Diurnal biomarkers reveal key photosynthetic genes associated with increased oil palm yield

Abstract

To investigate limiters of photosynthate assimilation in the carbon-source limited crop, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), we measured differential metabolite, gene expression and the gas exchange in leaves in an open field for palms with distinct mesocarp oil content. We observed higher concentrations of glucose 1-phosphate, glucose 6-phosphate, sucrose 6-phosphate, and sucrose in high-oil content palms with the greatest difference being at 11:00 (p-value ≤0.05) immediately after the period of low morning light intensity. Three important photosynthetic genes were identified using differentially expressed gene analysis (DEGs) and were found to be significantly enriched through Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment: chlorophyll a-b binding protein (CAB-13), photosystem I (PSI), and Ferredoxin-NADP reductase (FNR), particularly for sampling points at non-peak light (11:00 and 19:00), ranging from 3.3-fold (PSI) and 5.6-fold (FNR) to 10.3-fold (CAB-13). Subsequent gas exchange measurements further supported increased carbon assimilation through higher level of internal CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (E) in high-oil content palms. The selection for higher expression of key photosynthesis genes together with CO2 assimilation under low light is likely to be important for crop improvement, in particular at full maturity and under high density planting regimes where light competition exists between palms.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 Enhances Shading Tolerance by Regulating the Photosynthesis Capability of Photosystem II

“…Shading stress also induces PS state transitions (state 1–state 2 transitions), which maximize the efficiency of light harvesting at low light intensities ( Mikko et al, 2006 ). However, LHCB3 affects the excitation energy transfer, the macrostructure of PS II, and the state transitions in Arabidopsis ( Adamiec et al, 2015 ), and confers continuous-light tolerance and enhances yields in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and oil palm ( Velez-Ramirez et al, 2014 ; Neoh et al, 2019 ). We previously use Y2H library screening assays to show that BnaLHCB3 is a candidate interacting partner of BnaMAPK1 ( Wang et al, 2020 ).…”

Diurnal transcriptome dynamics reveal the photoperiod response of Pyrus

“…For example, mutants with circadian arrhythmia contain less chlorophyll, fix less carbon, and grow slower (Dodd et al, 2005). Recently, transcriptome analyses have been used to explore the global regulatory effects of circadian clocks on photosynthesis in several species (Cuitun‐Coronado et al, 2022; Du et al, 2022; Neoh et al, 2019). In Marchantia polymorpha , photosynthesis is conserved and regulated by circadian rhythms (Cuitun‐Coronado et al, 2022).…”

Downregulation of Light-Harvesting Complex II Induces ROS-Mediated Defense Against Turnip Mosaic Virus Infection in Nicotiana benthamiana

“…By modulating the rate of state transitions, LHCB3 is involved in excitation energy transfer and charge separation and is also required for stomatal response to abscisic acid ( Damkjaer et al, 2009 ; Xu et al, 2012 ; Adamiec et al, 2015 ). In Arabidopsis, LHCB3 affects the macrostructure of photosystem II and the rate of state transitions ( Damkjaer et al, 2009 ; Kouřil et al, 2013 ; Pietrzykowska et al, 2014 ; Longoni et al, 2015 ), and in tomato and oil palm, the LHCB3 gene confers continuous light tolerance and enhances yield ( Velez-Ramirez et al, 2014 ; Neoh et al, 2019 ). LHCB3 is involved in cyclic electron flow and then affects state transition by interacting with PGR5a in cucumber ( Wu et al, 2021b ).…”