De novo transcriptome assembly of sugarcane leaves submitted to prolonged water-deficit stress.

Sugarcane production is strongly influenced by drought, which is a limiting factor for agricultural productivity in the world. In this study, the gene expression profiles obtained by de novo assembly of the leaf transcriptome of two sugarcane cultivars that differ in their physiological response to water deficit were evaluated by the RNA-Seq method: drought-tolerant cultivar (SP81-3250) and drought-sensitive cultivar (RB855453). For this purpose, plants were grown in a greenhouse for 60 days and were then submitted to three treatments: control (-0.01 to -0.015 MPa), moderate water deficit (-0.05 to -0.055 MPa), and severe water deficit (-0.075 to -0.08 MPa). The plants were evaluated 30, 60, and 90 days after the beginning of treatment. Sequencing on an Illumina platform (RNA-Seq) generated more than one billion sequences, resulting in 177,509 and 185,153 transcripts for the tolerant and sensitive cultivar, respectively. These transcripts were aligned with sequences from Saccharum spp, Sorghum bicolor, Miscanthus giganteus, and Arabidopsis thaliana available in public databases. The differentially expressed genes detected during the prolonged period of water deficit permit to increase our understanding of the molecular patterns involved in the physiological response of the two cultivars. The tolerant cultivar differentially expressed a larger number of genes at 90 days, while in the sensitive cultivar the number of differentially expressed genes was higher in 30 days. Both cultivars perceived the lack of water, but the tolerant cultivar responded more slowly than the sensitive cultivar. The latter requires rapid activation of different water-deficit stress response mechanisms for its survival. This rapid activation of metabolic pathways in response to water stress does not appear to be the key mechanism of drought tolerance in sugarcane. There is still much to clarify on the molecular and physiological pattern of plants in response to drought.

Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics of Embryogenic and Non-Embryogenic Callus during Sugarcane Somatic Embryogenesis.

The development of somatic cells in to embryogenic cells occurs in several stages and ends in somatic embryo formation, though most of these biochemical and molecular changes have yet to be elucidated. Somatic embryogenesis coupled with genetic transformation could be a biotechnological tool to improve potential crop yields potential in sugarcane cultivars. The objective of this study was to observe somatic embryo development and to identify differentially expressed proteins in embryogenic (E) and non-embryogenic (NE) callus during maturation treatment. E and NE callus were cultured on maturation culture medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.0, 0.75, 1.5 and 2.0 g L(-1)) of activated charcoal (AC). Somatic embryo formation and differential protein expression were evaluated at days 0 and 21 using shotgun proteomic analyses. Treatment with 1.5 g L(-1) AC resulted in higher somatic embryo maturation rates (158 somatic embryos in 14 days) in E callus but has no effect in NE callus. A total of 752 co-expressed proteins were identified through the SUCEST (The Sugarcane EST Project), including many housekeeping proteins. E callus showed 65 exclusive proteins on day 0, including dehydrogenase, desiccation-related protein, callose synthase 1 and nitric oxide synthase. After 21 days on maturation treatment, 14 exclusive proteins were identified in E callus, including catalase and secreted protein. NE callus showed 23 exclusive proteins on day 0 and 10 exclusive proteins after 21 days on maturation treatment, including many proteins related to protein degradation. The induction of maturation leads to somatic embryo development, which likely depends on the expression of specific proteins throughout the process, as seen in E callus under maturation treatment. On the other hand, some exclusive proteins can also specifically prevent of somatic embryos development, as seen in the NE callus.

Effect of cryopreservation on the structural and functional integrity of cell membranes of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) embryogenic calluses.

In this paper, we investigated if the differences consistently noted in survival and plantlet production between cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved, control sugarcane embryogenic calluses were related to modifications induced during cryopreservation in the structural and functional integrity of cell membranes. For this, the evolution of electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation products and cell membrane protein contents was measured during 5 d after cryopreservation. Differences between control and frozen calluses were observed only during the first 2 (electrolyte leakage) or 3 d (lipid peroxidation products and membrane protein content) after freezing. It was not possible to link these differences with the differences noted in survival and plant production between control and cryopreserved calluses. Additional studies are thus needed to elucidate which biochemical factors, linked to survival and plantlet regeneration, are affected by cryopreservation.

Establishment of regeneration and transformation system of sugarcane cultivar GT54-9 (C9).

Plant regeneration protocols for sugarcane GT54-9(C9) cultivar were developed for direct organogenesis and indirect somatic embryogenesis, using young leaf segments as explants by studying the influence of different concentrations and types of cytokinin and auxin hormones. For the callus formation from young leaves, a medium containing 4mg/l 2,4-D was found very effective. For embryo formation, MS medium supplemented with 1mg/l Kin and 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D was used. While in the case of direct organogenesis protocol, the medium containing 1mg/l BAP and 2mg/l NAA was the best for direct shoot formation. Data showed that the best shoot regeneration and elongation medium for direct organogenesis and indirect somatic embryogenesis was obtained on medium with 2 mg/l Kin and 0.1 mg/l BAP. Root induction was best performed on 2mg/l NAA and complete plantlets were hardened in the greenhouse before transferring to the field for further evaluation. For transformation, young leaf segments of sugarcane from the cultivar GT54-9(C9) were inoculated and co-cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LB4404 harboring the binary vector pISV2678 with the bar and the gus-intron genes. The obtained putative transgenic plantlets were able to grow under bialaphose containing medium. Stable integration of the bar gene into the plant genomes was tested by PCR and Southern blot hybridization. Histochemical assay and leaf painting analysis were carried out to study the expression of the gus and bar genes in transgenic plants, respectively. The results indicated that the direct organogenesis produced a higher yield of regenerated plants (22% more) within shorter time (4 weeks less). Therefore, this method is recommended for sugarcane regeneration and for further use in genetic transformation via A. tumefaciens with desired genes.

Prospecting the utility of a PMI/mannose selection system for the recovery of transgenic sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) plants.

For the first time, the phosphomannose isomerase (PMI, EC 5.3.1.8)/mannose-based "positive" selection system has been used to obtain genetically engineered sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid var. CP72-2086) plants. Transgenic lines of sugarcane were obtained following biolistic transformation of embryogenic callus with an untranslatable sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) strain E coat protein (CP) gene and the Escherichia coli PMI gene manA, as the selectable marker gene. Postbombardment, transgenic callus was selectively proliferated on modified MS medium containing 13.6 microM 2,4-D, 20 g l(-1) sucrose and 3 g l(-1) mannose. Plant regeneration was obtained on MS basal medium with 2.5 microM TDZ under similar selection conditions, and the regenerants rooted on MS basal medium with 19.7 microM IBA, 20 g l(-1) sucrose, and 1.5 g l(-1) mannose. An increase in mannose concentration from permissive (1.5 g l(-1)) to selective (3 g l(-1)) conditions after 3 weeks improved the overall transformation efficiency by reducing the number of selection escapes. Thirty-four vigorously growing putative transgenic plants were successfully transplanted into the greenhouse. PCR and Southern blot analyses showed that 19 plants were manA-positive and 15 plants were CP-positive, while 13 independent transgenics contained both transgenes. Expression of manA in the transgenic plants was evaluated using a chlorophenol red assay and enzymatic analysis.

Refining the application of direct embryogenesis in sugarcane: Effect of the developmental phase of leaf disc explants and the timing of DNA transfer on transformation efficiency.

A rapid in vitro protocol using direct somatic embryogenesis and microprojectile bombardment was investigated to establish the developmental phases most suitable for efficient sugarcane transformation. Immature leaf roll disc explants with and without pre-emergent inflorescence tissue were compared. It was shown that for effective transformation to occur, explants should be cultured for several days to allow initiation of embryo development prior to bombardment. Leaf roll discs with pre-emergent inflorescences showed a higher degree of embryogenic competence than non-flowering explants, and transformation efficiency was higher when explants containing floral initials were bombarded. Despite the occurrence of high numbers of phenotypically negative plants, combining the use of inflorescent leaf roll discs with direct embryogenic regeneration has the potential to improve the speed and efficiency of transgenesis in sugarcane.

Developmental and hormonal regulation of direct shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. interspecific hybrids) leaf culture.

Rapid and efficient in vitro regeneration methods that minimise somaclonal variation are critical for the genetic transformation and mass propagation of commercial varieties. Using a transverse thin cell layer culture system, we have identified some of the developmental and physiological constraints that limit high-frequency regeneration in sugarcane leaf tissue. Tissue polarity and consequently the orientation of the explant in culture, size and developmental phase of explant, and auxin concentration play a significant role in determining the organogenic potential of leaf tissue in culture. Both adventitious shoot production and somatic embryogenesis occurred on the proximal cut surface of the explant, and a regeneration gradient, decreasing gradually from the basal to the distal end, exists in the leaf roll. Importantly, auxin, when added to the culture medium, reduced this spatial developmental constraint, as well as the effect of genotype on plant regeneration. Transverse sections (1-2 mm thick) obtained from young leaf spindle rolls and orienting explants with its distal end facing the medium (directly in contact with medium) are critical for maximum regeneration. Shoot regeneration was observed as early as 3 weeks on MS medium supplemented with alpha-naphthalenencetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyladenine, while somatic embryogenesis or both adventitious shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis occurred on medium with NAA and chlorophenoxyacetic acid. Twenty shoots or more could be generated from a single transverse section explant. These shoots regenerated roots and successfully established after transplanted to pots. Large numbers of plantlets can be regenerated directly and rapidly using this system. SmartSett, the registered name for this process and the plants produced, will have significant practical applications for the mass propagation of new cultivars and in genetic modification programs. The SmartSett system has already been used commercially to produce substantial numbers of plants of orange rust-resistant and new cultivars in Australia.

[Improvement of somatic embryogenesis process in sugarcane Venezuelan cultivars]. / Optimización del proceso de embriogénesis somatica en variedades venezolanas de caña de azúcar.

Efficient embryogenic callus formation (70%) in many sugarcane cultivars, has been established using young leaf explants cultivated on modified Murashige and Skoog medium containing 13 microM 2,4-dichlorophenoxiacetic acid (2,4-D). However, Venezuelan sugarcane cultivars V78-1 and V75-6 produced only 30% of embryogenic callus when were cultured in these conditions. In order to improve somatic embryogenesis in these Venezuelan cultivars, embryogenic calli were induced using different media: C3 (13 microM 2,4-D); C7 (31.5 microM 2,4-D); Cd (30 microM Dicamba) and C5BA (22.5 microM 2,4-D, 22.2 microM N6-Benzyladenine). After 45 days of induction, the highest embryogenic callus production (90%), was observed in both cultivars, when they were cultured on Cd medium. Moreover, plant development from somatic embryos originated in this callus, was evident four days after incubation on regeneration medium (without hormones), while the somatic embryos originated from calli growing in C3, C7 and C5BA media, gave rise to plants eight days after incubation on regeneration medium.

Optimizacion del proceso de embriogenesis somatica en variedades venezolanas de caña de azucar / Improvement of somatic embryogenesis in sugarcane venezuelan cultivars

En muchas variedades de caña de azúcar, se induce un alto porcentaje de callo embriogénico (70 %), al cultivar ôin vitroö explantes de hojas jóvenes en un medio constituido por las sales de Murashige y Skoog ,y 13 M de ácido 2,4 diclorofenoxiacético (2,4-D). Sin embargo, en las variedades venezolanas V78-1 y V75-6 el porcentaje de callo embriogénico producido en estas condiciones,es menor (30 %). Con el fin de optimizar el proceso de embriogénesis somática en estas dos variedades, se indujo la formación de callo embriogénico utilizando diferentes medios: Medio C3 (13 M de 2,4-D); Medio C7 (31.5 M de 2,4-D); Medio Cd (30 M de Dicamba) y medio C5BA (22.5 M de 2,4-D y 22.2 M de Benciladenina). Después de 45 días, en el medio Cd se observó el mayor porcentaje de calloembriogénico para ambas variedades (90 %). La capacidad morfogenética de estos callos, quedó evidenciada al ser transferidos al medio de regeneración (sin hormonas), donde a los cuatro días ya se observaba la formación de plantas a partir de los embriones somáticos obtenidos en el medio Cd, mientras que los embriones provenientes de los medios C3, C7 y C5BA, comenzaban a desarrollar plantas a los ocho días.