Saline-Alkali Tolerance in Rice: Physiological Response, Molecular Mechanism, and QTL Identification and Application to Breeding

Salinity-alkalinity is incipient abiotic stress that impairs plant growth and development.Rice(Oryza sativa)is a major food crop greatly affected by soil salinity and alkalinity,requiring tolerant varieties in the saline-alkali prone areas.Understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms of saline-alkali tolerance paves the base for improving saline-alkali tolerance in rice and leads to progress in breeding.This review illustrated the physiological consequences,and molecular mechanisms especially signaling and function of regulating genes for saline-alkali tolerance in rice plants.We also discussed QTLs regarding saline-alkali tolerance accordingly and ways of deployment for improvement.More efforts are needed to identify and utilize the identified QTLs for saline-alkali tolerance in rice.

Research Progress on the Mechanism of Crop Saline-alkali Tolerance and Mitigation Measures

The wide distribution of saline-alkali land in China is a restrictive factor for the sustainable development of agriculture.Saline-alkaline soil inhibits the growth and development of crops,reducing its yield and quality.In this article,we summarized the germination status,physiological characteristics,response mechanisms and mitigation measures of different crops under saline-alkali stress in recent years,aiming to provide important reference for the study of saline-alkali tolerance mechanism in crops,cultivation of crop varieties tolerant to salts and alkalis and improvement of the utilization rate of saline-alkali land,and put forward suggestions for future development trend of saline-alkali land crops and mitigation measures.

Leaf Morphology Genes SRL1 and RENL1 Co-Regulate Cellulose Synthesis and Affect Rice Drought Tolerance

The morphological development of rice(Oryza sativa L.)leaves is closely related to plant architecture,physiological activities,and resistance.However,it is unclear whether there is a co-regulatory relationship between the morphological development of leaves and adaptation to drought environment.In this study,a drought-sensitive,roll-enhanced,and narrow-leaf mutant(renl1)was induced from a semi-rolled leaf mutant(srl1)by ethyl methane sulfonate(EMS),which was obtained from Nipponbare(NPB)through EMS.Map-based cloning and functional validation showed that RENL1 encodes a cellulose synthase,allelic to NRL1/OsCLSD4.The RENL1 mutation resulted in reduced vascular bundles,vesicular cells,cellulose,and hemicellulose contents in cell walls,diminishing the water-holding capacity of leaves.In addition,the root system of the renl1 mutant was poorly developed and its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species(ROS)was decreased,leading to an increase in ROS after drought stress.Meanwhile,genetic results showed that RENL1 and SRL1 synergistically regulated cell wall components.Our results revealed a theoretical basis for further elucidating the molecular regulation mechanism of cellulose on rice drought tolerance,and provided a new genetic resource for enhancing the synergistic regulation network of plant type and stress resistance,thereby realizing simultaneous improvement of multiple traits in rice.

Abiotic stress treatment reveals expansin like A gene OfEXLA1 improving salt and drought tolerance of Osmanthus fragrans by responding to abscisic acid

Sweet osmanthus(Osmanthus fragrans) is a having general approval aromatic tree in China that is widely applied to landscaping and gardening. However, the evergreen tree adaptability is limited by many environmental stresses. Currently, limited information is available regarding the genetic analysis and functional identification of expansin genes in response to abiotic stress in sweet osmanthus. In this study, a total of 29 expansin genes were identified and divided into four groups by genome-wide analysis from the sweet osmanthus genome. Transcriptome and quantitative Real-time PCR analysis showed that the cell wall-localized protein expansin-like A(OfEXLA1) gene was significantly induced by salt and drought treatment. Histochemical GUS staining of transgenic Arabidopsis lines in which GUS activity was driven with the OfEXLA1 promoter, GUS activity was significantly induced by salt, drought, and exogenous abscisic acid(ABA). In yeast, we found OfEXLA1overexpression significantly improved the population of cells compared with wild-type strains after NaCl and polyethylene glycol(PEG)treatment. Additionally, OfEXLA1 overexpression not only promoted plant growth, but also improved the salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis. To gain insight into the role of ABA signaling in the regulation of OfEXLA1 improving abiotic tolerance in sweet osmanthus, four differentially expressed ABA Insensitive 5(ABI5)-like genes(OfABL4, OfABL5, OfABL7, and OfABL8) were identified from transcriptome, and dualluciferase(dual-LUC) and yeast one hybrid(Y1H) assay showed that OfABL4 and OfABL5 might bind to OfEXLA1 promoter to accumulate the OfEXLA1 expression by responding to ABA signaling to improve abiotic tolerance in sweet osmanthus. These results provide the information for understanding the molecular functions of expansin-like A gene and molecular breeding of sweet osmanthus in future.

MIR1868 negatively regulates rice cold tolerance at both the seedling and booting stages

Low temperature causes rice yield losses of up to 30%–40%,therefore increasing its cold tolerance is a breeding target.Few genes in rice are reported to confer cold tolerance at both the vegetative and reproductive stages.This study revealed a rice-specific 24-nt miRNA,miR1868,whose accumulation was suppressed by cold stress.Knockdown of MIR1868 increased seedling survival,pollen fertility,seed setting,and grain yield under cold stress,whereas its overexpression conferred the opposite phenotype.Knockdown of MIR1868 increased reactive oxygen species(ROS)scavenging and soluble sugar content under cold stress by increasing the expression of peroxidase genes and sugar metabolism genes,and its overexpression produced the opposite effect.Thus,MIR1868 negatively regulated rice cold tolerance via ROS scavenging and sugar accumulation.

Alkali Tolerance of Concrete Internal Curing Agent Based on Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch

Internal curing agents (ICA) based on super absorbent polymer have poor alkali tolerance and reduce the early strength of concrete.An alkali tolerate internal curing agent (CAA-ICA) was designed and prepared by using sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS) with high hydrophilicity,acrylic acid (AA) containing anionic carboxylic group and acrylamide (AM) containing non-ionic amide group as the main raw materials.The results show that the ratio of CAA-ICA alkali absorption solution is higher than that existing ICA,which solves the low water absorption ratio of the ICA in alkali environment.The water absorption ratio of CAA-ICA in saturated Ca(OH)_(2) solution is 95.8 g·g^(-1),and the alkali tolerance coefficient is 3.4.The application of CAA-ICA in cement-based materials can increase the internal relative humidity and miniaturize the pore structure.The compressive strength of mortar increases up to 12.95%at 28 d,which provids a solution to overcome the reduction of the early strength.

Humoral Response and Tolerance of Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in Adults Senegalese Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Introduction: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination has been proposed in several countries as the main preventive measure despite very limited data, particularly in dialysis patients. We conducted this study to assess the immunological response to vaccination in Senegalese hemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective study, in two dialysis centers in Dakar from March 30th to August 30th, 2021 including patients on hemodialysis for >6 months, vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 according to the vaccination schedule recommended by WHO. A vaccine response was considered positive when seroconversion was observed after one dose of vaccine. The clinical efficacy of immunization was defined as the absence of new COVID-19 infection in patients who received a complete vaccination. Results: Among the 81 patients included in the study, 7.4% had anti-Spike IgM antibodies before their first vaccination. Seroprevalence of IgM antibodies was 38.3% one month after the first vaccine dose (at M1) and 8.6% one month after the second dose (at M4). Anti-Spike IgG antibodies were present in 40.3% of patients before vaccination, in 90.1% at M1, and in 59.7% at M4. Among patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, 10.2% had IgM antibodies at M0, 31.6% at M1, and 10.5% at M4 post-vaccination. Similarly, seroprevalences of IgG antibodies in this subgroup were 31.5%, 61.3%, and 50.0% respectively at M0, M1, and M4 post-vaccination. A comparison of seroconversion rates between M0 and M4 showed significant differences only for IgG in COVID-19 naive patients. Mean duration in dialysis and the existence of previous COVID-19 infection were associated with patients’ vaccinal response after the two doses. Age, gender and the use of immunosuppressive treatment did not influence post-vaccinal antibody production. Conclusion: Vaccination against COVID-19 in Senegalese hemodialysis patients induced a low seroconversion rate but it was well tolerated. Moreover, the induced protection was neither strong nor durable, particularly in patients with longer duration in dialysis.

Cellular strategies to induce immune tolerance after liver transplantation:Clinical perspectives

Liver transplantation(LT)has become the most efficient treatment for pediatric and adult end-stage liver disease and the survival time after transplantation is becoming longer due to the development of surgical techniques and perioperative management.However,long-term side-effects of immunosuppressants,like infection,metabolic disorders and malignant tumor are gaining more attention.Immune tolerance is the status in which LT recipients no longer need to take any immunosuppressants,but the liver function and intrahepatic histology maintain normal.The approaches to achieve immune tolerance after transplantation include spontaneous,operational and induced tolerance.The first two means require no specific intervention but withdrawing immunosuppressant gradually during follow-up.No clinical factors or biomarkers so far could accurately predict who are suitable for immunosuppressant withdraw after transplantation.With the understanding to the underlying mechanisms of immune tolerance,many strategies have been developed to induce tolerance in LT recipients.Cellular strategy is one of the most promising methods for immune tolerance induction,including chimerism induced by hematopoietic stem cells and adoptive transfer of regulatory immune cells.The safety and efficacy of various cell products have been evaluated by prospective preclinical and clinical trials,while obstacles still exist before translating into clinical practice.Here,we will summarize the latest perspectives and concerns on the clinical application of cellular strategies in LT recipients.

Emerging Trends in Damage Tolerance Assessment:A Review of Smart Materials and Self-Repairable Structures

The discipline of damage tolerance assessment has experienced significant advancements due to the emergence of smart materials and self-repairable structures.This review offers a comprehensive look into both traditional and innovative methodologies employed in damage tolerance assessment.After a detailed exploration of damage tolerance concepts and their historical progression,the review juxtaposes the proven techniques of damage assessment with the cutting-edge innovations brought about by smart materials and self-repairable structures.The subsequent sections delve into the synergistic integration of smart materials with self-repairable structures,marking a pivotal stride in damage tolerance by establishing an autonomous system for immediate damage identification and self-repair.This holistic approach broadens the applicability of these technologies across diverse sectors yet brings forth unique challenges demanding further innovation and research.Additionally,the review examines future prospects that combine advanced manufacturing processes with data-centric methodologies,amplifying the capabilities of these‘intelligent’structures.The review culminates by highlighting the transformative potential of this union between smart materials and self-repairable structures,promoting a sustainable and efficient engineering paradigm.

Assessment of molecular markers and marker-assisted selection for drought tolerance in barley(Hordeum vulgare L.)

This review updates the present status of the field of molecular markers and marker-assisted selection(MAS),using the example of drought tolerance in barley.The accuracy of selected quantitative trait loci(QTLs),candidate genes and suggested markers was assessed in the barley genome cv.Morex.Six common strategies are described for molecular marker development,candidate gene identification and verification,and their possible applications in MAS to improve the grain yield and yield components in barley under drought stress.These strategies are based on the following five principles:(1)Molecular markers are designated as genomic‘tags’,and their‘prediction’is strongly dependent on their distance from a candidate gene on genetic or physical maps;(2)plants react differently under favourable and stressful conditions or depending on their stage of development;(3)each candidate gene must be verified by confirming its expression in the relevant conditions,e.g.,drought;(4)the molecular marker identified must be validated for MAS for tolerance to drought stress and improved grain yield;and(5)the small number of molecular markers realized for MAS in breeding,from among the many studies targeting candidate genes,can be explained by the complex nature of drought stress,and multiple stress-responsive genes in each barley genotype that are expressed differentially depending on many other factors.

Flavonol synthase gene MsFLS13 regulates saline-alkali stress tolerance in alfalfa

Alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most extensively grown leguminous forage worldwide.Environmental saline-alkali stress significantly influences the growth,development,and yield of alfalfa,posing a threat to its agricultural production.However,little is known about the potential mechanisms by which alfalfa responds to saline-alkali stress.Here,we investigated these mechanisms by cloning a saline-alkali-induced flavonol synthase gene(Ms FLS13) from alfalfa,which was previously reported to be significantly upregulated under saline-alkali stress,and examining its function in the saline-alkali response.Overexpression of Ms FLS13 in alfalfa promoted plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress by enhancing flavonol accumulation,antioxidant capacity,osmotic balance,and photosynthetic efficiency.Conversely,Ms FLS13 inhibition using RNA interference reduced flavonol synthase activity and inhibited hairy root growth under saline-alkali stress.Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase reporter assays indicated that the R2R3-MYB Ms MYB12 transcription factor activates Ms FLS13 expression by binding to the MBS motif in the Ms FLS13 promoter.Further analysis revealed that abscisic acid mediates the salinealkali stress response partially by inducing Ms MYB12 and Ms FLS13 expression,which consequently increases flavonol levels and maintains antioxidant homeostasis in alfalfa.Collectively,our findings highlight the crucial role of Ms FLS13 in alfalfa in response to saline-alkali stress and provide a novel genetic resource for creating saline-alkali-resistant alfalfa through genetic engineering.

Priming for Saline-Alkaline Tolerance in Rice:Current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Soil salinization and/or alkalization is a major constraint to crop production worldwide.Approximately 60% of the cultivated land is affected by salt,over half of which is alkalized.Alkaline soils are characterized by high alkalinity and typically high salinity,which creates a complex saline-alkaline(SA) stress that affects plant growth.Rice cultivation has been accepted as an important strategy for effective utilization of SA land if water is available for irrigation.Nevertheless,as a salt-sensitive plant,rice plants suffer severe SA-induced damage,which results in poor plant growth and grain yield.Various approaches have been employed to improve rice productivity in SA land.Among them,the priming technique has emerged as a powerful method for enhancing SA tolerance in rice plants.In this review,we summarized how SA stress damages rice plants,and then presented how priming treatment can mitigate such damage.

Overexpression of vacuolar proton pump ATPase(V-H^+-ATPase) subunits B, C and H confers tolerance to salt and saline-alkali stresses in transgenic alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.)

The vacuolar proton pump ATPase(V-H^+-ATPase), which is a multi-subunit membrane protein complex, plays a major role in the activation of ion and nutrient transport and has been suggested to be involved in several physiological processes, such as cell expansion and salt tolerance. In this study, three genes encoding V-H^+-ATPase subunits B(Sc VHA-B, Gen Bank: JF826506), C(Sc VHA-C, Gen Bank: JF826507) and H(Sc VHA-H, Gen Bank: JF826508) were isolated from the halophyte Suaeda corniculata. The transcript levels of Sc VHA-B, Sc VHA-C and Sc VHA-H were increased by salt, drought and saline-alkali treatments. V-H^+-ATPase activity was also examined under salt, drought and saline-alkali stresses. The results showed that V-H^+-ATPase activity was correlated with salt, drought and saline-alkali stress. Furthermore, V-H^+-ATPase subunits B, C and H(Sc VHA-B, Sc VHA-C and Sc VHA-H) from S. corniculata were introduced separately into the alfalfa genome. The transgenic alfalfa was verified by Southern and Northern blot analysis. During salt and saline-alkali stresses, transgenic lines carrying the B, C and H subunits had higher germination rates than the wild type(WT). More free proline, higher superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and lower malondialdehyde(MDA) levels were detected in the transgenic plants under salt and saline-alkali treatments. Moreover, the Sc VHA-B transgenic lines showed greater tolerance to salt and saline-alkali stresses than the WT. These results suggest that overexpression of Sc VHA-B, Sc VHA-C and Sc VHA-H improves tolerance to salt and saline-alkali stresses in transgenic alfalfa.

More than a simple egg:Underlying mechanisms of cold tolerance in avian embryos

Avian embryos,which develop within eggs,exhibit remarkable tolerance to extremely low temperatures.Despite being a common trait among all birds,the mechanisms underlying this cold tolerance in avian embryos remain largely unknown.To gain a better understanding of this phenomenon and the coping mechanisms involved,we reviewed the literature on severe cold tolerance in embryos of both wild and domestic birds.We found that embryos of different bird orders exhibit tolerance to severe cold during their development.In response to cold stress,embryos slow down their heartbeat rates and metabolism.In severe cold temperatures,embryos can suspend these processes,entering a torpid-like state of cardiac arrest.To compensate for these developmental delays,embryos extend their regular incubation periods.Depending on their embryonic age,embryos of all bird species can tolerate acute severe cold regimes;only a few tolerate chronic severe cold regimes.We also discussed various extrinsic and intrinsic factors that affect the tolerance of bird embryos to low temperatures before and after incubation.Cold tolerance appears to be a heritable trait shared by wild and domestic embryos of all bird classes,regardless of egg size or development(altricial/precocial).Driven by environmental variability,cold tolerance in avian embryos is an optimal physiological and ecological strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of cold conditions on their development in response to fluctuating environmental temperatures.

Exogenous melatonin improves the chilling tolerance and preharvest fruit shelf life in eggplant by affecting ROS-and senescence-related processes

Low temperature is the most common abiotic stress factors during the eggplant cultivation in solar greenhouses.Melatonin plays important roles in plant resistance to low temperature.However,the role of melatonin in regulating chilling tolerance and extending the preharvest shelf life of eggplant fruits is still unknown.In this study,we investigated the effects of exogenous melatonin on eggplant plants and fruits in response to low temperature.Under simulated low-temperature conditions,exogenous melatonin significantly relieved the chilling symptoms of seedlings by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and relative leakage rates.These reductions were caused by higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and increased endogenous polyamine and melatonin levels compared with those in untreated seedlings.Notably,the expression levels of SOD,CAT1/2,and polyamine synthesis genes (ADC and ODC) were also increased by 100μmol·L~(-1)melatonin,as well as those of genes involved in melatonin synthesis (TDC,T5H,SNAT,ASMT,and COMT) and cold regulation (COR1,CBFa/b,and ZAT2/6/12).To further investigate the effects of melatonin on eggplant leaves and fruits under natural low temperature conditions,100μmol·L~(-1)melatonin was sprayed on the functional leaves at three days before commodity maturation.Melatonin significantly alleviated chilling injury in the leaves and pericarp and extended the preharvest shelf life of the fruit by increasing the expression of COR1,CBF,ZAT2/6/12,and API5 and decreasing the expression of senescence-related genes (NCED1/2 and SAG12).Therefore,100μmol·L~(-1)melatonin improved chilling tolerance and fruit shelf life by upregulating ZAT2/6/12 to affect ROS-and senescence-related processes,which provides a reference for alleviating cold stress and extending the preharvest fruit shelf life in eggplant.

OsMas1,a novel maspardin protein gene,confers tolerance to salt and drought stresses by regulating ABA signaling in rice

Drought and salt stresses,the major environmental abiotic stresses in agriculture worldwide,affect plant growth,crop productivity,and quality.Therefore,developing crops with higher drought and salt tolerance is highly desirable.This study reported the isolation,biological function,and molecular characterization of a novel maspardin gene,OsMas1,from rice.The OsMas1 protein was localized to the cytoplasm.The expression levels of OsMas1 were up-regulated under mannitol,PEG6000,NaCl,and abscisic acid(ABA) treatments in rice.The OsMas1 gene was introduced into the rice cultivar Zhonghua 11(wild type,WT).OsMas1-overexpression(OsMas1-OE) plants exhibited significantly enhanced salt and drought tolerance;in contrast,OsMas1-interference(OsMas1-RNAi) plants exhibited decreased tolerance to salt and drought stresses,compared with WT.OsMas1-OE plants exhibited enhanced hypersensitivity,while OsMas1-RNAi plants showed less sensitivity to exogenous ABA treatment at both germination and post-germination stages.ABA,proline and K+ contents and superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),peroxidase(POD),and photosynthesis activities were significantly increased.In contrast,malonaldehyde(MDA),hydrogen peroxide(H2O2),superoxide anion radical(O2-··),and Na+ contents were significantly decreased in OsMas1-OE plants compared with OsMas1-RNAi and WT plants.Overexpression of OsMas1 up-regulated the genes involved in ABA signaling,proline biosynthesis,reactive oxygen species(ROS)-scavenging system,photosynthesis,and ion transport under salt and drought stresses.Our results indicate that the OsMas1 gene improves salt and drought tolerance in rice,which may serve as a candidate gene for enhancing crop resistance to abiotic stresses.

Chromosome-scale genome sequence of Suaeda glauca sheds light on salt stress tolerance in halophytes

Soil salinity is a growing concern for global crop production and the sustainable development of humanity.Therefore,it is crucial to comprehend salt tolerance mechanisms and identify salt-tolerance genes to enhance crop tolerance to salt stress.Suaeda glauca,a halophyte species well adapted to the seawater environment,possesses a unique ability to absorb and retain high salt concentrations within its cells,particularly in its leaves,suggesting the presence of a distinct mechanism for salt tolerance.In this study,we performed de novo sequencing of the S.glauca genome.The genome has a size of 1.02 Gb(consisting of two sets of haplotypes)and contains 54761 annotated genes,including alleles and repeats.Comparative genomic analysis revealed a strong synteny between the genomes of S.glauca and Beta vulgaris.Of the S.glauca genome,70.56%comprises repeat sequences,with retroelements being the most abundant.Leveraging the allele-aware assembly of the S.glauca genome,we investigated genome-wide allele-specific expression in the analyzed samples.The results indicated that the diversity in promoter sequences might contribute to consistent allele-specific expression.Moreover,a systematic analysis of the ABCE gene families shed light on the formation of S.glauca’s flower morphology,suggesting that dysfunction of A-class genes is responsible for the absence of petals in S.glauca.Gene family expansion analysis demonstrated significant enrichment of Gene Ontology(GO)terms associated with DNA repair,chromosome stability,DNA demethylation,cation binding,and red/far-red light signaling pathways in the co-expanded gene families of S.glauca and S.aralocaspica,in comparison with glycophytic species within the chenopodium family.Time-course transcriptome analysis under salt treatments revealed detailed responses of S.glauca to salt tolerance,and the enrichment of the transition-upregulated genes in the leaves associated with DNA repair and chromosome stability,lipid biosynthetic process,and isoprenoid metabolic process.Additionally,genome-wide analysis of transcription factors indicated a significant expansion of FAR1 gene family.However,further investigation is needed to determine the exact role of the FAR1 gene family in salt tolerance in S.glauca.

Towards understanding the mechanism of n-hexane tolerance in Synechocystis sp.PCC 6803

Synthetic biology efforts have also led to the development of photosynthetic cyanobacteria as"autotrophic cell factories"for biosynthesis of various biofuels directly from CO_(2).However,the low tolerance to toxicity of biofuels has restricted the economic application of cyanobacterial hosts.In this study,RNAseq transcriptomics was employed to reveal stress responses to exogenous n-hexane in Synechocystis sp.PCC 6803.Functional enrichment analysis of the transcriptomic data showed that signal transduction systems were induced significantly.To further identify regulatory genes related to n-hexane tolerance,a library of transcriptional regulators(TRs)deletion mutants was then screened for their roles in nhexane tolerance.The results showed that a knockout mutant of slr0724 that encodes an Hta R suppressor protein was more tolerant to n-hexane than the wild type,indicating the involvement of slr0724 in nhexane tolerance.This study provides the foundation for better understanding the cellular responses to n-hexane in Synechocystis sp.PCC 6803,which could contribute to the further engineering of nhexane tolerance in cyanobacteria.

Identification of stable quantitative trait loci underlying waterlogging tolerance post-anthesis in common wheat(Triticum aestivum)

Waterlogging is a growing threat to wheat production in high-rainfall areas.In this study,a doubled haploid(DH) population developed from a cross between Yangmai 16(waterlogging-tolerant) and Zhongmai895(waterlogging-sensitive) was used to map quantitative trait loci(QTL) for waterlogging tolerance using a high-density 660K single-nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) array.Two experimental designs,waterlogging concrete tank(CT) and waterlogging plastic tank(PT),were used to simulate waterlogging during anthesis in five environments across three growing seasons.Waterlogging significantly decreased thousand-kernel weight(TKW) relative to non-waterlogged controls,although the degree varied across lines.Three QTL for waterlogging tolerance were identified on chromosomes 4AL,5AS,and 7DL in at least two environments.All favorable alleles were contributed by the waterlogging-tolerant parent Yangmai16.QWTC.caas-4AL exhibited pleiotropic effects on both enhancing waterlogging tolerance and decreasing plant height.Six high-confidence genes were annotated within the QTL interval.The combined effects of QWTC.caas-4AL and QWTC.caas-5AS greatly improved waterlogging tolerance,while the combined effects of all three identified QTL(QWTC.caas-4AL,QWTC.caas-5AS,and QWTC.caas-7DL) exhibited the most significant effect on waterlogging tolerance.Breeder-friendly kompetitive allele-specific PCR(KASP) markers(K_AX_111523809,K_AX_108971224,and K_AX_110553316) flanking the interval of QWTC.caas-4AL,QWTC.caas-5AS,and QWTC.caas-7DL were produced.These markers were tested in a collection of 240 wheat accessions,and three superior polymorphisms of the markers distributed over 67elite cultivars in the test population,from the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu,Anhui,and Hubei.The three KASP markers could be used for marker-assisted selection(MAS) to improve waterlogging tolerance in wheat.

Hypoxia tolerance in fish depends on catabolic preference between lipids and carbohydrates

Hypoxia is a common environmental stress factor in aquatic organisms,which varies among fish species.However,the mechanisms underlying the ability of fish species to tolerate hypoxia are not well known.Here,we showed that hypoxia response in different fish species was affected by lipid catabolism and preference for lipid or carbohydrate energy sources.Activation of biochemical lipid catabolism through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(Pparα)or increasing mitochondrial fat oxidation in tilapia decreased tolerance to acute hypoxia by increasing oxygen consumption and oxidative damage and reducing carbohydrate catabolism as an energy source.Conversely,lipid catabolism inhibition by suppressing entry of lipids into mitochondria in tilapia or individually knocking out three key genes of lipid catabolism in zebrafish increased tolerance to acute hypoxia by decreasing oxygen consumption and oxidative damage and promoting carbohydrate catabolism.However,anaerobic glycolysis suppression eliminated lipid catabolism inhibition-promoted hypoxia tolerance in adipose triglyceride lipase(atgl)mutant zebrafish.Using 14 fish species with different trophic levels and taxonomic status,the fish preferentially using lipids for energy were more intolerant to acute hypoxia than those preferentially using carbohydrates.Our study shows that hypoxia tolerance in fish depends on catabolic preference for lipids or carbohydrates,which can be modified by regulating lipid catabolism.