International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Modifying the Gene and Genome Space in Wheat

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Dr. Rudi Appels

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Honorary Professor, University of Melbourne and Research Fellow, AgriBio (Latrobe University), Australia
Interests: Functional analysis of the wheat genome

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A Special Issue on “Modifying the Gene and Genome Space in Wheat” is planned for IJMS, and will include papers with new research data and timely review articles focused on the “plasticity” of the genome that is possible because of the buffering effects from having three similar (homoeologous) genomes coexisting in the same nucleus. Modification to the gene and genome space can take the form of breeding-based selection for changes driven by adaption to specific environments and abiotic/biotic stress, alien chromosome introgressions, mutation/deletion protocols, CRISPR technologies, and established GM technologies. Detailed functional interpretation of gene networks within the polyploid molecular genetic environment of wheat is now a fast-moving area of biological research, as the knowledge base of the rules governing this complex genetic makeup is established. In parallel, basic research has established a new framework for providing society with novel wheat lines uniquely suited to new environments in order to maintain the food supply for an expanding world population.

Dr. Rudi Appels
Guest Editor

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Keywords

gene function
genome structure in relation to function
genetic changes and modification

Published Papers (2 papers)

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20 pages, 5269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TaCKX2.2 Genes Coordinate Expression of Other TaCKX Family Members, Regulate Phytohormone Content and Yield-Related Traits of Wheat

by Bartosz Jablonski, Karolina Szala, Mateusz Przyborowski, Andrzej Bajguz, Magdalena Chmur, Sebastian Gasparis, Waclaw Orczyk and Anna Nadolska-Orczyk

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(8), 4142; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22084142 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2186

Abstract

TaCKX gene family members (GFMs) play essential roles in the regulation of cytokinin during wheat development and significantly influence yield-related traits. However, detailed function of most of them is not known. To characterize the role of TaCKX2.2 genes we silenced all homoeologous copies of both TaCKX2.2.1 and TaCKX2.2.2 by RNAi technology and observed the effect of silencing in 7 DAP spikes of T₁ and T₂ generations. The levels of gene silencing of these developmentally regulated genes were different in both generations, which variously determined particular phenotypes. High silencing of TaCKX2.2.2 in T₂ was accompanied by slight down-regulation of TaCKX2.2.1 and strong up-regulation of TaCKX5 and TaCKX11, and expression of TaCKX1, TaCKX2.1, and TaCKX9 was comparable to the non-silenced control. Co-ordinated expression of TaCKX2.2.2 with other TaCKX GFMs influenced phytohormonal homeostasis. Contents of isoprenoid, active cytokinins, their conjugates, and auxin in seven DAP spikes of silenced T₂ plants increased from 1.27 to 2.51 times. However, benzyladenine (BA) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents were significantly reduced and GA₃ was not detected. We documented a significant role of TaCKX2.2.2 in the regulation of thousand grain weight (TGW), grain number, and chlorophyll content, and demonstrated the formation of a homeostatic feedback loop between the transcription of tested genes and phytohormones. We also discuss the mechanism of regulation of yield-related traits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modifying the Gene and Genome Space in Wheat)

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18 pages, 6910 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TaAP2-15, An AP2/ERF Transcription Factor, Is Positively Involved in Wheat Resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici

by Mehari Desta Hawku, Farhan Goher, Md Ashraful Islam, Jia Guo, Fuxin He, Xingxuan Bai, Pu Yuan, Zhensheng Kang and Jun Guo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(4), 2080; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22042080 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3309

Abstract

AP2 transcription factors play a crucial role in plant development and reproductive growth, as well as response to biotic and abiotic stress. However, the role of TaAP2-15, in the interaction between wheat and the stripe fungus, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), remains elusive. In this study, we isolated TaAP2-15 and characterized its function during the interaction. TaAP2-15 was localized in the nucleus of wheat and N. benthamiana. Silencing of TaAP2-15 by barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-mediated VIGS (virus-induced gene silencing) increased the susceptibility of wheat to Pst accompanied by enhanced growth of the pathogen (number of haustoria, haustorial mother cells and hyphal length). We confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR that the transcript levels of pathogenesis-related genes (TaPR1 and TaPR2) were down-regulated, while reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging genes (TaCAT3 and TaFSOD3D) were induced accompanied by reduced accumulation of H₂O₂. Furthermore, we found that TaAP2-15 interacted with a zinc finger protein (TaRZFP34) that is a homolog of OsRZFP34 in rice. Together our findings demonstrate that TaAP2-15 is positively involved in resistance of wheat to the stripe rust fungus and provides new insights into the roles of AP2 in the host-pathogen interaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modifying the Gene and Genome Space in Wheat)

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