Biologia plantarum, 2016 (vol. 60), issue 3

Original Papers

Overexpression of the repressor gene PvFRI-L from Phyllostachys violascens delays flowering time in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

S. N. Liu, L. F. Zhu, X. C. Lin, L. Y. Ma

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:401-409 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0614-6

The gene FRIGIDA (FRI) is floral repressor and plays a key role in the timing of Arabidopsis flowering. To study the function of FRI-like genes in bamboo, we isolated a FRI family gene from bamboo Phyllostachys violascens and named it PvFRI-L. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis show that the PvFRI-L protein belongs to the FRL3 (III) subfamily from monocots and contains a conserved FRIGIDA domain. PvFRI-L was located in the nucleus of onion epidermal cells. PvFRI-L was expressed in all tested organs of flowering and non-flowering bamboo plants with a higher expression in non-flowering...

Cloning, identification, and expression analysis of a Dicer-Like gene family from Solanum lycopersicum

T. Wang, L. You, R. Li, D.-Q. Fu, B.-Z. Zhu, Y.-B. Luo, H.-L. Zhu

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:410-418 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0620-8

Dicer proteins belong to the RNase III family of proteins, which are key components in small RNA biogenesis. In Solanum lycopersicum, seven Dicer-like (DCL) genes have been identified and have been named SlDCL. In this study, we cloned the full-length sequence of the SlDCL genes including untranslated regions using RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Our analysis indicates that 7 SlDCLs were located on 5 tomato chromosomes (6, 7, 8, 10, and 11). The gene structure of the SlDCLs covered long genomic regions and contained more than 20 exons. Phylogenetic analysis divided the seven SlDCL...

Identification and expression analysis of nuclear factor Y families in Prunus mume under different abiotic stresses

J. Yang, X. L. Wan, C. Guo, J. W. Zhang, M. Z. Bao

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:419-426 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0624-4

The nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is one of the largest transcription factor families in plants consisting of NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC subunits. It could play important roles in various processes such as flowering time, seed development, and response to drought. In this study, 6 NF-YA, 13 NF-YB, and 8 NF-YC proteins were identified and characterized in Prunus mume. Analyses of a conserved domain indicated that the PmNF-Y subunits shared an elevated degree of homology with the corresponding Arabidopsis NF-Y ones. Phylogenetic analysis showed that each NF-Y subunit family from Prunus mume and Arabidopsis could be divided into 4 or...

Characterization and expression analysis of conserved miRNAs and their targets in Pinus densata

Z.-B. Qiu, M.-M. Yuan, B.-Z. Hai, L. Wang, L. Zhang

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:427-434 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0617-3

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play crucial regulatory roles in diverse developmental processes via cleavage or translational inhibition of their target mRNAs. Although a growing number of miRNAs and their targets have been predicted and discovered via experimentation in many plants, little is known about conserved miRNAs and their target genes in Pinus densata. In the present study, the conserved miRNAs, miR171 and miR482, from Pinus densata were characterized. Analysis of miR171 and miR482 reveal that these miRNAs were highly conserved in other plant species. In addition, the precursors of miR171 and...

Banana MaEF1A facilitates plant growth and development

J.-H. Liu, Y.-C. Li, J. Zhang, P.-Z. Gao, A.-B. Wang, N. Zhang, B.-Y. Xu, Z.-Q. Jin

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:435-442 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0613-7

Plant translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1A) is both a protein synthesis factor and an important component of plant signal transduction, immune responses, protein trafficking, and apoptosis. However, its role in plant growth and development remains unclear. Herein, a full-length EF1A gene was isolated from banana (Musa acuminata L.) fruit and termed MaEF1A. We found that MaEF1A shared a high sequence identify with respective genes in other plants and the deduced amino acid sequence contained conserved regions of GTP-EFTU, GTP-EFTU-02, and GTP-EFTU-03, as well as two tRNA binding domains and six GTP-binding sites which...

CsWRKY2, a novel WRKY gene from Camellia sinensis, is involved in cold and drought stress responses

Y. Wang, Z. Shu, W. Wang, X. Jiang, D. Li, J. Pan, X. Li

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:443-451 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0618-2

One of the largest families of transcriptional regulators contains WRKY proteins. They play important roles in plant defense responses. In this study, a novel WRKY gene, CsWRKY2, was isolated from the tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] plant. The full-length cDNA of CsWRKY2 was 2 050 bp in length and encoded a 522-amino acid peptide chain containing two typical WRKY domains and two zinc finger motifs, suggesting that CsWRKY2 was member of the WRKY group I family. A subcellular localization assay shows that CsWRKY2 was localized to the nucleus. Real time qPCR analysis shows that CsWRKY2 expression was higher in leaves...

Identification, validation, and expression of ABC transporters in Podophyllum hexandrum and their role in podophyllotoxin biosynthesis

P. Kumar, R. Sharma, V. Jaiswal, R. S. Chauhan

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:452-458 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0611-9

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle is an important medicinal herb of North-Western Himalayas, and podophyllotoxin, being its major metabolite, has been used extensively in the preparation of several anticancer drugs. Podophyllotoxin accumulates in rhizomes; however, no information exists on the role of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters vis-à-vis podophyllotoxin content. The present study reports identification, validation, and expression analysis of ABC transporter genes from P. hexandrum. Total 252 ABC transporter genes were identified as unigenes out of which 22 were further validated using real time qPCR in different tissues...

Molecular cloning and expression of four phenylalanine ammonia lyase genes from banana interacting with Fusarium oxysporum

Z. Wang, J.-Y. Li, C.-H. Jia, J.-P. Li, B.-Y. Xu, Z.-Q. Jin

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:459-468 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0619-1

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) is the first enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway. In this study, we describe the molecular characteristics of four PAL genes (MaPAL1, MaPAL2, MaPAL3, and MaPAL4) cloned from banana (Musa acuminata L. AAA group, cv. Cavendish) using a rapid amplification of cDNA ends and real time quantitative PCR. The predicted molecular masses of corresponding PALs ranged from 70.2 to 77.3 kDa and their isoelectric points were acidic. At the amino acid level, they shared a high sequence similarity with PALs in the banana DH-Pahang (AA group) genome. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the deduced...

Identification and characterization of a novel iron deficiency and salt stress responsive transcription factor IDEF1 in Porteresia coarctata

D. Purohit, H. M. Sankararamasubramanian, A. Kumar Pal, A. Kumar Parida

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:469-481 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0616-4

Iron availability affects plant growth depending on soil type. Mangroves are characterized by alkaline soils in which the halophytic wild rice relative Porteresia coarctata thrives. Young plants of P. coarctata grew optimally in the presence of 150 mM NaCl in a hydroponic medium and tolerated iron deficiency and salt up to 21 d without showing any symptoms of stress. A homolog of the rice iron deficiency responsive cis-acting element binding factor (IDEF1) that functions at the base of an iron regulated network was isolated and characterized from P. coarctata. PcIDEF1 had a close paralog in P. coarctata...

Molecular cloning, expression, and subcellular localization of a PAL gene from Citrus reticulata under iron deficiency

H. Y. Yang, T. Dong, J. F. Li, M. Y. Wang

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:482-488 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0625-3

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) is a specific branch point enzyme of primary and secondary metabolism. The Citrus reticulata Blanco PAL gene was cloned and designated as CrPAL1. The cDNA sequence of CrPAL1 was 2 166 bp, encoding 721 amino acid residues. Sequence alignment indicates that CrPAL1 shared a high identity with PAL genes found in other plants. Both the dominant and catalytic active sites of CrPAL1 were similar to PAL proteins observed in Petroselinum crispum. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicates that CrPAL1 was more closely related to PALs in Citrus clementina × C....

Identification and characterization of hemp WRKY transcription factors in response to abiotic stresses

P.-F. Xin, C.-S. Gao, C.-H. Cheng, Q. Tang, Z.-X. Dong, L.-N. Zhao, G.-G. Zang

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:489-495 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0621-7

Plant WRKY genes encode a complex and ancient class of zinc-finger transcription factors that are involved in multiple biological processes, especially in regulating defense against abiotic stresses. Despite a growing number of studies on the genomic organization of the WRKY gene family in various species, little information is available about this family in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). In this study, based on the hemp genome sequence, 40 hemp WRKY (CsWRKY) genes were classified into three main groups and five subgroups according to their orthologs in Arabidopsis. Among these, 23, 15, and 14 CsWRKY genes...

Identification of a set of genes from genotypes of common bean tolerant and susceptible to water stress for a macroarray-based selection strategy

G. M. Gutierrez-Benicio, J. G. Ramirez-Pimentel, J. A. Acosta-Gallegos, C. L. Aguirre-Mancilla, J. C. Raya-Perez, A. P. Rodriguez-Vera, V. Montero-Tavera

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:496-504 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0587-5

Globally, drought is the main factor that reduces common bean yield. For this reason, breeding alternatives, such as molecular marker-assisted selection, that focus on various functional genes directly involved in the response to water stress, such as those encoding late embryogenesis abundant (LEA), early response to dehydration (ERD), and dehydrin proteins, have been implemented. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes of Phaseolus vulgaris in drought-tolerant cultivars Pinto Saltillo (PS) and Pinto Villa (PV), and drought-susceptible cultivars Bayo Madero (BM) and Canario 60 (C60) in vegetative and reproductive...

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Wx genes from three Taeniatherum diploid species

S. F. Dai, J. Q. Jiang, Y. N. Jia, X. F. Xue, D. C. Liu, Y. M. Wei, Y. L. Zheng, Z. H. Yan

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:505-512 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0609-3

In wheat seeds, starch synthase I or the Waxy protein is an enzyme involved in amylose synthesis. The gene encoding this enzyme is Wx and in this study, eight novel Wx alleles were identified in three diploid Taeniatherum species. The variability of these alleles was evaluated, and their nucleotide sequences were compared with those of homologous alleles from wheat. Two types of Taeniatherum Wx alleles were detected in three diploid species Ta. caput-medusae, Ta. asperum, and Ta. crinitum. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that the Taeniatherum Wx alleles were more closely related to Wx...

The poplar ARGOS-LIKE gene promotes leaf initiation and cell expansion, and controls organ size

B. R. Kuluev, A. V. Knyazev, E. V. Mikhaylova, A. A. Ermoshin, Y. M. Nikonorov, A. V. Chemeris

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:513-522 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0610-x

We identified a Populus nigra auxin-regulated gene involved in organ size (PnARGOS)-LIKE, encoding one organ size related protein in black poplar. It is homologous to AtARGOS and AtARGOS-LIKE genes of Arabidopsis thaliana. ABRE-like, G-box, GATA and I-box motifs were discovered in the promoter region of the poplar ARGOS-LIKE gene. In wild type aspen (Populus tremula) plants, an ortholog of the PnARGOS-LIKE gene (PtrARGOS-LIKE) was noticeably expressed in actively dividing and expanding young leaves and calli, whereas its mRNA content increased in response to exogenous 6-benzylaminopurine,...

Combined effect of ethylene- and salicylic acid-signaling insensitive mutation on Arabidopsis response to low temperature

J. Y. Liu, Y. Zhu, L. L. Huang, X. Xu, G. Z. Li, L. Hao

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:523-531 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0615-5

The roles of ethylene (ET) or salicylic acid (SA) in plant response to low temperature (LT, 5 °C) have been implicated. However, the combined effect of ET- and SA-signaling on plant growth and metabolism under LT remains to be evaluated. In this study, we comparatively analyzed the response of Arabidopsis ethylene insensitive (ein) 2-1 (an ET insensitive mutant), nonexprressor of pathogenesis relative (npr)1-1 (an SA insensitive mutant) and double mutant ein2-1/npr1-1 plants to LT. The results show that a LT of 5 °C induced plant growth retardation to a less degree in ein2-1, an intermediate...

Growth characteristics and endosperm structure of superior and inferior spikelets of indica rice under high-temperature stress

Y. Y. Cao, Y. H. Chen, M. X. Chen, Z. Q. Wang, C. F. Wu, X. C. Bian, J. C. Yang, J. H. Zhang

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:532-542 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0606-6

Heat stress severely reduces rice yield and quality; however, differences between the superior, early-flowering and inferior, later-flowering spikelets of indica rice in response to high-temperature stress during grain filling remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of high temperature (HT, 33.6/20.7 °C day/night) on growth, endosperm structure, and hormone and polyamine content of superior and inferior spikelets of heat-sensitive (SG-1) and heat-tolerant (HHZ) indica cultivars. The HT decreased fertilization rate, caused earlier grain filling, and reduced duration of grain filling, thus resulting in decreased grain mass and...

Nitrogen deprivation induces cross-tolerance of Poa annua callus to salt stress

C. Z. Zhao, P. Li, X. M. Wang, P. Li, X. Y. Wang, F. Wang, J. F. Wang, N. Chang, Y. R. Bi

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:543-554 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0626-2

Alternative respiration pathway (AP) is an important pathway which can be induced by environment stresses in plants. In the present study, we show a new mechanism involving the AP in nitrogen deprivation-induced tolerance of Poa annua callus to salt stress. The AP capacity markedly increased under a 600 mM NaCl treatment or nitrogen deprivation pretreatment and reached a maximum under the nitrogen deprivation pretreatment combined with the NaCl treatment (-N+NaCl). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂ content and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio significantly increased under the 600 mM NaCl treatment but less under the-N+NaCl...

Effect of exogenous abscisic acid on cold acclimation in two Magnolia species

Y. Yang, N. Yao, Z. K. Jia, J. Duan, F. J. Chen, Z. Y. Sang, L. Y. Ma

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:555-562 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0623-5

In northern China, freezing injury is observed frequently in the rare species Magnolia wufengensis but not in the more common species Magnolia denudata. To investigate the role of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) on frost tolerance in these two species, exogenous ABA was applied to the seedlings and then physiological and biochemical responses were measured during cold acclimation. Shoot growth cessation was stimulated by ABA in M. wufengensis but not in M. denudata. Abscisic acid inhibited shoot growth in M. wufengensis but not in M. denudata. Treatment with ABA stimulated leaf senescence in both species,...

Effect of brassinosteroids on ammonium uptake via regulation of ammonium transporter and N-metabolism genes in Arabidopsis

B. T. Zhao, X. F. Zhu, J. H. Jung, Y. H. Xuan

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:563-571 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0627-1

Several studies have been performed to elucidate the role of brassinosteroids (BRs) in plant growth and development. However, information on the role of BR signaling in nutrient uptake is limited. This study explores the relationship between BRs and ammonium transporter 1 (AMT1) expression in Arabidopsis roots. We found that BR treatment reduced the expression of AMT1 genes and that a BR receptor BRI1 mutant bri1-5 reversed its BR-repressed expression. Furthermore, the BR signaling transcription factor, BES1, regulates AMT1 expression in roots. NH₄ ⁺-mediated repression of AMT1;1,...

Citric acid secretion induced by aluminum in two Stylosanthes species

D. Cassol, J. Cambraia, C. Ribeiro, J. A. Oliveira, F. B. Cardoso

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:572-578 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0607-5

Secretion of organic acids (OAs) by roots has been suggested to be an important mechanism of Al resistance in many species. In Stylosanthes, the participation of OAs in the mechanism of Al resistance is poorly understood. We aimed to study the production and secretion of OAs by two Brazilian Stylosanthes species with different Al resistance. Stylosanthes capitata and S. guianensis were treated with Al at different concentrations in 0.5 mM CaCl₂ (pH 4.0), and then root elongation, Al and OA content, OA secretion into the external solution, and the activity of citrate synthase (CS) were measured. Al-induced secretion...

Phenylalanine biosynthesis and its relationship to accumulation of capsaicinoids during Capsicum chinense fruit development

L. A. Castro-Concha, F. M. Baas-Espinola, W. R. Ancona-Escalante, F. A. Vázquez-Flota, M. L. Miranda-Ham

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:579-584 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0608-4

Activities of phenylalanine (Phe) biosynthetic enzymes chorismate mutase (CM) and arogenate dehydratase (ADT) and of phenylalanine ammonia lyase [PAL, an enzyme that directs Phe towards capsaicinoid (CAP) synthesis] were analyzed during Capsicum chinense Jacq. (habanero pepper) fruit development. A maximum CM activity coincided with a maximum CAP accumulation. However, ADT exhibited two activity peaks, one during the early phase (10 - 17 days post-anthesis, DPA) and another during the late phase (35 - 37 DPA); only the latter coincided with CAP. Interestingly, PAL activity was inversely related to CAP accumulation; lower activities coincided...

Involvement of nitric oxide in 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced antioxidant defense in roots of Elymus nutans exposed to cold stress

J. J. Fu, X. T. Chu, Y. F. Sun, Y. F. Xu, T. M. Hu

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:585-594 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0635-1

Nitric oxide (NO) and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5ALA) play fundamental roles in plant responses to environmental stresses, but their cross-talk in antioxidant defense in cold-stressed Elymus nutans Griseb. have not been investigated. We herein report that 5ALA and NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), alleviated cold stress-induced plant growth inhibition and lipid peroxidation in roots of two E. nutans ecotypes (Damxung, DX and Zhengdao, ZD). However, application of an NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide potassium salt (PTIO) differentially blocked these protective effects indicating that an inhibition...

Brief Communications

Hydrogen sulfide as a signal molecule in hematin-induced heat tolerance of tobacco cell suspension

Z.-G. Li, S.-P. Gu

Biologia plantarum 2016, 60:595-600 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0612-8

Carbon monoxide (CO) is considered as a new emerging cell signal molecule which is involved in plant growth, development, and acquisition of stress tolerance. In recent years, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has been found to have similar functions, but crosstalk between CO and H₂S in the acquisition of heat tolerance in plants is not clear. In this study, pretreatment of tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum L.) cells cultured in a suspension with a CO donor hematin significantly increased survival percentage of cells under a heat stress and regrowth ability after the heat stress, alleviated a decrease in cell vitality, and accumulation...