Accumulation Dynamics of Transcripts and Proteins of Cold-Responsive Genes in Fragaria vesca Genotypes of Differing Cold Tolerance.

Isam Fattash,Nelson Osuagwu,Robert C Wilson,Muath Alsheikh,Relindis Njah,Zachary Deitch,Vera Mageney,Stephen Randall,Jahn Davik

doi:10.3390/ijms22116124

Abstract

Identifying and characterizing cold responsive genes in Fragaria vesca associated with or responsible for low temperature tolerance is a vital part of strawberry cultivar development. In this study we have investigated the transcript levels of eight genes, two dehydrin genes, three putative ABA-regulated genes, two cold–inducible CBF genes and the alcohol dehydrogenase gene, extracted from leaf and crown tissues of three F. vesca genotypes that vary in cold tolerance. Transcript levels of the CBF/DREB1 transcription factor FvCBF1E exhibited stronger cold up-regulation in comparison to FvCBF1B.1 in all genotypes. Transcripts of FvADH were highly up-regulated in both crown and leaf tissues from all three genotypes. In the ‘ALTA’ genotype, FvADH transcripts were significantly higher in leaf than crown tissues and more than 10 to 20-fold greater than in the less cold-tolerant ‘NCGR1363’ and ‘FDP817’ genotypes. FvGEM, containing the conserved ABRE promoter element, transcript was found to be cold-regulated in crowns. Direct comparison of the kinetics of transcript and protein accumulation of dehydrins was scrutinized. In all genotypes and organs, the changes of XERO2 transcript levels generally preceded protein changes, while levels of COR47 protein accumulation preceded the increases in COR47 RNA in ‘ALTA’ crowns.

Highlights

Abiotic stress such as cold is a serious threat to the sustainability of agricultural productivity, causing crop loss worldwide, significantly reducing average yields for most major crops [1]
Transcripts derived from COR47A and COR47B were not distinguished in earlier qRTPCR experiments (Figure 3), so we developed COR47A and B transcript specific primers (Table S4) and examined the levels of transcripts in ‘ALTA’ crowns
The cold responsive C-repeat binding factors (CBFs) has been tentatively identified as FvCBF1E (XP_004298771.1)

Summary

Introduction

Abiotic stress such as cold is a serious threat to the sustainability of agricultural productivity, causing crop loss worldwide, significantly reducing average yields for most major crops [1]. F. vesca (2n = 2x = 14), is a versatile experimental plant with a small genome (240 Mb) It has a robust genetic transformation system [2] and shares high sequence similarity with the cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) and other members of the Rosaceae family. F. vesca was selected for sequencing as a reference genome for the Rosaceae because of its advantages over other family members, including a short generation time for a perennial, ease of vegetative propagation and small herbaceous stature compared with tree species such as peach or apple [3]. One of the major objectives of a strawberry breeding program is to develop cultivars that are winter hardened and highly cold and freezing tolerant. Identification of molecular markers associated with, or responsible for, low temperature tolerance could be employed in strawberry breeding programs [6]

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