Molecular mapping of split rice spikelet mutant srs-1 and analysis of its homeotic function in rice

srs-1, a new floral organ identity gene in rice, was mapped using RAPD and RFLP markers. Firstly, the cross was made between "ZhaiYeQing 8" (ZYQ8, indica) and split rice spikelet (SRS, japonica) mutant. The ratio of wild-type individuals and mutant plants in F2 population is 3:1, which indicates that the mutant characteristics are controlled by single recessive gene, srs-1. Consequently, BSA method was adopted and 520 random 10-mer primers were used to screen polymorphic bands between two bulks. Six primers could amplify polymorphic bands, of which S465 generates the most stable RAPD patterns. Then, S465 that cosegregates in F2 population has been converted into an RFLP marker successfully. Furthermore, srs-1 gene was mapped on chromosome 3 using DH mapping population. The effect of srs-1 gene results in the mutant of split rice spikelet. The mutant has longer and softer palea/lemma than those of wild-type, and two small palea/lemma-like organs between palea and lemma. In addition, there is a flower with three stamens and carpel in the axil of lemma. Thus, there are nine stamens and two carpels in the spikelet of mutant. srs-1 gene may belong to homeotic gene of class A according to the mutant characteristics and ABC model.     

RETARDED PALEA1 controls palea development and floral zygomorphy in rice

Poaceae, one of the largest flowering plant families in angiosperms, evolved distinct inflorescence and flower morphology diverging from eudicots and other monocots. However, the mechanism underlying the specification of flower morphology in grasses remains unclear. Here we show that floral zygomorphy along the lemma-palea axis in rice (Oryza sativa) is partially or indirectly determined by the CYCLOIDEA (CYC)-like homolog RETARDED PALEA1 (REP1), which regulates palea identity and development. The REP1 gene is only expressed in palea primordium during early flower development, but during later floral stages is radially dispersed in stamens and the vascular bundles of the lemma and palea. The development of palea is significantly retarded in the rep1 mutant and its palea has five vascular bundles, which is similar to the vascular pattern of the wild-type lemma. Furthermore, ectopic expression of REP1 caused the asymmetrical overdifferentiation of the palea cells, altering their floral asymmetry. This work therefore extends the function of the TCP gene family members in defining the diversification of floral morphology in grasses and suggests that a common conserved mechanism controlling floral zygomorphy by CYC-like genes exists in both eudicots and the grasses.     

Fine mapping of a pistilloid-stamen (PS) gene on the short arm of chromosome 1 in rice.

A novel floral organ mutant of rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica), termed pistilloid-stamen (ps) here, has flowers with degenerated lemma and palea, with some stamens transformed into pistils and pistil-stamen chimeras. Genetic analysis confirmed that the ps trait is controlled by a single recessive gene. F2 and F3 segregation populations derived from PS ps heterozygote crossed with Oryza sativa subsp. indica 'Luhui-17' (PS PS) were used for molecular mapping of the gene using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. With 97 recessive individuals from an F2 segregation population, the ps locus was preliminarily mapped 6.2 cM distal to marker RM6324 and 3.1 cM proximal to marker RM6340 in the terminal region of the short arm of chromosome 1. With a large F3 segregation population, the gene was fine-mapped between markers RM6470 and RM1141, at distances of 0.10 and 0.03 cM to each marker, respectively. The position of the ps gene was finally located within a 20 kb physical region containing 3 annotated putative genes. One of them, encoding a protein with a single C2H2 zinc-finger domain, may be the candidate gene for PS.     

一个水稻内颖退化突变体的形态特征及基因的精确定位

水稻产量和品质受花器官发育的直接影响,因此对水稻颖花发育机理的研究将有助于水稻产量提高和品质的改良。文章利用60Coγ射线辐照亲本8PW33(籼稻背景)获得一个性状能稳定遗传的内颖退化突变体(编号:MU102),并对其农艺性状和花器官进行了观察和分析。结果显示,相对于野生型,该突变体的株高、每穗总粒数及剑叶宽均显著增加,而结实率则显著降低,差异均达显著水平。解剖镜下观察表明,该突变体内颖退化,外颖弯曲呈现镰刀状,其余器官与野生型表型基本一致。扫描电镜观察显示,突变体与野生型叶片维管束的结构组成以及外颖表皮细胞组成、排列均正常,没有明显差异;与野生型相比,突变体内颖表皮细胞排列较为紧密,推测可能是内颖收缩退化导致的。遗传分析显示该突变性状是由隐性单基因控制,并命名为pd2。利用实验室现有的SSR分子标记将PD2基因定位于水稻第9号染色体上,通过进一步扩大群体和开发新的Indel标记,将PD2基因定位在2个Indel标记之间,两者间的物理距离大约是82 kb。在该物理区间内有一个已经克隆的内颖发育基因REP1,经过测序和比对分析,推测REP1与PD2为等位基因。     

Identification and fine mapping of a mutant gene for palealess spikelet in rice

In grass, the evolutionary relationship between lemma and palea, and their relationship to the flower organs in dicots have been variously interpreted and wildely debated. In the present study, we carried out morphological and genetic analysis of a palealess mutant (pal) from rice (Oryza sativa L.), and fine mapping the gene responsible for the mutated trait. Together, our findings indicate that the palea is replaced by two leaf-like structures in the pal flowers, and this trait is controlled by one recessive gene, termed palealess1 (pal1). With a large F2 segregating population, the pal1 gene was finally mapped into a physical region of 35 kb. Our results also suggest that the lemma and palea of rice are not homologous organs, palea is likely evolutionarily equivalent to the eudicot sepal, and the pal1 should be an A function gene for rice floral organ identity.     

Functional characterization of the stunt lemma palea 1 mutant allele in rice

The rice stunted lemma/palea 1 (slp1) mutant displays a dwarf, shortened panicle length, degenerated lemma and palea, and sterility. A previous study suggested that a missense mutation at the sixth amino acid of the OsSPL16 protein was likely to be responsible for the slp1 mutant phenotype. The current study shows that the overexpression of the wild-type OsSPL16 allele in slp1/slp1 and Slp1/slp1 mutants was unable to convert the slp1 mutant phenotype to normal. However, the introduction of the mutant OsSPL16 allele into a normal rice cultivar led to the slp1 mutant phenotype in transgenic plants. These results indicated that the missense mutation in OsSPL16 creates a neomorphic allele, which affects plant height and the development of the inflorescence and spikelet.     

Molecular and genetic analyses of the silky1 gene reveal conservation in floral organ specification between eudicots and monocots

The degree to which the eudicot-based ABC model of flower organ identity applies to the other major subclass of angrosperms, the monocots, has yet to be fully explored. We cloned silky1 (si1), a male sterile mutant of Zea mays that has homeotic conversions of stamens into carpels and lodicules into palea/lemma-like structures. Our studies indicate that si1 is a monocot B function MADS box gene. Moreover, the si1 zag1 double mutant produces a striking spikelet phenotype where normal glumes enclose reiterated palea/lemma-like organs. These studies indicate that B function gene activity is conserved among monocots as well as eudicots. In addition, they provide compelling developmental evidence for recognizing lodicules as modified petals and, possibly, palea and lemma as modified sepals.     

Tagging and mapping the thermo-sensitive genic male-sterile gene in rice (Oryza sativa L.) with molecular markers

The thermo-sensititve genic male-sterile (TGMS) gene in rice can alter fertility in response to temperature and is useful in the two-line system of hybrid rice production. However, little is known about the TGMS gene at the molecular level. The objective of this study was to identify molecular markers tightly linked with the TGMS gene and to map the gene onto a specific rice chromosome. Bulked segregant analysis of an F₂ population from 5460s (a TGMS mutant line) x Hong Wan 52 was used to identify RAPD markers linked to the rice TGMS gene. Four hundred RAPD primers were screened for polymorphisms between the parents and between two bulks representing fertile and sterile plants; of these, 4 primers produced polymorphic products. Most of the polymorphic fragments contained repetitive sequences. Only one singlecopy sequence fragment was found, a 1.2-kb fragment amplified by primer OPB-19 and subsequently named TGMS1.2. TGMS1.2 was mapped on chromosome 8 with a RIL population and confirmed by remapping with a DHL population. Segregation analysis using TGMS1.2 as a probe indicated that TGMS1.2 both consegregated and was lined with the TGMS gene in this population. It is located about 6.7 cM from the TGMS gene. As TGMS1.2 is linked to the TGMS gene, the TGMS gene must be located on chromosome 8.This research was supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and China National High-Tech Research and Development Program. The first author is a Rockefeller Career Fellow at Texas Tech University     

海南主要普通野生稻的调查及利用RAPD技术进行鉴别分析

通过对海南现存的主要普通野生稻资源进行考察,报道了海南主要普通野生稻的最新生存状况;并用RAPD技术对其进行分析。从供试材料中筛选出具有多态性的RAPD引物13条,共扩增出155条带,其中多态性条带120条,多态性条带比率(PPB)值为77.42%。UPGMA聚类结果表明:海南主要普通野生稻之间遗传关系较复杂、差异较明显,并将海南主要普通野生稻资源划分为5个小类群,可以很好地将海南本地野生稻与收集保存的野生稻鉴别开来,为海南普通野生稻资源的合理利用与有效保护提供了重要依据。     

一个水稻畸形颖壳突变体ah的鉴定及其突变性状的遗传分析

水稻畸形颖壳突变体ah是双胚苗品系W2555中自然突变产生的。该突变体的内外稃畸形,退化;雄蕊雌蕊化,雌蕊败育;浆片同源转化为类内外稃的结构,推测该突变体可能影响B功能基因的正常发育。与野生型相比,突变体的小穗分支稀疏,每级枝梗上颖花数目减少,一般为4～6朵;小穗顶端的颖花经常不能成熟,表现为颖花始终泛白,不能转绿,因此该突变也影响花序分生组织的发育。进一步的研究证明,该突变体的发育受外界环境的影响。突变性状的遗传分析表明,该突变体由单隐性基因控制。     

ELE restrains empty glumes from developing into lemmas

Although there is evident homology among reproductive organs when comparing Poaceae(grass)and eudicots,the identity of grass specific organs,such as lodicules,palea,lemma,and glumes has been the subject of a vast and largely inconclusive discussion.Here we provide some direct evidence to support the idea that the empty glumes of rice(Oryza sativa)are counterparts of lemmas.We show that the development of empty glumes is regulated by ELE(elongated empty glume),which belongs to a plant specific novel gene family.Mutations at the ELE locus cause elongated empty glumes,which mimic the lemmas and have the epidermal morphology of lemmas with four or five vascular bundles.As a nuclear-localized gene,ELE is specifically expressed at the empty glumes of immature spikelets,and its ectopic expression causes many floral development defects,including lemma-like palea,extra palea-like structures,elongated lodicules,extra stamens and stigmas.Our result suggests that empty glumes are lemmas of the sterile florets located at the lateral side of the rice spikelet,and ELE acts as a regulator restraining its growth to maintain its small size in wild-type plants.     

水稻花器官突变体apl (abnormal palea and lodicules) 的表型分析与基因初定位

水稻(Oryza sativa)是重要的粮食作物, 其花器官的正常起始及形态建成直接影响水稻的产量。为了深入分析水稻小花发育的调控机理, 从已构建的水稻EMS诱变突变体库中筛选获得了一个花器官异常发育的突变体apl (abnormal palea and lodicules)。与野生型相比, apl突变体小花的内稃膨大, 浆片伸长或转换成稃状结构, 雄蕊数目减少, 表明APL基因可能参与调控水稻内稃、浆片和雄蕊等多轮花器官属性的建成。遗传学分析表明, 该突变体性状受1个隐性单基因控制。通过图位克隆, 将APL基因初步定位于1号染色体上。该工作为深入研究APL基因在水稻花器官形态建成中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

Dwarf and deformed flower 1, encoding an F‐box protein,is critical for vegetative and floral development in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Recent studies have shown that F‐box proteins constitute a large family in eukaryotes, and play pivotal roles in regulating various developmental processes in plants. However, their functions in monocots are still obscure. In this study, we characterized a recessive mutant dwarf and deformed flower 1‐1 (ddf1‐1) in Oryza sativa (rice). The mutant is abnormal in both vegetative and reproductive development, with significant size reduction in all organs except the spikelet. DDF1 controls organ size by regulating both cell division and cell expansion. In the ddf1‐1 spikelet, the specification of floral organs in whorls 2 and 3 is altered, with most lodicules and stamens being transformed into glume‐like organs and pistil‐like organs, respectively, but the specification of lemma/palea and pistil in whorls 1 and 4 is not affected. DDF1 encodes an F‐box protein anchored in the nucleolus, and is expressed in almost all vegetative and reproductive tissues. Consistent with the mutant floral phenotype, DDF1 positively regulates B‐class genes OsMADS4 and OsMADS16, and negatively regulates pistil specification gene DL. In addition, DDF1 also negatively regulates the Arabidopsis LFY ortholog APO2, implying a functional connection between DDF1 and APO2. Collectively, these results revealed that DDF1, as a newly identified F‐box gene, is a crucial genetic factor with pleiotropic functions for both vegetative growth and floral organ specification in rice. These findings provide additional insights into the molecular mechanism controlling monocot vegetative and reproductive development.     

Genetic analysis and mapping of gene fzp(t) controlling spikelet differentiation in rice

A mutant of spikelet differentiation in rice called frizzle panicle (fzp) was discovered in the progeny of a cross between Oryza sativa ssp. indica cv. V20B and cv. Hua1B. The mutant exhibits normal plant morphology but has apparently fewer tillers. The most striking change in fzp is that its spikelet differentiation is completely blocked, with unlimited subsequent rachis branches generated from the positions where spikelets normally develop in wild-type plants. Genetic analysis suggests that fzp is controlled by a single recessive gene, which is temporarily named fzp (t). Based on its mutant phenotype, fzp (t) represents a key gene controlling spikelet differentiation. Some F2 mutant plants derived from various genetic background appeared as the "middle type", suggesting that the action of fzp (t) is influenced by the presence of redundant, modifier or interactive genes. By using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) method, fzp (t) gene was mapped in the terminal region of the long arm of chromosome 7, with RM172 and RM248 on one side, 3.2 cM and 6.4 cM from fzp (t), and RM18 and RM234 on the other side, 23.1 cM and 26.3 cM from fzp(t), respectively. These results will facilitate the positional cloning and function studies of the gene.     

水稻花器官突变体apl（abnormal palea and Iodicules）的表型分析与基因初定位

水稻（Oryzasafiva）是重要的粮食作物,其花器官的正常起始及形态建成直接影响水稻的产量。为了深入分析水稻小花发育的调控机理,从已构建的水稻EMS诱变突变体库中筛选获得了一个花器官异常发育的突变体apl（abnormal palea and Iodicules）。与野生型相比,apl变体小花的内稃膨大,浆片伸长或转换成稃状结构,雄蕊数目减少,表明APL基因可能参与调控水稻内稃、浆片和雄蕊等多轮花器官属性的建成。遗传学分析表明,该突变体性状受1个隐性单基因控制。通过图位克隆,将APL基因初步定位于1号染色体上。该工作为深入研究APL基因在水稻花器官形态建成中的作用机制奠定了基础。