Genome-Wide Analysis of the WOX Family and Its Expression Pattern in Root Development of Paeonia ostii.

Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) is a woody plant with high ornamental, medicinal, and oil values. However, its low rooting rate and poor rooting quality are bottleneck issues in the micropropagation of P. ostii. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) family plays a crucial role in root development. In this study, based on the screening of the genome and root transcriptome database, we identified ten WOX members in P. ostii. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the ten PoWOX proteins clustered into three major clades, the WUS, intermediate, and ancient clade, respectively. The conserved motifs and tertiary structures of PoWOX proteins located in the same clade exhibited higher similarity. The analysis of cis-regulatory elements in the promoter indicated that PoWOX genes are involved in plant growth and development, phytohormones, and stress responses. The expression analysis revealed that PoWOX genes are expressed in distinct tissues. PoWOX4, PoWOX5, PoWOX11, and PoWOX13b are preferentially expressed in roots at the early stage of root primordium formation, suggesting their role in the initiation and development of roots. These results will provide a comprehensive reference for the evolution and potential function of the WOX family and offer guidance for further study on the root development of tree peony.

Draft genome of the wheat A-genome progenitor Triticum urartu.

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum, AABBDD) is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed food crops in the world. However, the complex polyploid nature of its genome makes genetic and functional analyses extremely challenging. The A genome, as a basic genome of bread wheat and other polyploid wheats, for example, T. turgidum (AABB), T. timopheevii (AAGG) and T. zhukovskyi (AAGGA(m)A(m)), is central to wheat evolution, domestication and genetic improvement. The progenitor species of the A genome is the diploid wild einkorn wheat T. urartu, which resembles cultivated wheat more extensively than do Aegilops speltoides (the ancestor of the B genome) and Ae. tauschii (the donor of the D genome), especially in the morphology and development of spike and seed. Here we present the generation, assembly and analysis of a whole-genome shotgun draft sequence of the T. urartu genome. We identified protein-coding gene models, performed genome structure analyses and assessed its utility for analysing agronomically important genes and for developing molecular markers. Our T. urartu genome assembly provides a diploid reference for analysis of polyploid wheat genomes and is a valuable resource for the genetic improvement of wheat.

PoARRO-1 regulates adventitious rooting through interaction with PoIAA27b in Paeonia ostii.

Adventitious root (AR) formation is a limiting factor in the vegetative propagation of tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.). PoARRO-1, which encodes an auxin oxidase involved in AR formation, plays a role in the root development of P. ostii, but its associated molecular regulatory mechanisms are not yet understood. In this study, we examined the role of PoARRO-1 in AR formation in P. ostii. The overexpression of PoARRO-1 in P. ostii test-tube plantlets led to a notable enhancement in both the rooting rate and the average number of ARs in vitro, as well as increased activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and indoleacetic acid oxidase (IAAO). PoARRO-1 was involved in the conversion of IAA-Asp and IAA-Glu to OxIAA and promoted IAA oxidation. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that PoARRO-1 overexpression led to upregulation of enzyme activity, auxin metabolism related genes. Further analyses showed that PoARRO-1 interacted with the 1-175 aa position of PoIAA27b to regulate the formation of ARs. We therefore propose that PoARRO-1 interacts with PoIAA27b to promote AR formation, and it may be useful targets for enhancing the in vitro propagation of P. ostii.

Novel natural allelic variations at the Rht-1 loci in wheat.

Plant height is an important agronomic trait. Dramatic increase in wheat yield during the "green revolution" is mainly due to the widespread utilization of the Reduced height (Rht)-1 gene. We analyzed the natural allelic variations of three homoeologous loci Rht-A1, Rht-B1, and Rht-D1 in Chinese wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) micro-core collections and the Rht-B1/D1 genotypes in over 1,500 bred cultivars and germplasms using a modified EcoTILLING. We identified six new Rht-A1 allelic variations (Rht-A1b-g), eight new Rht-B1 allelic variations (Rht-B1h-o), and six new Rht-D1 allelic variations (Rht-D1e-j). These allelic variations contain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or small insertions and deletions in the coding or uncoding regions, involving two frame-shift mutations and 15 missenses. Of which, Rht-D1e and Rht-D1h resulted in the loss of interactions of GID1-DELLA-GID2, Rht-B1i could increase plant height. We found that the Rht-B1h contains the same SNPs and 197 bp fragment insertion as reported in Rht-B1c. Further detection of Rht-B1h in Tibet wheat germplasms and wheat relatives indicated that Rht-B1c may originate from Rht-B1h. These results suggest rich genetic diversity at the Rht-1 loci and provide new resources for wheat breeding.

Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation-based quantitative proteomics analysis provides novel insights into the mechanism of cross-incompatibility between tree peony and herbaceous peony.

Interspecific hybridisation is the main method for improvement and breeding of tree peony (Paeonia ostii T.Hong & J.X.Zhang), but cross-incompatibility as the major factor restricting the rapid development of interspecific hybridisation. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in cross-incompatibility between tree peony (Paeonia ostii cv. Fengdanbai) and herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall. cv. Fenyunu), a quantitative proteomic analysis using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technology was performed on the stigma 24h after pollination. Of the 2900 proteins whose levels were quantitated, 685 proteins were differentially expressed in the stigma after hybrid pollination, in contrast to self-pollination. Functional annotation analysis showed that dysregulated proteins involved in RNA degradation, the Ca signalling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol signalling system and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway may have made contributions to cross-incompatibility. The downregulated expression of enolase, DnaK (Heat Shock Proteins, HSP70), GroEL (Heat Shock Proteins, HSP60), calmodulin and glyoxalase I, and the upregulated expression of adenine nucleotide translocator indicated that the energy synthesis required by pollen tube growth, the signal pathway and the metabolic pathway related to the growth polarity of the pollen tube were blocked after hybrid pollination. Eight genes were selected to confirm their expression by quantitative real-time PCR. Compared with the STRING database, a protein-protein interaction network of the chosen proteins was constructed. These results provide fundamental and important information for research into the molecular mechanisms of cross-incompatibility in peony and should facilitate interspecific hybridisation in agricultural practice.

Cloning and Functional Analysis of MADS-box Genes, TaAG-A and TaAG-B, from a Wheat K-type Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Line.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major crop worldwide. The utilization of heterosis is a promising approach to improve the yield and quality of wheat. Although there have been many studies on wheat cytoplasmic male sterility, its mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we identified two MADS-box genes from a wheat K-type cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line using homology-based cloning. These genes were localized on wheat chromosomes 3A and 3B and named TaAG-A and TaAG-B, respectively. Analysis of TaAG-A and TaAG-B expression patterns in leaves, spikes, roots, and stems of Chinese Spring wheat determined using quantitative RT-PCR revealed different expression levels in different tissues. TaAG-A had relatively high expression levels in leaves and spikes, but low levels in roots, while TaAG-B had relatively high expression levels in spikes and lower expression in roots, stems, and leaves. Both genes showed downregulation during the mononucleate to trinucleate stages of pollen development in the maintainer line. In contrast, upregulation of TaAG-B was observed in the CMS line. The transcript levels of the two genes were clearly higher in the CMS line compared to the maintainer line at the trinucleate stage. Overexpression of TaAG-A and TaAG-B in Arabidopsis resulted in phenotypes with earlier reproductive development, premature mortality, and abnormal buds, stamens, and stigmas. Overexpression of TaAG-A and TaAG-B gives rise to mutants with many deformities. Silencing TaAG-A and TaAG-B in a fertile wheat line using the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method resulted in plants with green and yellow striped leaves, emaciated spikes, and decreased selfing seed set rates. These results demonstrate that TaAG-A and TaAG-B may play a role in male sterility in the wheat CMS line.

Molecular Characterization of Three GIBBERELLIN-INSENSITIVE DWARF2 Homologous Genes in Common Wheat.

F-box protein is a core component of the ubiquitin E3 ligase SCF complex and is involved in the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of GA signaling in wheat, three homologous GIBBERELLIN-INSENSITIVE DWARF2 genes, TaGID2s, were isolated from the Chinese Spring wheat variety. A subcellular localization assay in onion epidermal cells and Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts showed that TaGID2s are localized in the nuclei. The expression profiles using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that TaGID2s were downregulated by GA3. The interaction between TaGID2s and TSK1 (homologous to ASK1) in yeast indicated that TaGID2s might function as a component of an E3 ubiquitin-ligase SCF complex. Yeast two-hybrid assays showed that a GA-independent interaction occurred between three TaGID2s and RHT-A1a, RHT-B1a, and RHT-D1a. Furthermore, TaGID2s interact with most RHT-1s, such as RHT-B1h, RHT-B1i, RHT-D1e, RHT-D1f, etc., but cannot interact with RHT-B1b or RHT-B1e, which have a stop codon in the DELLA motif, resulting in a lack of a GRAS domain. In addition, RHT-B1k has a frame-shift mutation in the VHIID motif leading to loss of the LHRII motif in the GRAS domain and RHT-D1h has a missense mutation in the LHRII motif. These results indicate that TaGID2s, novel positive regulators of the GA response, recognize RHT-1s in the LHRII motif resulting in poly-ubiquitination and degradation of the DELLA protein.

The 160 bp Insertion in the Promoter of Rht-B1i Plays a Vital Role in Increasing Wheat Height.

The extensive use of two alleles (Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b) at the Rht-1 locus in wheat allowed dramatic increases in yields, triggering the so-called "Green Revolution." Here, we found that a new natural allelic variation (Rht-B1i) containing a single missense SNP (A614G) in the coding region significantly increased plant height against the genetic background of both Rht-D1a (11.68%) and Rht-D1b (7.89%). To elucidate the molecular mechanism of Rht-B1i, we investigated the promoter region. Sequence analysis showed that the Rht-B1i promoter could be divided into two classes depending on the presence or absence of a specific 160 bp insertion: Rht-B1i-1 (with the 160 bp insertion) and Rht-B1i-2 (without the 160 bp insertion). The promoter of Rht-B1i-1 contained 32 more possible cis-acting elements than Rht-B1a, including a unique auxin response element AUXREPSIAA4. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that the 160 bp insertion is likely to promote the transcription of the Rht-B1i-1 gene. The coleoptile lengths of wheat varieties treated with IAA, GA3, and IAA/GA3, combined with the histochemical staining of transgenic Arabidopsis containing the Rht-B1i-1 promoter, showed that the height-increasing effect of Rht-B1i-1 may be due to the synergistic action of IAA and GA3. These results augment our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of Rht-1 in wheat and provide new genetic resources for wheat improvement.