Two Faces of One Seed： Hormonal Regulation of Dormancy and Germination

Seed plants have evolved to maintain the dormancy of freshly matured seeds until the appropriate time for germination. Seed dormancy and germination are distinct physiological processes, and the transition from dormancy to germination is not only a critical developmental step in the life cycle of plants but is also impor- tant for agricultural production. These processes are precisely regulated by diverse endogenous hormones and environmental cues. Although ABA （abscisic acid） and GAs （gibberellins） are known to be the primary phytohormones that antagonistically regulate seed dormancy, recent findings demonstrate that another phytohormone, auxin, is also critical for inducing and maintaining seed dormancy, and therefore might act as a key protector of seed dormancy. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the sophisticated molecular networks involving the critical roles of phytohormones in regulating seed dormancy and germination, in which AP2-domain-containing transcription factors play key roles. We also discuss the interactions （crosstalk） of diverse hormonal signals in seed dormancy and germination, focusing on the ABA/GA balance that constitutes the central node.

A Novel Protein RLS1 with NB-ARM Domains Is Involved in Chloroplast Degradation during Leaf Senescence in Rice

Leaf senescence, a type of programmed cell death （PCD） characterized by chlorophyll degradation, is important to plant growth and crop productivity. It emerges that autophagy is involved in chloroplast degradation during leaf senescence. However, the molecular mechanism（s） involved in the process is not well understood. In this study, the genetic and physiological characteristics Of the rice rlsl （rapid leaf senescence 1） mutant were identified. The rlsl mutant developed small, yellow-brown lesions resembling disease scattered over the whole surfaces of leaves that displayed earlier senescence than those of wild-type plants. The rapid loss of chlorophyll content during senescence was the main cause of accelerated leaf senescence in rlsl. Microscopic observation indicated that PCD was misregulated, probably resulting in the accelerated degradation of chloroplasts in rlsl leaves. Map-based cloning of the RLS1 gene revealed that it encodes a pre- viously uncharacterized NB （nucleotide-binding site）-containing protein with an ARM （armadillo） domain at the carboxyl terminus. Consistent with its involvement in leaf senescence, RLS1 was up-regulated during dark-induced leaf senescence and down-regulated by cytokinin. Intriguingly, constitutive expression of RLS1 also slightly accelerated leaf senescence with decreased chlorophyll content in transgenic rice plants. Our study identified a previously uncharacterized NB-ARM protein involved in PCD during plant growth and development, providing a unique tool for dissecting possible autophagy- mediated PCD during senescence in plants.

Plasma Membrane Localization and Potential Endocytosis of Constitutively Expressed XA21 Proteins in Transgenic Rice

The rice pattern recognition receptor （PRR） XA21 confers race-specific resistance in leaf infection by bacterial blight Xathornonas oryzae pv. oryzae （Xoo）, and was shown to be primarily localized to the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） when expressed with its native promoter or overexpressed in the protoplast. However, whether the protein is still ER- localization in the intact cell when overexpressed remains to be identified. Here, we showed that XA21, its kinase-dead mutant XA21PK736EP and the triple autophosphorylation mutant XA21PS686AJT688AJS699A GFP fusions were primarily localized to the plasma membrane （PM） when overexpressed in the intact transgenic rice cell, and also localized to the ER in the transgenic protoplast. The transgenic plants constitutively expressing the wild-type XA21 or its GFP fusion displayed racespecific resistance to Xoo at the adult and seedling stages. XA21 and XA21PK736EP could be internalized probably via the SCAMP-positive early endosomal compartment in the protoplast, suggesting that XA21 might be endocytosed to initiate resistance responses during pathogen infection. We also established a root infection system and demonstrated that XA21 also mediated race-specific resistance responses to Xoo in the root. Our current study provides an insight into the nature of the XA21-mediated resistance and a practical approach using the root cell system to further dissect the cellular signaling of the PRR during the rice-Xoo interaction.

Physiological and Molecular Features of the Pathosystem Arabidopsis thaliana L.-Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Libert

The fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Libert causes rot diseases on many crops worldwide and large economic losses occur frequently because of a lack of resistant varieties. The pathogenesis of S. sclerotiorum and the molecular basis of plant responses to the pathogen are poorly understood. In the present investigation, the process of S. sclerotiorum infection in Arabidopsis thaliana L., a plant that is highly susceptible to this fungus, was analysed. In addition, the defense activation in the host was investigated. A convenient inoculation method using millet grain was developed for S. sclerotiorum in Arabidopsis. The fungus rapidly infected the plants, probably through ball- or cushion-like infection structures. Visible symptoms developed within 24 h and plants were killed 72 h after inoculation. Cellulase, the main enzyme that caused host tissues to rot, was secreted by S. sclerotiorum in a pH-dependent manner. Oxalic acid, another pathogenic factor secreted by the fungus, induced necrotic lesions on the leaves, infection with S. sclerotiorum strongly induced the production of the pathogenesis-related （PR） proteins β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, the PR gene PDF. 1 was induced, but not PR1, indicating that the pathogen activated basal defense of jasmonic acid/ethylene dependence, which is consistent with its necrotrophic characteristics. This pathosystem for Arabidopsis-S. sclerotiorum could provide an approach for the analysis of the interactions between S. sclerotiorum and other crops, thereby facilitating genetic manipulation techniques for controlling this pathogen.

Arabidopsis Acetyl-Amido Synthetase GH3.5 Involvement in Camalexin Biosynthesis through Conjugation of Indole-3-Carboxylic Acid and Cysteine and Upregulation of Camalexin Biosynthesis Genes

Camalexin （3-thiazol-2＇-yl-indole） is the major phytoalexin found in Arabidopsis thaliana. Several key intermediates and corresponding enzymes have been identified in camalexin biosynthesis through mutant screening and biochemical experiments. Camalexin is formed when indole-3-acetonitrile （IAN） is catalyzed by the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP71A13. Here, we demonstrate that the Ara- bidopsis GH3.5 protein, a multifunctional acetyl-amido synthetase, is involved in camalexin biosynthesis via conjugating indole-3-carboxylic acid （ICA） and cysteine （Cys） and regulating camalexin biosynthesis genes. Camalexin levels were increased in the activation-tagged mutant gh3.5-1D in both Col-0 and cyp71A13-2 mutant backgrounds after pathogen infection. The recombinant GH3.5 protein catalyzed the conjugation of ICA and Cys to form a possible intermediate indole-3-acyl-cysteinate （ICA（Cys）） in vitro. In support of the in vitro reaction, feeding with ICA and Cys increased camalexin levels in Col-0 and gh3.5-1D. Dihydrocamalexic acid （DHCA）, the precursor of camalexin and the substrate for PAD3, was accumulated in gh3.5-1DIpad3-1, suggesting that ICA（Cys） could be an additional precursor of DHCA for camalexin biosynthesis. Furthermore, expression of the major camalexin biosynthesis genes CYP79B2, CYP71A12, CYP71A13 and PAD3 was strongly induced in gh3.5-1D. Our study suggests that GH3.5 is involved in camalexin biosynthesis through direct catalyzation of the formation of ICA（Cys）, and upregulation of the major biosynthetic pathway genes.

Altered Disease Development in the eui Mutants and Eui Overexpressors Indicates that Gibberellins Negatively Regulate Rice Basal Disease Resistance

Gibberellins （GAs） form a group of important plant tetracyclic diterpenoid hormones that are involved in many aspects of plant growth and development. Emerging evidence implicates that GAs also play roles in stress responses. However, the role of GAs in biotic stress is largely unknown. Here, we report that knockout or overexpression of the Elongated uppermost internode （Eu~ gene encoding a GA deactivating enzyme compromises or increases, respectively, disease resistance to bacterial blight （Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oyrzae） and rice blast （Magnaporthe oryzae）. Exogenous application of GA3 and the inhibitor of GA synthesis （uniconazol） could increase disease susceptibility and resistance, respectively, to bacterial blight. Similarly, uniconazol restored disease resistance of the eui mutant and GA3 decreased disease resistance of the Eui overexpressors to bacterial blight. Therefore, the change of resistance attributes to GA levels. In consistency with this, the GA metabolism genes OsGA2Oox2 and OsGA20xl were down-regulated during pathogen challenge. We also found that PRla induction was enhanced but the SA level was decreased in the Eui overexpressor, while the JA level was reduced in the eui mutant. Together, our current study indicates that GAs play a negative role in rice basal disease resistance, with EUI as a positive modulator through regulating the level of bioactive GAs.