Overexpression of the CmJAZ1-like gene delays flowering in Chrysanthemum morifolium

Abstract

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) is one of the four major cut-flower plants worldwide and possesses both high ornamental value and cultural connotation. As most chrysanthemum varieties flower in autumn, it is costly to achieve annual production. JAZ genes in the TIFY family are core components of the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway; in addition to playing a pivotal role in plant responses to defense, they are also widely implicated in regulating plant development processes. Here, we characterized the TIFY family gene CmJAZ1-like from the chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Jinba’. CmJAZ1-like localizes in the nucleus and has no transcriptional activity in yeast. Tissue expression pattern analysis indicated that CmJAZ1-like was most active in the root and shoot apex. Overexpressing CmJAZ1-like with Jas domain deletion in chrysanthemum resulted in late flowering. RNA-Seq analysis of the overexpression lines revealed some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in flowering, such as the homologs of the flowering integrators FT and SOC1, an FUL homolog involved in flower meristem identity, AP2 domain-containing transcription factors, MADS box genes, and autonomous pathway-related genes. Based on KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, the differentially transcribed genes were enriched in carbohydrate metabolic and fatty acid-related pathways, which are notable for their role in flowering in plants. This study preliminarily verified the function of CmJAZ1-like in chrysanthemum flowering, and the results can be used in molecular breeding programs aimed at flowering time regulation of chrysanthemum.

Genome-Wide Association Studies for Sex Determination and Cross-Compatibility in Water Yam (Dioscorea alata L.)

“…The most popular gene/protein families with direct or indirect influence on sex determination or with differential expression among sexes or those regulating hormones linked to sex ratio bias in other plant species are listed below. These are: Zinc finger, RING/FYVE/PHD-type [ 46 ]; Glycosyltransferase AER61 [ 47 ]; NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase subunit L [ 48 ]; GLABROUS1 enhancer-binding protein [ 49 ]; Auxin efflux carrier [ 50 ]; Ribosomal protein PSRP-3/Ycf65 [ 15 ]; MADS-box [ 51 , 52 , 53 ]; Myb/SANT-like domain [ 54 ]; Aldolase-type TIM barrel [ 55 ]; NAD(P)-binding domain [ 56 ]; Zinc finger, Rad18-type putative [ 57 ]; Tify [ 50 , 58 ]; ABC transporter-like [ 59 , 60 ]; Homeodomain-like [ 61 , 62 ]; Prohibitin [ 63 ]; Initiation factor eIF-4 gamma, MA3 [ 64 ]; and HD-ZIP protein, N-terminal [ 65 ].…”

Transcriptome Analysis of Flower Development and Mining of Genes Related to Flowering Time in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

“…Jasmonic acid signals are generally modulated by biotic and abiotic stresses in crops, but studies have shown that excessive JAZ2 can promote tomato leaf growth and early flowering [ 56 ]. In chrysanthemums, excessive JAZ1-like levels cause bud formation and late flower development to occur at a significantly later time in transgenic plants than in the wild type [ 57 ]. This shows that the same hormone pathway may be affected by crosstalk between the regulation of the crop response to stress and the regulation of crop growth and development, resulting in the same type of genes performing multiple functions in crops.…”

Transcriptomic Insight into Underground Floral Differentiation in Erythronium japonicum

“…Several TFs such as AP2/ERF , MYB , bHLH , MADS-box , and NAC have been previously characterized for their active role in development and flower initiation in plants. Our study identified TFs such as AP2/ERF [ 84 ], bHLH [ 85 ], FAR1 [ 86 ], mTERF [ 87 ], MYB-related [ 88 ], NAC [ 89 ], Tify [ 90 ], and WRKY [ 91 ] as major regulators involved in floral differentiation in E. japonicum . Ethylene-Responsive Factor ( ERF ) gene family is known for its diverse role in plant developmental process, including germination, flowering, maturation, and senescence [ 92 , 93 ].…”