Functional characterization of GPC-1 genes in hexaploid wheat

Planta. 2014 Feb;239(2):313-324. doi: 10.1007/s00425-013-1977-y. Epub 2013 Oct 30.

Abstract

In wheat, monocarpic senescence is a tightly regulated process during which nitrogen (N) and micronutrients stored pre-anthesis are remobilized from vegetative tissues to the developing grains. Recently, a close connection between senescence and remobilization was shown through the map-based cloning of the GPC (grain protein content) gene in wheat. GPC-B1 encodes a NAC transcription factor associated with earlier senescence and increased grain protein, iron and zinc content, and is deleted or non-functional in most commercial wheat varieties. In the current research, we identified 'loss of function' ethyl methanesulfonate mutants for the two GPC-B1 homoeologous genes; GPC-A1 and GPC-D1, in a hexaploid wheat mutant population. The single gpc-a1 and gpc-d1 mutants, the double gpc-1 mutant and control lines were grown under field conditions at four locations and were characterized for senescence, GPC, micronutrients and yield parameters. Our results show a significant delay in senescence in both the gpc-a1 and gpc-d1 single mutants and an even stronger effect in the gpc-1 double mutant in all the environments tested in this study. The accumulation of total N in the developing grains showed a similar increase in the control and gpc-1 plants until 25 days after anthesis (DAA) but at 41 and 60 DAA the control plants had higher grain N content than the gpc-1 mutants. At maturity, GPC in all mutants was significantly lower than in control plants while grain weight was unaffected. These results demonstrate that the GPC-A1 and GPC-D1 genes have a redundant function and play a major role in the regulation of monocarpic senescence and nutrient remobilization in wheat.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Biomass
  • Chlorophyll / metabolism
  • Edible Grain / genetics
  • Edible Grain / growth & development
  • Edible Grain / metabolism
  • Ethyl Methanesulfonate
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Iron / analysis
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Micronutrients / metabolism
  • Mutation
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Photosynthesis
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / analysis
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Triticum / genetics*
  • Triticum / growth & development
  • Triticum / metabolism
  • Zinc / analysis
  • Zinc / metabolism

Substances

  • Micronutrients
  • Plant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Chlorophyll
  • Ethyl Methanesulfonate
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • Nitrogen