Transcriptome analysis of shade-induced inhibition on leaf size in relay intercropped soybean

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 2;9(6):e98465. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098465. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Multi-species intercropping is a sustainable agricultural practice worldwide used to utilize resources more efficiently. In intercropping systems, short crops often grow under vegetative shade of tall crops. Soybean, one important legume, is often planted in intercropping. However, little is known about the mechanisms of shade inhibition effect on leaf size in soybean leaves at the transcriptome level. We analyzed the transcriptome of shaded soybean leaves via RNA-Seq technology. We found that transcription 1085 genes in mature leaves and 1847 genes in young leaves were significantly affected by shade. Gene ontology analyses showed that expression of genes enriched in polysaccharide metabolism was down-regulated, but genes enriched in auxin stimulus were up-regulated in mature leaves; and genes enriched in cell cycling, DNA-replication were down-regulated in young leaves. These results suggest that the inhibition of higher auxin content and shortage of sugar supply on cell division and cell expansion contribute to smaller and thinner leaf morphology, which highlights potential research targets such as auxin and sugar regulation on leaves for crop adaptation to shade in intercropping.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA Replication
  • Genes, Plant
  • Glycine max / genetics*
  • Glycine max / metabolism
  • Photosynthesis
  • Plant Leaves*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • Polysaccharides

Associated data

  • SRA/PRJNA209843

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31171476 & 531071373), National Program on Key Basic Research Project (1 2011CB100402), and the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-04-PS19). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.