Overexpression of the CmJAZ1-like gene delays flowering in Chrysanthemum morifolium

Yunxiao Guan,Xue Zhang,Wenqian Zhao,Kunkun Zhao,Sumei Chen,Fadi Chen,Lian Ding,Aiping Song,Yuanyue Shentu,Jiafu Jiang

doi:10.1038/s41438-021-00525-y

Abstract

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) is one of the four major cut-flower plants worldwide and possesses both high ornamental value and cultural connotation. As most chrysanthemum varieties flower in autumn, it is costly to achieve annual production. JAZ genes in the TIFY family are core components of the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway; in addition to playing a pivotal role in plant responses to defense, they are also widely implicated in regulating plant development processes. Here, we characterized the TIFY family gene CmJAZ1-like from the chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Jinba’. CmJAZ1-like localizes in the nucleus and has no transcriptional activity in yeast. Tissue expression pattern analysis indicated that CmJAZ1-like was most active in the root and shoot apex. Overexpressing CmJAZ1-like with Jas domain deletion in chrysanthemum resulted in late flowering. RNA-Seq analysis of the overexpression lines revealed some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in flowering, such as the homologs of the flowering integrators FT and SOC1, an FUL homolog involved in flower meristem identity, AP2 domain-containing transcription factors, MADS box genes, and autonomous pathway-related genes. Based on KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, the differentially transcribed genes were enriched in carbohydrate metabolic and fatty acid-related pathways, which are notable for their role in flowering in plants. This study preliminarily verified the function of CmJAZ1-like in chrysanthemum flowering, and the results can be used in molecular breeding programs aimed at flowering time regulation of chrysanthemum.

Highlights

IntroductionTreatment of the Arabidopsis mutant opr[3], and eight proteins containing the conserved ZIM domain were significantly induced, which led to the discovery of jasmonate-ZIM domain (JAZ) repressor proteins[1,2]
Introduction Thines et al1 performed exogenous jasmonic acid (JA)treatment of the Arabidopsis mutant opr[3], and eight proteins containing the conserved ZIM domain were significantly induced, which led to the discovery of jasmonate-ZIM domain (JAZ) repressor proteins[1,2]
Isolation and sequence analyses of CmJAZ1-like As a gene encoding a protein that interacts with the positive regulator of chrysanthemum petal elongation CmTCP20, CmJAZ1-like was previously isolated from ‘Jinba’ chrysanthemum[30] and comprises a 657-bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 219-amino-acid polypeptide

Summary

Introduction

Treatment of the Arabidopsis mutant opr[3], and eight proteins containing the conserved ZIM domain were significantly induced, which led to the discovery of JAZ repressor proteins[1,2]. JAZs belong to the plant-specific TIFY family and possess three conserved domains: NT, ZIM, and Jas[3]. The N-terminus of the protein contains a weakly conserved NT domain, which can interact with the DELLA protein and the flowering repressor TARGET OF EAT1 (TOE1)[4,5]. The ZIM domain consists of 36 amino acids, including the conserved TIFY motif (TIF [F/Y] XG), which is essential for the formation of homo- or signaling pathway has been revealed in Arabidopsis. The. F-box protein COI1 perceives JA-Ile and forms the E3 ubiquitin ligase SCFCOI1, which further targets jasmonate-. The transcription factors that are bound and repressed by JAZs are released, thereby regulating plant developmental processes and defense responses[1,10,11]

Methods

Results

Conclusion