水稻转录因子bHLH家族基因响应环境胁迫表达谱分析

植物转录因子在植物的生长发育及其对外界环境的反应中起着重要的作用。bHLH转录因子是植物转录因子最大的家族之一。本研究以水稻日本晴为材料,在苗期进行PEG模拟干旱胁迫和ABA（abscisicacid）处理,采用荧光定量PCR方法,比较分析干旱胁迫差异表达的22个候选bHLH家族基因在PEG和ABA处理下的不同时间梯度的表达谱。结果表明大部分候选基因的PEG胁迫表达谱与干旱胁迫表达谱一致,验证了芯片结果的可靠性;而在ABA处理下的大部分bHLH基因表现为抑制表达,部分基因的表达谱与干旱或PEG胁迫表达谱明显不同,推测这些bHLH基因参与PEG和ABA胁迫应答的具有相同或不同的分子路径或模式。研究结果对进一步克隆这些基因及分析其在植物生长发育过程中的分子调控模式打下了基础。     

干旱胁迫下中国沙棘脯氨酸含量变化及其关键调控基因的表达模式

干旱胁迫严重影响植物的生长和产量,重度干旱胁迫会导致植物永久萎蔫.发掘中国沙棘的抗逆基因有助于提升植物抗旱性.脯氨酸是植物响应干旱胁迫的重要渗透调节物之一.为了探究中国沙棘中脯氨酸响应干旱胁迫的调节机制,本研究在干旱胁迫下,检测两年生中国沙棘扦插幼苗的叶片相对含水量和脯氨酸等5个抗旱相关生理指标;通过实时荧光定量PCR检测2个脯氨酸调控关键基因的表达量.结果 表明,干旱胁迫下的中国沙棘叶片相对含水量逐渐下降;叶绿素、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸的含量呈上升趋势,且所有生理指标在复水后较处理前均下降;脯氨酸关键合成基因吡咯啉-5-羧酸合成酶(P5CS)基因在根、茎、叶中的相对表达量呈现先上升后下降的趋势,而调控脯氨酸分解的脯氨酸脱氢酶(ProDH)基因相对表达量迅速降低.本研究为揭示中国沙棘抗旱机理提供理论依据,同时为植物抗旱育种提供候选基因.     

植物抗水分胁迫的分子机制

水分胁迫是植物生长过程中面临的主要环境问题。概述了植物水分胁迫信号的转导,以及胁迫诱导基因与应答基因的表达调控等方面的研究。     

水稻双组分系统基因干旱胁迫表达谱分析

利用全基因组表达芯片,系统分析干旱胁迫条件下水稻双组分信号系统(two component system,TCS)相关基因在其不同发育阶段、不同组织以及抗旱能力不同的株系中的表达谱变化特征.结果表明,双组分信号系统基因在干旱胁迫环境下的表达具明显的时空特异性,表现为不同组织的TCS基因干旱胁迫表达谱差异较大,而同一组织内表达谱相似,其中生殖生长期(幼穗分化期和孕穗期)两个叶片材料中TCS基因表达谱最为接近;与细胞分裂素信号传导负向调控相关的A型应答调控器在旱胁迫下表达下调,而与CK信号传导正向调控相关的B型应答调控器呈现明显上调趋势,推测与干旱胁迫下CK信号传导增强有关,同时乙烯受体基因在干旱胁迫环境下的表达下调,从激素间相互关系的角度更好地印证了上述推测;与拟南芥细胞分裂素受体基因(AHK2、AHK3和AHK5)序列相似的磷酸感应激酶基因HK5和HK3在干旱胁迫下表达上调,与拟南芥中不依赖细胞分裂素的AHK5序列接近的HK6则表达下调,进一步验证上述推测;干旱胁迫下抗旱能力不同的水稻株系其TCS基因表达谱没有明显差异,推测TCS基因差异表达可能源于对干旱胁迫反应,而其表达对抗旱能力的增强还有待进一步研究.     

柠条锦鸡儿CkCDPK基因的克隆、表达分析及载体构建

钙依赖蛋白激酶作为一个关键的信号传导器,通过调控和参与植物体内的代谢途径等方式在植物抵御逆境胁迫过程中发挥着重要作用。为了探索柠条锦鸡儿相关基因的功能,本研究利用同源克隆的方法,从柠条锦鸡儿中克隆了1个CDPK类基因的CDS,命名为CkCDPK。通过测序和生物信息学分析,结果显示,该基因包含1 710 bp的开放阅读框,编码570个氨基酸,分子质量为64.03 ku,蛋白质等电点(PI)为9.12。结构分析显示,CkCDPK含有N端可变区、蛋白激酶区、4个EF手型结构和类似钙调素等结构域。利用实时荧光定量PCR检测了CkCDPK基因在不同逆境胁迫下的表达量,结果显示,NaCl胁迫和干旱胁迫下该基因的表达量呈现出单峰趋势,其中,盐胁迫6 h、干旱胁迫4 h表达量最高,外源ABA诱导下该基因的表达量基本呈逐渐上升趋势。表明该基因可能参与了柠条锦鸡儿的抗逆性调控。构建植物超表达载体pCAMBIA3301-CkCDPK,可为进一步研究CkCDPK基因在柠条锦鸡儿抗逆性调控中的作用奠定基础。     

植物抗旱机理研究进展

干旱严重影响植物的生长发育,从在干旱胁迫下,植物的根系结构;叶片的组织含水量、叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量变化;渗透势和参与渗透调节的脯氨酸（Pro）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、脱落酸（ABA）及甜菜碱活性和含量的变化;抗旱调节和功能蛋白的产生和作用及抗旱基因工程等方面,探讨了植物抗旱的机制及研究进展。     

水稻ABA生物合成基因OsNCED3响应干旱胁迫

9-顺-环氧类胡萝卜素双加氧酶(NCED)是植物内源脱落酸(ABA)生物合成的限速酶,由NCED基因家族编码,水稻中响应干旱胁迫并以此调节ABA水平的OsNCED基因尚见未报道。本研究发现在水稻已报道的5个OsNCED基因中,OsNCED3的表达受干旱胁迫诱导,复水处理后其表达快速下调,其表达模式与此过程中内源ABA含量变化趋势一致。OsNCED3的RNAi转基因植株表现为干旱敏感,且生物量下降;而过量表达OsNCED3基因增加了水稻的抗旱性。干旱胁迫下过量表达OsNCED3的转基因株系有较高的ABA水平,同时其抗氧化酶超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,以及逆境响应基因脱水素蛋白(Dehydrin)和胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白(LEA)转录表达均高于野生型。下调表达OsNCED3的转基因株系则呈现相反的变化趋势。因此,OsNCED3是水稻干旱胁迫响应基因,调节了干旱环境下ABA水平和抗逆性。     

BnMAPK2对甘蓝型油菜耐旱性的影响

促分裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen-activatedproteinkinase,MAPK)级联参与植物多种生物及非生物胁迫应答过程,BnMAPK2属于MAPK级联途径最下游C族基因。本研究成功获得BnMAPK2超量表达(OE-MAPK2)和RNA干扰表达(RNAi-MAPK2)转基因甘蓝型油菜,在干旱条件下, OE-MAPK2植株耐旱性增加, RNAi-MAPK2植株耐旱性降低。相关生理指标试验结果证明,在干旱胁迫下,BnMAPK2可减缓叶片脱水程度、促进植物体内脯氨酸积累、降低丙二醛含量,在干旱后期增加POD活性。比较干旱相关基因(P5CSB、SCE1)、BnMAPK2互作干旱相关基因(STRS2、CRL1)以及STRS2依赖ABA信号途径相关基因(RD22、MYC、SnRK2),在转基因植株和野生型植株中表达水平变化差异,结果表明, BnMAPK2可正向调控P5CSB、SCE1、CRL1、RD22、MYC、SnRK2的表达;负调控STRS2的表达,并且STRS2依赖ABA信号途径相关基因在OE-MAPK2植株中的表达变化趋势和strs2突变体中一致。由此推测BnMAPK2可通过...     

植物抗旱机理研究进展

干旱严重影响植物的生长发育,从在干旱胁迫下,植物的根系结构;叶片的组织含水量、叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量变化;渗透势和参与渗透调节的脯氨酸(Pro)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、脱落酸(ABA)及甜菜碱活性和含量的变化;抗旱调节和功能蛋白的产生和作用及抗旱基因工程等方面,探讨了植物抗旱的机制及研究进展.     

DNA甲基化参与调控马铃薯响应干旱胁迫的关键基因挖掘

植物受到干旱胁迫时,会通过DNA甲基化做出快速反应以帮助其应对胁迫。为探究在干旱胁迫下,DNA甲基化是如何影响基因转录表达,本研究对甘露醇模拟干旱和5-azadC(去甲基化)处理下,抗旱性不同的2个马铃薯品种(抗旱型,青薯9号;干旱敏感型,大西洋)进行转录组学分析,以Fold-change>2和校正后P<0.01进行差异表达基因(DEG)的筛选。GO富集分析发现,2种处理都共同显著富集到氧化应激和碳水化合物代谢过程相关的GO term。说明不同耐旱性马铃薯在响应干旱胁迫时,与这些GO term相关的基因也受DNA去甲基化调控。对既响应干旱又响应DNA去甲基化的1345个DEG进行KEGG功能富集发现,与植物抗旱相关的通路有植物MAPK信号途径、植物激素信号转导途径、植物谷胱甘肽代谢通路、糖酵解与糖异生和磷酸肌醇代谢通路。说明这些通路相关基因在大西洋和青薯9号2个抗旱性不同的马铃薯品种中,响应干旱的敏感性受DNA甲基化调控。接着对DEG上游1500 bp启动子区域进行顺式作用原件和甲基化CpG岛分析发现,干旱胁迫下参与植物谷胱甘肽代谢的GST基因通过DNA去甲基化来降低启动子区ABRE和CAAT-box作用元件的甲基化水平,进而激活该基因的表达以应对干旱胁迫。因此,利用比较转录组学分析干旱和DNA去甲基化处理下的差异基因,可挖掘到DNA甲基化参与调控马铃薯响应干旱胁迫的相关基因,为研究马铃薯干旱胁迫响应的表观遗传学机理提供新的研究思路。     

Avoidance of leaf rust fungi in wild relatives of cultivated cereals

Summary Avoidance of rust fungi that was based on poor appressorium induction was previously found in Hordeum chilense. In the present study 95 accessions of Triticeae were screened for avoidance of Puccinia hordei. The percentage of appressorium formation per germinated spore ranged from 6 to 90%. On none of the 41 accessions of Aegilops, Agropyron, Elymus, Secale, Thinopyrum or Triticum studied was the rate of appressorium formation lower than 25%. Lower rates of appressorium formation were, however, found on accessions of wild barley species Hordeum brachyantherum, H. marinum, H. parodii and H. secalinum. Its implications in cereal breeding are discussed.     

A note on the origin of Kalanchoë x vadensis Boom & Zeilinga (Crassulaceae)

Summary K x vadensis is a hybrid of K. blossfeldiana and K. marmorata obtained after doubling the number of chromosomes.     

Relation between wheat-rye crossability and seed set of common wheat after pollination with other species in the Hordeae

Summary Cultivars of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) of high wheat-rye (Secale cereale L.) crossability set more seed with pollen of other related species than did wheats of low wheat-rye crossability. This was found to be true for pollen parents from the genera Triticum, Aegilops, Secale, Agropyron and Elymus.     

Breeding apomictic bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) with improved turf traits

The development of a turf‐type bahiagrass could have a remarkable impact on the billion‐dollar turf industry in the south‐eastern United States. The goals of this study were to (i) select bahiagrass genotypes with improved turf attributes and (ii) determine the reproductive mode and seed fertility of selected genotypes. The population included mutants, wild types, hybrids and standard cultivars evaluated at two locations for two years. Morphological variation was observed and clonal repeatability (H²) ranged from 0.27 to 0.90. Flowering was extremely reduced in some mutants, which also exhibited dark green colour, finer texture and reduced canopy height. Cytoembryological observations revealed that diploids reproduced sexually and tetraploids by obligate or facultative apomixis. Genotypes with superior seed fertility were identified, while others were comparable to the standard cultivars. While mutant plants exhibited great morphological variation, the random mutations did not affect their reproductive mode, validating the use of mutagenesis in apomictic species. The high H² indicated that selection for improved turf attributes could be successfully performed with the advantage of clonal seed propagation.     

Inheritance of fruit colour in a wild Russian red raspberry seedling

Summary A new gene, i, from a self-incompatible wild Russian Rubus idaeus seedling is described. The gene i interacts with the fruit colour gene T, Tii plants having apricot instead of red fruits, and spines, leaves and stems pigmented to varying degrees. A deficit of apricot-fruited seedlings in progenies segregating for i could be explained by linkage between i and the self-incompatibility S locus with a crossover value of approximately 26.7%.Segregations for spine colour in crosses and backcrosses of the Russian seedling with two green-spined (ttII) raspberries selected for their yellow fruit colour, showed that both the latter carried the spine colour intensifier gene P. This suggests that earlier authors were incorrect in attributing the apricot fruit colour developed by some tt plants to a pleiotropic effect of P.     

Flag Leaf Senescence, as Evaluated by Numerical Image Analysis, and its Relationship with Yield under Drought in Durum Wheat

Senescence was evaluated at different stages of the grain‐filling period in eight durum wheat varieties using numerical image analysis (NIA). The varieties were grown under early, severe drought conditions on the high plains of Sétif in Algeria. After flowering, three different irrigation treatments were applied. Treatment effect was small, while a genotypic effect was noted for most of the senescence parameters. Senescence correlated to biomass, while the maximal rate of senescence, V_smax, correlated to thousand‐kernel weight. The potential of the method of numerical image analysis for monitoring flag leaf senescence, detecting genotypic variability and selecting genotypes with delayed senescence is discussed.     

Mechanisms and diversity of resistance to sorghum shoot fly,Atherigona soccata

Sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata, is one of the important pests of postrainy season sorghums. Of the 90 sorghum genotypes evaluated for resistance to this pest, RHRB 12, ICSV 713, 25026, 93046 and 25027, IS 33844‐5, Giddi Maldandi and RVRT 3 exhibited resistance in postrainy season, while ICSB 463, Phule Anuradha, RHRB 19, Parbhani Moti, ICSV 705, PS 35805, IS 5480, 5622, 17726, 18368 and 34722, RVRT 1, ICSR 93031 and Dagidi Solapur showed resistance in rainy season, suggesting season‐specific expression of resistance to A. soccata. ICSB 461, ICSB 463, Phule Yasodha, M 35‐1, ICSV 700, 711, 25010, 25019 and 93089, IS 18662, Phule Vasudha, IS 18551 and 33844‐5 and Barsizoot had fewer deadhearts than plants with eggs across seasons, suggesting antibiosis as one of the resistance mechanism. Five genotypes exhibited resistance with high grain yield across seasons. Correlation, path and stepwise regression analyses indicated that leaf glossiness, seedling vigour, trichome density, oviposition and leaf sheath pigmentation were associated with the expression of resistance/susceptibility to shoot fly, and these can be used as marker traits to select and develop shoot fly‐resistant sorghums.     

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): Genetics,genomics and breeding

Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.), is an important grain legume grown in the tropics where it constitutes a valuable source of protein in the diets of millions of people. Some abiotic and biotic stresses adversely affect its productivity. A review of the genetics, genomics and breeding of cowpea is presented in this article. Cowpea breeding programmes have studied intensively qualitative and quantitative genetics of the crop to better enhance its improvement. A number of initiatives including Tropical Legumes projects have contributed to the development of cowpea genomic resources. Recent progress in the development of consensus genetic map containing 37,372 SNPs mapped to 3,280 bins will strengthen cowpea trait discovery pipeline. Several informative markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to desirable attributes of cowpea were generated. Cowpea genetic improvement activities aim at the development of drought tolerant, phosphorus use efficient, bacterial blight and virus resistant lines through exploiting available genetic resources as well as deployment of modern breeding tools that will enhance genetic gain when grown by sub‐Saharan Africa farmers.     

Screening for resistance to take-all in wheat,triticale and wheat-triticale hybrid lines

Summary Fifteen triticale and wheat-triticale hybrid lines were evaluated for resistance to the take-all fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici and compared with five wheat and two rye lines in inoculated field and pot trials. The triticale and wheat-triticale hybrid lines varied in rye chromosome number and degree of resistance expressed. One line, Venus with seven pairs of rye chromosomes consistently showed levels of resistance intermediate between wheat and rye. A trend was observed where increasing rye chromosome content led to greater resistance but exceptions showed that variation within triticales could not be ascribed to rye chromosome content alone.     

Reaction of tritordeum to Fusarium culmorum and Septoria nodorum

Summary Hordeum chilense is a wild barley extensively used in wide crosses in the Triticeae. It could be a valuable source of resistance to Fusarium culmorum and Septoria nodorum. Some H. chilense x Triticum spp. amphiploids, named tritordeums, were more resistant than the parental wheat line to these diseases, others were not. Average contents of ergosterol and deoxynivalenol (DON) suggested that resistance to colonization by Fusarium was the highest for Hordeum chilense, followed by tritordeum and wheat in decreasing order. In particular, the H. chilense genotypes H7 and H17 enhanced the wheat resistance to F. culmorum in its tritordeum offsprings. Resistance to S. nodorum in tritordeum was not associated with tall plant height. There is sufficient genetic variation for resistance to F. culmorum and S. nodorum among tritordeum to allow the breeding of lines combining short straw and resistance to both diseases.