Exploring gene networks in two sunflower lines with contrasting leaf senescence phenotype using a system biology approach

BMC Plant Biology

Janet Higgins¹  Johanna Marino²  Sebastián Moschen³  Sofia Bengoa Luoni⁴  Francisco Astigueta⁵  Paula Fernández⁵  Ruth A. Heinz⁵  Salvador Nicosia⁵  Máximo Rivarola⁵  Norma Paniego⁵  Nicolas Blanchet⁶  Nicolas B. Langlade⁶  Alisdair R. Fernie⁷  Saleh Alseekh⁷ 

[1] Earlham Institute;Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de San Martín;Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria;Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECh), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM);Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular – IABiMo – INTA-CONICET, Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria;LIPM, INRA, CNRS, Université de Toulouse;Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie;

关键词: Sunflower;    Leaf senescence;    Candidate genes;    Functional genomics;    System biology;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12870-019-2021-6

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Leaf senescence is a complex process, controlled by multiple genetic and environmental variables. In sunflower, leaf senescence is triggered abruptly following anthesis thereby limiting the capacity of plants to keep their green leaf area during grain filling, which subsequently has a strong impact on crop yield. Recently, we performed a selection of contrasting sunflower inbred lines for the progress of leaf senescence through a physiological, cytological and molecular approach. Here we present a large scale transcriptomic analysis using RNA-seq and its integration with metabolic profiles for two contrasting sunflower inbred lines, R453 and B481–6 (early and delayed senescence respectively), with the aim of identifying metabolic pathways associated to leaf senescence. Results Gene expression profiles revealed a higher number of differentially expressed genes, as well as, higher expression levels in R453, providing evidence for early activation of the senescence program in this line. Metabolic pathways associated with sugars and nutrient recycling were differentially regulated between the lines. Additionally, we identified transcription factors acting as hubs in the co-expression networks; some previously reported as senescence-associated genes in model species but many are novel candidate genes. Conclusions Understanding the onset and the progress of the senescence process in crops and the identification of these new candidate genes will likely prove highly useful for different management strategies to mitigate the impact of senescence on crop yield. Functional characterization of candidate genes will help to develop molecular tools for biotechnological applications in breeding crop yield.

【 授权许可】

Unknown