Control of Flowering and Cell Fate by LIF2, an RNA Binding Partner of the Polycomb Complex Component LHP1

Polycomb Repressive Complexes (PRC) modulate the epigenetic status of key cell fate and developmental regulators in eukaryotes. The chromo domain protein LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN1 (LHP1) is a subunit of a plant PRC1-like complex in Arabidopsis thaliana and recognizes histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation, a silencing epigenetic mark deposited by the PRC2 complex. We have identified and studied an LHP1-Interacting Factor2 (LIF2). LIF2 protein has RNA recognition motifs and belongs to the large hnRNP protein family, which is involved in RNA processing. LIF2 interacts in vivo, in the cell nucleus, with the LHP1 chromo shadow domain. Expression of LIF2 was detected predominantly in vascular and meristematic tissues. Loss-of-function of LIF2 modifies flowering time, floral developmental homeostasis and gynoecium growth determination. lif2 ovaries have indeterminate growth and produce ectopic inflorescences with severely affected flowers showing proliferation of ectopic stigmatic papillae and ovules in short-day conditions. To look at how LIF2 acts relative to LHP1, we conducted transcriptome analyses in lif2 and lhp1 and identified a common set of deregulated genes, which showed significant enrichment in stress-response genes. By comparing expression of LHP1 targets in lif2, lhp1 and lif2 lhp1 mutants we showed that LIF2 can either antagonize or act with LHP1. Interestingly, repression of the FLC floral transcriptional regulator in lif2 mutant is accompanied by an increase in H3K27 trimethylation at the locus, without any change in LHP1 binding, suggesting that LHP1 is targeted independently from LIF2 and that LHP1 binding does not strictly correlate with gene expression. LIF2, involved in cell identity and cell fate decision, may modulate the activity of LHP1 at specific loci, during specific developmental windows or in response to environmental cues that control cell fate determination. These results highlight a novel link between plant RNA processing and Polycomb regulation

Recherche de nouvelles variétés de triticale plus résistantes à l'oïdium

National audienceTo face the recent emergence of powdery mildew on triticale species, a collaborative programmebetween breeders, public research and technical institute has been conducted from 2008 to 2011 withfinancial support of French Agriculture Ministry. The aims were: a survey of disease evolution, a betterknowledge of pathogen virulence, finding new and varied resistance genes to create new resistantvarieties, a better understanding of genetic resistance and especially durable resistance. Now, we knowthat powdery mildew on triticale came from bread wheat formae speciales. We identified bread wheatgenes that seem to be efficient against triticale powdery mildew (Pm1-Chopin’s allele, Pm3d, Pm4,MlTo, MlSo especially and in a lesser extend MlSi2, MlTa2 et Mld). We identified resistant genotypes(genetic resources and material derived from new wheat x rye crosses) and potential molecular SSRmarkers from bibliography and from segregating triticale populations. Nevertheless, several pointsremain to be investigated more deeply

Interactions between Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium graminearum in maize ears and consequences for fungal development and mycotoxin accumulation

Fungal interactions of Fusarium verticillioides and F. graminearum in maize ears and the impact on fungal development and toxin accumulation were investigated in a 2-year field study at two locations in France. Maize ears were inoculated either with a spore mixture of F. graminearum and F. verticillioides or using a sequential inoculation procedure consisting of a first inoculation with F. graminearum followed by a second with F. verticillioides 1 week later. Toxin and fungal biomass were assessed on mature kernels, using HPLC and quantitative PCR. Correlation between the levels of DNA and toxin was high concerning F. graminearum DNA and deoxynivalenol (R² = 0·73) and moderate for F. verticillioides DNA and fumonisin (R² = 0·44). Fusarium graminearum DNA either decreased in mixed inoculations or was not influenced by subsequent inoculations with F. verticillioides, compared to single inoculations. In contrast, F. verticillioides DNA either significantly increased or was not affected in mixed and sequential inoculations. In two of the replicates, it can be assumed that natural contamination by F. verticillioides was favoured by previous contamination with F. graminearum. Overall, the results suggest that F. verticillioides has competitive advantages over the F. graminearum strains. Additionally, the data provide, for the first time, key evidence that previous contamination by F. graminearum in maize ears can facilitate subsequent infections by F. verticillioides

A simple approach to predict growth stages in winter wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.) combining prediction of a crop model and marker based prediction of the deviation to a reference cultivar: A case study in France

International audiencePredicting wheat growth stages using ecophysiological models is of particular interest as it allows anticipating important agricultural managements. Numerous ecophysiological models exist but they need cultivar-specific parameterization, which is often costly and time consuming. The work presented here proposes a simple approach to predict wheat growth stages using the allelic composition of wheat cultivars. It relies on using the prediction of a modified version of the ARCWHEAT model for a well parameterized reference cultivar (Soissons) and the marker-based predicted deviation in days to the reference cultivar. First, the deviations to the reference cultivar Soissons for the beginning of stem elongation (87.30) and heading date (delta Z55) were calculated for a large panel of cultivars. Analysis of variance showed prominent genetic effects for delta Z30 and delta Z55 and possible genotype x environment interactions (G x E) for delta Z30. Genotypic means 6230 and delta Z55 were used in association genetics revealing 90 and 83 genetic markers associated to these traits, respectively. Multiple linear regression models predicting delta Z30 using 11 genetic markers (R-2= 76%) or delta Z55 using 17 markers (R-2 =85%) were obtained by a stepwise procedure. Marker PPD-D1 had the largest impact in both models. Finally, marker-based deviations added to the prediction for the reference cultivar Soissons allowed predicting Z30 or Z55 for a large independent validation dataset. The root mean square error of prediction for Z30 and Z55 using the approach proposed in this paper (6.8 and 4.7 days, respectively) was comparable to the one obtained using the conventional approach with cultivar-specific parameters values (6.5 and 4.1, respectively). The models proposed in this paper appeared sufficient in order to predict growth stages of cultivars which cannot be parameterized such as new cultivars coming out on the market. Moreover, genetic markers involved in the multiple linear regression models predicting delta Z30 and delta Z55 may provide interesting candidates to unravel new genes determining earliness in winter wheat

Identification and interest of molecular markers to monitor plant Pi status

Background Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is the sole source of phosphorus for plants. It is a limiting factor for plant yield in most soils worldwide. Due to economic and environmental constraints, the use of Pi fertilizer is and will be more and more limited. Unfortunately, evaluation of Pi bioavailability or Pi starvation traits remains a tedious task, which often does not inform us about the real Pi plant status. Results Here, we identified by transcriptomic studies carried out in the plant model Arabidopsis thaliana, early roots-or leaves-conserved molecular markers for Pi starvation, exhibiting fast response to modifications of phosphate nutritional status. We identified their homologues in three crops (wheat, rapeseed, and maize) and demonstrated that they offer a reliable opportunity to monitor the actual plant internal Pi status. They turn out to be very sensitive in the concentration range of 0-50 µM which is the most common case in the vast majority of soils and situations where Pi hardly accumulates in plants. Besides in vitro conditions, they could also be validated for plants growing in the greenhouse or in open field conditions. Conclusion These markers provide valuable physiological tools for plant physiologists and breeders to assess phosphate bio-availability impact on plant growth in their studies. This also offers the opportunity to cope with the rising economical (shortage) and societal problems (pollution) resulting from the management of this critical natural resource

Validation de marqueurs liés à des gènes d’intérêt en vue de l’établissement d’une base de données pour la sélection assistée chez le blé tendre

Actes pp 11-15, ISBN : 978-2-36397-126-5Validation de marqueurs liés à des gènes d’intérêt en vue de l’établissement d’une base de données pour la sélection assistée chez le blé tendre. Synthèse des Programmes de Recherche FSOV. Actes de la 4ème Rencontre Scientifiqu

Bridging the gap between ideotype and genotype: Challenges and prospects for modelling as exemplified by the case of adapting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phenology to climate change in France

Simulations using crop models can assist designing ideotypes for current and future agricultural conditions. This approach consists in running simulations for different “in silico genotypes” obtained by varying the most sensitive genotypic parameters of these models, and analyzing results obtained for different environments, so as to identify the best genotypes for a target population of environments. However, this approach has rarely been used to guide commercial breeding programs so far. In this paper, we attempt to address some of the gaps yet to be filled before this kind of approach can be implemented, and identify some remaining issues that should be addressed in future research. Our focus is on optimizing wheat phenology, integrating simulations from a modified version of the ARCWHEAT model of wheat growth stages with available knowledge on the genetic control of wheat phenology obtained via molecular markers. Based on simulations, stem extension could be advanced by 10 days in 2025–2049 without increasing frost risks, thus opening up opportunities for lengthening the rapid growth period. Analysis of the current genetic variability for major phenology genes in French elite varieties, showed that the insensitive PpdD1—spring Vrn3 allele combination appears undesirable and current genotypes with early stem extensions are unstable (i.e. show a strong response to temperature and can start the stem extension very early in case of mild winter temperatures). We finally use a case study on gene-based modelling of wheat phenology in France to illustrate how it can be used to dissect the genetic basis of the quantitative nature of the three components of earliness, beyond the effects of major genes. We identify the need to link the variability for optimized model parameters and the allelic variations at the gene level as a critical step of this type of approach