Project description:Seasonal wood development results in two distinct wood types: earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW), which is the major cause of wood qaulity variation. We investigate transcriptome reorganization during seasonal wood development in radiata pine using a newly developed 18k cDNA microarrays.
Project description:Global transcriptional analysis of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is challenging due to limited molecular tools. PtGen2, a 26,496 feature cDNA microarray, was fabricated and used to assess drought-induced gene expression in loblolly pine propagule roots. Statistical analysis of differential expression and weighted gene correlation network analysis were used to identify drought-responsive genes and further characterize the molecular basis of drought tolerance in loblolly pine.
Project description:Wood maturation produces two distinct wood tissues: juvenile wood (JW) and mature wood (LW), which are the major cause of wood qaulity variation within a tree. We investigate transcriptome reorganization during wood maturation process in radiata pine using a newly developed 18k cDNA microarrays.
Project description:<p><em>Pinus radiata</em> seedlings, the most widely planted pine species in the world, were exposed to temperatures within a range mimicking future scenarios based on current models of heat increase. The short-term heat response in <em>P. radiata</em> was studied in detail by exploring the metabolome, proteome and targeted transcriptome. The use of complementary mass spectrometry techniques, GC-MS and LC-Orbitrap-MS, together with novel bioinformatics tools allowed the reliable quantification of 2075 metabolites and 901 protein groups. Integrative analyses of different functional levels and plant physiological status revealed a complex molecular interaction network of positive and negative correlations between proteins and metabolites involved in short-term heat response, including three main physiological functions as: 1) A hormone subnetwork, where fatty acids, flavonoids and hormones presented a key role; 2) An oxidoreductase subnetwork, including several dehydrogenase and peroxidase proteins; and 3) A heat shock protein subnetwork, with numerous proteins that contain a HSP20 domain, all of which were overexpressed at the transcriptional level. Integrated analysis pinpointed the basic mechanisms underlying the short-term physiological reaction of <em>P. radiata</em> during heat response. This approach was feasible in forest species and unmasked two novel candidate biomarkers of heat resistance, PHO1 and TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR APFI, and a MITOCHONDRIAL SMALL HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN, for use in future breeding programs.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Data availability:</strong></p><p>The proteomics data have been deposited into the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with the data set identifier <a href='https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pride/archive/projects/PXD032754' rel='noopener noreferrer' target='_blank'>PXD032754</a>.</p>
Project description:Compression (CW) and opposite wood (OW) are formed in the uniderside and upperside of conifer branches respectively in response to gravity stress. We investigated genes differentially transcribed between the underside and upside of radiate pine branches using cDNA microarrays with a view to plant gravitropism. Six trees with well-developed branches were selected from a radiata pine commercial plantation (aged 13 years) located at Bondo, NSW, Australia (35º 16' 44.04 S, 148º 26' 54.66 E). The largest branch from each tree was further selected for sampling, including three branches sampled in April 2007 (autumn in Bondo) and three sampled in October 2007 (spring). Bark was removed from the base part (about 10 cm in length) of each branch. Developing xylem tissues were scraped from the exposed upperside and underside surface respectively with a sharp chisel. Samples were immediately placed into 50 ml BD FalconTM tubes filled with liquid nitrogen. Gene expression in the underside and upperside of branches was compared using radiata pine cDNA microarrays.
Project description:Seasonal wood development results in two distinct wood types: earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW), which is the major cause of wood qaulity variation. We investigate transcriptome reorganization during seasonal wood development in radiata pine using a newly developed 18k cDNA microarrays. Three sampling trees each at juvenile (5 yrs), transition (9 yrs) and mature (14 yrs) ages (based on the wood rings at breast height) were selected from a plantation forest of radiata pine at Bondo, NSW , Australia (35º 16' 44.04 S, 148º 26' 54.66 E). The sampling trees at juvenile and mature ages were grown within 50 m distance and under similar environment. Two sampling trees at rotation age (30 yrs) were chosen at Yarralumla, ACT, Australia (35° 18' 27'' S, 149° 7' 27.9'' E).
Project description:Sirex noctilio F., a Eurasian horntail woodwasp recently introduced into North America, oviposits in pines and other conifers and in the process spreads a phytopathogenic fungus that serves as a food source for its larvae. During oviposition the woodwasp also deposits a mucus produced in its acid (venom) gland that alters pine defense responses and facilitates infection by the fungus. A 26,496-feature loblolly pine cDNA microarray was used to survey gene expression of pine tissue responding to S. noctilio venom. Six genes were selected for further assessment by qRT-PCR, including one that encoded an apparent PR-4 protein and another that encoded a thaumatin-like protein. Expression of both was strongly induced in response to venom, while expression of an apparent actin gene (ACT1) was stable in response to the venom. The pattern of gene response was similar in Pinus taeda L. and P. radiata D. Don, but the magnitude of response in P. radiata was significantly stronger for each of the induced genes. The magnitude of biomarker gene response to venom also varied according to genotype within these two species. The qRT-PCR assay was used to demonstrate that the primary bioactive component in S. noctilio venom is a polypeptide.