Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the NF-Y family of transcription factors in Triticum aestivum

Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) is a trimeric complex that binds to the CCAAT box, a ubiquitous eukaryotic promoter element. The three subunits NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC are represented by single genes in yeast and mammals. However, in model plant species (Arabidopsis and rice) multiple genes encode each subunit providing the impetus for the investigation of the NF-Y transcription factor family in wheat. A total of 37 NF-Y and Dr1 genes (10 NF-YA, 11 NF-YB, 14 NF-YC and 2 Dr1) in Triticum aestivum were identified in the global DNA databases by computational analysis in this study. Each of the wheat NF-Y subunit families could be further divided into 4-5 clades based on their conserved core region sequences. Several conserved motifs outside of the NF-Y core regions were also identified by comparison of NF-Y members from wheat, rice and Arabidopsis. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that some of the wheat NF-Y genes were expressed ubiquitously, while others were expressed in an organ-specific manner. In particular, each TaNF-Y subunit family had members that were expressed predominantly in the endosperm. The expression of nine NF-Y and two Dr1 genes in wheat leaves appeared to be responsive to drought stress. Three of these genes were up-regulated under drought conditions, indicating that these members of the NF-Y and Dr1 families are potentially involved in plant drought adaptation. The combined expression and phylogenetic analyses revealed that members within the same phylogenetic clade generally shared a similar expression profile. Organ-specific expression and differential response to drought indicate a plant-specific biological role for various members of this transcription factor family.

TaNF-YC11, one of the light-upregulated NF-YC members in Triticum aestivum, is co-regulated with photosynthesis-related genes

NF-Y is a heterotrimeric transcription factor complex. Each of the NF-Y subunits (NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC) in plants is encoded by multiple genes. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that five wheat NF-YC members (TaNF-YC5, 8, 9, 11 & 12) were upregulated by light in both the leaf and seedling shoot. Co-expression analysis of Affymetrix wheat genome array datasets revealed that transcript levels of a large number of genes were consistently correlated with those of the TaNF-YC11 and TaNF-YC8 genes in 3-4 separate Affymetrix array datasets. TaNF-YC11-correlated transcripts were significantly enriched with the Gene Ontology term photosynthesis. Sequence analysis in the promoters of TaNF-YC11-correlated genes revealed the presence of putative NF-Y complex binding sites (CCAAT motifs). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of a subset of potential TaNF-YC11 target genes showed that ten out of the thirteen genes were also light-upregulated in both the leaf and seedling shoot and had significantly correlated expression profiles with TaNF-YC11. The potential target genes for TaNF-YC11 include subunit members from all four thylakoid membrane bound complexes required for the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy and rate limiting enzymes in the Calvin cycle. These data indicate that TaNF-YC11 is potentially involved in regulation of photosynthesis-related genes.

TaNF-YB3 is involved in the regulation of photosynthesis genes in Triticum aestivum

Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factor is a heterotrimer comprised of three subunits: NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC. Each of the three subunits in plants is encoded by multiple genes with differential expression profiles, implying the functional specialisation of NF-Y subunit members in plants. In this study, we investigated the roles of NF-YB members in the light-mediated regulation of photosynthesis genes. We identified two NF-YB members from Triticum aestivum (TaNF-YB3 & 7) which were markedly upregulated by light in the leaves and seedling shoots using quantitative RT-PCR. A genome-wide coexpression analysis of multiple Affymetrix Wheat Genome Array datasets revealed that TaNF-YB3-coexpressed transcripts were highly enriched with the Gene Ontology term photosynthesis. Transgenic wheat lines constitutively overexpressing TaNF-YB3 had a significant increase in the leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate and early growth rate. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of a number of TaNF-YB3-coexpressed transcripts were elevated in the transgenic wheat lines. The mRNA level of TaGluTR encoding glutamyl-tRNA reductase, which catalyses the rate limiting step of the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway, was significantly increased in the leaves of the transgenic wheat. Significant increases in the expression level in the transgenic plant leaves were also observed for four photosynthetic apparatus genes encoding chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins (Lhca4 and Lhcb4) and photosystem I reaction center subunits (subunit K and subunit N), as well as for a gene coding for chloroplast ATP synthase  subunit. These results indicate that TaNF-YB3 is involved in the positive regulation of a number of photosynthesis genes in wheat.

Genotypic variation in seedling root architectural traits and implications for drought adaptation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Root system characteristics are of fundamental importance to soil exploration and below-ground resource acquisition. Root architectural traits determine the in situ space-filling properties of a root system or root architecture. The growth angle of root axes is a principal component of root system architecture that has been strongly associated with acquisition efficiency in many crop species. The aims of this study were to examine the extent of genotypic variability for the growth angle and number of seminal roots in 27 current Australian and 3 CIMMYT wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes, and to quantify using fractal analysis the root system architecture of a subset of wheat genotypes contrasting in drought tolerance and seminal root characteristics. The growth angle and number of seminal roots showed significant genotypic variation among the wheat genotypes with values ranging from 36 to 56 (degrees) and 3 to 5 (plant-1), respectively. Cluster analysis of wheat genotypes based on similarity in their seminal root characteristics resulted in four groups. The group composition reflected to some extent the genetic background and environmental adaptation of genotypes. Wheat cultivars grown widely in the Mediterranean environments of southern and western Australia generally had wider growth angle and lower number of seminal axes. In contrast, cultivars with superior performance on deep clay soils in the northern cropping region, such as SeriM82, Baxter, Babax, and Dharwar Dry exhibited a narrower angle of seminal axes. The wheat genotypes also showed significant variation in fractal dimension (D). The D values calculated for the individual segments of each root system suggested that, compared to the standard cultivar Hartog, the drought-tolerant genotypes adapted to the northern region tended to distribute relatively more roots in the soil volume directly underneath the plant. These findings suggest that wheat root system architecture is closely linked to the angle of seminal root axes at the seedling stage. The implications of genotypic variation in the seminal root characteristics and fractal dimension for specific adaptation to drought environment types are discussed with emphasis on the possible exploitation of root architectural traits in breeding for improved wheat cultivars for water-limited environments.

Predicting the response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to liquid and granular phosphorus fertilisers in Australian soils

Liquid forms of phosphorus (P) have been shown to be more effective than granular P for promoting cereal growth in alkaline soils with high levels of free calcium carbonate on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. However, the advantage of liquid over granular P forms of fertiliser has not been fully investigated across the wide range of soils used for grain production in Australia. A glasshouse pot experiment tested if liquid P fertilisers were more effective for growing spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) than granular P (monoammonium phosphate) in 28 soils from all over Australia with soil pH (H2O) ranging from 5.2 to 8.9. Application of liquid P resulted in greater shoot biomass, as measured after 4 weeks' growth (mid to late tillering, Feeks growth stage 2-3), than granular P in 3 of the acidic to neutral soils and in 3 alkaline soils. Shoot dry matter responses of spring wheat to applied liquid or granular P were related to soil properties to determine if any of the properties predicted superior yield responses to liquid P. The calcium carbonate content of soil was the only soil property that significantly contributed to predicting when liquid P was more effective than granular P. Five soil P test procedures (Bray, Colwell, resin, isotopically exchangeable P, and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)) were assessed to determine their ability to measure soil test P on subsamples of soil collected before the experiment started. These soil test values were then related to the dry matter shoot yields to assess their ability to predict wheat yield responses to P applied as liquid or granular P. All 5 soil test procedures provided a reasonable prediction of dry matter responses to applied P as either liquid or granular P, with the resin P test having a slightly greater predictive capacity on the range of soils tested. The findings of this investigation suggest that liquid P fertilisers do have some potential applications in non-calcareous soils and confirm current recommendations for use of liquid P fertiliser to grow cereal crops in highly calcareous soils. Soil P testing procedures require local calibration for response to the P source that is going to be used to amend P deficiency.

QTL for root angle and number in a population developed from bread wheats (Triticum aestivum) with contrasting adaptation to water-limited environments

Root architecture traits in wheat are important in deep soil moisture acquisition and may be used to improve adaptation to water-limited environments. The genetic architecture of two root traits, seminal root angle and seminal root number, were investigated using a doubled haploid population derived from SeriM82 and Hartog. Multiple novel quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified, each one having a modest effect. For seminal root angle, four QTL (-log10(P) >3) were identified on 2A, 3D, 6A and 6B, and two suggestive QTL (-log10(P) >2) on 5D and 6B. For root number, two QTL were identified on 4A and 6A with four suggestive QTL on 1B, 3A, 3B and 4A. QTL for root angle and root number did not co-locate. Transgressive segregation was found for both traits. Known major height and phenology loci appear to have little effect on root angle and number. Presence or absence of the T1BL.1RS translocation did not significantly influence root angle. Broad sense heritability (h 2) was estimated as 50 % for root angle and 31 % for root number. Root angle QTL were found to be segregating between wheat cultivars adapted to the target production region indicating potential to select for root angle in breeding programs. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Developmental and growth controls of tillering and water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation in contrasting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes: can we dissect them?

In wheat, tillering and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) in the stem are potential traits for adaptation to different environments and are of interest as targets for selective breeding. This study investigated the observation that a high stem WSC concentration (WSCc) is often related to low tillering. The proposition tested was that stem WSC accumulation is plant density dependent and could be an emergent property of tillering, whether driven by genotype or by environment. A small subset of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) contrasting for tillering was grown at different plant densities or on different sowing dates in multiple field experiments. Both tillering and WSCc were highly influenced by the environment, with a smaller, distinct genotypic component; the genotypeenvironment range covered 350750 stems m(2) and 25210mg g(1) WSCc. Stem WSCc was inversely related to stem number m(2), but genotypic rankings for stem WSCc persisted when RILs were compared at similar stem density. Low tilleringhigh WSCc RILs had similar leaf area index, larger individual leaves, and stems with larger internode cross-section and wall area when compared with high tilleringlow WSCc RILs. The maximum number of stems per plant was positively associated with growth and relative growth rate per plant, tillering rate and duration, and also, in some treatments, with leaf appearance rate and final leaf number. A common threshold of the red:far red ratio (0.390.44; standard error of the difference0.055) coincided with the maximum stem number per plant across genotypes and plant densities, and could be effectively used in crop simulation modelling as a ocut-off' rule for tillering. The relationship between tillering, WSCc, and their component traits, as well as the possible implications for crop simulation and breeding, is discussed.

Influence of metalaxyl on Glomus fasciculatum associated with wheat (Triticum aestivum L)

Soil incorporation of metalaxyl [methyl N-(2-methoxyacetyl)-N-(2,6,xylyl)-DL-alaninate] significantly enhanced root colonization of the vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi Glomus fasciculatum associated with wheat. The stimulatory response of VA mycorrhizal fungi to low concentration of metalaxyl resulted in increased plant biomass production, nutrient uptake and grain yield of wheat. However, higher concentrations of metalaxyl, particularly 2.5 ppm of metalaxyl affected the mycorrhizal infection and seed yield of wheat, Addition of urban compost to an extent ameliorated the toxic effect of fungicide on VA mycorrhizal colonization, plant growth and yield of wheat when compared to unamended soil.

不同基因型小麦（Triticum aestivum）京411与小偃54抗光氧化特性及其机理的比较研究

对两种不同基因型小麦京411（北京地区高产小麦品种）和小偃54（在生产上已应用二十年的优良品种）幼苗及旗叶光抑制特性进行了比较研究，着重探讨了它们抗光氧化的差异及其机理，主要结果如下： 1. 强光条件下，同京411相比小偃54能保持较高的光合色素含量和放氧速率。其DCPIP光还原活性也较高。 2. 光谱特性分析表明，强光胁迫下小偃54在红区及蓝区的特征性吸收峰及F683荧光发射峰下降的幅度明显小于京411相应峰位的下降。 3. 色素蛋白复合物分析表明，强光条件下，京411色素蛋白复合物中LHCII聚合体大量的解聚，而小偃54在强光条件下仍能保持较高比例的LHCII聚合体。这可能在一定的程度上有利于小偃54在强光下维持较强的激发能耗散的能力。 4. 多肽SDS-PAGE分析表明，强光对不同基因型小麦中同PSII光抑制敏感性有关的两个外周蛋白23kD和17kD的影响不同。光抑制明显地降低了京411的23kD和17kD的含量，而对于小偃54中这两个外周蛋白23kD和17kD的影响不大。强光条件下小偃54旗叶PSII颗粒中捕光色素蛋白27kD含量提高，而京411捕光色素蛋白27kD含量明显的下降。 5. 上述结果表明，西北地区的优良小麦品种小偃54同北京地区的高产品种京411相比更耐强光的胁迫，其抗光氧化的能力较强。 6. 进一步分析表明，同京411相比，小偃54抗光氧化的主要原因是其不仅含有较大的叶黄素循环的色素库，而且在强光下能维持高的VDE酶活性及高水平的叶黄素循环的脱环化水平。 7. 叶黄素循环色素在两个小麦品种类囊体膜色素蛋白复合体中的分布存在差异，抗光氧化的小偃54大部分的VAZ分布在PSII上，其中绝大部分集中在LHCII聚合体上。LHCII上VAZ的集中分布可能有利于在强光下对过多光能的耗散，减少过多激发能对PSII的损伤。 8. 类囊体膜流动性分析表明，叶黄素循环参与了对类囊体膜流动性的调整，对维持强光下抗光氧化品种小偃54的类囊体膜相对稳定起重要作用。 9. 依赖于叶黄素循环的热耗散是抗光氧化品种小偃54的一个主要的光保护途径。

水肥不同层次组合对冬小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)氮磷养分有效性和产量效应的影响

以肥熟土垫旱耕人为土为供试土样,用分层土柱试验法研究了不同层次水分、氮、磷组合对冬小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)氮磷养分有效性和产量效应的影响。结果表明,不同土层水肥处理的氮磷养分有效性和产量效应差异显著。氮素养分有效性在4.73%~41.19%之间,磷素养分有效性在4.11%~13.58%之间。对氮素养分有效性,单施氮整体湿润时(0~90cm土层湿润)较上干下湿(0~30cm土层干旱胁迫,30~90cm土层湿润)低4.87%,而氮磷配施在整体湿润时较上干下湿高6.38%,差异均达显著水平;对磷素养分有效性,氮磷配施时,在整体湿润时较上干下湿增加5.01T(p<0.05)。从不同施肥土层看,氮素养分有效性均以0~90cm土层施肥处理最高;对氮磷配施处理,在上干下湿时分别比0~30cm、30~60cm和60~90cm土层施肥处理高9.5%、10.1%和20.2个%;对磷素养分有效性,整体湿润处理,以0~30cm土层施肥显著高于其它土层施肥处理。单施氮或磷,上干下湿时氮磷养分的产量效应均高于整体湿润处理,但氮磷配施时均以整体湿润处理较高;从不同土层施肥看,氮素养分的产量效应以0~90cm土层施肥...