Temperature,light and nitrate sensing coordinate Arabidopsis seed dormancy cycling,resulting in winter and summer annual phenotypes

Seeds use environmental cues to sense the seasons and their surroundings to initiate the life cycle of the plant. The dormancy cycling underlying this process is extensively described, but the molecular mechanism is largely unknown. To address this we selected a range of representative genes from published array experiments in the laboratory, and investigated their expression patterns in seeds of Arabidopsis ecotypes with contrasting life cycles over an annual dormancy cycle in the field. We show how mechanisms identified in the laboratory are coordinated in response to the soil environment to determine the dormancy cycles that result in winter and summer annual phenotypes. Our results are consistent with a seed‐specific response to seasonal temperature patterns (temporal sensing) involving the gene DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 (DOG1) that indicates the correct season, and concurrent temporally driven co‐opted mechanisms that sense spatial signals, i.e. nitrate, via CBL‐INTERACTING PROTEIN KINASE 23 (CIPK23) phosphorylation of the NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1 (NRT1.1), and light, via PHYTOCHROME A (PHYA). In both ecotypes studied, when all three genes have low expression there is enhanced GIBBERELLIN 3 BETA‐HYDROXYLASE 1 (GA3ox1) expression, exhumed seeds have the potential to germinate in the laboratory, and the initiation of seedling emergence occurs following soil disturbance (exposure to light) in the field. Unlike DOG1, the expression of MOTHER of FLOWERING TIME (MFT) has an opposite thermal response in seeds of the two ecotypes, indicating a role in determining their different dormancy cycling phenotypes.     

Six1 regulates Grem1 expression in the metanephric mesenchyme to initiate branching morphogenesis

Urinary tract morphogenesis requires subdivision of the ureteric bud (UB) into the intra-renal collecting system and the extra-renal ureter, by responding to signals in its surrounding mesenchyme. BMP4 is a mesenchymal regulator promoting ureter development, while GREM1 is necessary to negatively regulate BMP4 activity to induce UB branching. However, the mechanisms that regulate the GREM1-BMP4 signaling are unknown. Previous studies have shown that Six1-deficient mice lack kidneys, but form ureters. Here, we show that the tip cells of Six1^−/− UB fail to form an ampulla for branching. Instead, the UB elongates within Tbx18- and Bmp4-expressing mesenchyme. We find that the expression of Grem1 in the metanephric mesenchyme (MM) is Six1-dependent. Treatment of Six1^−/− kidney rudiments with GREM1 protein restores ampulla formation and branching morphogenesis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that genetic reduction of BMP4 levels in Six1^−/− (Six1^−/−; Bmp4^+/−) embryos restores urinary tract morphogenesis and kidney formation. This study uncovers an essential function for Six1 in the MM as an upstream regulator of Grem1 in initiating branching morphogenesis.     

植物硝酸根信号感受与传导途径

硝酸根不仅是植物的主要氮源,而且作为重要的信号分子,在植物的生长发育及逆境响应过程中发挥了重要作用。本文重点介绍了硝酸根作为信号分子在基因表达,根系、叶片发育,种子休眠以及逆境响应调控中作用机理的最新研究进展。     

休眠期间油桃花芽碳水化合物代谢及其相关基因的表达变化

以十年生大田和三年生盆栽‘曙光’油桃花芽为材料,分别测定了其休眠期碳水化合物含量、糖代谢相关基因的季节性表达及低温处理下相关基因的表达变化,旨在探讨碳水化合物及低温与休眠的关系。结果表明：休眠期间可溶性糖（主要是蔗糖）含量逐渐增加,淀粉含量则呈相反趋势。糖代谢相关基因表达明显不同：腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶基因口GPase）无明显变化;组氨酸H3基因（HisH3）和己糖激酶I基因（胱,）在进入内休眠前有明显上升,蔗糖合酶基因（SuSy）则与之相反;尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶（UGPase）表达总体上呈上调趋势,在进入内休眠后稍有下调。表明进入内休眠后,依赖HKl的糖信号转导途径起重要作用。在4℃处理后,与细胞分裂有关的基因HisH3含量急剧升高,而后下降,说明细胞分裂的减少并不是休眠期间抑制生长的原因;UGPase表现出与内休眠期一致的变化趋势,说明对低温有一定的适应性。     

激素对水稻分蘖芽生长和分蘖相关基因表达的调控效应

以水稻品种‘南粳44＇为材料,研究了植物激素对水稻分蘖芽生长及OsTB1、OsD3、OsD10和OsD27等基因表达的调控。结果表明,水稻分蘖芽生长的调控至少存在两条途径,一条通过调控分蘖芽中CTK含量进而调控OsTB1等基因表达来实现,另一条通过调控OsD3、OsD10和OsD27等系列基因表达来实现。外源IAA和GA_3对水稻分蘖芽生长的调控是通过这两条途径共同实现的。     

‘无核白’葡萄及其营养变异系的光合作用与果实特性(英文)

以‘无核白’葡萄为对照,以其自然营养变异系‘长穗无核白’、‘长粒无核白’、‘大粒无核白’、‘W3’与‘W7’为材料,在新疆吐鲁番鄯善田间栽培条件下比较其果实及光合作用特性,为‘无核白’系列葡萄优良品种选育提供依据。结果表明:(1)供试各营养系具有较高的光、热利用能力,叶片日平均净光合速率(5.527 7~7.412 3μmol.m-2.s-1)均大于对照(4.879 7μmol.m-2.s-1);除‘长穗无核白’外,其余营养系均无明显光合‘午休’现象。(2)供试条件下净光合速率与田间空气温度、叶片温度、叶片表面蒸汽压差呈正相关;而气孔导度、光照强度等因子是‘无核白’系列葡萄光合作用的非决定因素。(3)‘长穗无核白’的穗长(36.43 cm)是对照(25.27 cm)的1.44倍;各营养系果粒均大于对照,其中‘W3’、‘大粒无核白’、‘长穗无核白’、‘长粒无核白’果粒(2.096 0、2.202 7、2.019 3、1.470 3 g)极显著大于对照(1.057 7 g)。(4)‘长粒无核白’果粒耐压力和果梗耐拉力均极显著优于对照,其他营养系与对照无显著差异;果粒较大的‘W3’、‘大粒无核白’、‘长粒无核白’等可溶性固形物含量(22.92%、23.57%、23.17%)与对照(23.85%)无差异。综合分析认为,供试营养系‘W3’、‘W7’和‘长粒无核白’相对较优良,宜进一步研究;研究证明果实与叶片光合作用特性指标可用于葡萄营养系选种。