Deletion of a 1,049 bp sequence from the 5′UTR upstream of the SiHEC3 gene induces a seed non-shattering mutation in sesame

Sesame is a labor intensive crop with limited mechanized harvesting mainly due to the seed shattering(SS)trait.In this study,we performed a genetic analysis of the seed-shattering resistance(SR)trait with a SR sesame mutant 12M07.Unlike the SS type,the parenchyma cells in the abscission zone of the 12M07 mutant are arranged loosely but adhere to the seed coat.Inheritance analysis of six generations derived from 12M07(SR)×Xiangcheng Dazibai(SS)showed that the SR trait is recessive and controlled by a single gene pair.Association mapping of the F2population with 888,619 variants(single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)and insertion-deletion(InDels))and 31,884 structural variations(SVs)determined that only SV12002 in the 5′upstream region of gene Sindi0765000(named SiHEC3)in Chr.3 was significantly associated with the SR trait.SiHEC3 encodes the bHLH transcription factor.A 1,049 bp deletion occurred in the 5′UTR of Sihec3 in 12M07.SiHEC3 is mainly expressed in developing placental tissues,with the expression peaking in capsules at 45 days after pollination.A dual-luciferase reporter assay in tobacco confirmed that the promoter activity of Sihec3 was reduced because of the deletion of the 1,049 bp promoter sequence.Protein–protein interaction network analysis showed that HEC3 is co-expressed with nine key proteins,such as SHATTERPROOF1(SHP1)and SEEDSTICK(STK)which participate in the secondary wall biosynthesis of the abscission layer in plants.The findings of this study show the important function of Sihec3corresponding with the SR trait and supply the genetic information for breeding new varieties that are amenable to mechanized harvesting in sesame and other crops.

Identification of Fusarium wilt resistance gene SiRLK1 in Sesamum indicum L.

Sesame Fusarium wilt(SFW),caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.sesami(Fos),is one of the most devastating diseases affecting sesame cultivation.Deciphering the genetic control of SFW resistance is pivotal for effective disease management in sesame.An inheritance study on a cross between the highly resistant variety Yuzhi 11 and the highly susceptible accession Sp1 using a Fos pathogenicity group 1 isolate indicated that resistance was conferred by a single dominant allele.The target locus was located in a 1.24 Mb interval on chromosome 3 using a combination of cross-population association mapping and bulked segregant analysis.Fine genetic mapping further narrowed the interval between 21,350 and 21,401 kb.The locus Sindi_0812400 was identified as the SFW resistance gene and officially designated SiRLK1.This gene encodes a specific malectin/receptor-like protein kinase with three putative tandem kinase domains and is considered a kinase fusion protein.Sequence analysis revealed that a high proportion(49.44%)of variants within the locus was located within the kinase domainⅢ,and several of which were evidently associated with the diversity in SFW response,indicating the critical role of kinase domainⅢin expression of disease resistance.These findings provide valuable information for further functional analysis of SFW resistance genes and marker-assisted resistance breeding in sesame.

Production profile and comparison analysis of main toxin components of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.sesami isolates with different pathogenicity levels

Fusarium wilt is a common fungal disease in sesame caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.sesami(FOS).To determine the toxin production profiles of the FOS isolates with different pathogenicity levels under various culture conditions,we assessed the content variation of fusaric acid(FA)and 9,10-dehydrofusaric acid(9,10-DFA)produced by the four representative FOS isolates.Results indicated that the concentration of FA reached to a maximum of 2848.66μg/mL in Czapek medium,while 9,10-DFA was mainly produced in Richard and Lowcarbon Richard medium.The concentration of 9,10-DFA on Richard culture medium varied from 0μg/mL to 716.89μg/mL.Of the five culture media used in this study,Czapek culture medium was the most conductive to produce FA.FA production was significantly affected by culture medium,culture time,and their interactions.Results suggest that there is no correlation between toxin production and pathogenicity level of FOS isolates.These findings provide key information for the mechanism analysis of FOS-sesame interaction and pathogen control.

Ethacrynic acid targets GSTM1 to ameliorate obesity by promoting browning of white adipocytes

Dear Editor,Obesity is caused by an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure,and has become a global epidemic with over 650 million adults affected.Adipose tissues in mammals are composed of white adipose tissue(WAT)and classical brown adipose tissue(BAT),and their balance is highly related to the occurrence of obesity.The browning of white adipocytes results in“beige”or“brite”adipocytes,which appear functionally similar to classical brown adipocytes,and can be detected in WAT deposits of animals that have been exposed to cold or other inducers(Fu et al.,2015).

Genomic evolution and insights into agronomic trait innovations of Sesamum species

Sesame is an ancient oilseed crop with high oil content and quality.However,the evolutionary history and genetic mechanisms of its valuable agronomic traits remain unclear.Here,we report chromosome-scale genomes of cultivated sesame(Sesamum indicum L.)and six wild Sesamum species,representing all three karyotypes within this genus.Karyotyping and genome-based phylogenic analysis revealed the evolutionary route of Sesamum species from n=13 to n=16 and revealed that allotetraploidization occurred in the wild species Sesamum radiatum.Early divergence of the Sesamum genus(48.5–19.7 million years ago)during the Tertiary period and its ancient phylogenic position within eudicots were observed.Pan-genome analysis revealed 9164 core gene families in the 7Sesamumspecies.These families are significantly enriched in variousmetabolic pathways,including fatty acid(FA)metabolism and FA biosynthesis.Structural variations in SiPT1 and SiDT1 within the phosphatidyl ethanolamine-binding protein gene family lead to the genomic evolution of plant-architecture and inflorescence-development phenotypes in Sesamum.A genome-wide association study(GWAS)of an interspecific population and genome comparisons revealed a long terminal repeat insertion and a sequence deletion inDIR genes of wildSesamum angustifoliumand cultivated sesame,respectively;both variations independently cause high susceptibility toFusariumwilt disease.A GWAS of 560 sesame accessions combined with an overexpression study confirmed that the NAC1andPPOgenes play an important role in upregulating oil content of sesame.Our study provides high-quality genomic resources for cultivated and wild Sesamum species and insights that can improve molecular breeding strategies for sesame and other oilseed crops.