Bone morphogenetic protein 4(BMP4)can induce the formation of chicken primordial germ cells(PGCs)in vitro;however,its regulatory mechanism in poultry remains unknown.This study aimed to use RNA-seq to analyze PGCs in ...Bone morphogenetic protein 4(BMP4)can induce the formation of chicken primordial germ cells(PGCs)in vitro;however,its regulatory mechanism in poultry remains unknown.This study aimed to use RNA-seq to analyze PGCs in chicken embryos and iPGCs induced by BMP4 in vitro,clarify the internal regulatory factors of PGCs,analyze the mechanism of the formation of PGCs,and lay a theoretical foundation for the further optimization of PGCs induction systems.Embryonic stem cells(ESCs),PGCs and iPGCs induced by BMP4 in vitro were collected.The transcriptional maps of the three cell types were studied using RNA-seq.The results showed 6,142 genes differentially expressed between PGCs and iPGCs,of which 2,728 were upregulated in iPGCs and 3,414 were downregulated in iPGCs.Compared to that in ESCs,BMP4 was significantly upregulated in PGCs and iPGCs.KEGG results showed that both the TGF-βand Wnt signaling pathways were activated during the formation of PGCs in vitro and in vivo,and the activation was more significant during iPGCs induced by BMP4.The expression of Nodal,an inhibitory factor of TGF-βsignaling,was significantly decreased in PGCs and iPGCs,but was not expressed in iPGCs,which further supports our conclusion.Additionally,the Lysosome and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways were significantly enriched in PGCs and iPGCs,respectively.Further,transmission electron microscopy(TEM)results showed that the number of autolysosomes was significantly higher after the addition of BMP4,which is consistent with the KEGG results.Furthermore,the number of PGCs was significantly reduced after ATG14 was interfered in vivo and in vitro.In conclusion,this study screened out the key signaling pathways during the formation of PGCs,aiming to provide help for enriching the mechanism network regulating PGCs formation in chicken and laying a theoretical foundation for further improving the efficiency of inducing PGCs in vitro.展开更多
Post-silking high temperature is one of the abiotic factors that affects waxy maize(Zea mays L. sinensis Kulesh) growth in southern China. We conducted a pot trial in 2016–2017 to study the effects of post-silking da...Post-silking high temperature is one of the abiotic factors that affects waxy maize(Zea mays L. sinensis Kulesh) growth in southern China. We conducted a pot trial in 2016–2017 to study the effects of post-silking daytime heat stress(35°C) on the activities of enzymes involved in leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolisms and leaf reactive oxygen species(ROS) and water contents. This study could improve our understanding on dry matter accumulation and translocation and grain yield production. Results indicated that decreased grain number and weight under heat stress led to yield loss, which decreased by 20.8 and 20.0% in 2016 and 2017, respectively. High temperature reduced post-silking dry matter accumulation(16.1 and 29.5% in 2016 and 2017, respectively) and promoted translocation of pre-silking photoassimilates stored in vegetative organs, especially in leaf. The lower leaf water content and chlorophyll SPAD value, and higher ROS(H2O2 and O2^-·) content under heat stress conditions indicated accelerated senescent rate. The weak activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase(PEPCase), Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase(Ru BPCase), nitrate reductase(NR), and glutamine synthase(GS) indicated that leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolisms were suppressed when the plants suffered from a high temperature during grain filling. Correlation analysis results indicated that the reduced grain yield was mainly caused by the decreased leaf water content, weakened NR activity, and increased H2O2 content. The increased accumulation of grain weight and post-silking dry matter and the reduced translocation amount in leaf was mainly due to the increased chlorophyll SPAD value and NR activity. Reduced PEPCase and Ru BPCase activities did not affect dry matter accumulation and translocation and grain yield. In conclusion, post-silking heat stress down-regulated the leaf NR and GS activities, increased the leafwater loss rate, increased ROS generation, and induced pre-silking carbohydrate translocation. However, it reduced the post-silking direct photoassimilate deposition, ultimately, leading to grain yield loss.展开更多
Understanding physiological responses in saline agriculture may facilitate wheat breeding programs.Based on a screening test,the Ningmai-14(NM-14)and Yangmai-23(YM-23)wheat cultivars were selected for further experime...Understanding physiological responses in saline agriculture may facilitate wheat breeding programs.Based on a screening test,the Ningmai-14(NM-14)and Yangmai-23(YM-23)wheat cultivars were selected for further experiments to understand the underlying salinity tolerance mechanism.This study investigated the effects of five salinity levels such as Control(CK)=0(without NaCl stress),S1=0.20%,S2=0.25%,S3=0.30%and S4=0.35%of NaCl concentrations of soil on wheat plants.The results showed that increased salinity concentration reduced the growth and yield of wheat cultivars(NM-14 and YM-23).However,YM-23(12.7%)yielded more than NM-14 at maximum salinity stress.The higher salinity(S4)increased the concentration of Na^(+)(4.3 to 5.8-fold)and P contents(2.5 to 2.2-fold),while reducing the average concentrations of K^(+),Cu,and K^(+)/Na^(+)ratio.The higher salinity(S4)reduced the spikelet length by 21.35%(followed by grain spike−1),and the starch content by 18.81%.In the YM-23 cultivar,higher salinity increased superoxide dismutase(SOD),total antioxidant capacity(TAC),and amylase.Compared to NM-14,induced expression of TaYUC2,6,and TaGA13ox,20ox genes were recorded in YM-23.Similarly,in YM-23 the stress-specific genes such as TaHSP70,90 were enhanced whereas,TaSOS1,2 were suppressed.Overall,our study revealed that salt tolerant cultivars modulate hormonal and antioxidant activities,thus maintaining high growth.展开更多
We successfully identified a novel and unique OsbZIP transcription factor,OsbZIP09,whose mutants exhibited longer seeds and less severe pre-harvest sprouting than the wild type,but shared similar germination rate as t...We successfully identified a novel and unique OsbZIP transcription factor,OsbZIP09,whose mutants exhibited longer seeds and less severe pre-harvest sprouting than the wild type,but shared similar germination rate as the wild type under normal germination conditions.The expression of OsbZIP09 was induced by abscisic acid(ABA)and declined as the germination process.As a nucleus-localized transcription factor,the conserved binding motif of OsbZIP09 was identified via DNA affinity purification sequencing technique.Further evidences indicated that OsbZIP09 directly enhanced the expression of ABA catabolism gene ABA8ox1,thus reducing ABA accumulation.In addition,OsbZIP09 also directly bound to the promoter of LEA3 gene to inhibit its expression,thus further alleviating the suppressive effect of ABA on seed germination.These results demonstrated that OsbZIP09 likely functions as a brake of the ABA pathway to attenuate the inhibitory effect of ABA on rice seed germination via dual strategies.展开更多
Rice panicle is the sink organ where assimilation product accumulates,and its morphology determines the rice yield.Panicle length has been suggested as a yield-related trait,but the genetic factor for its control is s...Rice panicle is the sink organ where assimilation product accumulates,and its morphology determines the rice yield.Panicle length has been suggested as a yield-related trait,but the genetic factor for its control is still limited.In this study,we carried out fine-mapping of qPL8,a QTL identified for panicle length in our previous work.Near isogenic line(NIL)with qPL8 exhibited elongated panicle without obvious effect on other panicle elements.With five key recombinants from NIL population,the locus was finally narrowed down to a 278-kb region,where 44 genes are annotated.By comparing the genomic sequence of two parents,17 genes were identified with SNPs or InDels variations in the coding region.Expression analysis showed that eight genes were up-regulated in the NIL with qPL8.Considering both the coding variation and expression status,several candidate genes for the locus were identified,and OsMADS37 was raised as the most possible candidate.Interestingly,an expression QTL(eQTL)also resides in the locus,leading to a cluster of gene expression variation in the region.This study will facilitate the application of qPL8 locus in rice breeding for yield potential.展开更多
In recent years,some super hybrid rice varieties were bred with strong culms and large panicles,which are mainly contributed by the ipa1-2D locus.A gain-of-function allele of OsSPL14 is the ipa1-2D and it can greatly ...In recent years,some super hybrid rice varieties were bred with strong culms and large panicles,which are mainly contributed by the ipa1-2D locus.A gain-of-function allele of OsSPL14 is the ipa1-2D and it can greatly increase the panicle primary branch number.However,the key downstream genes mediating this trait variation are not fully explored.In this study,we developed high-quality near-isogenic lines(NILs)with a difference of only 30 kb chromosomal segment covering the ipa1-2D locus.Using the NILs,we explored the impact of ipa1-2D on five sequential stages of early inflorescence development,and found that the locus can greatly enhance the initiation of primary branch meristems.A transcriptomic analysis was performed to unveil the downstream molecular network of ipa1-2D,and 87 genes were found differentially expressed,many of which are involved in metabolism and catalysis processes.In addition,transgenic lines of overexpression and RNA interference were generated to shape different levels of OsSPL14.They were also used to validate the expression variation explored by transcriptome.Based on the gene annotation,twelve potential downstream targets of ipa1-2D were selected,and their expression variation was confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis both in NILs and transgenic lines.This research expands the molecular network underlying ipa1-2D and provides novel gene information which might be involved in the control of panicle branching.We discussed the potential function of identified genes and highlighted their values for future function exploration and breeding application.展开更多
During grain filling,starch and other nutrients accumulate in the endosperm;this directly determines grain yield and grain quality in crops such as rice(Oryza sativa),maize(Zea mays),and wheat(Triticum aestivum).Grain...During grain filling,starch and other nutrients accumulate in the endosperm;this directly determines grain yield and grain quality in crops such as rice(Oryza sativa),maize(Zea mays),and wheat(Triticum aestivum).Grain filling is a complex trait affected by both intrinsic and environmental factors,making it difficult to explore the underlying genetics,molecular regulation,and the application of these genes for breeding.With the development of powerful genetic and molecular techniques,much has been learned about the genes and molecular networks related to grain filling over the past decades.In this review,we highlight the key factors affecting grain filling,including both biological and abiotic factors.We then summarize the key genes controlling grain filling and their roles in this event,including regulators of sugar translocation and starch biosynthesis,phytohormone-related regulators,and other factors.Finally,we discuss how the current knowledge of valuable grain filling genes could be integrated with strategies for breeding cereal varieties with improved grain yield and quality.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFD1200301)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32172718)+1 种基金the Yangzhou University Graduate International Academic Exchange Special Fund Project,China(YZUF2022206)the"JBGS"Project of Seed Industry Revitalization in JiangsuProvince,China(JBGS(2021)029).
文摘Bone morphogenetic protein 4(BMP4)can induce the formation of chicken primordial germ cells(PGCs)in vitro;however,its regulatory mechanism in poultry remains unknown.This study aimed to use RNA-seq to analyze PGCs in chicken embryos and iPGCs induced by BMP4 in vitro,clarify the internal regulatory factors of PGCs,analyze the mechanism of the formation of PGCs,and lay a theoretical foundation for the further optimization of PGCs induction systems.Embryonic stem cells(ESCs),PGCs and iPGCs induced by BMP4 in vitro were collected.The transcriptional maps of the three cell types were studied using RNA-seq.The results showed 6,142 genes differentially expressed between PGCs and iPGCs,of which 2,728 were upregulated in iPGCs and 3,414 were downregulated in iPGCs.Compared to that in ESCs,BMP4 was significantly upregulated in PGCs and iPGCs.KEGG results showed that both the TGF-βand Wnt signaling pathways were activated during the formation of PGCs in vitro and in vivo,and the activation was more significant during iPGCs induced by BMP4.The expression of Nodal,an inhibitory factor of TGF-βsignaling,was significantly decreased in PGCs and iPGCs,but was not expressed in iPGCs,which further supports our conclusion.Additionally,the Lysosome and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways were significantly enriched in PGCs and iPGCs,respectively.Further,transmission electron microscopy(TEM)results showed that the number of autolysosomes was significantly higher after the addition of BMP4,which is consistent with the KEGG results.Furthermore,the number of PGCs was significantly reduced after ATG14 was interfered in vivo and in vitro.In conclusion,this study screened out the key signaling pathways during the formation of PGCs,aiming to provide help for enriching the mechanism network regulating PGCs formation in chicken and laying a theoretical foundation for further improving the efficiency of inducing PGCs in vitro.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0300109 and 2018YFD0200703)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771709 and 31471436)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, China
文摘Post-silking high temperature is one of the abiotic factors that affects waxy maize(Zea mays L. sinensis Kulesh) growth in southern China. We conducted a pot trial in 2016–2017 to study the effects of post-silking daytime heat stress(35°C) on the activities of enzymes involved in leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolisms and leaf reactive oxygen species(ROS) and water contents. This study could improve our understanding on dry matter accumulation and translocation and grain yield production. Results indicated that decreased grain number and weight under heat stress led to yield loss, which decreased by 20.8 and 20.0% in 2016 and 2017, respectively. High temperature reduced post-silking dry matter accumulation(16.1 and 29.5% in 2016 and 2017, respectively) and promoted translocation of pre-silking photoassimilates stored in vegetative organs, especially in leaf. The lower leaf water content and chlorophyll SPAD value, and higher ROS(H2O2 and O2^-·) content under heat stress conditions indicated accelerated senescent rate. The weak activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase(PEPCase), Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase(Ru BPCase), nitrate reductase(NR), and glutamine synthase(GS) indicated that leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolisms were suppressed when the plants suffered from a high temperature during grain filling. Correlation analysis results indicated that the reduced grain yield was mainly caused by the decreased leaf water content, weakened NR activity, and increased H2O2 content. The increased accumulation of grain weight and post-silking dry matter and the reduced translocation amount in leaf was mainly due to the increased chlorophyll SPAD value and NR activity. Reduced PEPCase and Ru BPCase activities did not affect dry matter accumulation and translocation and grain yield. In conclusion, post-silking heat stress down-regulated the leaf NR and GS activities, increased the leafwater loss rate, increased ROS generation, and induced pre-silking carbohydrate translocation. However, it reduced the post-silking direct photoassimilate deposition, ultimately, leading to grain yield loss.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32101817)Jiangsu Agriculture Science and this work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32101817)+3 种基金Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund(CX(21)3111)the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(21KJD210001)the Scientific and Technological Innovation Fund of Carbon Emissions Peak and Neutrality of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology(BE2022304)the project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)for their financial support.
文摘Understanding physiological responses in saline agriculture may facilitate wheat breeding programs.Based on a screening test,the Ningmai-14(NM-14)and Yangmai-23(YM-23)wheat cultivars were selected for further experiments to understand the underlying salinity tolerance mechanism.This study investigated the effects of five salinity levels such as Control(CK)=0(without NaCl stress),S1=0.20%,S2=0.25%,S3=0.30%and S4=0.35%of NaCl concentrations of soil on wheat plants.The results showed that increased salinity concentration reduced the growth and yield of wheat cultivars(NM-14 and YM-23).However,YM-23(12.7%)yielded more than NM-14 at maximum salinity stress.The higher salinity(S4)increased the concentration of Na^(+)(4.3 to 5.8-fold)and P contents(2.5 to 2.2-fold),while reducing the average concentrations of K^(+),Cu,and K^(+)/Na^(+)ratio.The higher salinity(S4)reduced the spikelet length by 21.35%(followed by grain spike−1),and the starch content by 18.81%.In the YM-23 cultivar,higher salinity increased superoxide dismutase(SOD),total antioxidant capacity(TAC),and amylase.Compared to NM-14,induced expression of TaYUC2,6,and TaGA13ox,20ox genes were recorded in YM-23.Similarly,in YM-23 the stress-specific genes such as TaHSP70,90 were enhanced whereas,TaSOS1,2 were suppressed.Overall,our study revealed that salt tolerant cultivars modulate hormonal and antioxidant activities,thus maintaining high growth.
基金supported by the National Training Programs of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates,Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Jiangsu Province,China(Grant No.BK20200045)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions Program,China.
文摘We successfully identified a novel and unique OsbZIP transcription factor,OsbZIP09,whose mutants exhibited longer seeds and less severe pre-harvest sprouting than the wild type,but shared similar germination rate as the wild type under normal germination conditions.The expression of OsbZIP09 was induced by abscisic acid(ABA)and declined as the germination process.As a nucleus-localized transcription factor,the conserved binding motif of OsbZIP09 was identified via DNA affinity purification sequencing technique.Further evidences indicated that OsbZIP09 directly enhanced the expression of ABA catabolism gene ABA8ox1,thus reducing ABA accumulation.In addition,OsbZIP09 also directly bound to the promoter of LEA3 gene to inhibit its expression,thus further alleviating the suppressive effect of ABA on seed germination.These results demonstrated that OsbZIP09 likely functions as a brake of the ABA pathway to attenuate the inhibitory effect of ABA on rice seed germination via dual strategies.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31871217 and 32072037)the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China(20KJA210002)the Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu Province(BE2018357).
文摘Rice panicle is the sink organ where assimilation product accumulates,and its morphology determines the rice yield.Panicle length has been suggested as a yield-related trait,but the genetic factor for its control is still limited.In this study,we carried out fine-mapping of qPL8,a QTL identified for panicle length in our previous work.Near isogenic line(NIL)with qPL8 exhibited elongated panicle without obvious effect on other panicle elements.With five key recombinants from NIL population,the locus was finally narrowed down to a 278-kb region,where 44 genes are annotated.By comparing the genomic sequence of two parents,17 genes were identified with SNPs or InDels variations in the coding region.Expression analysis showed that eight genes were up-regulated in the NIL with qPL8.Considering both the coding variation and expression status,several candidate genes for the locus were identified,and OsMADS37 was raised as the most possible candidate.Interestingly,an expression QTL(eQTL)also resides in the locus,leading to a cluster of gene expression variation in the region.This study will facilitate the application of qPL8 locus in rice breeding for yield potential.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31600990,31871217 and 32072037)the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China(20KJA210002)+2 种基金Project of Special Funding for Crop Science Discipline Development(yzuxk202006)the open funds of the State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement(ZW202010)the Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu Province(BE2018357).
文摘In recent years,some super hybrid rice varieties were bred with strong culms and large panicles,which are mainly contributed by the ipa1-2D locus.A gain-of-function allele of OsSPL14 is the ipa1-2D and it can greatly increase the panicle primary branch number.However,the key downstream genes mediating this trait variation are not fully explored.In this study,we developed high-quality near-isogenic lines(NILs)with a difference of only 30 kb chromosomal segment covering the ipa1-2D locus.Using the NILs,we explored the impact of ipa1-2D on five sequential stages of early inflorescence development,and found that the locus can greatly enhance the initiation of primary branch meristems.A transcriptomic analysis was performed to unveil the downstream molecular network of ipa1-2D,and 87 genes were found differentially expressed,many of which are involved in metabolism and catalysis processes.In addition,transgenic lines of overexpression and RNA interference were generated to shape different levels of OsSPL14.They were also used to validate the expression variation explored by transcriptome.Based on the gene annotation,twelve potential downstream targets of ipa1-2D were selected,and their expression variation was confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis both in NILs and transgenic lines.This research expands the molecular network underlying ipa1-2D and provides novel gene information which might be involved in the control of panicle branching.We discussed the potential function of identified genes and highlighted their values for future function exploration and breeding application.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32100206,31871217,and 32072037)the China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents(BX2021314)+2 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2021M693173)the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China(20KJA210002)Yangzhou University Interdisciplinary Research Foundation for Crop Science Discipline of Targeted Support(yzuxk202006)。
文摘During grain filling,starch and other nutrients accumulate in the endosperm;this directly determines grain yield and grain quality in crops such as rice(Oryza sativa),maize(Zea mays),and wheat(Triticum aestivum).Grain filling is a complex trait affected by both intrinsic and environmental factors,making it difficult to explore the underlying genetics,molecular regulation,and the application of these genes for breeding.With the development of powerful genetic and molecular techniques,much has been learned about the genes and molecular networks related to grain filling over the past decades.In this review,we highlight the key factors affecting grain filling,including both biological and abiotic factors.We then summarize the key genes controlling grain filling and their roles in this event,including regulators of sugar translocation and starch biosynthesis,phytohormone-related regulators,and other factors.Finally,we discuss how the current knowledge of valuable grain filling genes could be integrated with strategies for breeding cereal varieties with improved grain yield and quality.