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Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Apr 2024Vitamin C plays an important role in plant antioxidation, photosynthesis, growth and development, and metabolism. In this study, a gene , which is involved in vitamin C...
Vitamin C plays an important role in plant antioxidation, photosynthesis, growth and development, and metabolism. In this study, a gene , which is involved in vitamin C synthesis and responds significantly to low temperature, NaCl, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments, was cloned from peanut. An overexpression vector was constructed, and transferred to a peanut variety Junanxiaohong using the pollen tube injection method. PCR test on the T generation transgenic peanut plants showed a transgenics positive rate of 42.3%. HPLC was used to determine the content of reducing vitamin C (AsA) and total vitamin C in the leaves of transgenic plants. The results showed that the content of AsA in some lines increased significantly, up to 1.90 times higher than that of the control, and the total vitamin content increased by up to 1.63 times compared to that of the control. NaCl and ABA tolerance tests were carried out on transgenic seeds. The results showed that the salt tolerance of transgenic seeds was significantly enhanced and the sensitivity to ABA was weakened compared to that of the non-transgenic control. Moreover, the salt tolerance of the transgenic plants was also significantly enhanced compared to that of the non-transgenic control. The above results showed that gene not only increased the vitamin C content of peanut, but also increased the salt tolerance of transgenic peanut seeds and plants. This study may provide a genetic source for the molecular breeding of peanut for enhanced salt tolerance.
Topics: Arachis; Ascorbic Acid; Plants, Genetically Modified; Abscisic Acid; Stress, Physiological; Salt Tolerance; Plant Proteins; Sodium Chloride
PubMed: 38658151
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.230426 -
Frontiers in Genetics 2024The gene plays an essential role in the gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system of . It codes for the stylar-expressed S-RNase protein which inhibits the growth...
The gene plays an essential role in the gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system of . It codes for the stylar-expressed S-RNase protein which inhibits the growth of incompatible pollen tubes through cytotoxicity and the induction of programmed cell death in the pollen tube. While research on the GSI system has primarily focused on the gene, there is still a lack of insight into its spatiotemporal expression profile and the factors that regulate it. Previous studies have suggested that expression in the style is influenced by pollination and is dependent on the compatibility type. We here continue on this basic hypothesis by analyzing the spatiotemporal expression of the alleles in "Conference" styles in response to different types of pollination; namely, upon full- and semi-compatible pollination and upon incompatible selfing. The results revealed that temporal dynamics of expression are influenced by the pollen's compatibility type, indicating the presence of a signaling mechanism between pollen and style to control production during pollen tube growth. In our experiment, expression continuously decreased after cross-pollination and in the unpollinated control. However, after a fully incompatible pollination, expression remained constant. Finally, semi-compatible pollination showed a initially constant expression for both alleles followed by a strong decrease in expression. Based on these results and previous findings, we propose a regulatory mechanism to explain the effect of pollination and the associated compatibility type on expression in the style. This proposed mechanism could be used as a starting point for future research.
PubMed: 38655055
DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1360332 -
Ecology and Evolution Apr 2024In heterostylous plants, short-tongued pollinators are often ineffective/inefficient owing to the limitations imposed by a long corolla tube. However, it is unclear how...
In heterostylous plants, short-tongued pollinators are often ineffective/inefficient owing to the limitations imposed by a long corolla tube. However, it is unclear how disassortative pollen transfer is achieved in small flowers. We investigated the pollination pattern and floral morph variation by analyzing heterostylous syndrome, pollinator groups, and pollen deposition after a single visitation in two populations with short-corolla-tubular small flowers. The predominant pollinators in the Hutubi population were pollen-seeking short-tongued syrphids, which can only transfer pollen between high-level sexual organs. In the Xishan population, nectar-seeking short-tongued insects were efficient pollinators with symmetrical disassortative pollen transfer between high- and low-level sexual organs, whereas long-tongued pollinators had a low efficiency between high-level sexual organs due to the low contact probability with the stigma of long-styled flowers (L-morph), which no longer offered the same advantage observed in tubular flowers. Asymmetrical disassortative pollination may cause the female fitness of short-styled (S-morph) individuals in the Hutubi and L-morph individuals in the Xishan population to suffer greater selection pressure and exhibit a higher degree of floral morph variation. exhibits an unusual pollination pattern in which the small flowers with short corolla tubes make it possible for short-tongued insects to become effective pollinators. However, factors such as the position of stigma-anther within the flower, pollinator species and their preference further caused asymmetrical disassortative pollen transfer. Therefore, more factors should be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of short- and long-tongued insects in pollination service.
PubMed: 38651164
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11284 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024is master regulator of the molecular network involved in pollen tube attraction. Until recently, it was unclear how this gene exhibits exclusively synergid...
is master regulator of the molecular network involved in pollen tube attraction. Until recently, it was unclear how this gene exhibits exclusively synergid cell-specific expression in ovule. Our recent study has established that a 16-bp-long element is crucial for its synergid cell-specific expression in ovule, and an 84-bp-long fragment harboring is sufficient to drive the process. In this study, we have developed a workflow to predict functional roles of potential transcription factors (TFs) putatively binding to the promoter region, taking promoter as a test subject. After sequential assessment of co-expression pattern, network analysis, and potential master regulator identification, we have proposed a multi-TF model for regulation. Our study suggests that ANL2, GT-1, and their respective homologs could be direct regulators of and indicates that TCP15, TCP16, FRS9, and HB34 are likely master regulators of the majority of the TFs involved in its regulation. Comprehensive studies in the future are expected to offer more insights into such propositions. Developed workflow can be used while designing similar regulome-related studies for any other species and genes.
PubMed: 38611536
DOI: 10.3390/plants13071007 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024Alfalfa ( L.) is an important forage crop worldwide, but molecular genetics and breeding research in this species are hindered by its self-incompatibility (SI). Although...
Alfalfa ( L.) is an important forage crop worldwide, but molecular genetics and breeding research in this species are hindered by its self-incompatibility (SI). Although the mechanisms underlying SI have been extensively studied in other plant families, SI in legumes, including alfalfa, remains poorly understood. Here, we determined that self-pollinated pollen tubes could germinate on the stigma of alfalfa, grow through the style, and reach the ovarian cavity, but the ovules collapsed ~48 h after self-pollination. A transcriptomic analysis of dissected pistils 24 h after self-pollination identified 941 differently expressed genes (DEGs), including 784 upregulated and 157 downregulated genes. A gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the DEGs were highly enriched in functions associated with the regulation of pollen tube growth and pollen germination. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that pentose and glucuronate interconversion, plant hormone signal transduction, the spliceosome, and ribosomes might play important roles in SI. Our co-expression analysis showed that F-box proteins, serine/threonine protein kinases, calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), bHLHs, bZIPs, and MYB-related family proteins were likely involved in the SI response. Our study provides a catalog of candidate genes for further study to understand SI in alfalfa and related legumes.
PubMed: 38592914
DOI: 10.3390/plants13060875 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024() genes play key roles in plant root and pollen tube growth, phytohormone responses, and abiotic stress responses. genes in have not yet been explored. Here, genes...
() genes play key roles in plant root and pollen tube growth, phytohormone responses, and abiotic stress responses. genes in have not yet been explored. Here, genes were found to be distributed across eight chromosomes in and were classified into three subfamilies. Promoter sequence analysis of revealed the presence of -elements characteristic of promoters, and these -elements play a role in regulating abiotic stress tolerance and stress-related hormone responses. Organ-specific expression profiling demonstrated that were ubiquitously expressed in all organs, especially the roots, suggesting that they play a role in diverse biological processes. Gene expression analysis revealed that the expression of was significantly up-regulated under osmotic stress and salt stress. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the expression of was significantly down-regulated under various types of abiotic stress. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed interactions between RopGEF11, the homolog of , and the VPS34 protein in , as well as interactions between , the homolog of in Arabidopsis, and the ABI1, HAB1, PP2CA, and CPK4 proteins. VPS34, ABI1, HAB1, PP2CA, and CPK4 have previously been shown to confer resistance to unfavorable environments. Overall, our findings suggest that and play significant roles in regulating abiotic stress tolerance. These findings will aid future studies aimed at clarifying the functional characteristics of .
Topics: Brassica rapa; Stress, Physiological; Salt Stress; Multigene Family; Gene Expression Profiling; Phylogeny; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins
PubMed: 38542514
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063541 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Self-incompatibility (SI) is a genetic mechanism common in flowering plants to prevent self-fertilization. Among citrus species, several pummelo, mandarin, and...
Self-incompatibility (SI) is a genetic mechanism common in flowering plants to prevent self-fertilization. Among citrus species, several pummelo, mandarin, and mandarin-like accessions show SI behavior. In these species, SI is coupled with a variable degree of parthenocarpy ensuring the production of seedless fruits, a trait that is highly appreciated by consumers. In , recent evidences have shown the presence of a gametophytic SI system based on () ability to impair self-pollen tube growth in the upper/middle part of the style. In the present study, we combined PCR analysis and next-generation sequencing technologies, to define the presence of and in the -genotype of the (Hort. ex Tan.), the self-incompatible 'Comune' clementine and its self-compatible natural mutant 'Monreal'. The reference genome of 'Monreal' clementine is presented for the first time, providing more robust results on the genetic sequence of the newly discovered SNP discovery analysis coupled with the annotation of the variants detected enabled the identification of 7,781 SNPs effecting 5,661 genes in 'Monreal' compared to the reference genome of . Transcriptome analysis of unpollinated pistils at the mature stage from both clementine genotypes revealed the lack of expression of in 'Monreal' suggesting its involvement in the loss of the SI response. RNA-seq analysis followed by gene ontology studies enabled the identification of 2,680 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), a significant number of those is involved in oxidoreductase and transmembrane transport activity. Merging of DNA sequencing and RNA data led to the identification of 164 DEGs characterized by the presence of at least one SNP predicted to induce mutations with a high effect on their amino acid sequence. Among them, four candidate genes referring to two -like MADS-box proteins, to and to -like protein 12 were validated. Moreover, the transcription factor appeared to contain a binding site for the 2.0-kb upstream sequences of the and genes. These results provide useful information about the genetic bases of SI indicating that SNPs present in their sequence could be responsible for the differential expression and the regulation of and consequently of the SI mechanism.
PubMed: 38501136
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1360087 -
Plant Physiology May 2024
Topics: Oryza; Pollen Tube; Plant Proteins; Actin Depolymerizing Factors; Genes, Plant; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
PubMed: 38478416
DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae158 -
Plant & Cell Physiology May 2024
Topics: Light; Pollen Tube; Magnoliopsida; Blue Light
PubMed: 38466564
DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcae018 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024The involvement of Ca ions in angiosperms sexual processes is well established, while in gymnosperms, such knowledge remains limited and is still a topic of discussion....
The involvement of Ca ions in angiosperms sexual processes is well established, while in gymnosperms, such knowledge remains limited and is still a topic of discussion. In this study, we focused on Larix decidua, using Alizarin-red S staining and the pyroantimonate method to examine the tissue and subcellular distribution of free and loosely bound Ca ions at different stages of the male gametophyte's development and its interaction with the ovule. Our findings show that in larch, both the germination of pollen grains and the growth of pollen tubes occur in an environment rich in Ca. These ions play a crucial role in the adhesion of the pollen grain to the stigmatic tip and its subsequent movement to the micropylar canal. There is a significant presence of free and loosely bound Ca ions in both the fluid of the micropylar canal and the extracellular matrix of the nucellus. As the pollen tube extends through the nucellus, we observed a notable accumulation of Ca ions just above the entry to the mature archegonium, a region likely crucial for the male gametophyte's directional growth. Meanwhile, the localized presence of free and loosely bound Ca ions within the egg cell cytoplasm may inhibit the pollen tubes growth and rupture, playing an important role in fertilization.
Topics: Pollination; Larix; Pollen Tube; Pollen; Ions; Germination
PubMed: 38454044
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54903-2