Abstract
Plant leaf patterns and shapes are spectacularly diverse. Changing the complexity of leaflet numbers is a valuable approach to increase its nutrition and photosynthesis. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the most important forage legume species and has diversified compound leaf patterns, which makes it a model species for studying compound leaf development. However, transcriptomic information from alfalfa remains limited. In this study, RNA-Seq technology was used to identify 3746 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between multifoliate and trifoliate alfalfa. Through an analysis of annotation information and expression data, SPL, one of the key regulators in modifiable plant development and abiotic stress response, was further analyzed. Here, thirty MsSPL genes were obtained from the alfalfa genome, of which 16 had the putative miR156 binding site. A tissue expression pattern analysis showed that the miR156-targeted MsSPLs were divided into two classes, namely, either tissue-specific or widely expressed in all tissues. All miR156-targeted SPLs strongly showed diversification and positive roles under drought and salt conditions. Importantly, miR156/MsSPL08 was significantly suppressed in multifoliate alfalfa. Furthermore, in the paralogous mutant of MsSPL08 isolated from Medicago truncatula, the phenotypes of mutant plants reveal that miR156/MsSPL08 is involved not only involved the branches but also especially regulates the number of leaflets. The legume is a typical compound leaf plant; the ratio of the leaflet often affects the quality of the forage. This study sheds light on new functions of SPL genes that regulate leaflet number development.
Highlights
IntroductionEach step of biological and developmental progress requires appropriate transformation and expression changes in plants, such as the formation of organs, the division of cells, and the production of metabolites [1,2]
Introduction published maps and institutional affilEach step of biological and developmental progress requires appropriate transformation and expression changes in plants, such as the formation of organs, the division of cells, and the production of metabolites [1,2]
The functional annotation of all genes aligned with six commonly used public databases, which revealed that the number of genes ranged from 88,116 (53.52%, KEGG) to 163,176 (99.12%, NR), and 44,239 (27%) genes were annotated in all six databases (Table S2)
Summary
Each step of biological and developmental progress requires appropriate transformation and expression changes in plants, such as the formation of organs, the division of cells, and the production of metabolites [1,2]. Leaves are the major component of plant architecture, and the main tissue of photosynthesis, thermoregulation, and gas exchange. Plant leaf forms are spectacularly diverse, and can be grouped into simple leaves and compound leaves. Compound leaves exhibit more diversity than simple leaves, because of a specific morphogenetic process [3]. As one of the forages with the highest digestible protein, 70% of the protein is stored in the leaves, and the cellulose content in the leaves is only 1/3 of the stem [5]. Studying the molecular mechanism of alfalfa multifoliate formation can provide a strong theoretical basis for creating new alfalfa germplasm resources with high protein content
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