Project description:Genome sequencing of UK duckweed panel including Lemna minor, Lemna japonica, Lemna minuta, Lemna turionifera and Spirodela polyrhiza accessions.
Project description:The Lemnaceae (duckweeds) are the world’s smallest but fastest growing flowering plants. Prolific clonal propagation facilitates continuous micro-cropping for plant-based protein and starch production, and holds tremendous promise for sequestration of atmospheric CO2. Here, we present chromosomal assemblies, annotations, and phylogenomic analysis of Lemna genomes that uncover candidate genes responsible for the unique metabolic and developmental traits of the family, such as anatomical reduction, adaxial stomata, lack of stomatal closure, and carbon sequestration via crystalline calcium oxalate. Lemnaceae have selectively lost genes required for RNA interference, including Argonaute genes required for reproductive isolation (the triploid block) and haploid gamete formation. Triploid hybrids arise commonly among Lemna, and we have found mutations in highly-conserved meiotic crossover genes that could support polyploid meiosis. Further, mapping centromeres by chromatin immunoprecipitation suggests their epigenetic origin despite divergence of underlying tandem repeats and centromeric retrotransposons. Syntenic comparisons with Wolffia and Spirodela reveal that diversification of these genera coincided with the “Azolla event” in the mid-Eocene, during which aquatic macrophytes reduced high atmospheric CO2 levels to those of the current ice age. Facile regeneration of transgenic fronds from tissue culture, aided by reduced epigenetic silencing, makes Lemna a powerful biotechnological platform, as exemplified by recent engineering of high-oil Lemna that outperforms oil seed crops.
Project description:The Lemnaceae (duckweeds) are the world’s smallest but fastest growing flowering plants, with a drastically reduced morphology and predominant clonal reproductive habit capable of continuous exponential growth. Here, we present assemblies of 10 Lemna chromosome sets by single molecule nanopore sequencing and chromosome conformation capture. Dynamics of genome evolution in the family are revealed by syntenic comparisons with Wolffia and Spirodela, and diversification of these genera was found to coincide with the “Azolla event”, in which blooms of aquatic macrophytes reduced atmospheric CO2 from greenhouse levels found in the Eocene to those of the current ice age. Orthologous gene comparisons with other aquatic and terrestrial plants uncovered candidate genes for the unique metabolic and developmental features of the family, such as frequent hybrid polyploidy, lack of stomatal closure in high CO2, and accumulation of calcium oxalate, a promising candidate for carbon sequestration. Loss of a spermine-triggered gene network accounts for drastic reduction in stature and preferentially adaxial stomata, a feature of floating aquatic plants. Strikingly, Lemnaceae genomes have selectively lost some of the genes required for RNA interference, including Argonaute genes required for post-zygotic reproductive isolation (the triploid block) and reduced gamete formation. Triploid hybrids arise commonly among Lemna, presumably by hybridization with unreduced gametes, and we have found mutations in highly-conserved ZMM crossover pathway genes that could support polyploid meiosis. Rapid but stable clonal propagation makes Lemna an ideal platform for protein and starch micro-cropping, and for sequestration of dissolved nutrients and atmospheric CO2. Facile regeneration of transgenic fronds from tissue culture, aided by reduced epigenetic silencing, makes Lemna a powerful biotechnological platform, as exemplified by our recent engineering of high-oil Lemna lines that out-perform with oil seed crops.
Project description:Lemna minor a small aquatic plant has been used extensively in ecotoxicolgical testing to elucidate substance-related effects to freshwater plants. They are free-floating freshwater macrophyte, very sensitive towards chemical exposure and easy to cultivate thus makes the plant suitable for laboratory testing. Here we present a rapid and reproducible data dependent proteomics approach for identifying growth related molecular signatures in lemna minor as an alternative to algae testing. For this, we have analyzed the proteome of lemna minor exposed to bentazon as a model substances for identifying growth related molecular perturbations. These fingerprints allow for a definition of potential biomarkers as tools in screening approaches and for integration in plant growth inhibition studies, for identifying suspect substances, such as in the Lemna sp. growth inhibition test (OECD TG 221).
Project description:Lemna minor a small aquatic plant has been used extensively in ecotoxicolgical testing to elucidate substance-related effects to freshwater plants. They are free-floating freshwater macrophyte, very sensitive towards chemical exposure and easy to cultivate thus makes the plant suitable for laboratory testing. Here we present a rapid and reproducible data dependent proteomics approach for identifying growth related molecular signatures in lemna minor as an alternative to algae testing. For this, we have analyzed the proteome of lemna minor exposed to atorvastatin as a model substances for identifying growth related molecular perturbations. These fingerprints allow for a definition of potential biomarkers as tools in screening approaches and for integration in plant growth inhibition studies (OECD TG 221), for identifying suspect substances.
Project description:Analysed at the gene expression level, IPA administration in Lemna aquaequinoctialis affected broad transcriptome changes, which also provide important information on its interaction with the metabolome.