Editorial

4 pages, 201 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Studies on Mapping Plant Genes That Confer Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses

by Richard R.-C. Wang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10760; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms231810760 - 15 Sep 2022

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Climate change is affecting the Earth’s environment through temperature fluctuation, rainfall patterns, wind, and radiation [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

Research

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17 pages, 5262 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Trehalose-6-phosphate Synthetase (TPS) Gene Family in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and Their Transcriptional Responses to Salt Stress

by Gaopeng Yuan, Junpu Liu, Guolin An, Weihua Li, Wenjing Si, Dexi Sun and Yingchun Zhu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(1), 276; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23010276 - 28 Dec 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3437

Abstract

With the increase in watermelon cultivation area, there is an urgent need to explore enzymatic and genetic resources for the sustainable development of watermelon, especially under salt stress. Among the various compounds known, trehalose plays an important role in regulating abiotic stress tolerances [...] Read more.

With the increase in watermelon cultivation area, there is an urgent need to explore enzymatic and genetic resources for the sustainable development of watermelon, especially under salt stress. Among the various compounds known, trehalose plays an important role in regulating abiotic stress tolerances in diverse organisms, including plants. Therefore, the present study comprehensively analyzed the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) gene family in watermelon. The study analyzed the functional classification, evolutionary characteristics, and expression patterns of the watermelon TPS genes family. Seven ClTPSs were identified and classified into two distinct classes according to gene structure and phylogeny. Evolutionary analysis suggested the role of purifying selection in the evolution of the TPS family members. Further, cis-acting elements related to plant hormones and abiotic stress were identified in the promoter region of the TPS genes. The tissue-specific expression analysis showed that ClTPS genes were widely expressed in roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits, while ClTPS3 was significantly induced under salt stress. The overexpression of ClTPS3 in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly improved salt tolerance. Finally, the STRING functional protein association networks suggested that the transcription factor ClMYB and ClbHLH regulate ClTPS3. Thus, the study indicates the critical role of ClTPS3 in watermelon response to salt stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

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17 pages, 4892 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Analysis of SRO Gene Family in Sesamum indicum (L.) Reveals Its Association with Abiotic Stress Responses

by Aili Liu, Mengyuan Wei, Yong Zhou, Donghua Li, Rong Zhou, Yanxin Zhang, Xiurong Zhang, Linhai Wang and Jun You

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(23), 13048; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222313048 - 02 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

SIMILAR TO RCD-ONEs (SROs) comprise a small plant-specific gene family which play important roles in regulating numerous growth and developmental processes and responses to environmental stresses. However, knowledge of SROs in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is limited. In this study, four SRO [...] Read more.

SIMILAR TO RCD-ONEs (SROs) comprise a small plant-specific gene family which play important roles in regulating numerous growth and developmental processes and responses to environmental stresses. However, knowledge of SROs in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is limited. In this study, four SRO genes were identified in the sesame genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 64 SROs from 10 plant species were divided into two groups (Group I and II). Transcriptome data revealed different expression patterns of SiSROs over various tissues. Expression analysis showed that Group II SROs, especially SiSRO2b, exhibited a stronger response to various abiotic stresses and phytohormones than those in Group I, implying their crucial roles in response to environmental stimulus and hormone signals. In addition, the co-expression network and protein-protein interaction network indicated that SiSROs are associated with a wide range of stress responses. Moreover, transgenic yeast harboring SiSRO2b showed improved tolerance to salt, osmotic and oxidative stress, indicating SiSRO2b could confer multiple tolerances to transgenic yeast. Taken together, this study not only lays a foundation for further functional dissection of the SiSRO gene family, but also provides valuable gene candidates for genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in sesame. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

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21 pages, 4451 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Altered Root Growth, Auxin Metabolism and Distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana Exposed to Salt and Osmotic Stress

by Ana Smolko, Nataša Bauer, Iva Pavlović, Aleš Pěnčík, Ondřej Novák and Branka Salopek-Sondi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(15), 7993; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22157993 - 27 Jul 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4671

Abstract

Salt and osmotic stress are the main abiotic stress factors affecting plant root growth and architecture. We investigated the effect of salt (100 mM NaCl) and osmotic (200 mM mannitol) stress on the auxin metabolome by UHPLC-MS/MS, auxin distribution by confocal microscopy, and [...] Read more.

Salt and osmotic stress are the main abiotic stress factors affecting plant root growth and architecture. We investigated the effect of salt (100 mM NaCl) and osmotic (200 mM mannitol) stress on the auxin metabolome by UHPLC-MS/MS, auxin distribution by confocal microscopy, and transcript levels of selected genes by qRT-PCR in Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia-0 (Col-0) and DR5rev::GFP (DR5) line. During long-term stress (13 days), a stability of the auxin metabolome and a tendency to increase indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were observed, especially during salt stress. Short-term stress (3 h) caused significant changes in the auxin metabolome, especially NaCl treatment resulted in a significant reduction of IAA. The data derived from auxin profiling were consistent with gene expressions showing the most striking changes in the transcripts of YUC, GH3, and UGT transcripts, suggesting disruption of auxin biosynthesis, but especially in the processes of amide and ester conjugation. These data were consistent with the auxin distribution observed in the DR5 line. Moreover, NaCl treatment caused a redistribution of auxin signals from the quiescent center and the inner layers of the root cap to the epidermal and cortical cells of the root elongation zone. The distribution of PIN proteins was also disrupted by salt stress; in particular, PIN2 was suppressed, even after 5 min of treatment. Based on our results, the DR5 line was more sensitive to the applied stresses than Col-0, although both lines showed similar trends in root morphology, as well as transcriptome and metabolome parameters under stress conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

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21 pages, 3577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel DUF569 Gene Is a Positive Regulator of the Drought Stress Response in Arabidopsis

by Rizwana Begum Syed Nabi, Rupesh Tayade, Adil Hussain, Arjun Adhikari, In-Jung Lee, Gary J. Loake and Byung-Wook Yun

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5316; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22105316 - 18 May 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3554

Abstract

In the last two decades, global environmental change has increased abiotic stress on plants and severely affected crops. For example, drought stress is a serious abiotic stress that rapidly and substantially alters the morphological, physiological, and molecular responses of plants. In Arabidopsis, several [...] Read more.

In the last two decades, global environmental change has increased abiotic stress on plants and severely affected crops. For example, drought stress is a serious abiotic stress that rapidly and substantially alters the morphological, physiological, and molecular responses of plants. In Arabidopsis, several drought-responsive genes have been identified; however, the underlying molecular mechanism of drought tolerance in plants remains largely unclear. Here, we report that the “domain of unknown function” novel gene DUF569 (AT1G69890) positively regulates drought stress in Arabidopsis. The Arabidopsis loss-of-function mutant atduf569 showed significant sensitivity to drought stress, i.e., severe wilting at the rosette-leaf stage after water was withheld for 3 days. Importantly, the mutant plant did not recover after rewatering, unlike wild-type (WT) plants. In addition, atduf569 plants showed significantly lower abscisic acid accumulation under optimal and drought-stress conditions, as well as significantly higher electrolyte leakage when compared with WT Col-0 plants. Spectrophotometric analyses also indicated a significantly lower accumulation of polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and chlorophylls in atduf569 mutant plants. Overall, our results suggest that novel DUF569 is a positive regulator of the response to drought in Arabidopsis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

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14 pages, 3538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Roots of Rye (Secale cereale L.) Are Capable of Synthesizing Benzoxazinoids

by Monika Rakoczy-Trojanowska, Bartosz M. Szabała, Elżbieta Różańska, Mariusz Kowalczyk, Wojciech Burza, Beata Bakera and Magdalena Święcicka

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4656; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22094656 - 28 Apr 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1944

Abstract

According to current opinion, the first step of benzoxazinoids (BXs) synthesis, that is, the conversion of indole-3-glycerol phosphate to indole, occurs exclusively in the photosynthesising parts of plants. However, the results of our previous work and some other studies suggest that this process [...] Read more.

According to current opinion, the first step of benzoxazinoids (BXs) synthesis, that is, the conversion of indole-3-glycerol phosphate to indole, occurs exclusively in the photosynthesising parts of plants. However, the results of our previous work and some other studies suggest that this process may also occur in the roots. In this study, we provide evidence that the first step of BXs synthesis does indeed occur in the roots of rye seedlings. We detected ScBx1 transcripts, BX1 enzyme, and six BXs (2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one, 2,4-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one, (2R)-2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-(2H)-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one glucoside, 2,4-dihydroxy- 7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one, 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one glucoside, and 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone) in the roots developed from seeds deprived of the coleoptile at 2 days after sowing (i.e., roots without contact with aerial parts). In roots regenerated in vitro, both ScBx1 transcripts and BX1 enzyme were detected at a low but still measurable levels. Thus, BXs are able to be synthesised in both the roots and above-ground parts of rye plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

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21 pages, 6302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of the Expansin Gene Family and Its Potential Association with Drought Stress in Moso Bamboo

by Kang-Ming Jin, Ren-Ying Zhuo, Dong Xu, Yu-Jun Wang, Hui-Jin Fan, Bi-Yun Huang and Gui-Rong Qiao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9491; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21249491 - 14 Dec 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2491

Abstract

Expansins, a group of cell wall-loosening proteins, are involved in cell-wall loosening and cell enlargement in a pH-dependent manner. According to previous study, they were involved in plant growth and abiotic stress responses. However, information on the biological function of the expansin gene [...] Read more.

Expansins, a group of cell wall-loosening proteins, are involved in cell-wall loosening and cell enlargement in a pH-dependent manner. According to previous study, they were involved in plant growth and abiotic stress responses. However, information on the biological function of the expansin gene in moso bamboo is still limited. In this study, we identified a total of 82 expansin genes in moso bamboo, clustered into four subfamilies (α-expansin (EXPA), β-expansin (EXPB), expansin-like A (EXLA) and expansin-like B (EXPB)). Subsequently, the molecular structure, chromosomal location and phylogenetic relationship of the expansin genes of Phyllostachys edulis (PeEXs) were further characterized. A total of 14 pairs of tandem duplication genes and 31 pairs of segmented duplication genes were also identified, which may promote the expansion of the expansin gene family. Promoter analysis found many cis-acting elements related to growth and development and stress response, especially abscisic acid response element (ABRE). Expression pattern revealed that most PeEXs have tissue expression specificity. Meanwhile, the expression of some selected PeEXs was significantly upregulated mostly under abscisic acid (ABA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment, which implied that these genes actively respond to expression under abiotic stress. This study provided new insights into the structure, evolution and function prediction of the expansin gene family in moso bamboo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

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24 pages, 4855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TaDrAp1 and TaDrAp2, Partner Genes of a Transcription Repressor, Coordinate Plant Development and Drought Tolerance in Spelt and Bread Wheat

by Lyudmila Zotova, Nasgul Shamambaeva, Katso Lethola, Badr Alharthi, Valeriya Vavilova, Svetlana E. Smolenskaya, Nikolay P. Goncharov, Akhylbek Kurishbayev, Satyvaldy Jatayev, Narendra K. Gupta, Sunita Gupta, Carly Schramm, Peter A. Anderson, Colin L. D. Jenkins, Kathleen L. Soole and Yuri Shavrukov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(21), 8296; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21218296 - 05 Nov 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2227

Abstract

Down-regulator associated protein, DrAp1, acts as a negative cofactor (NC2α) in a transcription repressor complex together with another subunit, down-regulator Dr1 (NC2β). In binding to promotors and regulating the initiation of transcription of various genes, DrAp1 plays a key role in plant transition [...] Read more.

Down-regulator associated protein, DrAp1, acts as a negative cofactor (NC2α) in a transcription repressor complex together with another subunit, down-regulator Dr1 (NC2β). In binding to promotors and regulating the initiation of transcription of various genes, DrAp1 plays a key role in plant transition to flowering and ultimately in seed production. TaDrAp1 and TaDrAp2 genes were identified, and their expression and genetic polymorphism were studied using bioinformatics, qPCR analyses, a 40K Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray, and Amplifluor-like SNP genotyping in cultivars of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and breeding lines developed from a cross between spelt (T. spelta L.) and bread wheat. TaDrAp1 was highly expressed under non-stressed conditions, and at flowering, TaDrAp1 expression was negatively correlated with yield capacity. TaDrAp2 showed a consistently low level of mRNA production. Drought caused changes in the expression of both TaDrAp1 and TaDrAp2 genes in opposite directions, effectively increasing expression in lower yielding cultivars. The microarray 40K SNP assay and Amplifluor-like SNP marker, revealed clear scores and allele discriminations for TaDrAp1 and TaDrAp2 and TaRht-B1 genes. Alleles of two particular homeologs, TaDrAp1-B4 and TaDrAp2-B1, co-segregated with grain yield in nine selected breeding lines. This indicated an important regulatory role for both TaDrAp1 and TaDrAp2 genes in plant growth, ontogenesis, and drought tolerance in bread and spelt wheat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

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Review

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18 pages, 1551 KiB

Open AccessReview

Plant Parasites under Pressure: Effects of Abiotic Stress on the Interactions between Parasitic Plants and Their Hosts

by Lyuben Zagorchev, Wolfgang Stöggl, Denitsa Teofanova, Junmin Li and Ilse Kranner

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7418; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22147418 - 10 Jul 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5227

Abstract

Parasitic angiosperms, comprising a diverse group of flowering plants, are partially or fully dependent on their hosts to acquire water, mineral nutrients and organic compounds. Some have detrimental effects on agriculturally important crop plants. They are also intriguing model systems to study adaptive [...] Read more.

Parasitic angiosperms, comprising a diverse group of flowering plants, are partially or fully dependent on their hosts to acquire water, mineral nutrients and organic compounds. Some have detrimental effects on agriculturally important crop plants. They are also intriguing model systems to study adaptive mechanisms required for the transition from an autotrophic to a heterotrophic metabolism. No less than any other plant, parasitic plants are affected by abiotic stress factors such as drought and changes in temperature, saline soils or contamination with metals or herbicides. These effects may be attributed to the direct influence of the stress, but also to diminished host availability and suitability. Although several studies on abiotic stress response of parasitic plants are available, still little is known about how abiotic factors affect host preferences, defense mechanisms of both hosts and parasites and the effects of combinations of abiotic and biotic stress experienced by the host plants. The latter effects are of specific interest as parasitic plants pose additional pressure on contemporary agriculture in times of climate change. This review summarizes the existing literature on abiotic stress response of parasitic plants, highlighting knowledge gaps and discussing perspectives for future research and potential agricultural applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Abiotic Stress-Tolerance Genes in Plants 2021)

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