Plants employ a diverse set of defense mechanisms to mediate interactions with insects and fungi. These relationships can leave lasting impacts on host plant genome structure such as rapid expansion of gene families through tandem duplication. These genomic signatures provide important clues about the complexities of plant/biotic stress interactions and evolution. We used a pseudo‐backcross hybrid family to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling associations between
A plant can be thought of as a colony comprising numerous growth buds, each developing to its own rhythm. Such lack of synchrony impedes efforts to describe core principles of plant morphogenesis, dissect the underlying mechanisms, and identify regulators. Here, we use the minimalist known angiosperm to overcome this challenge and provide a model system for plant morphogenesis. We present a detailed morphological description of the monocot Wolffia australiana, as well as high-quality genome information. Further, we developed the plant-on-chip culture system and demonstrate the application of advanced technologies such as single-nucleus RNA-sequencing, protein structure prediction, and gene editing. We provide proof-of-concept examples that illustrate how W. australiana can decipher the core regulatory mechanisms of plant morphogenesis.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 2238942
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10412873
- Author(s) / Creator(s):
- ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more »
- Publisher / Repository:
- Oxford University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- PNAS Nexus
- Volume:
- 2
- Issue:
- 5
- ISSN:
- 2752-6542
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
Abstract Populus trees and several commonPopulus diseases and insects. Using whole‐genome sequences from each parent, we identified candidate genes that may mediate these interactions. Candidates were partially validated using mass spectrometry to identify corresponding QTL for defensive compounds. We detected significant QTL for two interacting fungal pathogens and three insects. The QTL intervals contained candidate genes potentially involved in physical and chemical mechanisms of host–plant resistance and susceptibility. In particular, we identified adjoining QTLs for a phenolic glycoside andPhyllocolpa sawfly abundance. There was also significant enrichment of recent tandem duplications in the genomic intervals of the native parent, but not the exotic parent. Tandem gene duplication may be an important mechanism for rapid response to biotic stressors, enabling trees with long juvenile periods to reach maturity despite many coevolving biotic stressors. -
Abstract Aim The
Sarracenia alata pitcher plant and inquiline species comprise an ecological community. These inquilines span the continuum in their ecological association with the host pitcher plant, from species that contain little‐to‐no interaction with the plant to species that are completely dependent on the plant for their entire life cycle. We are interested in testing if degree of ecological dependence is positively correlated with a shared evolutionary history, and in identifying members of this community that display concordant phylogeographic structure.Location Southeastern United States.
Methods We collected genome‐wide sequence data from a set of arthropods that are ecologically associated with the plant to estimate comparative phylogeographic patterns among the species. We estimated species tree distributions from biallelic unlinked
SNP data and used phylogeographic concordance factors (PCF s) to test degree of phylogeographic concordance among community members. In addition, for each species we conducted an analysis of molecular variance and calculatedF STvalues to identify population genetic structure across the landscape, and compared these traditional values to the tree‐based approach.Results Obligate members of the pitcher plant community display concordant phylogeographic patterns, suggesting their ecological dependence has manifested itself into a shared evolutionary history. In contrast, two spider species do not contain significant population genetic structure or similar phylogeographic histories, highlighting their loose association with the host pitcher plant.
Main conclusion The
S. alata pitcher plant system should be considered an evolutionary community, where multiple members sharing strong ecological interactions also display concordant phylogeographic structure. This work demonstrates thatPCF s provide an important quantitative measure into assessing community structure and illustrates how simulations can be used to assess significance of shared patterns of phylogeographic structure across the landscape. -
Abstract Microbial homeostasis—constant microbial element ratios along resource gradients—is a core ecological tenet, yet not all systems display homeostasis. We suggest investigations of homeostasis mechanisms must also consider plant–microbial interactions. Specifically, we hypothesized that ecosystems with strong plant community plasticity to changing resources will have homeostatic microbial communities, with less microbial resource cost, because plants reduce variance in resource stoichiometry. Using long‐term nutrient additions in two ecosystems with differing plant response, we fail to support our hypothesis because although homeostasis appears stronger in the system with stronger plant response, microbial mechanisms were also stronger. However, our conclusions were undermined by high heterogeneity in resources, which may be common in ecosystem‐level studies, and methodological assumptions may be exacerbated by shifting plant communities. We propose our study as a starting point for further ecosystem‐scale investigations, with higher replication to address microbial and soil variability, and improved insight into microbial assimilable resources.
-
Abstract Questions A recently introduced non‐native annual grass,
Ventenata dubia , is challenging previous conceptions of community resistance in forest mosaic communities in the Inland Northwest. However, little is known of the drivers and potential ecological impacts of this rapidly expanding species. Here we (1) identify abiotic and biotic habitat characteristics associated with theV .dubia invasion and examine how these differ betweenV .dubia and other problematic non‐native annual grasses,Bromus tectorum andTaeniatherum caput‐medusae ; and (2) determine how burning influences relationships betweenV .dubia and plant community composition and structure to address potential impacts on Inland Northwest forest mosaic communities.Location Blue Mountains of the Inland Northwest, USA.
Methods We measured environmental and plant community characteristics in 110 recently burned and nearby unburned plots. Plots were stratified to capture a range of
V .dubia cover, elevations, biophysical classes, and fire severities. We investigated relationships betweenV .dubia , wildfire, environmental, and plant community characteristics using non‐metric multidimensional scaling and linear regressions.Results Ventenata dubia was most abundant in sparsely vegetated, basalt‐derived rocky scablands interspersed throughout the forested landscape. Plant communities most heavily invaded byV .dubia were largely uninvaded by other non‐native annual grasses.Ventenata dubia was abundant in both unburned and burned areas, but negative relationships betweenV .dubia cover and community diversity were stronger in burned plots, where keystone sagebrush species were largely absent after fire.Conclusions Ventenata dubia is expanding the overall invasion footprint into previously uninvaded communities. Burning may exacerbate negative relationships betweenV .dubia and species richness, evenness, and functional diversity, including in communities that historically rarely burned. Understanding the drivers and impacts of theV .dubia invasion and recognizing how these differ from other annual grass invasions may provide insight into mechanisms of community invasibility, grass‐fire feedbacks, and aid the development of species‐specific management plans. -
Ingvarsson, P (Ed.)
Abstract The genus Acacia is a large group of woody legumes containing an enormous amount of morphological diversity in leaf shape. This diversity is at least in part the result of an innovation in leaf development where many Acacia species are capable of developing leaves of both bifacial and unifacial morphologies. While not unique in the plant kingdom, unifaciality is most commonly associated with monocots, and its developmental genetic mechanisms have yet to be explored beyond this group. In this study, we identify an accession of Acacia crassicarpa with high regeneration rates and isolate a clone for genome sequencing. We generate a chromosome-level assembly of this readily transformable clone, and using comparative analyses, confirm a whole-genome duplication unique to Caesalpinoid legumes. This resource will be important for future work examining genome evolution in legumes and the unique developmental genetic mechanisms underlying unifacial morphogenesis in Acacia.