黄瓜性型分化的分子机制

黄瓜(Cucumis sativus)是雌雄异花植物性型分化研究的重要模式植物,近年来虽然其性型分化的分子机制研究取得了一定的成果,但其性型分化的调控机制尚未完全阐明。该文综合花器官发育基因、性别决定基因、内源激素、环境因子、性型分化假说,在分子水平构建了黄瓜性型分化的表达调控网络。同时对激素和性别决定基因协控的黄瓜单性花器官凋亡机制进行了阐述,并就miRNA在黄瓜性型分化调控中的作用进行了探讨。     

钙与植物乙烯反应的关系研究

研究了Ca2 对番茄 (LycopersiconesculentumMillcv.Lichun)黄化幼苗乙烯反应的影响。通过测定不同Ca2 浓度条件下番茄黄化幼苗的“三重反应”、内源乙烯释放量、乙烯受体基因NEVER_RIPE(NR)表达量及胞内CaM含量的变化 ,结果发现 ,随着培养基中Ca2 浓度从 0mmol/L增加到 3.8mmol/L ,番茄黄化幼苗的“三重反应”表型明显增强 ,内源乙烯释放量、NR基因的表达量及胞内CaM的含量都有不同程度的增加 ;当Ca2 浓度由 3.8mmol/L进一步增加到 10mmol/L时 ,番茄黄化幼苗“三重反应”表型受到抑制 ,内源乙烯释放量、NR基因的表达量及胞内CaM的含量都有所下降。因此 ,Ca2 对番茄黄化幼苗“三重反应”的影响与Ca2 调节内源乙烯合成和乙烯受体基因的表达有关 ,而且Ca2 可能是通过CaM含量的变化来调节乙烯作用的     

钙与植物乙烯反应的关系研究

研究了Ca2+ 对番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. Lichun)黄化幼苗乙烯反应的影响.通过测定不同Ca2+ 浓度条件下番茄黄化幼苗的"三重反应"、内源乙烯释放量、乙烯受体基因NEVER-RIPE(NR)表达量及胞内CaM含量的变化,结果发现,随着培养基中Ca2+ 浓度从0 mmol/L增加到3.8 mmol/L,番茄黄化幼苗的"三重反应"表型明显增强,内源乙烯释放量、NR基因的表达量及胞内CaM的含量都有不同程度的增加;当Ca2+ 浓度由3.8 mmol/L进一步增加到10 mmol/L时,番茄黄化幼苗"三重反应"表型受到抑制,内源乙烯释放量、 NR基因的表达量及胞内CaM的含量都有所下降.因此,Ca2+ 对番茄黄化幼苗"三重反应"的影响与Ca2+ 调节内源乙烯合成和乙烯受体基因的表达有关,而且Ca2+ 可能是通过CaM含量的变化来调节乙烯作用的.     

黄瓜RGA基因的半定量RT-PCR表达分析

以黄瓜(Cucumis sativusL.)抗霜霉病品种东农129为材料,利用RT-PCR半定量法研究了接种霜霉病菌(Pseudoperonospora cubensisRostow)、喷施水杨酸(SA)和氯化钙(CaCl2)等不同处理对黄瓜抗病基因类似序列(RGA)表达的影响.结果表明:CsRGA1和CsRGA5基因的表达受霜霉病菌的侵染而启动或加强,外施SA和CaCl2都能够增强其表达;CsRGA4和CsRGA8属于组成型表达基因,其表达可能与霜霉病菌的侵染无关;CsRGA2的表达与外施SA和CaCl2缺乏密切关联.     

甜瓜乙烯受体基因Cm-ETR1 cDNA的克隆及表达特性分析

乙烯感知和信号转导的初始成分是乙烯受体,为探明甜瓜乙烯受体基因Cm-ETR1在甜瓜果实成熟过程中的作用,以甜瓜品种河套蜜瓜为材料,根据GenBank中登录的甜瓜乙烯受体基因Cm-ETR1的cDNA序列(登录号为AF054806),设计合成特异性引物,采用RT-PCR技术克隆得到Cm-ETR1基因全长cDNA序列,提交到GenBank中(登录号为EF495185)。序列分析表明,序列长度为2 256 bp,编码区为2 223 bp,编码740个氨基酸,与已报道的cantalupenis甜瓜ETR1基因的cDNA序列完全一致。Cm-ETR1蛋白的系统进化树分析结果表明,该乙烯受体蛋白在各物种间高度保守,与黄瓜乙烯受体蛋白相似性最高,一致性为99%,与龙眼乙烯受体蛋白相似性最低,一致性为86%。定量PCR分析结果显示,随着甜瓜果实内源乙烯合成量和成熟程度的增加,Cm-ETR1基因的表达量同步增加,在果实乙烯跃变期,Cm-ETR1的表达量也达到最高值,内源乙烯合成量与Cm-ETR1基因表达量间呈显著正相关,表明Cm-ETR1基因在甜瓜果实成熟过程中可能具有重要的作用。     

黄瓜雄花形成过程中心皮的发育

黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)为重要的经济作物,雌雄同株异花,是研究植物性别分化的经典材料。人们对黄瓜性别分化进行了广泛的研究。Astmon和Galun、任吉君和王艳对黄瓜性别分化的形态特征和器官发生进行了初步研究,表明黄瓜单性花分化和发育过程中经历了无性期、两性期和单性期,最终只有一种性别的性器官原基发育成有功能的性器官,从而形成单性花,而对单性花中未形成有功能器官的相反性别原基的研究报道甚少。我们对雄花发育过程进行了连续的形态学分析,并对不同时期雄花中的心皮进行了细胞计数和同工酶电泳分析,以期从性器官发育的角度探讨黄瓜性别表现的机理。     

黄瓜植株的性型分化

黄瓜(Cucumis Sativus L.)栽培历史悠久,是人们生活中不可缺少的菜肴。为提高黄瓜产量和选育良种,了解其性型的特点、遗传基础及其性型分化是非常必要的。 (一) 植株的性型表现黄瓜植株的性型表现决定于其植株上花的性型,黄瓜的花型除雌花和雄花两种单性花外,还有雌雄同花的完全花,所以植株的性型可以分为以下8种类型:     

低夜温下黄瓜生理生化指标的变化及对雌花形成的影响

选用温敏型黄瓜‘C09-123’为试材,设置3个不同的夜温处理,调查其20节内雌花分化情况,同时测定二叶一心茎尖内各激素(乙烯、赤霉素、生长素、脱落酸和玉米素)、糖(蔗糖、葡萄糖)、18种氨基酸含量以及相关基因的表达量。结果表明:不同夜温处理下,内源乙烯、葡萄糖和蔗糖的含量随处理温度的升高而降低,生长素、赤霉素、脱落酸和玉米素未表现出相同的变化趋势;黄瓜雌花分化率与内源激素和糖的相关性分析表明,雌花分化率与葡萄糖含量极显著正相关(P<0.01)、与内源乙烯含量呈显著正相关(P<0.05),同时乙烯和葡萄糖含量均与蔗糖含量显著正相关;乙烯合成所需的甲硫氨酸和天冬氨酸的含量也在低夜温下显著升高;糖代谢中的关键酶己糖激酶和谷草转氨酶在生理和分子水平均表现出随处理夜温的升高而降低,特别谷草转氨酶基因表达量在低夜温12°C时较18和24°C时提高了4倍,并与乙烯合成关键基因(Cs ACS2和Cs ACO2)的表达量随温度升高的变化趋势一致。     

乙烯诱导水仙成花相关代谢物和基因的筛选与分析

为了解乙烯诱导水仙(Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis)成花的生理和分子机制,利用代谢组和转录组测序技术,筛选乙烯诱导水仙成花的差异表达代谢物和基因。结果表明,乙烯处理的侧芽检测到12个差异表达代谢物(DEM),包括7个上调,5个下调,其中,(±)7-表茉莉酸、多巴胺、亚精胺可能与乙烯诱导水仙成花正相关,而吲哚及其衍生物呈负相关。转录组共获得1 021个差异表达基因(DEG),包括615个上调,406个下调,在DEG中鉴定筛选了45个与乙烯信号传导和开花相关的差异表达基因。乙烯诱导水仙成花启动可能先激活水仙鳞茎内源植物激素(尤其乙烯)信号通路的变化,与开花促进基因FPF1和MADS15的上调表达密切相关。9个基因的qRT-PCR结果验证了RNA-Seq的正确性。这些差异表达的代谢物和基因在水仙成花启动过程中可能具有重要作用。     

黄瓜嫩果皮色基因QTL定位分析

以黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)嫩果皮绿色自交系1613(P1)和嫩果皮白色自交系JD7(P2)为试验材料构建重组自交系(RIL)群体(142个株系),对各株系嫩果皮色进行表型鉴定,利用重测序技术对各自交系进行基因分型,结合表型和基因型数据进行QTL定位研究。结果表明F1黄瓜嫩果皮颜色表现为绿色,并将控制嫩果皮颜色的基因定位到黄瓜第3号染色体上,在3号染色体35511129~39711114区段内定位到成簇分布的3个位点,它们在连锁图谱上的位置分别为1. 01 c M、3. 31 c M和6. 01 c M处,与两翼标记的连锁距离分别为1. 01 c M/0. 09 c M,0. 21 c M/0. 29 c M,0. 11 c M/0. 19 c M。通过生物信息学分析预测出16个候选基因,其中Csa3G904080、Csa3G904100、Csa3G903500和Csa3G902950极有可能是调控黄瓜果实颜色的关键基因。     

Molecular characterization and isolation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">F/f</Emphasis> gene for femaleness in cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> L.)

The biological processes leading to sex expression in plants are of tremendous practical significance for fruit production of many agricultural and horticultural crops. Sex-expression studies in cucumber showed that the different sex types are determined by three major genes: M/m, F/f and A/a. The M/m gene in the dominant condition suppresses stamina development and thus leads to female flowers. The F/f gene in the dominant condition shifts the monoecious sex pattern downwards and promotes femaleness by causing a higher level of ethylene in the plant. To investigate the molecular character of the gene F/f, we used nearly isogenic gynoecious (MMFF) and monoecious (MMff) lines (NIL) produced by our own backcross programme. Our investigations confirmed the result of other groups that an additional genomic ACC synthase (key enzyme of ethylene biosynthesis) sequence (CsACS1G) should exist in gynoecious genotypes. A linkage was also verified between the F/f locus and the CsACS1G sequence with our plant material. After the exploration of different Southern hybridization patterns originating from different CsACS1 probes, a restriction map of the CsACS1 locus was constructed. By using this restriction map, the duplication of the CsACS1 gene and following mutation of the CsACS1G gene could be explained. The promoter regions of the genes CsACS1G and CsACS1 were amplified in a splinkerette PCR and sequenced. An exclusive amplification of the new isolated sequence (CsACS1G) in gynoecious (MMFF) and sub-gynoecious (MMFf) genotypes confirmed that the isolated gene is the dominant F allele.     

A positive feedback loop mediated by CsERF31 initiates female cucumber flower development

Sex determination is a crucially important developmental event that is pervasive throughout nature and enhances the adaptation of species. Among plants, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) can generate both unisexual and bisexual flowers, and the sex type is mainly controlled by several 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthases (CsACSs). However, the regulatory mechanism of these synthases remains elusive. Here, we used gene expression analysis, protein–DNA interaction assays, and transgenic plants to study the function of a gynoecium-specific gene, ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR31 (CsERF31), in female flower differentiation. We found that in a predetermined female flower, ethylene signaling activates CsERF31 by CsEIN3, and then CsERF31 stimulates CsACS2, which triggers a positive feedback loop to ensure female rather than bisexual flower development. A similar interplay is functionally conserved in melon (Cucumis melo L.). Knockdown of CsERF31 by RNAi causes defective bisexual flowers to replace female flowers. Ectopic expression of CsERF31 suppresses stamen development and promotes pistil development in male flowers, demonstrating that CsERF31 functions as a sex switch. Taken together, our data confirm that CsERF31 represents the molecular link between female–male determination and female–bisexual determination, and provide mechanistic insight into how ethylene promotes female flowers, rather than bisexual flowers, in cucumber sex determination.

A key regulator promotes female flower development by triggering a positive feedback loop during cucumber sex determination.     

The climacteric-like behaviour of young, mature and wounded citrus leaves

Although leaves and other vegetative tissues are generally considered as non-climacteric, citrus leaves show a climacteric system II behaviour after detachment. Upon harvest, young, fully expanded 'Valencia' orange (Citrus sinensis) leaves ( approximately 60-d-old) exhibited two phases of ethylene production. The first phase, up to 6 d after detachment, was characterized by a low and constant ethylene production (system I pathway), associated with a constitutive expression of ACC synthase 2 (CsACS2), CsERS1, and CsETR1. ACC synthase 1 (CsACS1) was not expressed during this phase and autoinhibition of ethylene production was apparent following treatment with exogenous ethylene or propylene. The second phase, 7-12 d after detachment, was characterized by a climacteric rise in ethylene production, preceded by the induction of CsACS1 and ACC oxidase 1 (CsACO1) gene expression in the system II pathway. This induction was accelerated and augmented by exogenous ethylene or propylene, indicating an autocatalytic system II ethylene biosynthesis. Mature leaves (6-8-months-old) behaved similarly, except that the climacteric peak in ethylene production occurred earlier (day 5). Young and mature leaves varied in the timing of the climacteric ethylene rise and CsACS1 and CsACO1 induction. The two phases of ethylene production, system I and system II, were also detected in wounded leaf discs of both young and mature leaves. The first phase peaked 15 min after excision and the second phase peaked after 6 h.     

Molecular and physiological evidence suggests the existence of a system II-like pathway of ethylene production in non-climacteric<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Citrus</Emphasis> fruit

Mature citrus fruits, which are classified as non-climacteric, evolve very low amounts of ethylene during ripening but respond to exogenous ethylene by ripening-related pigment changes and accelerated respiration. In the present study we show that young citrus fruitlets attached to the tree produce high levels of ethylene, which decrease dramatically towards maturation. Upon harvest, fruitlets exhibited a climacteric-like rise in ethylene production, preceded by induction of the genes for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase 1 (CsACS1), ACC oxidase 1 (CsACO1) and the ethylene receptor CsERS1. This induction was advanced and augmented by exogenous ethylene or propylene, indicating an autocatalytic system II-like ethylene biosynthesis. In mature, detached fruit, very low rates of ethylene production were associated with constitutive expression of the ACC synthase 2 (CsACS2) and ethylene receptor CsETR1 genes (system I). CsACS1 gene expression was undetectable at this stage, even following ethylene or propylene treatment, and CsERS1 gene expression remained constant, indicating that no autocatalytic response had occurred. The transition from system II-like behavior of young fruitlets to system I behavior appears to be under developmental control.Abbreviations ACC 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate - CsACS1, CsACS2 ACC synthase - CsACO1 ACC oxidase - CsERS1, CsETR1 Ethylene receptors - DAFB Days after full bloom - 1-MCP 1-Methylcyclopropene     

The level of phytohormones in monoecious and gynoecious cucumbers as affected by photoperiod and ethephon

The endogenous levels of auxin, gibberellin, and inhibitors were followed in monoecious and gynoecious cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants, and in plants treated with the ethylene-releasing compound Ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid). Higher auxin inhibitor and lower gibberellin levels were associated with female tendency. The endogenous level of gibberellin and auxin decreased in Ethephon-treated plants. Application of Ethephon induced a rise in abscisic acid. Root application of abscisic acid promoted female tendency of gynoecious cucumbers grown under conditions which increase maleness. High CO₂ levels, which are known to antagonize ethylene, increased maleness of gynoecious cucumbers. The possibility of interrelationship between gibberellin, auxin, ethylene, and abscisic acid on sex expression are discussed.     

A Conserved Ethylene Biosynthesis Enzyme Leads to Andromonoecy in Two Cucumis Species

Andromonoecy is a widespread sexual system in angiosperms, characterized by plants carrying both male and bisexual flowers. Monoecy is characterized by the presence of both male and female flowers on the same plant. In cucumber, these sexual forms are controlled by the identity of the alleles at the M locus. In melon, we recently showed that the transition from monoecy to andromonoecy result from a mutation in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) gene, CmACS-7. To isolate the andromonoecy gene in cucumber we used a candidate gene approach in combination with genetical and biochemical analysis. We demonstrated co-segregation of CsACS2, a close homolog of CmACS-7, with the M locus. Sequence analysis of CsACS2 in cucumber accessions identified four CsACS2 isoforms, three in andromonoecious and one in monoecious lines. To determine whether the andromonoecious phenotype is due to a loss of ACS enzymatic activity, we expressed the four isoforms in Escherichia coli and assayed their activity in vitro. Like in melon, the isoforms from the andromonoecious lines showed reduced to no enzymatic activity and the isoform from the monoecious line was active. Consistent with this, the mutations leading andromonoecy were clustered in the active site of the enzyme. Based on this, we concluded that active CsACS2 enzyme leads to the development of female flowers in monoecious lines, whereas a reduction of enzymatic activity yields hermaphrodite flowers. Consistent with this, CsACS2, like CmACS-7 in melon, is expressed specifically in carpel primordia of buds determined to develop carpels. Following ACS expression, inter-organ communication is likely responsible for the inhibition of stamina development. In both melon and cucumber, flower unisexuality seems to be the ancestral situation, as the majority of Cucumis species are monoecious. Thus, the ancestor gene of CmACS-7/CsACS2 likely have controlled the stamen development before speciation of Cucumis sativus (cucumber) and Cucumis melo (melon) that have diverged over 40 My ago. The isolation of the genes for andromonoecy in Cucumis species provides a molecular basis for understanding how sexual systems arise and are maintained within and between species.     

The M locus and ethylene-controlled sex determination in andromonoecious cucumber plants.

Sex determination in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants is genetically controlled by the F and M loci. These loci interact to produce three different sexual phenotypes: gynoecious (M-F-), monoecious (M-ff), and andromonoecious (mmff). Gynoecious cucumber plants produce more ethylene than do monoecious plants. We found that the levels of ethylene production and the accumulation of CS-ACS2 mRNA in andromonoecious cucumber plants did not differ from those in monoecious plants and were lower than the levels measured in gynoecious plants. Ethylene inhibited stamen development in gynoecious cucumbers but not in andromonoecious ones. Furthermore, ethylene caused substantial increases in the accumulation of CS-ETR2, CS-ERS, and CS-ACS2 mRNA in monoecious and gynoecious cucumber plants, but not in andromonoecious one. In addition, the inhibitory effect of ethylene on hypocotyl elongation in andromonoecious cucumber plants was less than that in monoecious and gynoecious plants. These results suggest that ethylene responses in andromonoecious cucumber plants are reduced from those in monoecious and gynoecious plants. This is the first evidence that ethylene signals may influence the product of the M locus and thus inhibit stamen development in cucumber. The andromonoecious line provides novel material for studying the function of the M locus during sex determination in flowering cucumbers.