Project description:Wheat is a major food crop and an important component of human diet throughout the world. There are two major types of cultivated wheat; one is tetraploid durum (pasta) wheat and another one is hexaploid bread wheat. Wheat grain is the reservoir of two major dietary components - carbohydrate and protein, which get accumulated during seed maturation and directly affects yield and quality. Hexaploid, having 6 copies of each chromosome differs to a great extent from tetraploid having 4 copies of each chromosome. Studying the gene expression pattern in developing grain would help in understanding the difference in metabolic process as well as involvement of the genes in these two types of wheat. A transcriptional comparison of developing grains was carried out between the two wheat genotypes; tetraploid (AABB:PDW233) and hexaploid (AABBDD:PBW343) using RNA-seq. Approximately 194 million raw reads were obtained from both libraries. After removal of contaminations, a huge proportion (>99%), of high quality reads were obtained, were aligned to reference genome. A total of 2324 up-regulated and 522 down-regulated genes were identified as differentially expressed between PDW233 vs PBW343. Gene ontology annotation and enrichment analysis gave further information about differentially expressed genes between durum and bread wheat. This information will help in understanding process grain reserve in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat in relation to their nutritional quality.
Project description:Wheat (Triticum ssp.) is an important food source for humans in many regions around the world. However, the ability to understand and modify gene function for crop improvement is hindered by the lack of available genomic resources. TILLING is a powerful reverse genetics approach that combines chemical mutagenesis with a high-throughput screen for mutations. Wheat is specially well-suited for TILLING due to the high mutation densities tolerated by polyploids, which allow for very efficient screens. Despite this, few TILLING populations are currently available. In addition, current TILLING screening protocols require high-throughput genotyping platforms, limiting their use.We developed mutant populations of pasta and common wheat and organized them for TILLING. To simplify and decrease costs, we developed a non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel set-up that uses ethidium bromide to detect fragments generated by crude celery juice extract digestion of heteroduplexes. This detection method had similar sensitivity as traditional LI-COR screens, suggesting that it represents a valid alternative. We developed genome-specific primers to circumvent the presence of multiple homoeologous copies of our target genes. Each mutant library was characterized by TILLING multiple genes, revealing high mutation densities in both the hexaploid (~1/38 kb) and tetraploid (~1/51 kb) populations for 50% GC targets. These mutation frequencies predict that screening 1,536 lines for an effective target region of 1.3 kb with 50% GC content will result in ~52 hexaploid and ~39 tetraploid mutant alleles. This implies a high probability of obtaining knock-out alleles (P = 0.91 for hexaploid, P = 0.84 for tetraploid), in addition to multiple missense mutations. In total, we identified over 275 novel alleles in eleven targeted gene/genome combinations in hexaploid and tetraploid wheat and have validated the presence of a subset of them in our seed stock.We have generated reverse genetics TILLING resources for pasta and bread wheat and achieved a high mutation density in both populations. We also developed a modified screening method that will lower barriers to adopt this promising technology. We hope that the use of this reverse genetics resource will enable more researchers to pursue wheat functional genomics and provide novel allelic diversity for wheat improvement.
Project description:A meta-analysis of QTLs associated with grain protein content (GPC) was conducted in hexaploid and tetraploid wheat to identify robust and stable meta-QTLs (MQTLs). For this purpose, as many as 459 GPC-related QTLs retrieved from 48 linkage-based QTL mapping studies were projected onto the newly developed wheat consensus map. The analysis resulted in the prediction of 57 MQTLs and 7 QTL hotspots located on all wheat chromosomes (except chromosomes 1D and 4D) and the average confidence interval reduced 2.71-fold in the MQTLs and QTL hotspots compared to the initial QTLs. The physical regions occupied by the MQTLs ranged from 140 bp to 224.02 Mb with an average of 15.2 Mb, whereas the physical regions occupied by QTL hotspots ranged from 1.81 Mb to 36.03 Mb with a mean of 8.82 Mb. Nineteen MQTLs and two QTL hotspots were also found to be co-localized with 45 significant SNPs identified in 16 previously published genome-wide association studies in wheat. Candidate gene (CG) investigation within some selected MQTLs led to the identification of 705 gene models which also included 96 high-confidence CGs showing significant expressions in different grain-related tissues and having probable roles in GPC regulation. These significantly expressed CGs mainly involved the genes/gene families encoding for the following proteins: aminotransferases, early nodulin 93, glutamine synthetases, invertase/pectin methylesterase inhibitors, protein BIG GRAIN 1-like, cytochrome P450, glycosyl transferases, hexokinases, small GTPases, UDP-glucuronosyl/UDP-glucosyltransferases, and EamA, SANT/Myb, GNAT, thioredoxin, phytocyanin, and homeobox domains containing proteins. Further, eight genes including GPC-B1, Glu-B1-1b, Glu-1By9, TaBiP1, GSr, TaNAC019-A, TaNAC019-D, and bZIP-TF SPA already known to be associated with GPC were also detected within some of the MQTL regions confirming the efficacy of MQTLs predicted during the current study.
Project description:BackgroundThe BBAA subgenomes of hexaploid common wheat are structurally intact, which makes it possible to extract the BBAA subgenomes to constitute a novel plant type, namely, extracted tetraploid wheat (ETW). ETW displays multiple abnormal phenotypes such as massively reduced biomass and abnormal spike development, compared to extant tetraploid wheat with a BBAA genome. The genetic, biochemical and physiological basis underlying the phenotypic abnormality of ETW remains unknown.ResultsTo explore the biochemical basis of these phenotypic abnormalities, we analysed the metabolomic and proteomic profiles and quantified 46 physiological traits of ETW in comparison with its common wheat donor (genome BBAADD), and a durum tetraploid wheat cultivar (genome BBAA). Among these three types of wheat, ETW showed a saliently different pattern of nutrient accumulation and seed quality, markedly lower concentrations of many metabolites involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and higher concentrations of many metabolites related to amino acids. Among the metabolites, changes in shikimate and sucrose were the most conspicuous. Higher levels of shikimate and lower levels of sucrose influence many metabolic processes including carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, which may contribute to the phenotypic abnormalities. Gene expression assay showed downregulation of a shikimate degradation enzyme (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) coding gene and upregulation of several genes coding for the sucrose hydrolysis enzyme, which could explain the higher levels of shikimate and lower levels of sucrose, respectively.ConclusionsOur results suggest that significant and irreversible biochemical changes have occurred in the BBAA subgenomes of common wheat during the course of its co-evolution with the DD subgenome at the hexaploid level.
Project description:Spike density (SD) is an agronomically important character in wheat. In addition, an optimized spike structure is a key basis for high yields. Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for SD has provided a genetic basis for constructing ideal spike morphologies in wheat. In this study, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations (tetraploid RIL AM and hexaploid RIL 20828/SY95-71 (2SY)) previously genotyped using the wheat55K SNP array were used to identify SD QTL. A total of 18 QTL were detected, and three were major and one was stably expressed (QSd.sau-2SY-7A.2, QSd.sau-AM-5A.2, QSd.sau-AM-7B, and QSd.sau-2SY-2D). They can explain up to 23.14, 19.97, 12.00, and 9.44% of phenotypic variation, respectively. QTL × environment and epistatic interactions for SD were further analyzed. In addition, pyramiding analysis further revealed that there were additive effects between QSd.sau-2SY-2D and QSd.sau-2SY-7A.2 in 2SY, and QSd.sau-AM-5A.2 and QSd.sau-AM-7B in AM. Pearson's correlation between SD and other agronomic traits, and effects of major or stable QTL on yield related traits indicated SD significantly impacted spike length (SL), spikelet number per spike (SNS) and kernel length (KL). Several genes related to spike development within the physical intervals of major or stable QTL were predicted and discussed. Collectively, our research identified QTL with potential applications for modern wheat breeding and broadening the genetic basis of SD.
Project description:Wheat amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (ATI) are known triggers for wheat-related disorders. The aims of our study were to determine (1) the inhibitory activity against different α-amylases, (2) the content of albumins and globulins (ALGL) and total ATI and (3) to correlate these parameters in wholegrain flour of hexaploid, tetraploid and diploid wheat species. The amount of ATI within the ALGL fraction varied from 0.8% in einkorn to 20% in spelt. ATI contents measured with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) revealed similar contents (1.2-4.2 mg/g) compared to the results determined by LC-MS/MS (0.2-5.2 mg/g) for all wheat species except einkorn. No correlation was found between ALGL content and inhibitory activity. In general, hexaploid cultivars of spelt and common wheat had the highest inhibitory activities, showing values between 897 and 3564 AIU/g against human salivary α-amylase. Tetraploid wheat species durum and emmer had lower activities (170-1461 AIU/g), although a few emmer cultivars showed similar activities at one location. In einkorn, no inhibitory activity was found. No correlation was observed between the ATI content and the inhibitory activity against the used α-amylases, highlighting that it is very important to look at the parameters separately.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Alpha-gliadins form a multigene protein family encoded by multiple alpha-gliadin (Gli-2) genes at three genomic loci, Gli-A2, Gli-B2 and Gli-D2, respectively located on the homoeologous wheat chromosomes 6AS, 6BS, and 6DS. These proteins contain a number of important celiac disease (CD)-immunogenic domains. The alpha-gliadins expressed from the Gli-B2 locus harbour fewer conserved CD-epitopes than those from Gli-A2, whereas the Gli-D2 gliadins have the highest CD-immunogenic potential. In order to detect differences in the highly CD-immunogenic alpha-gliadin fraction we determined the relative expression level from the homoeologous Gli-2 loci in various tetraploid and hexaploid wheat genotypes by using a quantitative pyrosequencing method and by analyzing expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences. RESULTS: We detected large differences in relative expression levels of alpha-gliadin genes from the three homoeologous loci among wheat genotypes, both as relative numbers of expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences from specific varieties and when using a quantitative pyrosequencing assay specific for Gli-A2 genes. The relative Gli-A2 expression level in a tetraploid durum wheat cultivar ('Probstdorfer Pandur') was 41%. In genotypes derived from landraces, the Gli-A2 frequency varied between 12% and 58%. In some advanced hexaploid bread wheat cultivars the genes from locus Gli-B2 were hardly expressed (e.g., less than 5% in 'Lavett') but in others they made up more than 40% (e.g., in 'Baldus'). CONCLUSION: Here, we have shown that large differences exist in relative expression levels of alpha-gliadins from the homoeologous Gli-2 loci among wheat genotypes. Since the homoelogous genes differ in the amount of conserved CD-epitopes, screening for differential expression from the homoeologous Gli-2 loci can be employed for the pre-selection of wheat varieties in the search for varieties with very low CD-immunogenic potential. Pyrosequencing is a method that can be employed for such a 'gene family-specific quantitative transcriptome profiling'.
Project description:Production of viable progeny from interploid crosses requires precise regulation of gene expression from maternal and paternal chromosomes, yet the transcripts contributed to hybrid seeds from polyploid parent species have rarely been explored. To investigate the genome-wide maternal and paternal contributions to polyploid grain development, we analyzed the transcriptomes of developing embryos, from zygote to maturity, alongside endosperm in two stages of development, using reciprocal crosses between tetraploid and hexaploid wheats. Reciprocal crosses between species with varied levels of ploidy displayed broad impacts on gene expression, including shifts in alternative splicing events in select crosses, as illustrated by active splicing events, enhanced protein synthesis and chromatin remodeling. Homoeologous gene expression was repressed on the univalent D genome in pentaploids, but this suppression was attenuated in crosses with a higher ploidy maternal parent. Imprinted genes were identified in endosperm and early embryo tissues, supporting predominant maternal effects on early embryogenesis. By systematically investigating the complex transcriptional networks in reciprocal-cross hybrids, this study presents a framework for understanding the genomic incompatibility and transcriptome shock that results from interspecific hybridization and uncovers the transcriptional impacts on hybrid seeds created from agriculturally-relevant polyploid species.
Project description:Tillering is a significant agronomic trait in wheat which shapes plant architecture and yield. Strigolactones (SLs) function in inhibiting axillary bud outgrowth. The roles of SLs in the regulation of bud outgrowth have been described in model plant species, including rice and Arabidopsis. However, the role of SLs genes in wheat remains elusive due to the size and complexity of the wheat genomes. In this study, TaD27 genes in wheat, orthologs of rice D27 encoding an enzyme involved in SLs biosynthesis, were identified. TaD27-RNAi wheat plants had more tillers, and TaD27-B-OE wheat plants had fewer tillers. Germination bioassay of Orobanche confirmed the SLs was deficient in TaD27-RNAi and excessive in TaD27-B-OE wheat plants. Moreover, application of exogenous GR24 or TIS108 could mediate the axillary bud outgrowth of TaD27-RNAi and TaD27-B-OE in the hydroponic culture, suggesting that TaD27-B plays critical roles in regulating wheat tiller number by participating in SLs biosynthesis. Unlike rice D27, plant height was not affected in the transgenic wheat plants. Transcription and gene coexpression network analysis showed that a number of genes are involved in the SLs signalling pathway and axillary bud development. Our results indicate that TaD27-B is a key factor in the regulation of tiller number in wheat.
Project description:Functional and active Rubisco is essential for CO2 fixation and is a primary target for engineering approaches to increasing crop yields. However, the assembly and maintenance of active Rubisco are dependent on the coordinated biosynthesis of at least 11 nuclear-encoded proteins, termed the 'Rubiscosome'. Using publicly available gene expression data for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), we show that the expression of Rubiscosome genes is balanced across the three closely related subgenomes that form the allohexaploid genome. Each subgenome contains a near complete set of homoeologous genes and contributes equally to overall expression, both under optimal and under heat stress conditions. The expression of the wheat thermo-tolerant Rubisco activase isoform 1β increases under heat stress and remains balanced across the subgenomes, albeit with a slight shift towards greater contribution from the D subgenome. The findings show that the gene copies in all three subgenomes need to be accounted for when designing strategies for crop improvement.