Gene expression profiles deciphering leaf senescence variation between early- and late-senescence cotton lines

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 29;8(7):e69847. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069847. Print 2013.

Abstract

Leaf senescence varies greatly among genotypes of cotton (Gossypium hirsutium L), possibly due to the different expression of senescence-related genes. To determine genes involved in leaf senescence, we performed genome-wide transcriptional profiling of the main-stem leaves of an early- (K1) and a late-senescence (K2) cotton line at 110 day after planting (DAP) using the Solexa technology. The profiling analysis indicated that 1132 genes were up-regulated and 455 genes down-regulated in K1 compared with K2 at 110 DAP. The Solexa data were highly consistent with, and thus were validated by those from real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). Most of the genes related to photosynthesis, anabolism of carbohydrates and other biomolecules were down-regulated, but those for catabolism of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and nutrient recycling were mostly up-regulated in K1 compared with K2. Fifty-one differently expressed hormone-related genes were identified, of which 5 ethylene, 3 brassinosteroid (BR), 5 JA, 18 auxin, 8 GA and 1 ABA related genes were up-regulated in K1 compared with K2, indicating that these hormone-related genes might play crucial roles in early senescence of K1 leaves. Many differently expressed transcription factor (TF) genes were identified and 11 NAC and 8 WRKY TF genes were up-regulated in K1 compared with K2, suggesting that TF genes, especially NAC and WRKY genes were involved in early senescence of K1 leaves. Genotypic variation in leaf senescence was attributed to differently expressed genes, particularly hormone-related and TF genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brassinosteroids / metabolism
  • Ethylenes / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / genetics
  • Gossypium / genetics*
  • Gossypium / metabolism*
  • Indoleacetic Acids / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / genetics*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcriptome / genetics*

Substances

  • Brassinosteroids
  • Ethylenes
  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Transcription Factors
  • ethylene

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 30971720), the earmarked fund for China Agricultural Research System (CARS-18-21), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (grant no. ZR2012CM027), and the Seed Improvement Funds (Project No. 2009LZ005-05) from Shandong Province. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.