Advances in DNA methylation and its role in cytoplasmic male sterility in higher plants

The impact of epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation on plant phenotypes has expanded the possibilities for crop development.DNA methylation plays a part in the regulation of both the chromatin structure and gene expression,and the enzyme involved,DNA methyltransferase,executes the methylation process within the plant genome.By regulating crucial biological pathways,epigenetic changes actively contribute to the creation of the phenotype.Therefore,epigenome editing may assist in overcoming some of the drawbacks of genome editing,which can have minor off-target consequences and merely facilitate the loss of a gene’s function.These drawbacks include gene knockout,which can have such off-target effects.This review provides examples of several molecular characteristics of DNA methylation,as well as some plant physiological processes that are impacted by these epigenetic changes in the plants.We also discuss how DNA alterations might be used to improve crops and meet the demands of sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming.

Jasmonic acid-mediated stress responses share the molecular mechanism underlying male sterility induced by deficiency of ZmMs33 in maize

Plant male reproduction is a fine-tuned developmental process that is susceptible to stressful environments and influences crop grain yields.Phytohormone signaling functions in control of plant normal growth and development as well as in response to external stresses,but the interaction or crosstalk among phytohormone signaling,stress response,and male reproduction in plants remains poorly understood.Cross-species comparison among 514 stress-response transcriptomic libraries revealed that ms33-6038,a genic male sterile mutant deficient in the Zm Ms33/Zm GPAT6 gene,displayed an excessive drought stress-like transcriptional reprogramming in anthers triggered mainly by disturbed jasmonic acid(JA)homeostasis.An increased level of JA appeared in Zm Ms33-deficient anthers at both meiotic and postmeiotic stages and activated genes involved in JA biosynthesis and signaling as well as genes functioning in JA-mediated drought response.Excessive accumulation of JA elevated expression level of a gene encoding a WRKY transcription factor that activated the Zm Ms33 promoter.These findings reveal a feedback loop of Zm Ms33-JA-WRKY-Zm Ms33 in controlling male sterility and JA-mediated stress response in maize,shedding light on the crosstalk of stress response and male sterility mediated by phytohormone homeostasis and signaling.

Fine mapping and cloning of the sterility gene Bra2Ms in nonheading Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa ssp.chinensis)

The application of a male-sterile line is an ideal approach for hybrid seed production in non-heading Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa ssp.chinensis).However,the molecular mechanisms underlying male sterility in B.rapa are still largely unclear.We previously obtained the natural male sterile line WS24-3 of non-heading Chinese cabbage and located the male sterile locus,Bra2Ms,on the A2 chromosome.Cytological observations revealed that the male sterility of WS24-3 resulted from disruption of the meiosis process during pollen formation.Fine mapping of Bra2Ms delimited the locus within a physical distance of about 129 kb on the A2 chromosome of B.rapa.The Bra039753 gene encodes a plant homeodomain(PHD)-finger protein and is considered a potential candidate gene for Bra2Ms.Bra039753 was significantly downregulated in sterile line WS24-3 compared to the fertile line at the meiotic anther stage.Sequence analysis of Bra039753 identified a 369 bp fragment insertion in the first exon in male sterile plants,which led to an amino acid insertion in the Bra039753 protein.In addition,the 369 bp fragment insertion was found to cosegregate with the male sterility trait.This study identified a novel locus related to male sterility in non-heading Chinese cabbage,and the molecular marker obtained in this study will be beneficial for the marker-assisted selection of excellent sterile lines in non-heading Chinese cabbage and other Brassica crops.

Mapping of Fertility Restoring Gene for Aegilops kotschyi Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Wheat Using SSR Markers

LK783 was found to be a good fertility restorer for K-type male sterility of wheat. Microsatel-lite markers were employed to map the major restoring gene in LK783. Maintainer and restorer DNA pools were established using the extreme sterile and fertile plants among (KJ5418A//911289/LK783)F1 population, respectively. Seventy-nine sets of SSR primers were screened for polymorphism between the two pools, 6 of which were found polymorphic. Linkage analysis showed that Xgwm11, Xgwm18, Xgwm264a and Xgwm273 were linked to the restoring gene in LK783, while Xgwm11, Xgwm18 and Xgwm273 were co-segregated. The distance between the Rf gene in LK783 and the three co-segregated markers was 6.54 ± 4.37 cM, the distance between Rf gene and Xgwm264a was 5. 71 ± 4.10 cM. The four SSR markers were located on chromosome IBS by amplifying the DNA of nulli-tetrasomics and ditelosomics of CS with the 4 sets of primers, indicating that the major restoring gene in LK783 was located on IBS, but the relative location of the gene was different from Rfv1, allelism of the two genes should be further investigated. The breeding for new fertility restorer lines of K-type cytoplasmic male sterility in wheat would be facilitated by using the four polymorphic markers.

Genetic Analysis and Primary Mapping of pms4, a Photoperiod-Sensitive Genic Male Sterility Gene in Rice (Oryza sativa)

To understand the genetic characteristics of a new photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterile line Mian 9S, some reciprocal crosses were made between Mian 9S and six indica rice materials, Yangdao 6, Luhui 602, Shuihui 527, Mianhui 725, Fuhui 838 and Yixiang 1B. Genetic analysis results suggested that the photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterility （PGMS） of Mian 9S was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene. Thus, the F2 population derived from the cross of Yangdao 6/Mian 9S was used to map the PGMS gene in Mian 9S. By using SSR markers, the PGMS gene of Mian 9S was mapped on one side of the markers, RM6659 and RM1305, on rice chromosome 4, with the genetic distances of 3.0 cM and 3.5 cM, respectively. The gene was a novel PGMS gene and designated tentatively as pms4. In addition, the application of the pms4 gene was discussed.

Mitochondrial localization of ORF346 causes pollen abortion in alloplasmic male sterility

The Nsa cytoplasmic male sterility(CMS) system confers stable male sterility and offers great potential for production of hybrid seeds in oilseed rape. However, genes responsible for male sterility in Nsa CMS have not been identified. By mitochondrial genome sequencing of Nsa CMS and its maintainer line,we identified in an Nsa CMS line several chimeric genes encoding hypothetical proteins harboring transmembrane domains. One novel chimeric gene orf346 showed high identity with cox1 at the 50 terminal region and was co-transcribed with nad3 and rps12 genes. Transgenic plants of orf346 fused with or without mitochondrial targeting peptide conferred complete male sterility in Arabidopsis. ORF346 was mitochondrion-localized. Expression of orf346 in Escherichia coli inhibited bacterial growth, with excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species and decreased ATP content. These results reveal a link between the newly identified mitochondrial gene orf346 and the abortion of Nsa CMS. Inadequate energy supply and excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species may account for pollen abortion in Nsa CMS plants.

Abortive Process of a Novel Rapeseed Cytoplasmic Male Sterility Line Derived from Somatic Hybrids Between Brassica napus and Sinapis alba

Somatic hybridization is performed to obtain significant cytoplasmic male sterility （CMS） lines, whose CMS genes are derived either from the transfer of sterile genes from the mitochondrial genome of donor parent to the counterpart of receptor or production of new sterile genes caused by mitochondrial genome recombination of the biparent during protoplast fusion. In this study, a novel male sterile line, SaNa-IA, was obtained from the somatic hybridization between Brassica napus and Sinapis alba. The normal anther development of the maintainer line, SaNa-IB, and the abortive process of SaNa-IA were described through phenotypic observations and microtome sections. The floral organ of the sterile line SaNa-IA was sterile with a shortened filament and deflated anther. No detectable pollen grains were found on the surface of the sterile anthers. Semi-thin sections indicated that SaNa-IA aborted in the pollen mother cell （PMC） stage when vacuolization of the tapetum and PMCs began. The tapetum radically elongated and became highly vacuolated, occupying the entire locule together with the vacuolated microspores. Therefore, SaNa-IA is different from other CMS lines, such as ogu CMS, pol CMS and nap CMS as shown by the abortive process of the anther.

Identification of a locus associated with genic male sterility in maize via EMS mutagenesis and bulked-segregant RNA-seq

Genic male sterility(GMS) is one of the most important resources for exploiting heterosis in crop breeding, so that identifying genomic loci regulating GMS is desirable. However, many regulatory genes controlling GMS have not yet been characterized in maize, owing partly to a lack of genetic materials. We generated a recessive male-sterile maize mutant in the Jing 724 genetic background via ethyl methanesulfonate treatment, and found the male sterility to be due to a single gene mutation. Bulk-segregant RNA sequencing of three replicates indicated that one genomic region located at the end of chromosome 4 was associated with the observed mutant phenotype. Among genes with nonsynonymous mutations,Zm00001 d053895(bHLH51) showed abolished expression in the sterile bulks and was annotated as a bHLH transcription factor orthologous to Arabidopsis AMS, suggesting an association with the male sterility of the mutant. Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR assays further validated the exclusive correlation of male sterility with the single C-to-T mutation in the fifth exon. The new maize mutant and the potential SNP locus provide novel genetic material for investigating the molecular mechanism underlying tapetal development and may facilitate the improvement of hybrid production systems.

Mechanism of Sterility and Breeding Strategies for Photoperiod/Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Rice

To understand the male sterility mechanism of photoperiod/thermo-sensitive genic male sterile [P（T）GMS] lines in rice, the research progress on genetics of photoperiod and/or temperature sensitive genic male sterility in rice was reviewed. A new idea was proposed to explain the sterility mechanism of P（T）GMS rice. The fertility transition from sterile to fertile is the result of cooperative regulation of major-effect sterile genes with photoperiod and/or temperature sensitive genes, but not the so-called pgms gene in P（T）GMS rice. The minor-effect genes, which exhibit accumulative effect on sterility, are the important factors for the critical temperature of sterility transition. The more minor-effect genes the sterile line holds, the lower the critical temperature of sterility transition is. The critical temperature of sterility transition will be invariable if all the minor-effect genes are homozygous. The strategies for breeding P（T）GMS rice were also proposed. The selective indices of critical photoperiod and temperature for sterility transition should be set according to varietal type and ecological region. Imposing selection pressure is a key technology for breeding P（T）GMS rice with lower critical temperature for sterility, and improving the comprehensive performance of the whole traits and combining ability is vital for breeding P（T）GMS rice lines.

The cotton mitochondrial chimeric gene orf610a causes male sterility by disturbing the dynamic balance of ATP synthesis and ROS burst

Plant cytoplasmic male sterility(CMS)is maternally inherited and often manifested as aborted pollen development,but the molecular basis of abortion remains to be identified.To facilitate an investigation of CMS in cotton,the complete sequence of cotton mitochondrial(mt)genome for CMS-D2 line ZBA was determined.The mt genome was assembled as a single circular molecule with 634,036 bp in length.A total of 194 ORFs,36 protein-coding genes,six r RNAs,and 24 t RNAs were identified.Several chimeric genes encoding hypothetical proteins with transmembrane domains were identified.Among them,a previously unknown chimeric gene,orf610a,which is composed of atp1 and a 485-bp downstream sequence of unknown nature,was identified.RT-PCR and q RT-PCR validation indicated that orf610a was expressed specifically in a sterile line.Ectopic expression of orf610a in yeast resulted in excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species and reduction in ATP content,in addition to inhibition of cellular growth.Transgenic A.thaliana overexpressing orf610a fused with a mitochondrial targeting peptide displayed partial male sterility.Interaction between ORF610a and the nuclear-encoded protein RD22 indicated an association between ORF610a and pollen abortion.Positive feedback during transcriptional regulation between nuclear regulatory factors and the mt CMS gene may account for the male sterility of ZBA.

Differential Expression Analysis of Genic Male Sterility A／B Lines in Chinese Cabbage—Pak—Choi（Brassica campestris ssp.chinensis Makino）

To determine differential expression of genie male sterility A/B lines in Chinese cabbage-pak-choi (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis Makino var. communis Tsen et Lee), we used the RNA fingerprinting technique, cDNA-AFLP analysis, in different developmental stages and different tissues. While no obvious differential expressions were observed in rosette leaves, florescence leaves, and scapes, some differential expressions were found in alabstrums of A/B lines and among leaves, scapes and alabstrums. We analyzed the al-abstrums collected in different developmental stages with 10 primer combinations. We got a unique band between middle size alabstrums and large alabstrums in B line in one of the ten pair primers, and in another one pair, one band reflecting a higher gene-expression level in A line than that in B line was obtained. No unique bands were found with the other primer combinations. The bands reflecting different gene-expression level were confirmed by Northern hybridization. The results indicated that cDNA-AFLP was a suitable tool for studying differential expression of genie male sterility in plants. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of soluble proteins further verified the difference in A/B lines.

Characterization and mapping of a new male sterility mutant of anther advanced dehiscence(t) in rice

Anther dehiscence is very important for pollen maturation and release. The mutants of anther dehiscence in rice （Oryza sativa L.） are few, and related research remains poor. A male sterility mutant of anther dehiscence in advance, add（t）, has been found in Minghui 63 and its sterility is not sensitive to thermo-photo. To learn the character of sterilization and the function of the add（t） gene, the morphological and cytological studies on the anther and pollen, the ability of the pistil being fertilized, inheritance of the mutant, and mapping of add（t） gene have been conducted. The anther size is normal but the color is white in the mutant against the natural yellow in the wild-type. The pollen is malformed, unstained, and small in the KI-I2 solution. The anther dehiscence is in advance at the bicellular pollen stage. A crossing test indicated that the grain setting ratio of the add（t） is significantly lower than that of the CMS line 2085A. The ability of the pistil being fertilized is most probably decreased by the add（t） gene. The male sterility is controlled by a single recessive gene of add（t）. This gene is mapped between the markers of R02004 （InDel） and RM300 （SSR） on chromosome 2, and the genetic distance from the add（t） gene to these markers is 0.78 cM and 4.66 cM, respectively.

Mitochondrial Proteomic Analysis of Cytoplasmic Male Sterility Line and Its Maintainer in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

To investigate the CMS mechanism of wheat on proteomic level and find the crucial proteins which related to fertility,mitochondria was isolated from young spike of wheat by differential centrifugation and Percoll density-gradient methods.Determined by marker enzyme assays and chlorophyll content,the mainly contaminants in the spike mitochondrial fraction were caused by peroxisomes,plastids and chloroplasts after the first discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation.In order to improve the purity of spike mitochondria,a second 28% Percoll self-forming density gradient centrifugation was further carried out,the result showed that the contaminants were decreased to negligible amount,meanwhile the integrity of mitochondria （88%） was improved to 90%.The spike mitochondria proteins extracted from uninucleate stage of （S）-1376A and （A）-1376B were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis （2-DE）,and the silver stained gels were analyzed by PDQuest 2-DE software,about 326 protein spots could be visualized on the 2-DE maps,and also revealed a similar pattern between the male sterile line and its maintainer line,except 11 spots were differentially expressed.A total of five differentially expressed proteins were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS）,three of them were identified as manganese superoxide dismutase and T5E216 following NCBInr database by the Mascot software.These results may contribute to further understanding of the mechanisms of CMS in wheat.

Development of Japonica Male Sterile Lines Integrating Cytoplasmic Male Sterility and Photosensitive Genic Male Sterility

Acknowledgement It has been previously established that the BT type of cytoplasmic male sterility （CMS） is induced by high temperatures, while photosensitive genic male sterility （PGMS） seed sets by low temperatures induce. In the current study, we have bred photosensitive cytoplasmic male sterility （PCMS） lines （2308SA and 2310SA） by crossing the CMS line with the PGMS japonica line with maintainer genes. The sterility of PCMS japonica was consequently controlled by two groups of male sterile genes resulting from the integration of PGMS and CMS genes. The results on plant fertility, at different sowing times, were as follows： （a） Under conditions of natural long-day photoperiod and at temperatures above 35~C, the PGMS gene regulated PCMS japonica sterility - the higher the temperature, the lower the pollen fertility. However, bagged seed sets of PCMS japonica, not exposed to high temperatures, induced the CMS seed set. （b） Exposure to long-day photoperiod and temperature conditions between 35℃ and the critical sterility inducing temperature of PGMS resulted in both PGMS and CMS gene controlled sterility of PCMS japonica, which exhibited stable characteristics. （c） When exposed to critical sterility inducing temperatures or short-day photoperiod and daily high temperatures below 32℃, the BT type of the CMS gene regulated PCMS sterility. Under these conditions, the PGMS gene rendered male sterility insusceptible to occasional cool summer days when this PCMS line, adopted for hybrid seed production, develops into panicle differentiation stage. The present study also investigated the fertility restoration, seed production and combining ability of PCMS japonica so as to optimize its use.

Plant Male Sterility Induced by Anti-Gene CYP86MF in Brassica oleracea var. italica

An anti-gene CYP86MF was introduced into hypocotyls of broccoli （Brassica oleracea L.var. italica Plenck） with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and the transgenic plants were obtained by kanamycin selection. The results of PCR, Southern blot and Northern blot indicated that the anti-CYP86MF has been integrated into chromosome of the transgenic plant. And also, plants with hypogenetic stamina or ungerminated pollen were observed. The transgenic male sterility plant could fructify via artificial pollination with normal pollen. Thus it was proved that the pistil of male sterility plant was normally developed, and the sterility originated from anti-CYP86MF.

Mapping Major Restore Genes for C-type Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Maize with SSR Marker

Through observation about the restoration of male fertility of F2 and BC, progeny, we found that the restoring line Fengkel had two duplicating restorer genes. The restorer gene R/5 in Fengkel background was located on chromosome 5L by SSR method; it linked with bnlg1711, bnlg1346 and phi058, the genetic distances with bnlg1711, bnlg1346, and phi058 were 7.51cM, 1.68cM, and 9.87cM respectively; the restorer gene Rf4 was mapped on chromosome 8S linked with bnlg2307.

Establishment and Identification of Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Brassica napus by Intergeneric Somatic Hybridization

Exploitation of novel cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a main approach for widening the cytoplasmic genetic background of hybrid oilseed rape and avoiding epidemic risk in oilseed rape production. In this study, symmetric somatic hybrids between Brassica napus var. Zhongshuang4 and Sinapis arvensis (Ye- you18) were produced by protoplast fusion. Two of the six established hybrids were male sterile showing trace or no pollen release upon flowering with non- or slightly extended stamens. Using Zhongshuang4 as a recurrent parent to pollinate the male sterile plants, the ratio of male sterile plants increased with the number of backcrosses. As early as in BC 3 generation, most of the sterile families had nearly 100% sterile plants. Up to BC 4 generation, the male sterility became stable and no fertility segregation was observed. All F 1 progenies from tested crosses using restorer and maintainer lines of Polima CMS were 100% sterile, indicating that the established CMS by somatic hybridization is different from Polima CMS. The origin of the cytoplasm and potential use of this novel CMS in oilseed rape breeding were discussed.

K-Domain Splicing Factor OsMADS1 Regulates Open Hull Male Sterility in Rice

We identified the rice floral organ development mutant, termed as open hull and male sterile 1 （ohms1）, from the progeny of the indica restorer line Zhonghui 8015 treated with 60Co γ-ray irradiation. The ohms1 mutant exhibited an open hull and lemma- and palea-like structure conversion between the anthers and stigma, which resulted in the ohms1 mutant spikelet showing‘tridentate lemma＇. The ohms1 mutant was entirely sterile but had 60%-70% fertile pollen. Genetic analysis and gene mapping showed that ohms1 was controlled by a single recessive gene, and the mutant gene was fine-mapped to a 42-kb interval on the short arm of chromosome 3 between markers KY2 and KY29. Sequence analysis of the four open reading frames in this region revealed that the mutant carried a single nucleotide transformation （A to G） at the last base of the fifth intron, which was likely corresponded to ohms1 phynotype, in an MIKC type MADS-box gene OsMADS1 （LOC_Os03g11614）. Enzyme digestion and cDNA sequencing further indicated that the variable splicing was responsible for the deletion of the sixth exon in ohms1, but no structural changes in the MADS domain or amino acid frame shifts appeared. Additionally, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR analysis showed that the OsMADS1 expression level decreased significantly in the ohms1 mutant. The expression levels of rice flowering factors and floral glume development-related genes also changed significantly. These results demonstrate that OsMADS1 may play an important role in rice floral organ development, particularly in floral glume development and floret primordium differentiation.

A Fragment Substitution in Promoter of MS92/PTC1 Causes Male Sterility in Rice

Persistent tapetal cell1(PTC1) plays a curial role in pollen development, and is thought to function as a transcriptional activator in rice. However, the molecular mechanism of PTC1 in regulating pollen development and its cis-elements are not well understood. We identified a novel weak male sterility mutant(ms92) which exhibited expanded tapetum and shrink pollen grains. Map-based cloning and allelic analysis suggested that the male sterility of ms92 was caused by a DNA fragment substitution in the promoter of PTC1. The decreased expression of MS92/PTC1 in ms92 and cis-element analysis indicated that the substituted sequence contained several potential binding cis-element of negative feedback. MS92/PTC1 was specifically expressed in tapetum and microspores at the young microspore stage, and its protein was localized in nucleus. We further found that MS92/PTC1 functions as a transcription activator by recognizing H3K4me3. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that a number of genes involved in tapetum degeneration and pollen wall formation were down-regulated in ms92, which are the potential targets of MS92/PTC1. The substitution fragment in MS92/PTC1 promoter was essential for pollen development, and we provided a novel mutant for further identifying the cis-elements in promoter and the molecular network of MS92/PTC1.

Nectar secretion of RN-type cytoplasmic male sterility three lines in soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.]

Significant progress has been achieved in the use of heterosis in soybean and several soybean hybrids have been released in China. However, broad use of hybrid soybean seed is limited due to low seed setting of female parents. Breeding cytoplasmic male sterile（CMS） lines with high out-crossing rate is necessary to solve the problem. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between out-crossing rate of CMS lines and their nectar secretion. The daily nectar secretion rhythm, meteorological effect on nectar secretion, and differences in nectar secretion among genotypes and years were investigated in 27 soybean CMS lines（A-lines） with their maintainers（B-lines） and restorers（R-lines）. The correlation between out-crossing rate of CMS lines and nectar production was also evaluated. Nectar secretion had diurnal variation. Secretion initiated at about 06：00 for most materials and reached a peak at 07：00–08：30 after flower opened, then the nectar secretion decreased gradually. A sub-peak appeared at about 13：00, while the nectar could not be detected at 17：00. Nectar secretion was greatly influenced by the weather conditions. The amount of nectar secretion increased gradually over time during periods of high temperature and no rainfall for several days. Rainy weather and low temperatures inhibited nectar secretion. There were obvious variations of nectar amount among different genotypes tested. Significant nectar variation within a genotype among years was also observed, and the highest nectar secretion was 3-fold higher than the lowest. The amount of nectar secretion from R-lines was significantly higher than that of A-and B-lines. There was no significant difference in nectar secretion between A-and B-lines. A-and B-lines with higher out-crossing rates secreted more nectar. The amount of nectar secretion of A-and B-lines were significantly positively correlated with the out-crossing rate of A-lines.