Project description:Several reports have described the involvement of miRNAs in abiotic stresses. However, their role in biotic stress or to beneficial microbes has not been fully explored. In order to understand on the epigenetic regulation in plant in response to nitrogen-fixing bacteria association, we analyzed the sRNA regulation in maize hybrids (Zea mays – UENF 506-8) inoculated with the beneficial diazotrophic bacteria (Herbaspirillum seropedicae). Deep sequencing analysis was carried out to identify the sRNAs regulated in maize during association with diazotrophic bacteria. For this analysis, maize plants were germinated in wet paper and put in hydroponic system with Hoagland’s solution and then inoculated with H. seropedicae for seven days. Mock and inoculated plants were collected and total RNA from a pool of samples was extracted with Trizol reagent. The two sRNA libraries were sequenced by Illumina. The sequences were filtered to remove adaptors and contaminants rRNA and tRNAs, and sequences with 18-28 nt in length were selected. To identify the miRNAs present in these libraries, we used two strategies using the same website (http://srna-tools.cmp.uea.ac.uk): one to identify novel miRNAs using the maize genome (verson 2) and miRCat pipeline; and other to identify conserved miRNAs using the miRBase database (release 13.0, http://microrna.sanger.ac.uk) and miRProf pipeline. We identified 17 novel putative miRNAs candidates and mapped the precursor of these miRNAs in the maize genome. Furthermore, we identified 25 conserved miRNAs families and the differential expressions were analyzed with miRProf pipeline. The bioinformatics analysis of four up-regulated miRNAs (miR397, miR398, miR408 and miR528) in inoculated plant was validated using stem–loop RT-PCR assay. Our findings contribute to increase the knowledge of the molecular relation between plants and endophytic bacteria.
Project description:We found that primary root (PR) is more resistant to salt stress compared with crown roots (CR) and seminal roots (SR). To understand better salt stress responses in maize roots, six RNA libraries were generated and sequenced from primary root (PR), primary roots under salt stress (PR-salt) , seminal roots (SR), seminal roots under salt stress (SR-salt), crown roots (CR), and crown roots under salt stress (CR-salt). Through integrative analysis, we identified 444 genes regulated by salt stress in maize roots, and found that the expression patterns of some genes and enzymes involved in important pathway under salt stress, such as reactive oxygen species scavenging, plant hormone signal perception and transduction, and compatible solutes synthesis differed dramatically in different maize roots. 16 of differentially expressed genes were selected for further validation with quantitative real time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR).We demonstrate that the expression patterns of differentially expressed genes are highly diversified in different maize roots. The differentially expressed genes are correlated with the differential growth responses to salt stress in maize roots. Our studies provide deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms about the differential growth responses of different root types in response to environmental stimuli in planta.
Project description:In this study, we explored the genes involved with the host communication and colonization process through transcriptomic profiling of Trichoderma virens as it colonizes hydroponic maize roots, compared to the fungus without roots present.
Project description:Iron deficiency is a yield-limiting factor and a worldwide problem for crop production in many agricultural regions, particularly in aerobic and calcareous soils. Graminaceous species, like maize, improve Fe acquisition through the release of phytosiderophores (PS) into the rhizosphere and the following uptake of Fe(III)-PS complexes through specific transporters. Transcriptional profile obtained by roots 12-d-old maize plants under Fe starvation for 1 week (Fe-deficient; 19-d-old plants) were compared with the transcriptional profile obtained by roots of 12-d-old maize plants grown in a nutrient solution containing 100 μM Fe-EDTA for 1 week (Fe-sufficient; 19-d-old plants).
Project description:Intercropping is a vital technology in resource-limited agricultural systems with low inputs. Peanut/maize intercropping enhances iron (Fe) nutrition in calcareous soil. Proteomic studies of the differences in peanut leaves, maize leaves and maize roots between intercropping and monocropping systems indicated that peanut/maize intercropping not only improves Fe availability in the rhizosphere but also influences the levels of proteins related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Moreover, intercropping may enhance stress resistance in the peanut plant (Xiong et al. 2013b). Although the mechanism and molecular ecological significance of peanut/maize intercropping have been investigated, little is known about the genes and/or gene products in peanut and maize roots that mediate the benefits of intercropping. In the present study, we investigated the transcriptomes of maize roots grown in intercropping and monocropping systems by microarray analysis. The results enabled exploration differentially expressed genes in intercropped maize. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. Luhua14) and maize (Zea mays L. cv. Nongda108) seeds were grown in calcareous sandy soil in a greenhouse. The soil was enhanced with basal fertilizers [composition (mg·kg−1 soil): N, 100 (Ca (NO3)2·4H2O); P, 150 (KH2PO4); K, 100 (KCl); Mg, 50 (MgSO4·7H2O); Cu, 5 (CuSO4·5H2O); and Zn, 5 (ZnSO4·7H2O)]. The experiment consisted of three cropping treatments: peanut monocropping, maize monocropping and intercropping of peanut and maize. After germination of peanut for 10 days, maize was sown. Maize samples were harvested after 63 days of growth of peanut plants based on the degree of Fe chlorosis in the leaves of monocropped peanut. The leaves of monocropped peanut plants exhibited symptoms of Fe-deficiency chlorosis at 63 days, while the leaves of peanut plants intercropped with maize maintained a green color.