SPL 7 and SPL 8 represent a novel flowering regulation mechanism in switchgrass

Gou, Jiqing; Tang, Chaorong; Chen, Naichong; Wang, Hui; Debnath, Smriti; Sun, Liang; Flanagan, Amy; Tang, Yuhong; Jiang, Qingzhen; Allen, Randy D.; Wang, Zeng‐Yu

doi:10.1111/nph.15712

SPL 7 and SPL 8 represent a novel flowering regulation mechanism in switchgrass

Journal Article · Tue Mar 05 00:00:00 EST 2019 · New Phytologist

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15712· OSTI ID:1497937

Gou, Jiqing ^[1]; Tang, Chaorong ^[2]; Chen, Naichong ^[3]; Wang, Hui ^[3]; Debnath, Smriti ^[1]; Sun, Liang ^[4]; Flanagan, Amy ^[1]; Tang, Yuhong ^[1]; Jiang, Qingzhen ^[4]; Allen, Randy D. ^[3]; ^[5]

Noble Research Institute Ardmore OK 73401 USA, BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN 37831 USA
Noble Research Institute Ardmore OK 73401 USA, Hainan University Haiko 570228 China
Institute for Agricultural Biosciences Oklahoma State University Ardmore OK 73401 USA
Noble Research Institute Ardmore OK 73401 USA
Noble Research Institute Ardmore OK 73401 USA, BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN 37831 USA, Grassland Agri‐Husbandry Research Center Qingdao Agricultural University Qingdao 266109 China

Summary

The aging pathway in flowering regulation is controlled mainly by micro RNA 156 (miR156). Studies in Arabidopsis thaliana reveal that nine miR156‐targeted SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING ‐ LIKE ( SPL ) genes are involved in the control of flowering. However, the roles of SPL s in flowering remain elusive in grasses.

Inflorescence development in switchgrass was characterized using scanning electron microscopy ( SEM ). Microarray, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (q RT ‐ PCR ), chromatin immunoprecipitation (Ch IP )‐ PCR and EMSA were used to identify regulators of phase transition and flowering. Gene function was characterized by downregulation and overexpression of the target genes.

Overexpression of SPL 7 and SPL 8 promotes flowering, whereas downregulation of individual genes moderately delays flowering. Simultaneous downregulation of SPL 7 / SPL 8 results in extremely delayed or nonflowering plants. Furthermore, downregulation of both genes leads to a vegetative‐to‐reproductive reversion in the inflorescence, a phenomenon that has not been reported in any other grasses.

Detailed analyses demonstrate that SPL 7 and SPL 8 induce phase transition and flowering in grasses by directly upregulating SEPALLATA3 ( SEP 3 ) and MADS 32 . Thus, the SPL 7 / 8 pathway represents a novel regulatory mechanism in grasses that is largely different from that in Arabidopsis . Additionally, genetic modification of SPL 7 and SPL8 results in much taller plants with significantly increased biomass yield and sugar release.

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 1497937

Journal Information:: New Phytologist, Journal Name: New Phytologist Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 222; ISSN 0028-646X

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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