Glabrous Rice 1, encoding a homeodomain protein, regulates trichome development in rice

Abstract

BackgroundGlabrous rice, which lacks trichomes on the rice epidermis, is regarded as an important germplasm resource in rice breeding. Trichomes are derived from aerial epidermal cells and used as a model to study the cell fate determination in plant. In Arabidopsis, the molecular mechanisms of trichome development have been well studied. However, little is known about the molecular basis of trichome development in rice.ResultsIn this study, near isogenic lines harboring the glabrous rice 1 locus were developed. By a map-based approach, we narrowed down the locus to a 21-kb DNA region harboring two genes. One of the genes named Glabrous Rice 1 (GLR1), which is most likely the candidate, encodes a homeodomain protein containing the WOX motif. Constitutive Expression of GLR1 could partially complement the glabrous phenotype of NILglr1. The knock down of GLR1 by RNA interference led to a significant decrease in trichome number on the leaves and glumes of the RNAi transgenic plants.ConclusionGLR1 plays an important role in rice trichome development and will contribute to breeding of glabrous elite rice varieties.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1939-8433-5-32) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

MONOCULM 3, an Ortholog of WUSCHEL in Rice, Is Required for Tiller Bud Formation

“…In rice, OsWOX3 represses the expression of OsYAB3, which is required for cell differentiation during rice leaf development (Dai et al, 2007). OsWOX3B (Glabrous Rice 1, GLR1) regulates the formation of trichomes on the rice epidermis (Li et al, 2012;Zhang et al, 2012). OsWOX11 coordinates the activity of root apical meristems, which substantially affects the formation of root morphology (Zhao et al, 2009).…”

“…The WOX genes are also coordinated for regulating the transcription of many genes required for the maintenance and differentiation of meristem cells (Busch et al, 2010). In rice, WOX genes have been found to play important roles for the development of plant shoots, roots and leaves by affecting the activity of meristem (Dai et al, 2007;Zhao et al, 2009;Li et al, 2012;Wang et al, 2014). It was reported that OsWUS has a transient expression in the shoot apexes during phytomer development and a stable expression at the abaxial face of an emerging axillary meristem (AM) in later stages (Nardmann and Werr, 2006), indicating that the OsWUS may have a different function from WUS in Arabidopsis.…”

Constitutive and herbivore‐induced structural defenses are compromised by inbreeding in Solanum carolinense (Solanaceae)

“…These defenses can act against herbivores directly, as in the case of secondary chemical compounds that affect the arthropod central nervous system, or indirectly via interactions with higher trophic levels, as in the case of extrafloral nectaries that attract predators such as ants or herbivore‐induced plant volatiles that can signal the presence of herbivores to their natural enemies, such as hymenopteran parasitoids (e.g., De Moraes et al, 1998; Oliveira et al, 1999; Wink, 2000). Both constitutive and induced defenses have been commonly found to be under tight genetic control (Traw and Bergelson, 2003; Kawagoe et al, 2011; Li et al, 2012) and vary among individuals within populations (e.g., Hare et al, 2003; Weinig et al, 2003). These findings suggest that the benefits acquired through resistance may also vary, based on the intensity of herbivory and the genetic background of the plant (Simms, 1992; Hare et al, 2003), although our understanding of the population genetic processes that influence plant defense traits remains limited (Hare et al, 2003).…”

Interactions between leaf pubescence genes in bread wheat as assessed by high throughput phenotyping

“…In the same locus, using different genetic materials, a WUSCHELrelated homeobox 3B gene depilous was found which affects hair formation on leaves and glumes (AngelesShim et al 2012;Yu et al 1992Yu et al , 1995. Glabrous Rice 1 (GLR1) on the short arm of chromosome 5 affects the formation of leaf hairs, apparently in a dose dependent manner (Li et al 2010(Li et al , 2012 as both the gene phenotypic effect and the expression level respond to the chromatin state and, likely, also to the DNA methylation pattern. It is likely that the phenotypic manifestation of the genes Hl3 and Hl1 here is consistent with the rice gene gl2 (Angeles-Shim et al 2012; Yu et al 1992Yu et al , 1995Zhang et al 2012).…”