Determination of Heterotic Groups and Heterosis Analysis of Yield Performance in indica Rice

To compare the heterosis levels among various groups of parental lines used extensively in China, identify foundational heterotic groups in parental pools and understand the relationship between genetic distance and heterosis performance, 16 parental lines with extensive genetic variation were selected from various sub-groups, and 39 hybrid combinations were generated and evaluated in Fujian and Hainan Provinces of China. The main results were as follows： （1） The 16 parental lines can be grouped into 7 sub-groups consisting of 1 maintainer sub-group and 6 restorer sub-groups; （2） Mean grain yield of the restorer lines was higher than that of the maintainer lines, and mean yield of parental lines was higher than that of the hybrid combinations; （3） The two best heterotic patterns were II-32A × G5 and II-32A × G6, moreover, the order of restorer sub-groups according to grain yield, from the highest to lowest, was G7, G6, G5, G4, G3 and G2; High specific combining ability values were observed for combinations of II-32A × G5, II-32A × G6 and Tianfeng A × G7; （4） Hybrid combinations derived from II-32A crossed with 13 restorer lines had higher yield trait values （mid-parent heterosis, better-parent heterosis, standard heterosis over check and specific combining ability） than any other combinations; （5） Genetic distance was positively correlated with panicle number, grain length and length-to-width ratio （P 〈 0.05） and negatively correlated with grain width, grain yield, seed-setting rate, as well as mid-parent heterosis, standard heterosis over check, and specific combining ability for grain yield （P 〈 0.01）. These heterotic groups and patterns and their argonomic traits will provide useful information for future hybrid rice breeding programs.

Transcript Profiling Reveals Abscisic Acid,Salicylic Acid and Jasmonic-Isoleucine Pathways Involved in High Regenerative Capacities of Immature Embryos Compared with Mature Seeds in japonica Rice

Induced pluripotent cell mass plays a role in genetic transformation mediated by Agrobacterium. Mature seeds are more recalcitrant to the induction of suitable calli than immature embryos in rice, but the exact molecular mechanisms involved remain elusive. In this study, the morphological structure of calli induced from mature seeds and immature embryos were observed under a scanning electron microscope using a paraffin embedded technique. Meanwhile, a total of 2 173 up- and down-regulated genes were identified in calli induced from mature seeds and immature embryos by RNA-seq technique and furtherly confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. The results revealed the remarkable morphological differences in calli induced from mature seeds and immature embryos, and plant hormone signal transduction and hormone biosynthesis pathways, such as abscisic acid, salicylic acid and jasmonic-isoleucine, were found to play roles in somatic embryogenesis. This study provided comprehensive gene expression sets for mature seeds and immature embryos that were served as an important platform resource for further functional studies in plant embryogenesis.

Identification of MAM1s in Regulation of 3C Glucosinolates Accumulation in Allopolyploid Brassica juncea

Allopolyploid Brassica juncea is particularly enriched in sinigrin,a kind of 3C aliphatic glucosinolates(GSLs),giving rise to characteristic taste after picking.However,the molecular mechanism underlying 3C aliphatic GSLs biosynthesis in this species remains unknown.In this study,we genome-widely identified GSLs metabolic genes,indicating different evolutionary rate of GSLs metabolic genes between subgenomes of B.juncea.Eight methythioalkylmalate synthase(MAMs)homologs were identified from B.juncea,in which six MAM1s were located in chloroplast and the other two were not detected with any expression.Furthermore,BjMAM1-4,BjMAM1-5,and BjMAM1-6 displayed higher expression levels in leaves than other tissues.Silenced expression analysis revealed that BjMAM1-4 and BjMAM1-6 function in 3C and 4C aliphatic GSLs accumulation.The specificity of the substrate selection for the second cycle reaction is much lower than that of the first cycle,suggesting these genes may preferentially catalyze 3C aliphatic GSLs biosynthesis.Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the accumulation of 3C aliphatic GSLs,thereby facilitating the manipulation of aliphatic GSLs content in B.juncea.

Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factors Shape RNA Viruses Resistance in Plants

Viruses are representative of a global threat to agricultural production. Genetic resistance is the preferred strategy for the control of viral infection and against loss of crop yield. Viral protein synthesis requires host cellular factors for translating their viral RNAs, and for regulating their replication and cell to cell systemic movement. Therefore, the viruses are dependent on cellular translation factors. Mutations in the gene encoding eIF4E and eIF4G or their isoforms, eIFiso4 E, eIFiso4 G and eIF2Bβ have been mapped as a source of plant potyvirus while other genus of plant virus recessive resistance genes in many species are originated from these loci. Some of other plant translation factors, such as eIF3,eIF4 A-like helicases, eEF1A and eEF1B, which are required in interacting with viral RNAs and regulating various aspects of the infection cycle,have also been identified. Here, we summarized the mechanisms utilized by RNA viruses of eukaryotic plants and the essential roles of e IFs in virus infection. Moreover, we discussed the potential of e IFs as a target gene in the development of genetic resistance to viruses for crop improvement. This review highlighted newly revealed examples of abnormal translational strategies and provided insights into natural host resistance mechanisms that have been linked to 3 cap-independent translational enhancer activity.

Identification of Flowering Regulatory Genes in Allopolyploid Brassica juncea

Brassica juncea is an allopolyploid originating from the interspecific hybridization between Brassica rapa and Brassica nigra, which is of multiple usage as a vegetable, oilseed and condiment worldwide. Both vernalization and non-vernalization under long-day photoperiod can promote floral transition in B. juncea suggesting merged flowering pathways of its ancestors and better environmental adaptability. We identified genomewide flowering regulatory genes in B. juncea, which include 84 and 79 genes from A and B sub-genomes, respectively. Ka/Ks analysis revealed a purification effect on both photoperiod and vernalization flowering regulation pathways during evolution. Expression profile of those genes during long-day and vernalization treatments suggested Bju ACO4, Bju AFT1, Bju BFT4, Bju ASOC1 and Bju ASOC4 may be the major functional copies of B. juncea flowering regulation. Further functional studies about Bju COs showed three days delayed flowering time in Bju ACO4 or Bju BCO3 silenced plants. Increased transcription of all BjuFLCs in Bju ACO4 or Bju BCO3 silenced plants suggested interactions between photoperiod and vernalization pathways governing flowering time. Our findings provided flowering regulating networks in allopolyploid B. juncea.

SH3P2,an SH3 domain-containing protein that interacts with both Pib and AvrPib,suppresses effector-triggered,Pib-mediated immunity in rice

Plants usually keep resistance(R)proteins in a static state under normal conditions to avoid autoimmunity and save energy for growth,but R proteins can be rapidly activated upon perceiving pathogen invasion.Pib,the first cloned blast disease R gene in rice,encoding a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat(NLR)protein,mediates resistance to the blast fungal(Magnaporthe oryzae)isolates carrying the avirulence gene AvrPib.However,the molecular mechanisms about how Pib recognizes AvrPib and how it is inactivated and activated remain largely unclear.In this study,through map-based cloning and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing,we proved that Pib contributes to the blast disease resistance of rice cultivar Yunyin(YY).Furthermore,an SH3 domain-containing protein,SH3P2,was found to associate with Pib mainly at clathrin-coated vesicles in rice cells,via direct binding with the coiled-coil(CC)domain of Pib.Interestingly,overexpression of SH3P2 in YY compromised Pib-mediated resistance to M.oryzae isolates carrying AvrPib and Pib-AvrPib recognition-induced cell death.SH3P2 competitively inhibits the self-association of the Pib CC domain in vitro,suggesting that binding of SH3P2 with Pib undermines its homodimerization.Moreover,SH3P2 can also interact with AvrPib and displays higher affinity to AvrPib than to Pib,which leads to dissociation of SH3P2 from Pib in the presence of AvrPib.Taken together,our results suggest that SH3P2 functions as a“protector”to keep Pib in a static state by direct interaction during normal growth but could be triggered off by the invasion of AvrPib-carrying M.oryzae isolates.Our study reveals a new mechanism about how an NLR protein is inactivated under normal conditions but is activated upon pathogen infection.

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus:an emerging plant begomovirus threatening cucurbit production

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus(ToLCNDV),a bipartite begomovirus,was first reported to infect tomato and has recently spread rapidly as an emerging disease to Cucurbitaceae crops.To date,the virus has been reported to infect more than 11 cucurbit crops,in 16 countries and regions,causing severe yield losses.In autumn 2022,ToLCNDV was first isolated from cucurbit plants in Southeastern coastal areas of China.Phylogenetic analysis established that these isolates belong to the Asian ToLCNDV clade,and shared high nucleotide identity and closest genetic relationship with the DNA-A sequence from the Chinese tomato-infecting ToLCNDV isolate(Accession no.OP356207)and the tomato New Delhi ToLCNDV-Severe isolate(Accession no.HM159454).In this review,we summarize the occurrence and distribution,host range,detection and diagnosis,control strategies,and genetic resistance of ToLCNDV in the Cucurbitaceae.We then summarize pathways that could be undertaken to improve our understanding of this emerging disease,with the objective to develop ToLCNDV-resistant cucurbit cultivars.