Modular genetic architecture of floral morphology in Nicotiana: quantitative genetic and comparative phenotypic approaches to floral integration

Animal‐pollinated flowers are complex structures that may require a precise configuration of floral organs for proper function. As such, they represent an excellent system with which we can examine the role of phenotypic integration and modularity in morphological evolution. We use complementary quantitative genetic and comparative phenotypic approaches to examine correlations among floral characters in Nicotiana alata, N. forgetiana and their artificial fourth‐generation hybrids. Flowers of both species share basic patterns of genetic and phenotypic correlations characterized by at least two integrated character suites that are relatively independent of each other and are not disrupted by four generations of recombination in hybrids. We conclude that these integrated character suites represent phenotypic modules that are the product of a modular genetic architecture. Intrafloral modularity may have been critical for rapid specialization of these species to different pollinators.     

花烟草NaERF1基因的克隆及在非生物胁迫下的表达模式分析

AP2/ERF类转录因子,是植物所特有的最大的一类转录因子家族,在植物的生长发育过程中,扮演着重要的角色。探究花烟草ERF转录因子的生理功能,为花烟草抵御逆境的分子机制研究提供借鉴。采用同源克隆的方法进行基因克隆。通过对花烟草进行非生物胁迫,运用qPCR的方法进行基因表达模式分析。从花烟草(Nicotiana alata)中克隆了一个属于ERF家族的基因NaERF1。该基因的开放阅读框全长为819 bp,编码了272个氨基酸。生物信息学分析结果表明,该基因编码的蛋白分子量为30.7 kD,等电点为6.07;具有AP2/ERF类转录因子家族典型的保守结构域;该基因主要定位于细胞质内,并含有多个磷酸化位点。同源性分析的结果显示,NaERF1基因与茄科植物的ERF同源性较高,并且与普通烟草的ERF亲缘关系最近。NaERF1基因的表达具有组织表达特异性,花中表达量最高,茎中次之,根和叶中表达量较低。同时,在高盐、干旱、低温、ABA、低钾及H2O2等非生物胁迫下,NaERF1的表达呈现5种模式。其中,对低钾及ABA胁迫的响应强烈。NaERF1基因属于AP2/ERF类转录因子,可能广泛参与了花烟草...     

基于转录组测序的花烟草低温胁迫响应转录因子挖掘

为了鉴定参与花烟草低温胁迫的转录因子,对花烟草幼苗进行了4℃低温处理,并在处理后12 h采集其幼苗样本,提取总RNA后,采用高通量测序技术,进行了转录组测序。在对差异表达基因进行GO及KEGG分析的基础上,对参与其中的转录因子进行了挖掘,并采用qRT-PCR的方法,对转录组测序的结果进行了验证。结果表明,低温处理后,花烟草基因表达量变化在2倍以上的基因有8388个(P<0.01),其中,上调表达4229个,下调表达4159个。这些差异表达基因的功能归类于生物过程、细胞组分及分子功能3大类69个GO条目,并显著富集在40条KEGG代谢通路中。同时,在低温胁迫下,花烟草有118个转录因子的表达发生了显著改变,其中,上调表达82个,下调表达36个。这些转录因子属于28个家族,其中,数量最多的为NAC家族19个,其次为ERF家族16个、MYB家族15个、WRKY家族15个。本研究的结果为花烟草低温响应分子机制的研究提供了借鉴。     

Early F-actin disorganization may be signaling vacuole disruption in incompatible pollen tubes of Nicotiana alata

Self-incompatibility (SI) systems appeared early in plant evolution as an effective mechanism to promote outcrossing and avoid inbreeding depression. These systems prevent self-fertilization by the recognition and rejection of self-pollen and pollen from closely related individuals. The most widespread SI system is based on the action of a pistil ribonuclease, the S-RNase, which recognizes and rejects incompatible pollen. S-RNases are endocyted by pollen tubes and stored into vacuoles. By a mechanism that is still unknown, these vacuoles are selectively disrupted in incompatible pollen, releasing S-RNases into the cytoplasm and allowing degradation of pollen RNA. Recently, we have studied the timing of in vivo alterations of pollen F-actin cytoskeleton after incompatible pollinations. Besides being essential for pollen growth, F-actin cytoskeleton is a very dynamic cellular component. Changes in F-actin organization are known to be capable of transducing signaling events in many cellular processes. Early after pollination, F-actin showed a progressive disorganization in incompatible pollen tubes. However by the time the F-actin was almost completely disrupted, the large majority of vacuolar compartments were still intact. These results indicate that in incompatible pollen tubes F-actin disorganization precedes vacuolar disruption. They also suggest that F-actin may act as an early transducer of signals triggering the rejection of incompatible pollen.     

Heritability of a Quantitative and Qualitative Protease Inhibitor Polymorphism in Nicotiana attenuata

Abstract: Many plant species contain chemical defenses that protect them against herbivores. Despite the benefit of these chemical defenses, not all individuals contain high levels of these compounds. In the native tobacco Nicotiana attenuata we found that plants from three natural populations differed considerably in their ability to produce trypsin protease inhibitors (PIs), which are defensive proteins that reduce herbivore damage to plants. Plants from a Utah (U) population produced high levels, whereas plants from Arizona (A) contained no detectable PI levels. Californian (C) plants had intermediate levels. The PI-producing U and C plants thus differ quantitatively from each other, whereas they both differ qualitatively from PI-deficient A plants. Here we analyze how PI production is inherited in N. attenuata with the ultimate goal of better understanding how the quantitative and qualitative differences between the three populations have evolved. Using a series of classical crossing designs, we determined that the ability to produce PIs is inherited as a dominant Mendelian trait. PI-deficient plants contain two non-functional recessive alleles, whereas heterozygous plants or homozygous dominant plants both are able to produce PIs. Similarly, the level of constitutive PIs may be determined by its genotype, either by an interaction between a functional and a non-functional allele in heterozygotes, or by a factor on the PI allele itself in homozygous C plants. Based on these data and on previous studies with A and U plants we postulate that the PI-deficient A plants may have originated from a mutant that lost its ability to produce PIs. The fitness loss due to reduced herbivore resistance may be offset by the fitness gain associated with increased competitive ability, a trade-off which may maintain this mutation in the Arizona population.     

花烟草NaNHX1基因的克隆及其在非生物胁迫下的表达模式

植物NHX家族基因,在植物的生长发育以及生物与非生物胁迫的应答反应中发挥着十分重要的作用。为了探究花烟草Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白的生理功能,为花烟草耐盐分子机制的研究提供参考。采用同源克隆的方法进行基因克隆,对花烟草进行非生物胁迫,并运用qPCR的方法进行基因表达模式分析。结果表明,从花烟草(Nicotiana alata)中克隆了一个属于Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白家族的基因NaNHX1。该基因的开放阅读框全长为1 599 bp,编码了532个氨基酸残基。生物信息学分析结果表明,该基因编码的蛋白分子量为58.4 kD,等电点为5.66;具有Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白家族典型的保守结构域NhaP2;该蛋白属于疏水性蛋白,包含10个跨膜区。NaNHX1基因主要定位于细胞质膜,并含有多个磷酸化位点。同源性分析的结果显示,NaNHX1基因与美花烟草(Nicotiana sylvestris)、茸毛烟草(Nicotiana tomentosiformis)以及番茄(Solanum lycoperisicum)NHX基因的亲缘关系最近,而与拟南芥的NHX基因同源性最低。NaNHX1基因的表达具有组织表达特异性,花中表达量最高,茎中次之,根和叶中表达量较低。在高盐、干旱、低温、ABA、低钾及H2O2等非生物胁迫下,NaNHX1的表达呈现3种不同的表达模式。其中,对高盐及低钾胁迫的响应强烈。本研究的结果表明,NaNHX1基因属于Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白家族,可能参与了花烟草高盐和低钾胁迫,以及其它非生物胁迫响应在内的众多生理过程。     

Observations of pollen tube growth in Nicotiana alata and their implications for the mechanism of self-incompatibility

 Style squashes and stylar grafts were used to examine the growth of Nicotiana alata pollen tubes in self-compatible and self-incompatible styles. Compatible tubes typically showed a uniform layer of callose deposition in the walls and in small plugs spaced at regular intervals within the tube. Incompatible tubes were characterised by the variability of callose deposition in the walls and by larger, closer and more irregularly spaced plugs. There was no difference in the growth rate of compatible and incompatible tubes during growth through the stigma, but within the style most compatible tubes grew 20–25 mm day^-1 (maximum 30 mm day^–1), whereas incompatible tubes grew 1.0–1.5 mm day^-1 (maximum 5 mm day^–1). Many incompatible tubes continued to grow until flowers senesced, and only a small proportion died as a consequence of tip bursting. Grafting compatibly pollinated styles onto incompatible styles showed that the incompatible reaction could occur in pollen tubes between 2 and 50 mm long, and that inhibition of pollen tube growth occurred in both the upper and lower parts of the transmitting tract. Grafting incompatibly pollinated styles onto compatible styles showed that the incompatible reaction was fully reversible in at least a proportion of the pollen tubes. The findings are not consistent with the cytotoxic model of inhibition of self-pollen tubes in solanaceous plants, which assumes that the incompatible response results from the degradation of a finite amount of rRNA present in the pollen tube. However, if pollen tubes do in fact synthesise rRNA, the findings become consistent with this model. Received: 23 May 1996 / Revision accepted: 22 August 1996     

An in vitro assay for assessing the effects of growth factors on Nicotiana alata pollen tubes

 A new method for assessing the effects of test compounds on Nicotiana alata pollen tubes in culture is described. Pollen tubes grow from a cluster of grains placed beneath a thin layer of gelled medium in which test substances are incorporated and from which evaporation is prevented by a covering layer of oil. Pollen tubes can grow to 8 mm in length in 24 h, which corresponds to about 25% of the maximum growth rate in styles. Growth is non-destructively measured. The developmental stages reached by cultured tubes are similar to those of tubes growing in styles; growth changes from being reserve-dependent to reserve-independent, callose plugs form, and the nucleus of the generative cell divides. Because culture volumes are small (10–20 μl per replicate), the effects of known concentrations of microgram quantities of compounds on the growth of pollen tubes can be tested. Received: 25 February 1997 / 21 July 1997     

Role of a callose synthase zymogen in regulating wall deposition in pollen tubes of Nicotiana alata Link et Otto

The callose synthase (CalS) activity of membrane preparations from cultured Nicotiana alata Link & Otto pollen tubes is increased several-fold by treatment with trypsin in the presence of digitonin, possibly due to activation of an inactive (zymogen) form of the enzyme. Active and inactive forms of CalS are also present in stylar-grown tubes. Callose deposition was first detected immediately after germination of pollen grains in liquid medium, at the rim of the germination aperture. During tube growth the 3-linked glucan backbone of callose was deposited at an increasing rate, reaching a maximum of 65 mg h⁻¹ in tubes grown from 1 g pollen. Callose synthase activity was first detected immediately after germination, and then also increased substantially during tube growth. Trypsin caused activation of CalS throughout a 30-h time course of tube growth, but the degree of activation was higher for younger pollen tubes. Over a 10-fold range of callose deposition rates, the assayed CalS activity was sufficient to account for the rate of callose deposition without trypsin activation, implying that the form of CalS active in isolated membranes is responsible for callose deposition in intact pollen tubes. Sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation separated a lighter, intracellular membrane fraction containing only inactive CalS from a heavier, plasma-membrane fraction containing both active and inactive CalS, with younger pollen tubes containing relatively more of the inactive intracellular enzyme. The increasing rate of callose deposition during pollen-tube growth may thus be caused by the transport of inactive forms of CalS from intracellular membranes to the plasma membrane, followed by the regulated activation of these inactive forms in this final location. Received: 1 December 1998 / Accepted: 21 January 1999     

Proteomic and biochemical evidence links the callose synthase in Nicotiana alata pollen tubes to the product of the NaGSL1 gene

The NaGSL1 gene has been proposed to encode the callose synthase (CalS) enzyme from Nicotiana alata pollen tubes based on its similarity to fungal 1,3-beta-glucan synthases and its high expression in pollen and pollen tubes. We have used a biochemical approach to link the NaGSL1 protein with CalS enzymic activity. The CalS enzyme from N. alata pollen tubes was enriched over 100-fold using membrane fractionation and product entrapment. A 220 kDa polypeptide, the correct molecular weight to be NaGSL1, was specifically detected by anti-GSL antibodies, was specifically enriched with CalS activity, and was the most abundant polypeptide in the CalS-enriched fraction. This polypeptide was positively identified as NaGSL1 using both MALDI-TOF MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of tryptic peptides. Other low-abundance polypeptides in the CalS-enriched fractions were identified by MALDI-TOF MS as deriving from a 103 kDa plasma membrane H+-ATPase and a 60 kDa beta-subunit of mitochondrial ATPase, both of which were deduced to be contaminants in the product-entrapped material. These analyses thus suggest that NaGSL1 is required for CalS activity, although other smaller (<30 kDa) or low-abundance proteins could also be involved.     

Regulation of LAT52 promoter activity during pollen tube growth through the pistil of Nicotiana alata.

The pollen-specific promoter of the LAT52 gene is known to direct expression of marker proteins during the last stages of pollen maturation and in very early pollen tube growth.We have examined the expression of LAT52-GUS during later stages of pollen tube growth in style and ovary of the relatively long-styled species Nicotiana alata. GUS activity was detected histochemically and found to be present in germinating pollen grains of N. alata and in tubes growing through the upper part of the style. No GUS activity was detected in 99% of the pollen tubes growing through the lower part of the style, but activity was present in tubes within the ovary. This finding indicates that the LAT52 promoter is regulated in growing pollen tubes, and is most active during the earliest and latest stages of pollen tube growth. GUS activity was also detected in some ovules, where it presumably marked the release of pollen tube cytoplasm into the ovule. The distribution of ovules with GUS activity within the ovary is not consistent with high-precision pollen tube guidance to the ovule. Received: 16 August 1999 / Revision accepted: 20 December 1999     

Inheritance of leaf peroxidase isoenzymes in Nicotiana alata and linkage with the S-incompatibility locus

Summary Genetic analysis of peroxidase isoenzymes observed by electrophoresis shows that each of the two cathodic bands are controlled by one gene, respectively, P_I and P_II. Each gene has two allele forms; presence of activity (dominant) and absence of activity (recessive). The same situation is found for one anodic band; the three other anodic bands are controlled by a single gene with three active allele forms. No progenies seem to be produced from gametes P _I ^- P _II ^- (no activity of P_I or P_II). Investigation of the incompatibility system and the isoperoxidases demonstrates that the loci P_I, P_II and S are located in the same chromosome. P_I is closely linked to the S locus (3 cM); the distance between P_II and the S locus is 34 cM.     

Heritability of stigma position and the effect of stigma-anther separation on outcrossing in a predominantly self-fertilizing weed, Datura stramonium (Solanaceae)

A polymorphism for anthocyanin production was used as a genetic marker to document the relationship between anther-stigma separation and outcrossing rate in the predominantly self-fertilizing weed Datura stramonium. White-flowered plants that differed in anther-stigma separation were placed into populations consisting exclusively of purple-flowered plants. Self vs. outcross origin of progeny was evident in the hypocotyl color of the seedlings. Outcrossing rates measured for single flowers were significantly positively correlated with anther-stigma separation, albeit with some scatter around the regression line, especially for flowers with exserted stigmas. We also performed an 8 × 8 diallel cross to determine whether anther-stigma separation is genetically determined. Heritability in two field plots was ～0.3 and in the greenhouse was ～0.2. Maternal effects, epistasis, and dominance appeared to be relatively unimportant. Genotypes performed consistently across the three environments, although total plant size varied more than fivefold. It appears that the mixed-mating system of D. stramonium has a heritable basis and would be capable of responding to selection.     

The Maryland mammoth allele reduces floral stimulus activity in stem piece explants of Nicotiana tabacum (Solanaceae)

The response of axillary buds to floral stimulus activity in stem pieces was examined in two near-isogenic cultivars of tobacco that differ in the recessive maryland mammoth (mm) allele, which confers short-day behavior. All axillary buds from day-neutral plants assayed on six-internode stem pieces made few nodes (less than 20) before flowering, while axillary buds from plants homozygous for mm assayed on six-internode stem pieces either did not flower in noninductive conditions or made many nodes before flowering in inductive conditions. About 80% of day-neutral axillary buds grafted onto day-neutral stem pieces did not respond to floral stimulus in stem pieces, indicating that the floral stimulus in stem pieces is ephemeral. In other graft combinations, the proportion of axillary buds that did respond to floral stimulus in stem pieces was substantially reduced from the 20% of day-neutral buds on day-neutral stem pieces that responded. These results indicate that the mm allele probably reduces both the amount of floral stimulus activity in stem pieces and the competence of axillary buds to respond.     

S-specific proteins in styles of self-incompatible Nicotiana alata

Summary A comparison of the stigma protein patterns of individual plants of the inbred- and cross-progenies in Nicotiana alata by isoelectric focusing revealed the presence of S-specific proteins. The S allele-protein relationship was found for three different S alleles. The S-specific proteins occurred in both stigma and stylar parts of the pistil whereas they were absent in leaves. In clone OWL the concentration of S-specific proteins in the stigma increased gradually during floral development. The shift from compatibility to incompatibility was not accompanied by an abrupt increase in concentration of the S-proteins.     

Ovule and gametophyte development in Nicotiana glauca Graham (Solanaceae)

Abstract

The development of ovule and megagametophyte is examined in Nicotiana glauca, using light microscopy. The ovules proved unitegmic, tenuinucellate and endothelial as in all the Solanaceae so far studied. The ovule primordia are of the three-zonate type. The integument, which is of dermal origin, is at first two-layered but later produces additional intermediate cells whose origin is not constant. The nucellus, whose initial curvature bears no relation to the origin of the integument, has, like other Solanaceae, a one or two-celled archesporium from which a single meiocyte develops. The gametophyte is confirmed to be bisporic in origin and its development follows the Allium type. Furthermore, the hypostase, which is rare in the family, is observed below the antipodal cells.     

Heritability estimates of life history traits in small white butterflyPieris rapae crucivora

Heritabilities and genetic correlations of life history characters (pupal weight, age-specific fecundities, and egg weight) of small white butterfly Pieris rapae crucivora are estimated by a quantitative genetic method (sib analysis). The results indicate moderate or high heritabilities and a largely negative genetic correaltion in age-specific fecundities.     

普通甜荞主要数量性状相关遗传力的测定

对24个普通甜荞品种,7个主要数量性状,进行了遗传力、遗传相关和相关遗传力的测定．结果表明：株粒数与株粒重h_xy~2=0.8208,有效花序数与株粒重h_xy~2=0.6829,千粒重与株粒重h_xy~2=0.4498;株高、主茎节数,一级分枝数3个性状与株粒重的相关遗传力差异均不显著。     

Predicting evolution of floral traits associated with mating system in a natural plant population

Evolution of floral traits requires that they are heritable, that they affect fitness, and that they are not constrained by genetic correlations. These prerequisites have only rarely been examined in natural populations. For Mimulus guttatus, we found by using the Riska-method that corolla width, anther length, ovary length and number of red dots on the corolla were heritable in a natural population. Seed production (maternal fitness) was directly positively affected by corolla width and anther size, and indirectly so by ovary length and number of red dots on the corolla. The siring success (paternal fitness), as estimated from allozyme data, was directly negatively affected by anther-stigma separation, and indirectly so by the corolla length-width ratio. Genetic correlations, estimated with the Lynch-method, were positive between floral size measures. We predict that larger flowers with larger reproductive organs, which generally favour outcrossing, will evolve in this natural population of M. guttatus.     

Leaf herbivory and nutrients increase nectar alkaloids

Correlations between traits may constrain ecological and evolutionary responses to multispecies interactions. Many plants produce defensive compounds in nectar and leaves that could influence interactions with pollinators and herbivores, but the relationship between nectar and leaf defences is entirely unexplored. Correlations between leaf and nectar traits may be mediated by resources and prior damage. We determined the effect of nutrients and leaf herbivory by Manduca sexta on Nicotiana tabacum nectar and leaf alkaloids, floral traits and moth oviposition. We found a positive phenotypic correlation between nectar and leaf alkaloids. Herbivory induced alkaloids in nectar but not in leaves, while nutrients increased alkaloids in both tissues. Moths laid the most eggs on damaged, fertilized plants, suggesting a preference for high alkaloids. Induced nectar alkaloids via leaf herbivory indicate that species interactions involving leaf and floral tissues are linked and should not be treated as independent phenomena in plant ecology or evolution.