Project description:As an adaptive response to the environment, oaks have evolved long taproots that increase their ability to acquire water. Taproots penetrate deeper layers of soil and send out absorptive roots that can then uptake water from these layers. This ability enables taproots to supply trees with water better. Unfortunately, the applied agrotechnical procedures during seedlings production in container nurseries damage the oaks' taproot, leading to changes in the root system structure. That changes may make the seedlings more responsive to chronic or periodic episodes of severe drought. In turn, seedlings that containers do not restrict roots growth, i.e. grown in rhizotron, may elongate because they are not subjected to air-pruning. Despite their significant role, little is known about the internal factors (specific genes) and their interactions that regulate taproot elongation in oaks seedlings. Thus, our study aimed to determine the potential genes regulating growth, cessation and physiology of taproot and check whether there is a difference in the expression level of the genes involved in root development. For this purpose, we performed next-generation sequencing (NGS), taproots and lateral roots, which allowed us to obtain a complete picture of the transcriptomes. Our findings of taproot growth regulations can be used to improve trees production in forest nurseries.
Project description:The Quercus robur 'Fastigiata' is an important ornamental plant, in which the complete chloroplast genome (accession no. MN562095) was identified and sequenced. The genome size is 161,172 bp, with a large single-copy (LSC, 90,505 bp) region, a small single-copy (SSC, 18,997 bp) region, and two inverted repeat regions (IRs, 25,835 bp each). A total of 134 genes are successfully annotated, including 89 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic relationships inferred that Q. robur 'Fastigiata' is closely related to Quercus mongolica, Quercus wutaishanica, and Quercus dentata.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play critical roles in regulating post transcriptional gene expression. Gall midges encompass a large group of insects that are of economic importance and also possess fascinating biological traits. The gall midge Mayetiola destructor, commonly known as the Hessian fly, is a model organism for studying gall midge biology and insect – host plant interactions. In this study, we systematically analyzed miRNAs from the Hessian fly. Deep-sequencing a Hessian fly larval transcriptome led to the identification of 89 miRNA species that are either identical or very similar to known miRNAs from other insects, and 184 novel miRNAs that have not been reported from other species. Microarray analyses revealed the expression of miRNA genes was strictly regulated during Hessian fly larval development and abundance of many miRNA genes were affected by host genotypes. The identification of a large number of miRNAs for the first time from a gall midge provides a foundation for further studies of miRNA functions in gall midge biology and behavior.