'Baron Solemacher' and 'Hawaii-4' was inhibited by short-day and low temperature, in contrast to short-day genotypes.

CONCLUSION

We have shown that many central genetic components of the flowering pathways in Arabidopsis can be identified from strawberry. However, novel regulatory mechanisms exist, like SFL that functions as a switch between short-day/low temperature and long-day/high temperature flowering responses between the short-day genotype and the everbearing 'Baron Solemacher'. The identification of putative flowering gene homologs and AP1 as potential marker gene for floral initiation will strongly facilitate the exploration of strawberry flowering pathways.

Integrating hormones into the floral-transition pathway of Arabidopsis thaliana

The transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is a major phase change in angiosperms. In annual plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), this change is irreversible, and as such, the regulation of its timing must be tightly controlled. Plant hormone (phytohormone) signalling is known to regulate suites of morphogenic processes in Arabidopsis a role in flowering-time control is starting to emerge as one key-controlling step. This review focuses on experimental evidence in the Arabidopsis that both classical and newly described phytohormones serve within the signal network leading to a reproductive phase transition, as both positive and repressive elements, depending on the phytohormone and growth conditions. Examples of genetic and pharmacological experiments that implicate phytohormones as components of the floral-timing syndrome will be described. I hope that this review will serve as a primer for future research on the mechanisms of action for each respective phytohormone on the floral transition in Arabidopsis, and lead to further experimentation on the crosstalk that likely bridges between them.

Genome-wide transcriptional analysis of super-embryogenic Medicago truncatula explant cultures

BACKGROUND

The Medicago truncatula (M. truncatula) line 2HA has a 500-fold greater capacity to regenerate plants in culture by somatic embryogenesis than its wild type progenitor Jemalong. To understand the molecular basis for the regeneration capacity of this super-embryogenic line 2HA, using Affymetrix GeneChip(R), we have compared transcriptomes of explant leaf cultures of these two lines that were grown on media containing the auxin NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid) and the cytokinin BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) for two weeks, an early time point for tissue culture proliferation.

RESULTS

Using Affymetrix GeneChip, GCRMA normalisation and statistical analysis, we have shown that more than 196 and 49 probe sets were significantly (p < 0.05) up- or down-regulated respectively more than 2 fold in expression. We have utilised GeneBins, a database for classifying gene expression data to distinguish differentially displayed pathways among these two cultures which showed changes in number of biochemical pathways including carbon and flavonoid biosynthesis, phytohormone biosynthesis and signalling. The up-regulated genes in the embryogenic 2HA culture included nodulins, transporters, regulatory genes, embryogenesis related arabinogalactans and genes involved in redox homeostasis, the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth and cytokinin signalling. Down-regulated genes included protease inhibitors, wound-induced proteins, and genes involved in biosynthesis and signalling of phytohormones auxin, gibberellin and ethylene. These changes indicate essential differences between the super-embryogenic line 2HA and Jemalong not only in many aspects of biochemical pathways but also in their response to auxin and cytokinin. To validate the GeneChip results, we used quantitative real-time RT-PCR to examine the expression of the genes up-regulated in 2HA such as transposase, RNA-directed DNA polymerase, glycoside hydrolase, RESPONSE REGULATOR 10, AGAMOUS-LIKE 20, flower promoting factor 1, nodulin 3, fasciclin and lipoxygenase, and a down-regulated gene ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3, all of which positively correlated with the microarray data.

CONCLUSION

We have described the differences in transcriptomes between the M. truncatula super-embryogenic line 2HA and its non-embryogenic progenitor Jemalong at an early time point. This data will facilitate the mapping of regulatory and metabolic networks involved in the gaining totipotency and regeneration capacity in M. truncatula and provides candidate genes for functional analysis.

Differential expression of the TFIIIA regulatory pathway in response to salt stress between Medicago truncatula genotypes

Soil salinity is one of the most significant abiotic stresses for crop plants, including legumes. These plants can establish root symbioses with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria and are able to grow in nitrogen-poor soils. Medicago truncatula varieties show diverse adaptive responses to environmental conditions, such as saline soils. We have compared the differential root growth of two genotypes of M. truncatula (108-R and Jemalong A17) in response to salt stress. Jemalong A17 is more tolerant to salt stress than 108-R, regarding both root and nodulation responses independently of the nitrogen status of the media. A dedicated macroarray containing 384 genes linked to stress responses was used to compare root gene expression during salt stress in these genotypes. Several genes potentially associated with the contrasting cellular responses of these plants to salt stress were identified as expressed in the more tolerant genotype even in the absence of stress. Among them, a homolog of the abiotic stress-related COLD-REGULATEDA1 gene and a TFIIIA-related transcription factor (TF), MtZpt2-1, known to regulate the former gene. Two MtZpt2 TFs (MtZpt2-1 and MtZpt2-2) were found in Jemalong A17 plants and showed increased expression in roots when compared to 108-R. Overexpression of these TFs in the sensitive genotype 108-R, but not in Jemalong A17, led to increased root growth under salt stress, suggesting a role for this pathway in the adaptive response to salt stress of these M. truncatula genotypes.

Identification of regulatory pathways involved in the reacquisition of root growth after salt stress in Medicago truncatula

Root growth and function are determined by the action of environmental stresses through specific genes that adapt root development to these restrictive conditions. We have defined in vitro conditions affecting the growth and recovery of Medicago truncatula roots after a salt stress. A dedicated macroarray containing 384 genes, based on a large-scale subtractive hybridization approach, was constructed and used to analyze gene expression during salt stress and recovery of root growth from this stress. Several potential regulatory genes were identified as being linked to this recovery process: a novel RNA-binding protein, a small G-protein homologous to ROP9, a receptor-like kinase, two TF IIIA-like and an AP2-like transcription factors (TF), MtZpt2-1, MtZpt2-2 and MtAp2, and a histidine kinase associated with cytokinin transduction pathways. The two ZPT2-type TFs were also rapidly induced by cold stress in roots. By analyzing transgenic M. truncatula plants showing reduced expression levels of both TFs and affected in their capacity to recover root growth after a salt stress, we identified potential target genes that were either activated or repressed in these plants. Overexpression of MtZpt2-1 in roots conferred salt tolerance and affected the expression of three putative targets in the predicted manner: a cold-regulated A (CORA) homolog, a flower-promoting factor (FPF1) homolog and an auxin-induced proline-rich protein (PRP) gene. Hence, regulatory networks depending on TFIIIA-like transcription factors are involved in the control of root adaptation to salt stress.