Manipulation of Auxin Response Factor 19 affects seed size in the woody perennial Jatropha curcas
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Seed size is a major determinant of seed yield but few is known about the genetics controlling of seed size in plants. Phytohormones cytokinin and brassinosteroid were known to be involved in the regulation of herbaceous plant seed development. Here we identified a homolog of Auxin Response Factor 19 (JcARF19) from a woody plant Jatropha curcas and genetically demonstrated its functions in controlling seed size and seed yield. Through Virus Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS), we found that JcARF19 was a positive upstream modulator in auxin signaling and may control plant organ size in J. curcas. Importantly, transgenic overexpression of JcARF19 significantly increased seed size and seed yield in plants Arabidopsis thaliana and J. curcas, indicating the importance of auxin pathway in seed yield controlling in dicot plants. Transcripts analysis indicated that ectopic expression of JcARF19 in J. curcas upregulated auxin responsive genes encoding essential regulators in cell differentiation and cytoskeletal dynamics of seed development. Our data suggested the potential of improving seed traits by precisely engineering auxin signaling in woody perennial plants.
Source: Scientific Reports
DOI: 10.1038/srep40844
Institutions: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Sichuan University, Institute of Plant Protection, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W2575743854