Flowering time and inflorescence architecture are regulated by FRUITFULL-like genes in tomato
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ABSTRACT: Null mutations of tomato FRUITFULL-like genes FUL1, FUL2, MBP10, MBP20 caused delayed flowering and branched inflorescence, so we sequenced mRNA from vegetative meristems (VM), transition meristems (TM), floral meristems (FM), and FM of the first sympodial shoot of tomato mutant ful1/ful2/mbp10/mbp20 (slful) as well as the wild type Moneyberg (WT) to see genome-wide expression changes affected by the mutations.
Project description:To study the possibility that the tissue-specific gene targets and regulation by FUL are due to a different composition in the FUL transcription factor (TF) protein complex/es in both tissues, we determined the protein-protein interactions of FUL in planta. Inflorescence meristems (IMs) of 35S:AP1-GR ap1 cal pFUL:FUL-GFP plants were collected to identify meristem-specific protein complexes of FUL, and stage 12 - 16 pistils of pFUL:FUL-GFP ful-1 plants were collected for the pistil-specific FUL protein complexes. Protein complexes were isolated by immunoprecipitation (IP) using anti-GFP antibodies and protein identification was performed using LC-MS/MS, followed by label-free protein quantification.
Project description:Inflorescence architecture in cereal crops directly impacts yield potential through regulation of seed number and harvesting ability. Extensive architectural diversity found in inflorescences of grass species is due to spatial and temporal activity and determinacy of meristems, which control the number and arrangement of branches and flowers, and underlie plasticity. Timing of the floral transition is also intimately associated with inflorescence development and architecture. Here, we show that a single mutation in a gene encoding an AP1 A-class MADS-box transcription factor significantly delays flowering time and disrupts multiple levels of meristem determinacy in panicles of the C4 model panicoid grass, Setaria viridis.
Project description:The timing of flowering and the inflorescence architecture are critical for the reproductive success of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), but the gene regulatory networks underlying these traits have not been fully explored. Here, we show that the tomato FRUITFULL-like (FUL-like) genes FUL2 and MADS-BOX PROTEIN 20 (MBP20) promote the vegetative-to-reproductive transition and repress inflorescence branching by inducing floral meristem (FM) maturation. FUL1 fulfils a less prominent role and appears to depend on FUL2 and MBP20 for its upregulation in the inflorescence- and floral meristems. MBP10, the fourth tomato FUL-like gene, has probably lost its function. The tomato FUL-like proteins cannot homodimerize in in vitro assays, but heterodimerize with various other MADS-domain proteins, potentially forming distinct complexes in the transition meristem and FM. Transcriptome analysis of the primary shoot meristems revealed various interesting downstream targets, including four repressors of cytokinin signaling that are upregulated during the floral transition in ful1 ful2 mbp10 mbp20 mutants. FUL2 and MBP20 can also bind in vitro to the upstream regions of these genes, thereby probably directly stimulating cell division in the meristem upon the transition to flowering. The control of inflorescence branching does not occur via the cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenases (CKXs) but may be regulated by repression of transcription factors such as TOMATO MADS-box gene 3 (TM3) and APETALA 2b (AP2b).
Project description:To determine the effect of the fon2 and asp1 mutations on meristem maintenance, we carried out microarray analysis using Rice (US) gene 1.0 ST array. We analyzed gene expression profiles of the inflorescence meristems of WT, fon2-3, asp1-10, and fon2-3 asp1-fe.
Project description:We sequenced mRNA from late vegetative meristems of tomato mutant TERMINARING FLOWER as well as the wild type progenitor to see genome-wide expression changes affected by the mutation.
Project description:We sequenced mRNA from late vegetative meristems of tomato mutant TERMINARING FLOWER as well as the wild type progenitor to see genome-wide expression changes affected by the mutation. Meristems from multiple plants at the same developmental stages were collected for both mutants and wild types. The meristems were pooled together for mRNA extractions. Two biological replicates for each genotypes were prepared for mRNA extraction and sequencing library construction.
Project description:Investigation of gene expression level changes as a result of crowding growth conditions. A five-chip study using total RNA recovered from samples of inflorescence meristems of Antirrhinum majus cv.165E, grown as single plant per pot (control) and 10 plants per pot (crowded conditions). Each chip measures the expression level of 11,959 ESTs with up to six 60-mer probes per target.
Project description:To determine the genes that are regulated by FRUITFULL (FUL) in the pistil/silique, we identied differentially expressed genes after induction of FRUITFULL in ful-1 FUL-GR lines using the AGRONOMICS1 tiling array. The inflorescences of flowering plants were dipped in 10 uM DEX solution or in Mock Solution, and the flowers/siliques from stages 12-16 were harvested after 8 hours. RNA was extracted and DNase treated, and subsequent steps and hybridization to the AGRONOMICS Tiling array were performed by the Functional Genomics Center Zurich.
Project description:To learn more about the role of FRUITFULL (FUL), in pistil/silique development, we performed a ChIP-seq experiment to identify direct targets of FUL in the pistil/silique.