Virus-induced gene silencing-based functional verification of six genes associated with vernalization in wheat

Ya-Lan Feng; Ke-Tao Wang; Chao Ma; Yong-Ying Zhao; Jun Yin

doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.02.064

Virus-induced gene silencing-based functional verification of six genes associated with vernalization in wheat

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Mar 20;458(4):928-33. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.02.064. Epub 2015 Feb 21.

Authors

Ya-Lan Feng¹, Ke-Tao Wang², Chao Ma³, Yong-Ying Zhao⁴, Jun Yin⁵

Affiliations

¹ National Engineering Research Centre for Wheat, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
² Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; College of Life Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
³ National Engineering Research Centre for Wheat, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; School of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China.
⁴ National Engineering Research Centre for Wheat, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Wheat Research Institute, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
⁵ National Engineering Research Centre for Wheat, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China. Electronic address: xmzxyj@126.com.

PMID: 25707852
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.02.064

Abstract

Vernalization requirement is an important characteristic in crop breeding. Wheat is a widely grown crop in the world that possesses enormous economic significance. To better understand the gene networks in vernalization process, we performed a high-throughput RNA sequencing analysis comparing the transcriptomes of spring and winter wheat cultivars, with and without vernalization (unpublished data). In this study, we selected six unigenes (CL14010, CL12788, CL176, Unigene 16777, CL8746 and Unigene10196) from our transcriptome analysis based on their expression differences to further characterize their function. Transient silencing of the six unigenes individually were achieved through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) using BSMV vector. The period from germination to spike differentiation were recorded and compared between plants underwent VIGS silencing and the control. Our result showed that VIGS of the six unigenes significantly shortened the period from seedling to double ridge (DR) stage. Resulting in SD period ranging from 59.8 ± 0.60 to 65.8 ± 0.48 days, compared to 85.0 ± 0.73 days in the control. The results indicated that these six unigenes function as suppressors in vernalization process and silence or down-regulation of these genes promoted flower development in wheat. Further characterization of these six unigenes and their function in vernalization and flowering control is needed.

Keywords: Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV); Spike differentiation; Triticum aestivum. L; Vernalization; Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS).

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
Gene Silencing*
Genes, Plant
Genetic Vectors / genetics
Germination
Mosaic Viruses / genetics*
Plant Proteins / genetics
Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
Triticum / genetics*
Triticum / growth & development*
Triticum / virology

Substances

Plant Proteins