TY - JOUR
T1 - Overexpression of LaGRAS enhances phosphorus acquisition via increased root growth of phosphorus-deficient white lupin
AU - Aslam, Mehtab Muhammad
AU - Fritschi, Felix B.
AU - Zhang, Di
AU - Wang, Guanqun
AU - Li, Haoxuan
AU - Lam, Hon Ming
AU - Waseem, Muhammad
AU - Xu, Weifeng
AU - Zhang, Jianhua
N1 - This research was supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) Area of Excellence (AoE) Scheme (grant number AoE/M‐403/16), Hong Kong Research Grant Council, General Research Fund (RGC Ref 12103220 and RGC Ref 12101722). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the Innovation and Technology Commission.
We are grateful for the support from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council Area of Excellence Scheme (AoE/M-403/16), General Research Fund (RGC Ref 12103219 and RGC Ref 12103220). We also thank Dr. Li Ying lab, Agriculture College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China for providing experimental support. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Physiologia Plantarum published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.
PY - 2023/7/1
Y1 - 2023/7/1
N2 - The GRAS transcription factors play an indispensable role in plant growth and responses to environmental stresses. The GRAS gene family has extensively been explored in various plant species; however, the comprehensive investigation of GRAS genes in white lupin remains insufficient. In this study, bioinformatics analysis of white lupin genome revealed 51 LaGRAS genes distributed into 10 distinct phylogenetic clades. Gene structure analyses revealed that LaGRAS proteins were considerably conserved among the same subfamilies. Notably, 25 segmental duplications and a single tandem duplication showed that segmental duplication was the major driving force for the expansion of GRAS genes in white lupin. Moreover, LaGRAS genes exhibited preferential expression in young cluster root and mature cluster roots and may play key roles in nutrient acquisition, particularly phosphorus (P). To validate this, RT-qPCR analysis of white lupin plants grown under +P (normal P) and −P (P deficiency) conditions elucidated significant differences in the transcript level of GRAS genes. Among them, LaGRAS38 and LaGRAS39 were identified as potential candidates with induced expression in MCR under −P. Additionally, white lupin transgenic hairy root overexpressing OE-LaGRAS38 and OE-LaGRAS39 showed increased root growth, and P concentration in root and leaf compared to those with empty vector control, suggesting their role in P acquisition. We believe this comprehensive analysis of GRAS members in white lupin is a first step in exploring their role in the regulation of root growth, tissue development, and ultimately improving P use efficiency in legume crops under natural environments.
AB - The GRAS transcription factors play an indispensable role in plant growth and responses to environmental stresses. The GRAS gene family has extensively been explored in various plant species; however, the comprehensive investigation of GRAS genes in white lupin remains insufficient. In this study, bioinformatics analysis of white lupin genome revealed 51 LaGRAS genes distributed into 10 distinct phylogenetic clades. Gene structure analyses revealed that LaGRAS proteins were considerably conserved among the same subfamilies. Notably, 25 segmental duplications and a single tandem duplication showed that segmental duplication was the major driving force for the expansion of GRAS genes in white lupin. Moreover, LaGRAS genes exhibited preferential expression in young cluster root and mature cluster roots and may play key roles in nutrient acquisition, particularly phosphorus (P). To validate this, RT-qPCR analysis of white lupin plants grown under +P (normal P) and −P (P deficiency) conditions elucidated significant differences in the transcript level of GRAS genes. Among them, LaGRAS38 and LaGRAS39 were identified as potential candidates with induced expression in MCR under −P. Additionally, white lupin transgenic hairy root overexpressing OE-LaGRAS38 and OE-LaGRAS39 showed increased root growth, and P concentration in root and leaf compared to those with empty vector control, suggesting their role in P acquisition. We believe this comprehensive analysis of GRAS members in white lupin is a first step in exploring their role in the regulation of root growth, tissue development, and ultimately improving P use efficiency in legume crops under natural environments.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85165456862&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/ppl.13962
DO - 10.1111/ppl.13962
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37343119
AN - SCOPUS:85165456862
SN - 0031-9317
VL - 175
JO - Physiologia Plantarum
JF - Physiologia Plantarum
IS - 4
M1 - e13962
ER -
