Brassica napus(B.napus)is a globally significant oilseed crop,making a substantial contribution to both human oil and livestock feed production.Enhancing seed weight is crucial for improving rapeseed yield;however,onl...Brassica napus(B.napus)is a globally significant oilseed crop,making a substantial contribution to both human oil and livestock feed production.Enhancing seed weight is crucial for improving rapeseed yield;however,only a limited number of seed weight-related genes have been functionally validated in B.napus thus far.UBIQUITINSPECIFIC PROTEASE 15(UBP15)belongs to the ubiquitin protease pathway and plays a maternal role in prolonging seed development in Arabidopsis.The potential utilization of UBP15 for enhancing seed yield in B.napus has remained unexplored until now.In this study,we identified the orthologs of UBP15 in B.napus and investigated its functionality using the CRISPR-Cas9 system.We generated mutant plants with multiple editing types targeting Bnaubp15s and successfully isolated T-DNA-free homozygous mutant lines that exhibited edits across four homologs of BnaUBP15 in T2 generation plants.Our preliminary data demonstrated that mutation of BnaUBP15s significantly reduced seed size,seed weight,and plant height while noticeably increasing the number of primary branches.These findings not only provide crucial evidence for further elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of seed weight and size by BnaUBP15s but also offer promising novel germplasm for enhancing plant architecture.展开更多
Seed size and the growth environment are important variables that influence seed germination, growth and biomass of seedlings and future tree harvest and should thus be taken into account in agroforestry and reforesta...Seed size and the growth environment are important variables that influence seed germination, growth and biomass of seedlings and future tree harvest and should thus be taken into account in agroforestry and reforestation programmes for endangered species like Pterocarpus erinaceus. In the present study, to assess seedling germination and vigour in P. erinaceus as a function of seed size in two environments, 1080 seeds and 360 seedlings were evaluated at two separate sites in Côte d'Ivoire. The results show that large seeds had very high germination rates (up to 100%) and produced more vigorous plants better able to adapt to climate change. The maternal environment and seed size had a significant influence on seed germination (P < 0.05) and seedling development (P < 0.05) and biomass (P < 0.05). Seedlings were most successful at the site with a humid tropical climate (Daloa). Seedling leaves had the same resistance regardless of seed size and study site, but leaf moisture content was more stable in seedlings grown from medium and small seeds. These results will help guide conservation strategies for the species and are key factors for rural populations, loggers, and forest management structures for the silviculture of this species.展开更多
Adzuki bean(Vigna angularis(Willd.)Ohwi&Ohashi)is an annual cultivated leguminous crop commonly grown in Asia and consumed worldwide.However,there has been limited research regarding adzuki bean genetics,which has...Adzuki bean(Vigna angularis(Willd.)Ohwi&Ohashi)is an annual cultivated leguminous crop commonly grown in Asia and consumed worldwide.However,there has been limited research regarding adzuki bean genetics,which has prevented the efficient application of genes during breeding.In the present study,we constructed a high-density genetic map based on whole genome re-sequencing technology and validated its utility by mining QTLs related to seed size.Moreover,we analyzed the sequences flanking insertions/deletions(In Dels)to develop a set of PCR-based markers useful for characterizing adzuki bean genetics.A total of 2904 markers were mapped to 11 linkage groups(LGs).The total length of the map was 1365.0 cM,with an average distance between markers of 0.47 cM.Among the LGs,the number of markers ranged from 208(LG7)to 397(LG1)and the total distance ranged from 97.4 cM(LG9)to 155.6 cM(LG1).Twelve QTLs related to seed size were identified using the constructed map.The two major QTLs in LG2 and LG9 explained 22.1 and 18.8%of the total phenotypic variation,respectively.Ten minor QTLs in LG4,LG5 and LG6 explained 3.0–10.4%of the total phenotypic variation.A total of 9718 primer pairs were designed based on the sequences flanking In Dels.Among the 200 selected primer pairs,75 revealed polymorphisms in 24 adzuki bean germplasms.The genetic map constructed in this study will be useful for screening genes related to other traits.Furthermore,the QTL analysis of seed size and the novel markers described herein may be relevant for future molecular investigations of adzuki bean and will be useful for exploiting the mechanisms underlying legume seed development.展开更多
The origin of a seed strongly impacts its traits, and both origin and seed traits influence seed germination and seedling development. However, in many instances, this effect on the seedling does not persist into adul...The origin of a seed strongly impacts its traits, and both origin and seed traits influence seed germination and seedling development. However, in many instances, this effect on the seedling does not persist into adulthood, and little is known about how seed traits and original environment affect seedling/tree growth over time. In this study, seed size, seed mass, seedling/tree growth and origins were collected and determined for 23 provenances of Quercus acutissima from across China. Origin variables correlated well with seed size and seed mass. In stepwise multiple regressions, a longitudinal aridity index explained 49.2-68.7% of the total variation in seed size and mass, while only seed width was correlated with seedling/tree height (H) and diameter at the ground (D) from seed traits and origins. The total variance in H and D explained by the models decreased over time, for example, the R <sup>2</sup> value of the models for H declined from 0.477 in the first year to 0.224 in the fourth year; no models was significant in the fifth year. These results indicate that seed size, regulated by the longitudinal aridity index strongly impacted seedling and tree growth, but the strength of the influence decreased over time, and disappeared after 4?years.展开更多
Chickpea is an important food legume crop of Turkey and is largely grown for human consumption on low moisture or salt-affected soils. The objective of the study was to find the effects of NaCl stress at electrical co...Chickpea is an important food legume crop of Turkey and is largely grown for human consumption on low moisture or salt-affected soils. The objective of the study was to find the effects of NaCl stress at electrical conductivities of 4.5,8.6,12.7 and 16.3 dS/m and seed sizes(7,8 and 9 mm) on germination and early seedling growth of three popular chickpea cultivars(AKN-97,Gokce and Uzunlu-99). Mean frequency of germination,germination time,germination index,root length,shoot length and seedling fresh weight showed seed size-dependent responses of cultivars to salt stress. In general,small seeds germinated and grew more rapidly compared to medium and large seeds of the same cultivars against all levels of salt stress,with the best results in cultivar Uzunlu-99. No effect of NaCl treatments was observed on frequency of germination;however,a drastic decrease in early seedling growth was recorded at increased NaCl concentrations. Regression analysis results showed a significantly positive rela-tionship(P<0.01) between seed size and mean germination time,whereas a significantly negative relationship was recorded between seed size and germination index,root length,shoot length. Moreover,linear regression values apparently confirmed that increased seed size in each cultivar affected decreased germination index,root and shoot lengths with enhanced mean germination time. Thus,it was concluded that the use of small seeds could considerably reduce the production costs of chickpea in salt-affected soils.展开更多
Seed size is one of the vital traits determining seed appearance, quality, and yield. Untangling the genetic mechanisms regulating soybean 100-seed weight (100-SW), seed length and seed width across environments may p...Seed size is one of the vital traits determining seed appearance, quality, and yield. Untangling the genetic mechanisms regulating soybean 100-seed weight (100-SW), seed length and seed width across environments may provide a theoretical basis for improving seed yield. However, there are few reports related to QTL mapping of 100-SW across multiple ecological regions. In this study, 21 loci associated with seed size traits were identified using a genome-wide association of 5361 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across three ecoregions in China, which could explain 8.12%–14.25% of the phenotypic variance respectively. A new locus, named as SW9-1 on chromosome 9 that explained 10.05%–10.93% of the seed weight variance was found significantly related to seed size traits, and was not previously reported. The selection effect analysis showed that SW9-1 locus has a relatively high phenotypic effect (13.67) on 100-SW, with a greater contribution by the accessions with bigger seeds (3.69) than the accessions with small seeds (1.66). Increases in seed weight were accompanied by increases in the frequency of SW9-1T allele, with >90% of the bred varieties with a 100-SW >30 g carrying SW9-1T. Analysis of SW9-1 allelic variation in additional soybean accessions showed that SW9-1T allele accounting for 13.83% of the wild accessions, while in 46.55% and 51.57% of the landraces and bred accessions, respectively, this results indicating that the SW9-1 locus has been subjected to artificial selection during the early stages of soybean breeding, especially the utilization of SW9-1T in edamame for big seed. These results suggest that SW9-1 is a novel and reliable locus associated with seed size traits, and might have an important implication for increasing soybean seed weight in molecular design breeding. Cloning this locus in future may provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying soybean seed size traits.展开更多
Use of individual plants as experimental units may be necessary when resources are limited, but inter-plant variation risks obscuring differences among treatments. Experiments were undertaken to measure the effects of...Use of individual plants as experimental units may be necessary when resources are limited, but inter-plant variation risks obscuring differences among treatments. Experiments were undertaken to measure the effects of seed size on seedling size and response to applied nitrogen of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) harvested six or nine weeks after emergence. In two series of experiments, shoot and root dry weights of seedlings increased respectively at means of 53 - 61 and 29 - 30 mg·mg-1 increase in mean seed weight. Between the largest and smallest seed sizes used in this study, there was 83% difference in shoot weight at harvest six weeks after emergence and 22% difference with harvest nine weeks after emergence. Nitrogen (N) application, in comparison, increased shoot dry weights by averages of 69% and 77% with harvests at six or nine weeks, respectively. Dry mass response to N application was similar across seed size categories in shoots or roots. A mean 30% of total seedling-N was retained in roots. Nitrogen utilization efficiency for shoot growth (increase in shoot growth per unit increase in shoot N capture) ranged from 64 mg·mg-1 with harvest six weeks after emergence to 114 mg·mg-1 with harvest at nine weeks after emergence. Delay in seedling harvest from six to nine weeks post-emergence and use of closely-graded seed can reduce variation in individual seedling size and contribute to reduction in random variation in small-scale experiments.展开更多
Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo L.) is a nutritionally valuable food and a significant source of income globally. Pumpkin seeds are rich in oil, protein, unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols, which are associated with...Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo L.) is a nutritionally valuable food and a significant source of income globally. Pumpkin seeds are rich in oil, protein, unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols, which are associated with improved human health. Understanding the genetic diversity among pumpkin accessions varying in seed nutrition traits is necessary for designing sound breeding strategies for developing superior cultivars. In the current study, 26 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were used to assess genetic relatedness among 29 C. pepo accessions varying in seed oil, seed protein, seed-coat phenotype, seed size and fatty acid composition. The SSR markers revealed 102 alleles averaging 3.92 alleles per loci and mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.44. Eleven of the markers had a PIC of ≥0.5. Ward dendrogram and principle component analysis based on seed traits grouped the genotypes into two major clusters corresponding to subspecies pepo and texana, with all the reduced-hull accessions grouping within the former. Collectively, this data suggests wide phenotypic (seed traits) and genotypic variation within C. pepo that may be exploited to develop superior reduced-hull cultivars.展开更多
The study aimed to determine the effect of seeds size (length, width, thickness and 100 seeds-weight) on their phytochemical composition (total phenolics, total flavonoids, total proteins, soluble sugars and starch) o...The study aimed to determine the effect of seeds size (length, width, thickness and 100 seeds-weight) on their phytochemical composition (total phenolics, total flavonoids, total proteins, soluble sugars and starch) of cowpea accessions (<em>Vigna unguiculata</em> (L.) Walp.) grown in Burkina Faso. The genotypes and their descendants had length, width, thickness and 100 seeds weight between 80 ± 0.7 to 7.40 ± 0.46 cm;6.51 ± 0.41 to 5.76 ± 0.46 cm;5.15 ± 0.37 to 4.22 ± 0.22 cm;12.93 ± 0.09 to 20.16 ± 0.39 g respectively. Total phenol, total flavonoid and starch contents ranged from 585.37 ± 9.73 to 1704.71 ± 4.87 mg GAE per 100 g DW;41.42 ± 2.03 to 52.26 ± 0.75 mg QE per 100 g DW;6.45% ± 0.3% to 46.58% ± 0.12% respectively. The soluble sugars and total proteins contents were ranged respectively from 149.33 ± 3.80 to 432.82 ± 40.81 μg/100mg, and 20.28 ± 0.17 to 27.32 ± 0.17 (%). Seeds size characters had significant and positive correlations with starch content, and significant and negative correlations with total phenolic content. The study of the genetic parameters of phytochemical traits also revealed that they are slightly influenced by the environment. Genetic factors are believed to account for the variation in the observed seed traits, which provides a high potential of studied accessions for breeding programs.展开更多
Yield improvement has long been an important task for soybean breeding in the world in order to meet the increasing demand for food and animal feed.mi R396 genes have been shown to negatively regulate grain size in ri...Yield improvement has long been an important task for soybean breeding in the world in order to meet the increasing demand for food and animal feed.mi R396 genes have been shown to negatively regulate grain size in rice,but whether mi R396 family members may function in a similar manner in soybean is unknown.Here,we generated eight soybean mutants harboring different combinations of homozygous mutations in the six soybean mi R396genes through genome editing with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease(Cas)12SF01 in the elite soybean cultivar Zhonghuang 302(ZH302).Four triple mutants(mir396aci,mir396acd,mir396adf,and mir396cdf),two quadruple mutants(mir396-abcd and mir396acfi),and two quintuple mutants(mir396abcdf and mir396bcdfi)were characterized.We found that plants of all the mir396 mutants produced larger seeds compared to ZH302 plants.Field tests showed that mir396adf and mir396cdf plants have significantly increased yield in growth zones with relatively high latitude which are suited for ZH302 and moderately increased yield in lower latitude.In contrast,mir396abcdf and mir396bcdfiplants have increased plant height and decreased yield in growth zones with relatively high latitude due to lodging issues,but they are suited for low latitude growth zones with increased yield without lodging problems.Taken together,our study demonstrated that loss-of-function of mi R396 genes leads to significantly enlarged seed size and increased yield in soybean,providing valuable germplasms for breeding high-yield soybean.展开更多
Plants produce nutritious,fleshy fruits that attract various animals to facilitate seed dispersal and recruitment dynamic.Species-specific differential selection of seed size by multiple frugivorous disperser assembla...Plants produce nutritious,fleshy fruits that attract various animals to facilitate seed dispersal and recruitment dynamic.Species-specific differential selection of seed size by multiple frugivorous disperser assemblages may affect the subsequent germination of the ingested seeds.However,there is little empirical evidence supporting this association.In the present study,we documented conflicting selection pressures exerted on seed size and germination by five frugivorous carnivores on a mammal-dispersed pioneer tree,the date-plum persimmon(Diospyros lotus),in a subtropical forest.Fecal analyses revealed that these carnivores acted as primary seed dispersers of D.lotus.We also observed that seed sizes were selected based on body mass and were species-specific,confirming the“gape limitation”hypothesis;three small carnivores(the masked palm civet Paguma larvata,yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula,and Chinese ferret-badger Melogale moschata)significantly preferred to disperse smaller seeds in comparison with control seeds obtained directly from wild plants whereas the largest Asiatic black bears(Ursus thibetanus)ingested larger seeds.Seeds dispersed by medium-sized hog badgers(Arctonyx albogularis)were not significantly different from control seeds.However,regarding the influence of gut passage on seed germination,three arboreal dispersal agents(martens,civets,and bears)enhanced germination success whereas terrestrial species(ferret-badgers and hog badgers)inhibited the germination process compared with undigested control seeds.These conflicting selection pressures on seed size and germination may enhance the heterogeneity of germination dynamics and thus increase species fitness through diversification of the regeneration niche.Our results advance our understanding of seed dispersal mechanisms and have important implications for forest recruitment and ecosystem dynamics.展开更多
Grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is closely related to leaf and flower development. Coordinative regulation of leaf, pollen, and seed development in rice as a critical biological and agricultural question shoul...Grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is closely related to leaf and flower development. Coordinative regulation of leaf, pollen, and seed development in rice as a critical biological and agricultural question should be addressed. Here we identified two allelic rice mutants with narrow and semi- rolled leaves, named narrow and rolled leaf2-1 (nrl2-1) and nr12- 2. Map-based molecular cloning revealed that NRL2 encodes a novel protein with unknown biochemical function. The mutation of NRL2 caused pleiotropic effects, including a reduction in the number of longitudinal veins, defective abaxial sclerenchymatous cell differentiation, abnormal tape- tum degeneration and microspore development, and the formation of more slender seeds compared with the wild type (WT). The NRL2 protein interacted with Rolling-leaf (RL14), causing the leaves of the nrl2 mutants to have a higher cellulose content and lower Iignin content than the WT, which may have been related to sclerenchymatous cell differentia- tion and tapetum degeneration. Thus, this gene is an essential developmental regulator controlling fundamental cellular and developmental processes, serving as a potential breeding target for high-yielding rice cultivars.展开更多
Plant seed size is tightly regulated by the development of seed coat, embryo, and endosperm; however, currently, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we revealed a regulatory role of an R2R3 MYB tr...Plant seed size is tightly regulated by the development of seed coat, embryo, and endosperm; however, currently, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we revealed a regulatory role of an R2R3 MYB transcription factor MYB56 in controlling seed size specifically in Arabidopsis thaliana L. Loss- of-function or knock-down of MYB56 yielded smaller seeds as compared with the wild type. Conversely, overexpression of MYB56 produced larger seeds. Further observation using semi-thin sections showed that myb56 developed smaller contracted endothelial cells and reduced cell number in the outer integument layer of the seed coat during the seed development; by contrast, MYB56 overexpressing lines had expanded endothelial cells and increased cell number in the outer integument layer of the seed coat, suggesting the essential role of MYB56 in regulating seed development. In addition, reciprocal cross- analysis showed that MYB56 affected the seed development maternally. MYB56 was shown to be dominantly expressed in developing seeds, consistently with its function in seed development. Moreover, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that MYB56 regulates the expression of genes involved in cell wall metabolism such as cell division and expansion. Altogether, our results demonstrated that MYB56 represents an unknown pathway for positively controlling the seed size.展开更多
Fragmentation influences the population dynamics and community composition of vertebrate animals.Fragmentation effects on rodent species in forests may,in turn,affect seed predation and dispersal of many plant s...Fragmentation influences the population dynamics and community composition of vertebrate animals.Fragmentation effects on rodent species in forests may,in turn,affect seed predation and dispersal of many plant species.Previous studies have usually addressed this question by monitoring a single species,and their results are contradictory.Very few studies have discussed the fragmentation effect on rodent-seed interaction among tree species with different seed sizes,which can significantly influence rodent foraging preference and seed fate.Given that fruiting periods for many coexisting plant species overlap,the changing foraging preference of rodents may substantially alter plant communities.In this study,we monitored the dispersal and predation by rodents of 9600 seeds,belonging to 4 Fagaceae species with great variation in seed size,in both the edge and interior areas of 12 tropical forest fragments ranging in area from 6.3 to 13872.9 ha in Southwest China.The results showed that forest fragmentation altered the seed fates of all the species,but the intensity and even the direction of fragmentation effect differed between species with large versus small seeds.For the seeds harvested,fragment size showed negative effects in forest interiors but positive effects at edges for the 2 large-seeded species,but showed little effect for the 2 small-seeded species.For the seeds removed,negative effects of fragment size only existed among the small-seeded species.The different fragmentation effect on seed dispersal and predation among plant species may,in turn,translate into the composition differences of the regeneration of the whole fragmented forest.展开更多
Grain filling influences grain size and quality in cereal crops. The molecular mechanisms that regulate grain endosperm development remain elusive. In this study, we characterized a filling-defective and grain width m...Grain filling influences grain size and quality in cereal crops. The molecular mechanisms that regulate grain endosperm development remain elusive. In this study, we characterized a filling-defective and grain width mutant, fgw1, whose mutation increased rice seed width mainly via cell division and expansion in grains. Sucrose contents were higher but starch contents lower in the fgw1 mutant during the grainfilling stage, resulting in inferior endosperm of opaque, white appearance with loosely packed starch granules. Map-based cloning revealed that FGW1 encoded a protein containing DUF630/DUF632domains, localized in the plasma membrane with preferential expression in the panicle. RNA interference in FGW1 resulted in increased grain width and weight, whereas overexpression of FGW1 led to slightly narrower kernels and better grain filling. In a yeast two-hybrid assay, FGW1 interacted directly with the 14–3–3 protein GF14f, bimolecular fluorescence complementation verified that the site of interaction was the membrane, and the mutated FGW1 protein failed to interact with GF14f. The expression of GF14f was down-regulated in fgw1, and the activities of AGPase, StSase, and SuSase in the endosperm of fgw1increased similarly to those of a reported GF14f-RNAi. Transcriptome analysis indicated that FGW1 also regulates cellular processes and carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, FGW1 regulated grain formation via the GF14f pathway.展开更多
Post-transcriptional modifications,including histone modifications and DNA methylation,alter the chromatin landscape to regulate gene expression,thus control various cellular processes in plants.EARLY FLOWERING IN SHO...Post-transcriptional modifications,including histone modifications and DNA methylation,alter the chromatin landscape to regulate gene expression,thus control various cellular processes in plants.EARLY FLOWERING IN SHORT DAYS(EFS)is the major contributor for H3K36 methylation in Arabidopsis and is important for plant development.Here,we find that EFS is expressed in different stages of embryo morphogenesis,and the efs mutant produces larger embryo that results in enlarged seeds.Further analysis reveals that an imprinted gene MOP9.5 is hypomethylated at the promoter region and its expression is derepressed in efs mutant.MOP9.5 promoter is marked by various epigenetic modifications,and we find that following the increase of H3K36me3,H3K27me3 and H3K9me2 levels are reduced in efs mutant.This data indicates an antagonistic regulation between H3K36me3 and DNA methylation,and/or H3K27me3 at MOP9.5.Our results further show that both maternal and paternal EFS alleles are responsible for the seed size regulation,which unraveled a novel function of EFS in plant development.展开更多
ATMOSPHERIC CO<sub>2</sub> concentration is predicted to increase to 700μL/L by the middle of the 21st century. The impacts of raising CO<sub>2</sub> on vegetation and ecosystem have been inte...ATMOSPHERIC CO<sub>2</sub> concentration is predicted to increase to 700μL/L by the middle of the 21st century. The impacts of raising CO<sub>2</sub> on vegetation and ecosystem have been intensively studied. It is well known that C<sub>3</sub> species and C<sub>4</sub> species responded much differently to double CO<sub>2</sub>. Potential enhancement of photosynthesis efficiency induced by double CO<sub>2</sub> in C<sub>3</sub> plants was almost 66%, but in C<sub>4</sub> plants only 4%. The response to double CO<sub>2</sub> in C<sub>3</sub> species might展开更多
The study was conducted in Al-Qassim region in February 2020 and the study aimed to know the effect of seed size on germination and some morphological parameters in Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) plant, by dividing the see...The study was conducted in Al-Qassim region in February 2020 and the study aimed to know the effect of seed size on germination and some morphological parameters in Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) plant, by dividing the seeds into three sizes large 2.5 - 2.3 cm, medium 2.0 - 2.2 cm, and small 1.7 - 1.9 cm and planting them. The results showed that the germination percentage in the large seeds was the highest (100%), and the size of the seeds affected the length of the root and shoot as the large seeds gave the highest length for root (8.37 cm) and shoot (14.2 cm) compared to the medium and small seeds. So, for these results, the seed size is closely related to root and shoot length, number of leaves.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1200400)National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072099,31971977).
文摘Brassica napus(B.napus)is a globally significant oilseed crop,making a substantial contribution to both human oil and livestock feed production.Enhancing seed weight is crucial for improving rapeseed yield;however,only a limited number of seed weight-related genes have been functionally validated in B.napus thus far.UBIQUITINSPECIFIC PROTEASE 15(UBP15)belongs to the ubiquitin protease pathway and plays a maternal role in prolonging seed development in Arabidopsis.The potential utilization of UBP15 for enhancing seed yield in B.napus has remained unexplored until now.In this study,we identified the orthologs of UBP15 in B.napus and investigated its functionality using the CRISPR-Cas9 system.We generated mutant plants with multiple editing types targeting Bnaubp15s and successfully isolated T-DNA-free homozygous mutant lines that exhibited edits across four homologs of BnaUBP15 in T2 generation plants.Our preliminary data demonstrated that mutation of BnaUBP15s significantly reduced seed size,seed weight,and plant height while noticeably increasing the number of primary branches.These findings not only provide crucial evidence for further elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of seed weight and size by BnaUBP15s but also offer promising novel germplasm for enhancing plant architecture.
基金financed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Côte d’Ivoirethe French Development Agency and IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement) in the framework of PRESeD-CI 2 (Renewed Partnership for Research for Development in Côte d’Ivoire)C2D (Debt Reduction Contract) of the AMRUGECI project (Support for the Modernization and Reform of Universities and Grandes Ecoles of Côte d’Ivoire)
文摘Seed size and the growth environment are important variables that influence seed germination, growth and biomass of seedlings and future tree harvest and should thus be taken into account in agroforestry and reforestation programmes for endangered species like Pterocarpus erinaceus. In the present study, to assess seedling germination and vigour in P. erinaceus as a function of seed size in two environments, 1080 seeds and 360 seedlings were evaluated at two separate sites in Côte d'Ivoire. The results show that large seeds had very high germination rates (up to 100%) and produced more vigorous plants better able to adapt to climate change. The maternal environment and seed size had a significant influence on seed germination (P < 0.05) and seedling development (P < 0.05) and biomass (P < 0.05). Seedlings were most successful at the site with a humid tropical climate (Daloa). Seedling leaves had the same resistance regardless of seed size and study site, but leaf moisture content was more stable in seedlings grown from medium and small seeds. These results will help guide conservation strategies for the species and are key factors for rural populations, loggers, and forest management structures for the silviculture of this species.
基金supported by the National Key Research&Development Program of China(2019YFD1001300 and 2019YFD1001303)the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System(CARS-08)the Agricultural Science Technology Innovation Program(ASTIP)of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences。
文摘Adzuki bean(Vigna angularis(Willd.)Ohwi&Ohashi)is an annual cultivated leguminous crop commonly grown in Asia and consumed worldwide.However,there has been limited research regarding adzuki bean genetics,which has prevented the efficient application of genes during breeding.In the present study,we constructed a high-density genetic map based on whole genome re-sequencing technology and validated its utility by mining QTLs related to seed size.Moreover,we analyzed the sequences flanking insertions/deletions(In Dels)to develop a set of PCR-based markers useful for characterizing adzuki bean genetics.A total of 2904 markers were mapped to 11 linkage groups(LGs).The total length of the map was 1365.0 cM,with an average distance between markers of 0.47 cM.Among the LGs,the number of markers ranged from 208(LG7)to 397(LG1)and the total distance ranged from 97.4 cM(LG9)to 155.6 cM(LG1).Twelve QTLs related to seed size were identified using the constructed map.The two major QTLs in LG2 and LG9 explained 22.1 and 18.8%of the total phenotypic variation,respectively.Ten minor QTLs in LG4,LG5 and LG6 explained 3.0–10.4%of the total phenotypic variation.A total of 9718 primer pairs were designed based on the sequences flanking In Dels.Among the 200 selected primer pairs,75 revealed polymorphisms in 24 adzuki bean germplasms.The genetic map constructed in this study will be useful for screening genes related to other traits.Furthermore,the QTL analysis of seed size and the novel markers described herein may be relevant for future molecular investigations of adzuki bean and will be useful for exploiting the mechanisms underlying legume seed development.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31570583)the Lecture and Study Program for Outstanding Scholars from Home and Abroad(No.CAFYBB2011007)
文摘The origin of a seed strongly impacts its traits, and both origin and seed traits influence seed germination and seedling development. However, in many instances, this effect on the seedling does not persist into adulthood, and little is known about how seed traits and original environment affect seedling/tree growth over time. In this study, seed size, seed mass, seedling/tree growth and origins were collected and determined for 23 provenances of Quercus acutissima from across China. Origin variables correlated well with seed size and seed mass. In stepwise multiple regressions, a longitudinal aridity index explained 49.2-68.7% of the total variation in seed size and mass, while only seed width was correlated with seedling/tree height (H) and diameter at the ground (D) from seed traits and origins. The total variance in H and D explained by the models decreased over time, for example, the R <sup>2</sup> value of the models for H declined from 0.477 in the first year to 0.224 in the fourth year; no models was significant in the fifth year. These results indicate that seed size, regulated by the longitudinal aridity index strongly impacted seedling and tree growth, but the strength of the influence decreased over time, and disappeared after 4?years.
文摘Chickpea is an important food legume crop of Turkey and is largely grown for human consumption on low moisture or salt-affected soils. The objective of the study was to find the effects of NaCl stress at electrical conductivities of 4.5,8.6,12.7 and 16.3 dS/m and seed sizes(7,8 and 9 mm) on germination and early seedling growth of three popular chickpea cultivars(AKN-97,Gokce and Uzunlu-99). Mean frequency of germination,germination time,germination index,root length,shoot length and seedling fresh weight showed seed size-dependent responses of cultivars to salt stress. In general,small seeds germinated and grew more rapidly compared to medium and large seeds of the same cultivars against all levels of salt stress,with the best results in cultivar Uzunlu-99. No effect of NaCl treatments was observed on frequency of germination;however,a drastic decrease in early seedling growth was recorded at increased NaCl concentrations. Regression analysis results showed a significantly positive rela-tionship(P<0.01) between seed size and mean germination time,whereas a significantly negative relationship was recorded between seed size and germination index,root length,shoot length. Moreover,linear regression values apparently confirmed that increased seed size in each cultivar affected decreased germination index,root and shoot lengths with enhanced mean germination time. Thus,it was concluded that the use of small seeds could considerably reduce the production costs of chickpea in salt-affected soils.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0100201)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771819)+2 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2017M621990)the Introduced Leading Talent Research Team for Universities in Anhui Provincethe Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province, China (1608085QC66)
文摘Seed size is one of the vital traits determining seed appearance, quality, and yield. Untangling the genetic mechanisms regulating soybean 100-seed weight (100-SW), seed length and seed width across environments may provide a theoretical basis for improving seed yield. However, there are few reports related to QTL mapping of 100-SW across multiple ecological regions. In this study, 21 loci associated with seed size traits were identified using a genome-wide association of 5361 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across three ecoregions in China, which could explain 8.12%–14.25% of the phenotypic variance respectively. A new locus, named as SW9-1 on chromosome 9 that explained 10.05%–10.93% of the seed weight variance was found significantly related to seed size traits, and was not previously reported. The selection effect analysis showed that SW9-1 locus has a relatively high phenotypic effect (13.67) on 100-SW, with a greater contribution by the accessions with bigger seeds (3.69) than the accessions with small seeds (1.66). Increases in seed weight were accompanied by increases in the frequency of SW9-1T allele, with >90% of the bred varieties with a 100-SW >30 g carrying SW9-1T. Analysis of SW9-1 allelic variation in additional soybean accessions showed that SW9-1T allele accounting for 13.83% of the wild accessions, while in 46.55% and 51.57% of the landraces and bred accessions, respectively, this results indicating that the SW9-1 locus has been subjected to artificial selection during the early stages of soybean breeding, especially the utilization of SW9-1T in edamame for big seed. These results suggest that SW9-1 is a novel and reliable locus associated with seed size traits, and might have an important implication for increasing soybean seed weight in molecular design breeding. Cloning this locus in future may provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying soybean seed size traits.
文摘Use of individual plants as experimental units may be necessary when resources are limited, but inter-plant variation risks obscuring differences among treatments. Experiments were undertaken to measure the effects of seed size on seedling size and response to applied nitrogen of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) harvested six or nine weeks after emergence. In two series of experiments, shoot and root dry weights of seedlings increased respectively at means of 53 - 61 and 29 - 30 mg·mg-1 increase in mean seed weight. Between the largest and smallest seed sizes used in this study, there was 83% difference in shoot weight at harvest six weeks after emergence and 22% difference with harvest nine weeks after emergence. Nitrogen (N) application, in comparison, increased shoot dry weights by averages of 69% and 77% with harvests at six or nine weeks, respectively. Dry mass response to N application was similar across seed size categories in shoots or roots. A mean 30% of total seedling-N was retained in roots. Nitrogen utilization efficiency for shoot growth (increase in shoot growth per unit increase in shoot N capture) ranged from 64 mg·mg-1 with harvest six weeks after emergence to 114 mg·mg-1 with harvest at nine weeks after emergence. Delay in seedling harvest from six to nine weeks post-emergence and use of closely-graded seed can reduce variation in individual seedling size and contribute to reduction in random variation in small-scale experiments.
文摘Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo L.) is a nutritionally valuable food and a significant source of income globally. Pumpkin seeds are rich in oil, protein, unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols, which are associated with improved human health. Understanding the genetic diversity among pumpkin accessions varying in seed nutrition traits is necessary for designing sound breeding strategies for developing superior cultivars. In the current study, 26 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were used to assess genetic relatedness among 29 C. pepo accessions varying in seed oil, seed protein, seed-coat phenotype, seed size and fatty acid composition. The SSR markers revealed 102 alleles averaging 3.92 alleles per loci and mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.44. Eleven of the markers had a PIC of ≥0.5. Ward dendrogram and principle component analysis based on seed traits grouped the genotypes into two major clusters corresponding to subspecies pepo and texana, with all the reduced-hull accessions grouping within the former. Collectively, this data suggests wide phenotypic (seed traits) and genotypic variation within C. pepo that may be exploited to develop superior reduced-hull cultivars.
文摘The study aimed to determine the effect of seeds size (length, width, thickness and 100 seeds-weight) on their phytochemical composition (total phenolics, total flavonoids, total proteins, soluble sugars and starch) of cowpea accessions (<em>Vigna unguiculata</em> (L.) Walp.) grown in Burkina Faso. The genotypes and their descendants had length, width, thickness and 100 seeds weight between 80 ± 0.7 to 7.40 ± 0.46 cm;6.51 ± 0.41 to 5.76 ± 0.46 cm;5.15 ± 0.37 to 4.22 ± 0.22 cm;12.93 ± 0.09 to 20.16 ± 0.39 g respectively. Total phenol, total flavonoid and starch contents ranged from 585.37 ± 9.73 to 1704.71 ± 4.87 mg GAE per 100 g DW;41.42 ± 2.03 to 52.26 ± 0.75 mg QE per 100 g DW;6.45% ± 0.3% to 46.58% ± 0.12% respectively. The soluble sugars and total proteins contents were ranged respectively from 149.33 ± 3.80 to 432.82 ± 40.81 μg/100mg, and 20.28 ± 0.17 to 27.32 ± 0.17 (%). Seeds size characters had significant and positive correlations with starch content, and significant and negative correlations with total phenolic content. The study of the genetic parameters of phytochemical traits also revealed that they are slightly influenced by the environment. Genetic factors are believed to account for the variation in the observed seed traits, which provides a high potential of studied accessions for breeding programs.
基金supported by Bel agen Biotechnology Inc.,and by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.NK2022010301)the Seed-Industrialized Development Program in Shandong Province,China(No.2021LZGC003)+3 种基金the Key Research&Development Program of Shandong Province,China(No.2021LZGC012)the Innovative research team of Anhui Education(No.2022AH010056)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32270367)the Ph D Scientific Research and Innovation Foundation of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City(No.HSPHDSRF-2023-11-007)。
文摘Yield improvement has long been an important task for soybean breeding in the world in order to meet the increasing demand for food and animal feed.mi R396 genes have been shown to negatively regulate grain size in rice,but whether mi R396 family members may function in a similar manner in soybean is unknown.Here,we generated eight soybean mutants harboring different combinations of homozygous mutations in the six soybean mi R396genes through genome editing with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease(Cas)12SF01 in the elite soybean cultivar Zhonghuang 302(ZH302).Four triple mutants(mir396aci,mir396acd,mir396adf,and mir396cdf),two quadruple mutants(mir396-abcd and mir396acfi),and two quintuple mutants(mir396abcdf and mir396bcdfi)were characterized.We found that plants of all the mir396 mutants produced larger seeds compared to ZH302 plants.Field tests showed that mir396adf and mir396cdf plants have significantly increased yield in growth zones with relatively high latitude which are suited for ZH302 and moderately increased yield in lower latitude.In contrast,mir396abcdf and mir396bcdfiplants have increased plant height and decreased yield in growth zones with relatively high latitude due to lodging issues,but they are suited for low latitude growth zones with increased yield without lodging problems.Taken together,our study demonstrated that loss-of-function of mi R396 genes leads to significantly enlarged seed size and increased yield in soybean,providing valuable germplasms for breeding high-yield soybean.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32201545 and 31971541)the Innovative Postdoctoral Research Project of Hubei Province,China(No.291200).
文摘Plants produce nutritious,fleshy fruits that attract various animals to facilitate seed dispersal and recruitment dynamic.Species-specific differential selection of seed size by multiple frugivorous disperser assemblages may affect the subsequent germination of the ingested seeds.However,there is little empirical evidence supporting this association.In the present study,we documented conflicting selection pressures exerted on seed size and germination by five frugivorous carnivores on a mammal-dispersed pioneer tree,the date-plum persimmon(Diospyros lotus),in a subtropical forest.Fecal analyses revealed that these carnivores acted as primary seed dispersers of D.lotus.We also observed that seed sizes were selected based on body mass and were species-specific,confirming the“gape limitation”hypothesis;three small carnivores(the masked palm civet Paguma larvata,yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula,and Chinese ferret-badger Melogale moschata)significantly preferred to disperse smaller seeds in comparison with control seeds obtained directly from wild plants whereas the largest Asiatic black bears(Ursus thibetanus)ingested larger seeds.Seeds dispersed by medium-sized hog badgers(Arctonyx albogularis)were not significantly different from control seeds.However,regarding the influence of gut passage on seed germination,three arboreal dispersal agents(martens,civets,and bears)enhanced germination success whereas terrestrial species(ferret-badgers and hog badgers)inhibited the germination process compared with undigested control seeds.These conflicting selection pressures on seed size and germination may enhance the heterogeneity of germination dynamics and thus increase species fitness through diversification of the regeneration niche.Our results advance our understanding of seed dispersal mechanisms and have important implications for forest recruitment and ecosystem dynamics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 91435103 and 31222040)the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund (grant no. 2016QC104)
文摘Grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is closely related to leaf and flower development. Coordinative regulation of leaf, pollen, and seed development in rice as a critical biological and agricultural question should be addressed. Here we identified two allelic rice mutants with narrow and semi- rolled leaves, named narrow and rolled leaf2-1 (nrl2-1) and nr12- 2. Map-based molecular cloning revealed that NRL2 encodes a novel protein with unknown biochemical function. The mutation of NRL2 caused pleiotropic effects, including a reduction in the number of longitudinal veins, defective abaxial sclerenchymatous cell differentiation, abnormal tape- tum degeneration and microspore development, and the formation of more slender seeds compared with the wild type (WT). The NRL2 protein interacted with Rolling-leaf (RL14), causing the leaves of the nrl2 mutants to have a higher cellulose content and lower Iignin content than the WT, which may have been related to sclerenchymatous cell differentia- tion and tapetum degeneration. Thus, this gene is an essential developmental regulator controlling fundamental cellular and developmental processes, serving as a potential breeding target for high-yielding rice cultivars.
基金supported by funds from National Key Basic Research Development Program, Ministry of Science and Technology, China (2013CB126902 and 2011CB100101)
文摘Plant seed size is tightly regulated by the development of seed coat, embryo, and endosperm; however, currently, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we revealed a regulatory role of an R2R3 MYB transcription factor MYB56 in controlling seed size specifically in Arabidopsis thaliana L. Loss- of-function or knock-down of MYB56 yielded smaller seeds as compared with the wild type. Conversely, overexpression of MYB56 produced larger seeds. Further observation using semi-thin sections showed that myb56 developed smaller contracted endothelial cells and reduced cell number in the outer integument layer of the seed coat during the seed development; by contrast, MYB56 overexpressing lines had expanded endothelial cells and increased cell number in the outer integument layer of the seed coat, suggesting the essential role of MYB56 in regulating seed development. In addition, reciprocal cross- analysis showed that MYB56 affected the seed development maternally. MYB56 was shown to be dominantly expressed in developing seeds, consistently with its function in seed development. Moreover, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that MYB56 regulates the expression of genes involved in cell wall metabolism such as cell division and expansion. Altogether, our results demonstrated that MYB56 represents an unknown pathway for positively controlling the seed size.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31770570,31470494)the CAS“Light of West China”Program,and the Youth。
文摘Fragmentation influences the population dynamics and community composition of vertebrate animals.Fragmentation effects on rodent species in forests may,in turn,affect seed predation and dispersal of many plant species.Previous studies have usually addressed this question by monitoring a single species,and their results are contradictory.Very few studies have discussed the fragmentation effect on rodent-seed interaction among tree species with different seed sizes,which can significantly influence rodent foraging preference and seed fate.Given that fruiting periods for many coexisting plant species overlap,the changing foraging preference of rodents may substantially alter plant communities.In this study,we monitored the dispersal and predation by rodents of 9600 seeds,belonging to 4 Fagaceae species with great variation in seed size,in both the edge and interior areas of 12 tropical forest fragments ranging in area from 6.3 to 13872.9 ha in Southwest China.The results showed that forest fragmentation altered the seed fates of all the species,but the intensity and even the direction of fragmentation effect differed between species with large versus small seeds.For the seeds harvested,fragment size showed negative effects in forest interiors but positive effects at edges for the 2 large-seeded species,but showed little effect for the 2 small-seeded species.For the seeds removed,negative effects of fragment size only existed among the small-seeded species.The different fragmentation effect on seed dispersal and predation among plant species may,in turn,translate into the composition differences of the regeneration of the whole fragmented forest.
基金sponsored by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1201600, 2016YFD0100501)Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing of China (cstc2020jcyj-msxm0539)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171964)Chongqing Natural Science Foundation Innovation Group (cstc2021jcyjcxttX0004)。
文摘Grain filling influences grain size and quality in cereal crops. The molecular mechanisms that regulate grain endosperm development remain elusive. In this study, we characterized a filling-defective and grain width mutant, fgw1, whose mutation increased rice seed width mainly via cell division and expansion in grains. Sucrose contents were higher but starch contents lower in the fgw1 mutant during the grainfilling stage, resulting in inferior endosperm of opaque, white appearance with loosely packed starch granules. Map-based cloning revealed that FGW1 encoded a protein containing DUF630/DUF632domains, localized in the plasma membrane with preferential expression in the panicle. RNA interference in FGW1 resulted in increased grain width and weight, whereas overexpression of FGW1 led to slightly narrower kernels and better grain filling. In a yeast two-hybrid assay, FGW1 interacted directly with the 14–3–3 protein GF14f, bimolecular fluorescence complementation verified that the site of interaction was the membrane, and the mutated FGW1 protein failed to interact with GF14f. The expression of GF14f was down-regulated in fgw1, and the activities of AGPase, StSase, and SuSase in the endosperm of fgw1increased similarly to those of a reported GF14f-RNAi. Transcriptome analysis indicated that FGW1 also regulates cellular processes and carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, FGW1 regulated grain formation via the GF14f pathway.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program (2016YFA0500800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31571322)+2 种基金Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences1000 Young Talent Program of ChinaS.Shafiq and Wei Xu are supported by the postdoctoral fellowships from Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences
文摘Post-transcriptional modifications,including histone modifications and DNA methylation,alter the chromatin landscape to regulate gene expression,thus control various cellular processes in plants.EARLY FLOWERING IN SHORT DAYS(EFS)is the major contributor for H3K36 methylation in Arabidopsis and is important for plant development.Here,we find that EFS is expressed in different stages of embryo morphogenesis,and the efs mutant produces larger embryo that results in enlarged seeds.Further analysis reveals that an imprinted gene MOP9.5 is hypomethylated at the promoter region and its expression is derepressed in efs mutant.MOP9.5 promoter is marked by various epigenetic modifications,and we find that following the increase of H3K36me3,H3K27me3 and H3K9me2 levels are reduced in efs mutant.This data indicates an antagonistic regulation between H3K36me3 and DNA methylation,and/or H3K27me3 at MOP9.5.Our results further show that both maternal and paternal EFS alleles are responsible for the seed size regulation,which unraveled a novel function of EFS in plant development.
文摘ATMOSPHERIC CO<sub>2</sub> concentration is predicted to increase to 700μL/L by the middle of the 21st century. The impacts of raising CO<sub>2</sub> on vegetation and ecosystem have been intensively studied. It is well known that C<sub>3</sub> species and C<sub>4</sub> species responded much differently to double CO<sub>2</sub>. Potential enhancement of photosynthesis efficiency induced by double CO<sub>2</sub> in C<sub>3</sub> plants was almost 66%, but in C<sub>4</sub> plants only 4%. The response to double CO<sub>2</sub> in C<sub>3</sub> species might
文摘The study was conducted in Al-Qassim region in February 2020 and the study aimed to know the effect of seed size on germination and some morphological parameters in Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) plant, by dividing the seeds into three sizes large 2.5 - 2.3 cm, medium 2.0 - 2.2 cm, and small 1.7 - 1.9 cm and planting them. The results showed that the germination percentage in the large seeds was the highest (100%), and the size of the seeds affected the length of the root and shoot as the large seeds gave the highest length for root (8.37 cm) and shoot (14.2 cm) compared to the medium and small seeds. So, for these results, the seed size is closely related to root and shoot length, number of leaves.