Biologia plantarum, 2017 (vol. 61), issue 1
Reviews
Plant viruses as scaffolds for the presentation of vaccine epitopes
H. Plchova, N. Cerovska, P. Vaculik, T. Moravec
Biologia plantarum 61:1-12, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0690-7
Within the last two decades, plant viral vectors have emerged as an excellent tool for the expression of foreign peptides and proteins. Virus particles carrying foreign antigenic epitopes present some interesting advantages for vaccine design and other applications. This review covers recent advances in the use of some typical plant viruses with helical particles that present heterologous peptides with particular emphasis on particles derived from the Potato virus X (PVX) and its uses.
Original Papers
Construction of a new type of multi-gene plant transformation vector and genetic transformation of tobacco
Y. Dong, Y. C. Ren, M. S. Yang, J. Zhang, T. Qiu, H. L. Cui
Biologia plantarum 61:13-23, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0684-5
A plasmid and two isocaudamer systems, namely, NotI/Bsp120I and SpeI/XbaI/NheI, were used to construct a new type of multi-gene plant transformation vector system. This system included a transformation vector containing the restriction enzyme cutting sites Bsp120I and XbaI as well as a cloning vector containing the restriction enzyme cutting sites NotI, Bsp120I, SpeI, and NheI. The open reading frame of the new target genes was connected to the transformation vector. The original restriction enzyme cutting site disappeared after connecting to the isocaudamer. The plant transformation...
Identification and expression analysis of seven MADS-box genes from Annona squamosa
K. Liu, S. Feng, Y. Jiang, H. Li, S. Huang, J. Liu, C. Yuan
Biologia plantarum 61:24-34, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0688-1
MADS-box genes encode a family of transcription factors that regulate diverse growth and developmental processes in plants, including flowering. In this study, comprehensive characterization and expression profiling analyses of seven sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) MADS-box genes were performed using rapid amplification of cDNA ends method. Domain and phylogenetic analyses grouped these seven MADS-box genes into six different clades and they showed high similarity with orthologs in Arabidopsis. Expression patterns of these MADS-box genes were investigated during different flower developmental stages and in various reproductive organs,...
Characterization of the Arabidopsis thaliana heme oxygenase 1 promoter in response to salinity, iron deficiency, and mercury exposure
F.-Q. Wang, J. Yang, C. Dai, M.-Z. Wu, Y.-H. Zhang, W.-B. Shen
Biologia plantarum 61:35-47, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0646-y
The Arabidopsis heme oxygenase 1 (HY1) plays a significant role in the signal transduction of abiotic stimuli and hormonal response. To characterize the HY1 promoter, an approximately 1.8 kb of it (pHY1, -1666 to +132) and its deletion fragments (5D1, -1528 to +132; 5D2, -1109 to +132; 5D3, -688 to +132; 5D4, -169 to +132; 3D1, -1666 to +100; 3D2, -1666 to -1; and 3D3, -1666 to -170), were fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and transformed into Arabidopsis. The transgenic plants were subjected to several environmental stimuli (especially to mild salinity, iron deficiency, and mercury exposure). The results...
Single nucleotide polymorphism markers linked to root elongation rate in sugar beet
P. Stevanato, D. Trebbi, M. Saccomani
Biologia plantarum 61:48-54, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0643-1
The aim of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers genetically linked to root elongation rate (RER) in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). A population of 244 F3 individuals, obtained from the cross between lines L01 (a low RER) and L18 (a high RER), was phenotyped by measuring RER of 11-d-old seedlings grown in a hydroponic culture. Two DNA bulks of 50 F3 individuals with extreme phenotypes were used for bulk segregant analysis by restriction-associated DNA sequencing. A total of 20 376 SNPs were identified. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were filtered to reduce the number of the false positive...
Mobilization of the Tetu1 transposable element of Helianthus annuus: evidence for excision in different developmental stages
M. Fambrini, C. Pugliesi
Biologia plantarum 61:55-63, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0655-x
The tubular ray flower (turf) mutant of sunflower is characterized by a switch of ray flowers from zygomorphic to near-actinomorphic disc flowers. In sunflower, floral symmetry of ray and disc flowers is specified by the activity of members of a CYCLOIDEA (CYC) gene family. The turf mutant is generated by the insertion of a CACTA-like transposable element (TE), named Transposable element of turf1 (Tetu1), in the coding sequence of the HaCYC2c gene. The TEinsertion changes the reading frame of turf-HaCYC2c for the encoded protein and leads to a premature stop codon. Tetu1 is a non-autonomous version of...
Overexpression of wheat TaNCED gene in Arabidopsis enhances tolerance to drought stress and delays seed germination
S.-M. Tong, H.-X. Xi, K.-J. Ai, H.-S Hou
Biologia plantarum 61:64-72, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0692-5
Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates various plant physiological processes, especially participates in the plant responses to harsh environments. The 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) is a key enzyme in ABA biosynthesis pathway. Here, a TaNCED with an 1 887-bp open reading frame was cloned from wheat, which encodes a peptide of 628 amino acids. A chloroplast transit peptide sequence was found at the N-terminus of the TaNCED protein. Multiple sequence alignments indicate that the TaNCED protein shared high similarities with other NCEDs from different species. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis shows that expression of TaNCED was strongly...
Phenolic compounds and carotenoids during acclimation of spring barley and its mutant Chlorina f2 from high to low irradiance
J. Nezval, M. Štroch, Z. Materová, V. Špunda, J. Kalina
Biologia plantarum 61:73-84, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0689-0
We examined the dynamics of phenolic compounds (PheCs) and carotenoids (Cars) in the leaves of wild type (WT) spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and its mutant lacking chlorophyll b Chlorina f2 (Clo f2) grown from seeds at high irradiance (8 d at 1 000 μmol m-2 s-1; HI) during 9 d of acclimation to low irradiance (50 μmol m-2 s-1; LI). Our results show that a leaf epidermal flavonoid UV-shielding index remained rather constant after transfer of plants from HIto LIconditions and that it was significantly lower in Clo f2 compared to WTplants. This suggests that HIpretreated...
Characterization of a rice dwarf and narrow leaf 2 mutant
Y. M. N. Adedze, X. J. Wei, Z. H. Sheng, G. A. Jiao, S. Q. Tang, P. S. Hu
Biologia plantarum 61:85-94, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0632-4
The rice dwarf and narrow leaf mutant 2 (dnl2) is dwarfed and forms narrow and brittle leaves. Its dwarfness was shown to be due to its shortened internodes resulting from a reduced size of the internode parenchyma cells. Its narrow and brittle leaves were attributed to a compromised ability to form vascular bundles but a reduced fiber content and thin cortical layer. However, response to the application of either gibberellin or brassinolide was not different between dnl2 and its wild type. Transcription profiling indicates that a number of cell division/expansion-associated and crude fiber synthesis-related genes were down-regulated...
Overexpression of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase from Larix gmelinii enhances growth and cold tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana
N. N. Li, L. Chen, X. H. Li, Q. Li, W. B. Zhang, K. Takechi, H. Takano, X. F. Lin
Biologia plantarum 61:95-105, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0657-8
Uridine diphosphate glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) plays an important role in biosynthesis of hemicellulose by catalyzing oxidation of UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) to UDP-glucuronate (UDP-GlcA), a key sugar nucleotide involved in biosynthesis of the plant cell wall. In this study, a UGDH ortholog referred to as LgUGDH was isolated from Larix gmelinii using PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends techniques. Real-time PCR shows that the LgUGDH gene was expressed primarily in larch stems in addition to its roots and leaves, and Southern blot analysis indicates that UGDH is encoded by two paralogous genes in L. gmelinii. Overexpression...
Quantitative proteomic analysis of upland cotton stem terminal buds reveals phytohormone-related pathways associated with dwarfism
X. Tu, J. Li, Q. Wang, A. Liu
Biologia plantarum 61:106-114, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0644-0
Identifying important regulative elements and pathways related to dwarfism in cotton is a major challenge in cotton breeding. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation-based proteomics of stem terminal buds from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) dwarf line LA-1 and high near-isogenic line LH-1 was performed. Moreover, transcriptional expression of differentially-expressed proteins (DEPs) belonging to phytohormone signal transduction, hormone biosynthesis, and ubiquitin system were analysed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. A total of 4 849 proteins were identified from LA-1 and LH-1, 697 of which showed differential...
Cucumber PDR8/ABCG36 and PDR12/ABCG40 plasma membrane proteins and their up-regulation under abiotic stresses
M. Migocka, A. Papierniak, A. Rajsz
Biologia plantarum 61:115-126, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0679-2
The cucumber genes CsPDR8/CsABCG36 and CsPDR12/CsABCG40 encode two similar pleiotropic drug resistance proteins (ABCGPDRs) belonging to the large ABC family of multispecific ATP-dependent transporters. We have already shown that the amount of root CsPDR8/CsABCG36 and CsPDR12/CsABCG40 transcripts is markedly elevated by phytohormones related to the plant response to environmental constraints, suggesting the involvement of both genes in hormone-mediated reactions to stresses. To further characterize the function and regulation of CsPDR8/CsABCG36 and CsPDR12/CsABCG40, we determined the subcellular localization...
Water use efficiency in the drought-stressed sorghum and maize in relation to expression of aquaporin genes
S. A. Hasan, S. H. Rabei, R. M. Nada, G. M. Abogadallah
Biologia plantarum 61:127-137, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0656-9
Zea mays L. is less tolerant to drought than Sorghum bicolor L. In the present study, we investigated the response of both plants to drought stress applied under field conditions by withholding water for 10 d. The plant growth in terms of shoot fresh and dry masses was more severely reduced in maize than in sorghum, consistently with reduction of leaf relative water content. Gas exchange was also more inhibited by drought in maize than in sorghum. The water use efficiency (WUE) of maize fluctuated during the day and in response to the drought stress. In contrast, sorghum was able to maintain a largely constant WUE during the day in the...
The lignin synthesis related genes and lodging resistance of Fagopyrum esculentum
D. Hu, X. B. Liu, H. Z. She, Z. Gao, R. W. Ruan, D. Q. Wu, Z. L. Yi
Biologia plantarum 61:138-146, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0685-4
Lignin is closely related to the lodging resistance of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.). However, the characteristics of lignin synthesis related genes have not yet been reported. We investigated the lignin biosynthesis gene expression, activities of related enzymes, and accumulation of lignin monomers during branching stage, bloom stage, and milky ripe stage by real-time quantitative PCR, UVspectrophotometry, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the 2nd internode of three common buckwheat cultivars with different lodging resistance. The results showed that lignin content and the activity of phenylalanine ammonia...
Cloning cDNA and functional characterization of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in Dendrobium officinale
R.-L. Wan, J. Sun, T. He, Y.-D. Hu, Y. Zhao, Y. Wu, Z. Chun
Biologia plantarum 61:147-154, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0645-z
Dendrobium officinale is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that produces promising bioactive polysaccharides. However, the biosynthetic pathway of polysaccharides in this herb remains to be elucidated. The uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) is a key enzyme for the production of uridine diphosphate glucose, which is a major glycosyl donor for synthesis of polysaccharides. This study identified a novel UGPase gene from D. officinale termed as DoUGP. Bioinformatics and subcellular-localization of the DoUGP protein indicate that it belongs to the UGPase-A type and was localized in cytoplasm. The DoUGP...
Effects of nitric oxide and Fe supply on recovery of Fe deficiency induced chlorosis in peanut plants
Y. L. Song, Y. J. Dong, X. Y. Tian, W. W. Wang, Z. L. He
Biologia plantarum 61:155-168, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0642-2
The effects of nitric oxide (NO) and/or iron (Fe) supplied to Fe deficient plants have been investigated in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown in Hoagland nutrient solution with or without Fe. Two weeks after Fe deprivation, recovery was induced by addition of 250 μM sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a NO donor) and/or 50 μM Fe (Fe-EDTA) to the Fe deprived (-Fe) nutrient solution. Activities of antioxidant enzymes, leaf chlorophyll (Chl), and active Fe content decreased, whereas activities of H+-ATPase, ferric-chelate reductase (FCR), nitrate reductase, and nitric oxide synthase and NO production increased in Fe deficient plants, consequently...
Over-expression of CsGSTU promotes tolerance to the herbicide alachlor and resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci in transgenic tobacco
L. Lo Cicero, V. Catara, C. P. Strano, P. Bella, P. Madesis, A. R. Lo Piero
Biologia plantarum 61:169-177, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0659-6
Glutathione transferases (GSTs) mainly catalyze the nucleophilic addition of glutathione to a large variety of hydrophobic molecules participating to the vacuole compartmentalization of many toxic compounds. In this work, the putative tolerance of transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing CsGSTU genes towards the chloroacetanilide herbicide alachlor was investigated. Our results show that the treatment with 0.0075 mg cm-3 of alachlor strongly affects the growth of both wild type and transformed tobacco seedlings with the sole exception of the transgenic lines overexpressing CsGSTU2 isoform that are barely influenced by herbicide...
Reactive oxygen species and sugars may be the messengers in kinetin-induced death of field bean root cortex cells
M. Doniak, A. Kaźmierczak, A. Byczkowska, S. Glińska
Biologia plantarum 61:178-186, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0654-y
Kinetin-induced programmed cell death of field bean (Vicia faba spp. minor) root cortex cells led to aerenchyma formation. The process was accompanied by appearance of a greater amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), greater superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as by thickening cell walls and changes in sugar amounts, particularly in cell wall-bound sugars. The obtained results justify the supposition that ROS scavengers together with an increased amount of sugars (soluble, storage, and cell wall-bound) and thick cell walls protected the cells against death. Thus, kinetin played a dual role because it induced...
Brief Communications
Silicon modifies both a local response and a systemic response to mechanical stress in tobacco leaves
R. Hajiboland, S. Bahrami-Rad, C. Poschenrieder
Biologia plantarum 61:187-191, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0633-3
Both lignin and silicon (Si) are major players in the resistance of plants to mechanical stress (MS). Focusing on the phenolic metabolism, here we studied the short-term effects of a local MS on tobacco (Nicotiana rustica L. cv. Basmas) plants with Si (+Si, 1 mM Na2SiO3) and without Si (‒Si) treatments in order to see how Si may modify local and systemic responses. One week after starting the Si treatment, a half of the plants were exposed to a mechanical pressure applying 980 Pa for 24 h on the upper side of the 3rd leaf of each plant (+MS). The rest of the plants remained unstressed (‒MS). Plants...
MtTdp1α-depleted Medicago truncatula plants show reduced cuticle permeability and altered expression of defense genes
M. Donà, M. E. Sabatini, M. Biggiogera, M. Confalonieri, A. Minio, M. Delledonne, G. Giraffa, D. Carbonera, S. Araujo, A. Balestrazzi
Biologia plantarum 61:192-196, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0664-9
The link between the MtTdp1α (tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase) gene, involved in the repair of DNA topoisomerase I mediated DNA damage, and the plant defense response has been investigated in MtTdp1α-depleted Medicago truncatula transgenic lines obtained by intron-spliced hairpin RNA approach, compared to the control line (CTRL, empty vector). Reduction of cuticle permeability highlighted by chlorophyll efflux assays positively correlated with the level of MtTdp1α gene silencing. The increased cuticle thickness was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, which revealed an apparent expansion of the...
Involvement of histone modification in regulating CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON genes during shoot regeneration in Arabidopsis
Y.-G. Song, Y.-L. Liu, N.-W. Qiu, W. Dong
Biologia plantarum 61:197-200, 2017 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-016-0661-z
Histone modification is a ubiquitous regulator of gene transcription. Arabidopsis CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON (CUC) genes serve as a marker for shoot apical meristem initiation, but how they are regulated during shoot regeneration from in vitro culture, it is not yet understood. Here, the histone modification status of CUC1, CUC2, and CUC3 was analysed using a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and real time quantitative PCR. The activation of CUC1 and CUC2 was associated with an increased level of histone H3K4 trimethylation and/or H3K9 acetylation, as well as a reduced level of H3K9...