Fine mapping of two recessive genes TaFLA1 and TaSPL8 controlling flag leaf angle in bread wheat

Flag leaf angle is one of the key target traits in high yield wheat breeding.A smaller flag leaf angle reduces shading and enables plants to grow at a higher density,which increases yield.Here we identified a mutant,je0407,with an 84.34%-89.35%smaller flag leaf angle compared with the wild type.The mutant also had an abnormal lamina joint and no ligule or auricle.Genetic analysis indicated that the ligule was controlled by two recessive genes,which were mapped to chromosomes 2AS and 2DL.The mutant allele on chromosome 2AS was named Tafla1b,and it was fine mapped to a 1 Mb physical interval.The mutant allele on chr.2DL was identified as Taspl8b,a novel allele of TaSPL8 with a missense mutation in the second exon,which was used to develop a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker.F3 and F4 lines derived from crosses between Jing411 and je0407 were genotyped to investigate interactions between the Tafla1b and Taspl8b alleles.Plants with the Tafla1b/Taspl8a genotype had 58.41%-82.76%smaller flag leaf angles,6.4%-24.9%shorter spikes,and a greater spikelet density(0.382 more spikelets per cm)compared with the wild type.Plants with the Tafla1a/Taspl8b genotype had 52.62%-82.24%smaller flag leaf angles and no differences in plant height or spikelet density compared with the wild type.Tafla1b/Taspl8b plants produced erect leaves with an abnormal lamina joint.The two alleles had dosage effects on ligule formation and flag leaf angle,but no significant effect on thousand-grain weight.The mutant alleles provide novel resources for improvement of wheat plant architecture.

ZmbZIP27 regulates nitrogen-mediated leaf angle by modulating lignin deposition in maize

In grain crops such as maize(Zea mays),leaf angle(LA)is a key agronomic trait affecting light interception and thus planting density and yield.Nitrogen(N)affects LA in plants,but we lack a good understanding of how N regulates LA.Here,we report that N deficiency enhanced lignin deposition in the ligular region of maize seedlings.In situ hybridization showed that the bZIP transcription factor gene ZmbZIP27 is mainly expressed in the phloem of maize vascular bundles.Under N-sufficient conditions,transgenic maize overexpressing ZmbZIP27 showed significantly smaller LA compared with wild type(WT).By contrast,zmbzip27_(ems)mutant showed larger LA under both N-deficient and N-sufficient conditions compared with WT.Overexpression of ZmbZIP27 enhanced lignin deposition in the ligular region of maize in the field.We further demonstrated that ZmbZIP27 could directly bind the promoters of the microRNA genes ZmMIR528a and ZmMIR528b and negatively regulate the expression levels of ZmmiR528.ZmmiR528 knockdown transgenic maize displayed erect architecture in the field by increasing lignin content in the ligular region of maize.Taken together,these results indicate that ZmbZIP27 regulates N-mediated LA size by regulating the expression of ZmmiR528 and modulating lignin deposition in maize.

Analysis on Genetic Characteristics of Leaf Angle in Waxy Corn

The leaf angle in waxy corn is a significant trait for breeding corn with compact plant type, which is beneficial to improve yield. According to the Griffing method II, the GCA （general combining ability） and SCA （specific combining ability） of leaf angle trait in the 7 waxy corn inbred lines and 21 combinations were esti-mated, and the genetic characteristics of leaf angle in corn were also analyzed. The results showed that among the 7 inbred lines, the GCA values ranked as N22 〉N8 〉 N28 〉 N7 〉 N23 〉 N27 〉 N4. The GCA of N27 showed great negative ef-fect, and the genetic variance of its SCA was lower. It suggested that the N27 can be used as an ideal parent for breeding excel ent combinations with smal leaf angle and compact plant type. The inheritance of leaf angle trait in waxy corn is in ac-cordance with the model of ＂additive - dominant - epistatic＂. The efficiency of leaf angle trait is control ed by recessive genes. The broad heritability of leaf angle trait in waxy corn is relative low （68.5%）, but its narrow heritability is relatively high （72.62%）. In the breeding practices, the early-generation selection is more suitable for the leaf angel trait.

Genetic Analysis and QTL Mapping of Large Flag Leaf Angle Trait in Japonica Rice

Genetic segregation analysis for flag leaf angle was conducted using six generations of P1, P2, F1, B1, B2 and F2 derived from a cross of 863B （a maintainer line of japonica rice） and A7444 （a germplasm with large flag leaf angle）. Genotypes and phenotypes of flag leaf angle were investigated in 863B （P1）, A7444 （P2） and 141 plants in BC^F~ （863BIA744411863B） population. An SSR genetic linkage map was constructed and QTLs for flag leaf angle were detected. The genetic map containing 79 information loci was constructed, which covers a total distance of 441.6 cM, averaging 5.6 cM between two neighboring loci. Results showed that the trait was controlled by two major genes plus polygene and the major genes were more important. Fifteen markers showed highly significant correlations with flag leaf angle based on single marker regression analysis. Two QTLs （qFLA2 and qFLA8） for flag leaf angle were detected by both composite interval method in software WinQTLCart 2.5 and composite interval method based on mixed linear model in QTL Network 2.0. The qFLA2 explained 10.50% and 13.28% of phenotypic variation, respectively, and was located at the interval of RM300 and RM145 on the short arm of chromosome 2. The qFLA8 explained 9.59% and 7.64% of phenotypic variation, respectively, and was located at the interval flanking RM6215 and RM8265 on the long arm of chromosome 8. The positive alleles at the two QTLs were both contributed from A7444.

Simulation of Canopy Leaf Inclination Angle in Rice

A leaf inclination angle distribution model, which is applicable to simulate leaf inclination angle distribution in six heights of layered canopy at different growth stages, was established by component factors affecting plant type in rice. The accuracy of the simulation results was validated by measured values from a field experiment. The coefficient of determination （R2） and the root mean square error （RMSE） between the simulated and measured values were 0.9472 and 3.93%, respectively. The simulation results showed that the distribution of leaf inclination angles differed among the three plant types. The leaf inclination angles were larger in the compact variety Liangyoupeijiu with erect leaves than in the loose variety Shanyou 63 with droopy leaves and the intermediate variety Liangyou Y06. The leaf inclination angles were distributed in the lower range in Shanyou 63, which matched up with field measurements. The distribution of leaf inclination angles in the same variety changed throughout the seven growth stages. The leaf inclination angles enlarged gradually from transplanting to booting. During the post-booting period, the leaf inclination angle increased in Shanyou 63 and Liangyou Y06, but changed little in Liangyoupeijiu. At every growth stage of each variety, canopy leaf inclination angle distribution on the six heights of canopy layers was variable. As canopy height increased, the layered leaf area index （LAI） decreased in all the three plant types. However, while the leaf inclination angles showed little change in Liangyoupeijiu, they became larger in Shanyou 63 but smaller in Liangyou Y06. The simulation results used in the constructed model were very similar to the actual measurement values. The model provides a method for estimating canopy leaf inclination angle distribution in rice production.

Leaf pigment retrieval using the PROSAIL model: Influence of uncertainty in prior canopy-structure information

Leaf pigments are critical indicators of plant photosynthesis,stress,and physiological conditions.Inversion of radiative transfer models(RTMs)is a promising method for robustly retrieving leaf biochem-ical traits from canopy observations,and adding prior information has been effective in alleviating the“ill-posed”problem,a major challenge in model inversion.Canopy structure parameters,such as leaf area index(LAI)and average leaf inclination angle(ALA),can serve as prior information for leaf pigment retrie-val.Using canopy spectra simulated from the PROSAIL model,we estimated the effects of uncertainty in LAI and ALA used as prior information for lookup table-based inversions of leaf chlorophyll(C _(ab))and car-otenoid(C_(ar)).The retrieval accuracies of the two pigments were increased by use of the priors of LAI(RMSE of C_(ab) from 7.67 to 6.32μg cm^(-2),C_(ar) from 2.41 to 2.28μg cm^(-2))and ALA(RMSE of C_(ab) from 7.67 to 5.72μg cm^(-2),C_(ar) from 2.41 to 2.23μg cm^(-2)).However,this improvement deteriorated with an increase of additive and multiplicative uncertainties,and when 40% and 20% noise was added to LAI and ALA respectively,these priors ceased to increase retrieval accuracy.Validation using an experimental winter wheat dataset also showed that compared with C_(ar),the estimation accuracy of C_(ab) increased more or deteriorated less with uncertainty in prior canopy structure.This study demonstrates possible limita-tions of using prior information in RTM inversions for retrieval of leaf biochemistry,when large uncer-tainties are present.

Comparative Study of Rice Morphogenesis with Different Cultivation Methods

[Objective] The aim of this study was to compare the morphological char- acteristics of rice （Oryza sativa L.） with different cultivation methods and investigate the dynamics of organ growth and development characteristics of different rice culti- vars. [Method] Based on continuous field observation and destructive sampling over a growing season, detailed organ morphological data were obtained including leaf length, node number, plant height, tiller number, leaf angle, leaf area and specific leaf weight, to compare organ morphological differences among 4 rice cultivars of Baidao （indica）, Jinnanfeng （japonica）, 9325 （japonica） and 9915 （japonica） with 3 cultivation methods of field planting in Weigang, pot planting in Weigang, and field planting in Jiangpu. [Result] Maximum leaf length of each node gradually increased at the early growth stage and decreased at the later growth stage, the relationship between maximum leaf length and node position can be described by the equations y=a,,-~ and y=ax＋b; node number, growth duration, leaf length and plant height of pot planting rice in Weigang were smaller than that of the other two field planting meth- ods; the relationship between plant height and sunshine duration, plant height and GDD （growing degree days） can be described by the equation y=ax＋b, 19.23 ℃.d of GDD （≥10 ≥-d） and 8.12 h of sunshine duration were required to increase 1 cm of plant height; plant height, tiller number, and leaf area of Baidao were higher than that of the other 3 laponica rice cultivars, but the specific leaf weight and leaf angle were smaller. [Conclusion] Comparison of morphological characteristic differ- ences among rice cultivars is an important way to select water-saving and drought- tolerant rice varieties. In this study, the experimental results can be integrated into a rice functional-architectural model to simulate rice organ growth dynamics in a three- dimensional space, thereby providing reference for selecting water-saving and drought-tolerant rice cultivars.

A Generalized Layered Radiative Transfer Model in the Vegetation Canopy

In this paper, a generalized layered model for radiation transfer in canopy with high vertical resolution is developed. Differing from the two-stream approximate radiation transfer model commonly used in the land surface models, the generalized model takes into account the effect of complicated canopy morphology and inhomogeneous optical properties of leaves on radiation transfer within the canopy. In the model, the total leaf area index （LAI） of the canopy is divided into many layers. At a given layer, the influences of diffuse radiation angle distributions and leaf angle distributions on radiation transfer within the canopy are considered. The derivation of equations serving the model are described in detail, and these can deal with various diffuse radiation transfers in quite broad categories of canopy with quite inhomogeneons vertical structures and uneven leaves with substantially different optical properties of adaxial and abaxial faces of the leaves. The model is used to simulate the radiation transfer for canopies with horizontal leaves to validate the generalized model. Results from the model are compared with those from the two-stream scheme, and differences between these two models are discussed.

Breeding maize of ideal plant architecture for high-density planting tolerance through modulating shade avoidance response and beyond

Maize is a major staple crop widely used as food,animal feed,and raw materials in industrial production.High-density planting is a major factor contributing to the continuous increase of maize yield.However,high planting density usually triggers a shade avoidance response and causes increased plant height and ear height,resulting in lodging and yield loss.Reduced plant height and ear height,more erect leaf angle,reduced tassel branch number,earlier flowering,and strong root system architecture are five key morphological traits required for maize adaption to high-density planting.In this review,we summarize recent advances in deciphering the genetic and molecular mechanisms of maize involved in response to high-density planting.We also discuss some strategies for breeding advanced maize cultivars with superior performance under high-density planting conditions.

Phytochrome B interacts with LIGULELESS1 to control plant architecture and density tolerance in maize

Over the past few decades,significant improvements in maize yield have been largely attributed to increased plant density of upright hybrid varieties rather than increased yield per plant.However,dense planting triggers shade avoidance responses(SARs)that optimize light absorption but impair plant vigor and performance,limiting yield improvement through increasing plant density.In this study,we demonstrated that high-density-induced leaf angle narrowing and stem/stalk elongation are largely dependent on phytochrome B(phyB1/B2),the primaryphotoreceptor responsible for perceiving red(R)and far-red(FR)light in maize.We found that maize phyB physically interacts with the LIGULELESS1(LG1),a classical key regulator of leaf angle,to coordinately regulate plant architecture and density tolerance.The abundance of LG1 is significantly increased by phyB under high R:FR light(low density)but rapidly decreases under low R:FR light(high density),correlating with variations in leaf angle and plant height under various densities.In addition,we identified the homeobox transcription factor HB53 as a target co-repressed by both phyB and LG1 but rapidly induced by canopy shade.Genetic and cellular analyses showed that HB53 regulates plant architecture by controlling the elongation and division of ligular adaxial and abaxial cells.Taken together,these findings uncover the phyB-LG1-HB53 regulatory module as a key molecular mechanism governing plant architecture and density tolerance,providing potential genetic targets for breeding maize hybrid varieties suitable for high-density planting.