Identification and Characterization of the PEBP Family Genes in Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla)

Abstract

Moso bamboo is one of the economically most important plants in China. Moso bamboo is a monocarpic perennial that exhibits poor and slow germination. Thus, the flowering often causes destruction of moso bamboo forestry. However, how control of flowering and seed germination are regulated in moso bamboo is largely unclear. In this study, we identified 5 members (PhFT1-5) of the phosphatidyl ethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBP) family from moso bamboo genome that regulate flowering, flower architecture and germination, and characterized the function of these PEBP family genes further in Arabidopsis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 3 (PhFT1, PhFT2 and PhFT3), 1 (PhFT4) and 1 (PhFT5) members belong to the TFL1-like clade, FT-like clade, and MFT-like clade, respectively. These PEBP family genes possess all structure necessary for PEBP gene function. The ectopic overexpression of PhFT4 and PhFT5 promotes flowering time in Arabidopsis, and that of PhFT1, PhFT2 and PhFT3 suppresses it. In addition, the overexpression of PhFT5 promotes seed germination rate. Interestingly, the overexpression of PhFT1 suppressed seed germination rate in Arabidopsis. The expression of PhFT1 and PhFT5 is significantly higher in seed than in tissues including leaf and shoot apical meristem, implying their function in seed germination. Taken together, our results suggested that the PEBP family genes play important roles as regulators of flowering and seed germination in moso bamboo and thereby are necessary for the sustainability of moso bamboo forest.

The Overexpression of Four MiTFL1 Genes from Mango Delays the Flowering Time in Transgenic Arabidopsis

“…In the present study, four TFL1 genes were obtained from 'SiJiMi' mango, and these were named MiTFL1-1, MiTFL1-2, MiTFL1-3 and MiTFL1-4. Multiple copies of TFL1 homologous genes were also found in other plants, such as two in soybean [29], moso bamboo [13] and loquat [30], three in petunia [31], four in cotton [32] and ve in Hevea brasiliensis [33]. In a previous study, only two TFL1 genes, MiTFL1 and MiTFL1a, were found in another mango variety, 'Alphonso', and these corresponded to MiTFL1-2 and MiTFL1-1 in the present study, respectively [34].…”

“…TFL1 encodes proteins with conserved His88 and Asp144 residues and the typical amino acid triad modules EYD, YFG, and END [12]. The FT protein does not have this structure, which is an important reason for the opposite functions of these two genes [13]. TFL1 genes, as owering repressors, determine the timing of the transition of the apical meristem into an in orescence meristem and the branching pattern of the in orescence [14].…”

Genetics and genomics of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis): Current status, future challenges, and biotechnological opportunities toward a sustainable bamboo industry

“…More recent studies on the regulatory pathways of flowering behavior in moso bamboo revealed that genes such as PheDof1 , PheMADS14 , and six microRNAs were critical in these pathways (Ge et al., 2017). Further, molecular mechanisms governing moso bamboo flowering and growth control have very recently been elucidated (Yang, Chen, et al, 2019; Zhang, Tang, et al, 2018). Furthermore, Liu, Cheng, Xie, Li, and Gao (2019) observed that PheDof was highly expressed in bamboo leaves during flowering, the activity of which declines during flower development.…”

Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo) ages significantly affect soil nitrogen transformation and endophytic microbes but niche differentiations outweigh ages in shaping microbial communities of moso bamboo-soil system

“…Bamboos are key members of the Gramineae plants and have approximately 90 genera and 1200 species [1,2]. The bamboo output is a key source of non-wood forest products, and bamboo plantations and forests have been continuously increasing in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions [1,2]. After industrial treatment, bamboos have up to 95% glucose and 73% ethanol yield [3].…”