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Vicentini G, Biancucci M, Mineri L, Chirivì D, Giaume F, Miao Y, Kyozuka J, Brambilla V, Betti C, Fornara F. Environmental control of rice flowering time. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:100610. [PMID: 37147799 PMCID: PMC10504588 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Correct measurement of environmental parameters is fundamental for plant fitness and survival, as well as for timing developmental transitions, including the switch from vegetative to reproductive growth. Important parameters that affect flowering time include day length (photoperiod) and temperature. Their response pathways have been best described in Arabidopsis, which currently offers a detailed conceptual framework and serves as a comparison for other species. Rice, the focus of this review, also possesses a photoperiodic flowering pathway, but 150 million years of divergent evolution in very different environments have diversified its molecular architecture. The ambient temperature perception pathway is strongly intertwined with the photoperiod pathway and essentially converges on the same genes to modify flowering time. When observing network topologies, it is evident that the rice flowering network is centered on EARLY HEADING DATE 1, a rice-specific transcriptional regulator. Here, we summarize the most important features of the rice photoperiodic flowering network, with an emphasis on its uniqueness, and discuss its connections with hormonal, temperature perception, and stress pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Vicentini
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Biancucci
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mineri
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Chirivì
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Giaume
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Yiling Miao
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Junko Kyozuka
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Vittoria Brambilla
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Betti
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fornara
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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OsαCA1 Affects Photosynthesis, Yield Potential, and Water Use Efficiency in Rice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065560. [PMID: 36982632 PMCID: PMC10056782 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant growth and crop yield are essentially determined by photosynthesis when considering carbon dioxide (CO2) availability. CO2 diffusion inside a leaf is one of the factors that dictate the CO2 concentrations in chloroplasts. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are zinc-containing enzymes that interconvert CO2 and bicarbonate ions (HCO3−), which, consequently, affect CO2 diffusion and thus play a fundamental role in all photosynthetic organisms. Recently, the great progress in the research in this field has immensely contributed to our understanding of the function of the β-type CAs; however, the analysis of α-type CAs in plants is still in its infancy. In this study, we identified and characterized the OsαCA1 gene in rice via the analysis of OsαCAs expression in flag leaves and the subcellular localization of its encoding protein. OsαCA1 encodes an α-type CA, whose protein is located in chloroplasts with a high abundance in photosynthetic tissues, including flag leaves, mature leaves, and panicles. OsαCA1 deficiency caused a significant reduction in assimilation rate, biomass accumulation, and grain yield. The growth and photosynthetic defects of the OsαCA1 mutant were attributable to the restricted CO2 supply at the chloroplast carboxylation sites, which could be partially rescued by the application of an elevated concentration of CO2 but not that of HCO3−. Furthermore, we have provided evidence that OsαCA1 positively regulates water use efficiency (WUE) in rice. In summary, our results reveal that the function of OsαCA1 is integral to rice photosynthesis and yield potential, underscoring the importance of α-type CAs in determining plant physiology and crop yield and providing genetic resources and new ideas for breeding high-yielding rice varieties.
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Yao W, Li C, Fu H, Yang M, Wu H, Ding Y, Li L, Lin S. Genome-Wide Analysis of SQUAMOSA-Promoter-Binding Protein-like Family in Flowering Pleioblastus pygmaeus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214035. [PMID: 36430513 PMCID: PMC9695801 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) family is well-known for playing an important role in plant growth and development, specifically in the reproductive process. Bamboo plants have special reproductive characteristics with a prolonged vegetative phase and uncertain flowering time. However, the underlying functions of SPL genes in reproductive growth are undisclosed in bamboo plants. In the study, a total of 28 SPLs were screened from an ornamental dwarf bamboo species, Pleioblastus pygmaeus. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that 183 SPLs from eight plant species can be classified into nine subfamilies, and the 28 PpSPLs are distributed among eight subfamilies. Homologous analysis shows that as many as 32 pairs of homologous genes were found between P. pygmaeus and rice, and 83 pairs were found between P. pygmaeus and Moso bamboo, whose Ka/Ks values are all <1. MiRNA target prediction reveals that 13 out of the 28 PpSPLs have recognition sites complementary to miRNA156. To screen the SPLs involved in the reproductive growth of bamboo plants, the mRNA abundance of the 28 PpSPLs was profiled in the different tissues of flowering P. pygmaeus and non-flowering plants by RNA-Seq. Moreover, the relative expression level of eight PpSPLs is significantly higher in flowering P. pygmaeus than that in non-flowering plants, which was also validated by RT-qPCR. Combined with phylogenetic analysis and homologous analysis, the eight significant, differentially expressed PpSPLs were identified to be associated with the reproductive process and flower organ development. Among them, there are four potential miRNA156-targeting PpSPLs involved in the flowering process. Of significant interest in the study is the identification of 28 SPLs and the exploration of four key flowering-related SPLs from P. pygmaeus, which provides a theoretic basis for revealing the underlying functions of SPLs in the reproductive growth of bamboo plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Yao
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China/Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Chuanzhe Li
- Huaiyin Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Xuhuai Region, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huaian 223001, China
| | - Huajun Fu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China/Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Meng Yang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China/Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Hongyu Wu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China/Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yulong Ding
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China/Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Long Li
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China/Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Shuyan Lin
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China/Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (S.L.)
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Chun Y, Kumar A, Li X. Genetic and molecular pathways controlling rice inflorescence architecture. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1010138. [PMID: 36247571 PMCID: PMC9554555 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1010138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rice inflorescence is one of the major organs in determining grain yield. The genetic and molecular regulation on rice inflorescence architecture has been well investigated over the past years. In the present review, we described genes regulating rice inflorescence architecture based on their roles in meristem activity maintenance, meristem identity conversion and branch elongation. We also introduced the emerging regulatory pathways of phytohormones involved in rice inflorescence development. These studies show the intricacies and challenges of manipulating inflorescence architecture for rice yield improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Chun
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ashmit Kumar
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National University, Nausori, Fiji
| | - Xueyong Li
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Kellogg EA. Genetic control of branching patterns in grass inflorescences. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:2518-2533. [PMID: 35258600 PMCID: PMC9252490 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Inflorescence branching in the grasses controls the number of florets and hence the number of seeds. Recent data on the underlying genetics come primarily from rice and maize, although new data are accumulating in other systems as well. This review focuses on a window in developmental time from the production of primary branches by the inflorescence meristem through to the production of glumes, which indicate the transition to producing a spikelet. Several major developmental regulatory modules appear to be conserved among most or all grasses. Placement and development of primary branches are controlled by conserved auxin regulatory genes. Subtending bracts are repressed by a network including TASSELSHEATH4, and axillary branch meristems are regulated largely by signaling centers that are adjacent to but not within the meristems themselves. Gradients of SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING-like and APETALA2-like proteins and their microRNA regulators extend along the inflorescence axis and the branches, governing the transition from production of branches to production of spikelets. The relative speed of this transition determines the extent of secondary and higher order branching. This inflorescence regulatory network is modified within individual species, particularly as regards formation of secondary branches. Differences between species are caused both by modifications of gene expression and regulators and by presence or absence of critical genes. The unified networks described here may provide tools for investigating orphan crops and grasses other than the well-studied maize and rice.
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Singer SD, Burton Hughes K, Subedi U, Dhariwal GK, Kader K, Acharya S, Chen G, Hannoufa A. The CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Modulation of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 8 in Alfalfa Leads to Distinct Phenotypic Outcomes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:774146. [PMID: 35095953 PMCID: PMC8793889 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.774146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most widely grown perennial leguminous forage and is an essential component of the livestock industry. Previously, the RNAi-mediated down-regulation of alfalfa SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 8 (MsSPL8) was found to lead to increased branching, regrowth and biomass, as well as enhanced drought tolerance. In this study, we aimed to further characterize the function of MsSPL8 in alfalfa using CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutations in this gene. We successfully generated alfalfa genotypes with small insertions/deletions (indels) at the target site in up to three of four MsSPL8 alleles in the first generation. The efficiency of editing appeared to be tightly linked to the particular gRNA used. The resulting genotypes displayed consistent morphological alterations, even with the presence of up to two wild-type MsSPL8 alleles, including reduced leaf size and early flowering. Other phenotypic effects appeared to be dependent upon mutational dosage, with those plants with the highest number of mutated MsSPL8 alleles also exhibiting significant decreases in internode length, plant height, shoot and root biomass, and root length. Furthermore, MsSPL8 mutants displayed improvements in their ability to withstand water-deficit compared to empty vector control genotypes. Taken together, our findings suggest that allelic mutational dosage can elicit phenotypic gradients in alfalfa, and discrepancies may exist in terms of MsSPL8 function between alfalfa genotypes, growth conditions, or specific alleles. In addition, our results provide the foundation for further research exploring drought tolerance mechanisms in a forage crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy D. Singer
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Kimberley Burton Hughes
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Udaya Subedi
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Gaganpreet Kaur Dhariwal
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Kazi Kader
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Surya Acharya
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- London Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, ON, Canada
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Shanks CM, Huang J, Cheng CY, Shih HJS, Brooks MD, Alvarez JM, Araus V, Swift J, Henry A, Coruzzi GM. Validation of a high-confidence regulatory network for gene-to-NUE phenotype in field-grown rice. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1006044. [PMID: 36507422 PMCID: PMC9732682 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1006044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) and Water (W) - two resources critical for crop productivity - are becoming increasingly limited in soils globally. To address this issue, we aim to uncover the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that regulate nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) - as a function of water availability - in Oryza sativa, a staple for 3.5 billion people. In this study, we infer and validate GRNs that correlate with rice NUE phenotypes affected by N-by-W availability in the field. We did this by exploiting RNA-seq and crop phenotype data from 19 rice varieties grown in a 2x2 N-by-W matrix in the field. First, to identify gene-to-NUE field phenotypes, we analyzed these datasets using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). This identified two network modules ("skyblue" & "grey60") highly correlated with NUE grain yield (NUEg). Next, we focused on 90 TFs contained in these two NUEg modules and predicted their genome-wide targets using the N-and/or-W response datasets using a random forest network inference approach (GENIE3). Next, to validate the GENIE3 TF→target gene predictions, we performed Precision/Recall Analysis (AUPR) using nine datasets for three TFs validated in planta. This analysis sets a precision threshold of 0.31, used to "prune" the GENIE3 network for high-confidence TF→target gene edges, comprising 88 TFs and 5,716 N-and/or-W response genes. Next, we ranked these 88 TFs based on their significant influence on NUEg target genes responsive to N and/or W signaling. This resulted in a list of 18 prioritized TFs that regulate 551 NUEg target genes responsive to N and/or W signals. We validated the direct regulated targets of two of these candidate NUEg TFs in a plant cell-based TF assay called TARGET, for which we also had in planta data for comparison. Gene ontology analysis revealed that 6/18 NUEg TFs - OsbZIP23 (LOC_Os02g52780), Oshox22 (LOC_Os04g45810), LOB39 (LOC_Os03g41330), Oshox13 (LOC_Os03g08960), LOC_Os11g38870, and LOC_Os06g14670 - regulate genes annotated for N and/or W signaling. Our results show that OsbZIP23 and Oshox22, known regulators of drought tolerance, also coordinate W-responses with NUEg. This validated network can aid in developing/breeding rice with improved yield on marginal, low N-input, drought-prone soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly M. Shanks
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ji Huang
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Chia-Yi Cheng
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Life Science, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Jui S. Shih
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matthew D. Brooks
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Urbana, IL, United States
| | - José M. Alvarez
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Centro de Biotecnología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo–Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Viviana Araus
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo–Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Joseph Swift
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Plant Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Amelia Henry
- Rice Breeding Innovations Platform, International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Gloria M. Coruzzi
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Gloria M. Coruzzi,
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