Abstract
Elucidating the differences in gene expression profiles of plants with different ploidy levels and how they affect phenotypic traits is vital to allow genetic improvement of plants such as Ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro). We previously obtained triploid (2n = 3X = 36), hexaploid (2n = 6X = 72), and dodecaploid (2n = 12X = 144) Ma bamboo plants from embryogenic callus by anther culturing. Phenotypic differences between these plants appeared to be correlated with differences in ploidy. Here, we performed transcriptome profiling and sequencing of anther-regenerated plants and F1 seedlings of different ploidy levels using RNA-Seq technology. Pair-wise comparisons of the four resulting libraries revealed 8,396 differentially expressed genes. These differentially expressed genes were annotated, functionally classified, and partially validated. We found that the chromosome doubling led to substantially up- or down-regulation of genes that were involved in cell growth and differentiation; the polyploidy levels altered the anatomical, physiological and growth characteristics, such as leaf thickness, fusoid cell and stomatal size, shoot number, photosynthesis and respiration rate and so on. Additionally, two candidate genes, EXPB3 and TCP with potenitial regulatory roles in cell division and differentiation, were identified through gene coexpresseion network analysis. These results highlight the significance of potential applications of polyploidy, and provide valuable information for the genetic breeding of bamboo species.
Highlights
The group of bamboo species, which are perennial woody plants and belongs to the grass family (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae), has considerable economic and cultural significance (Group et al, 2001)
Three homozygotes generated from anthers exhibiting different ploidy levels were used in comparison with seedlings cultured from seeds
The vascular system in the bamboo leaf was oriented in the longitudinal direction, FIGURE 1 | Light micrographs of the leaves of Dendrocalamus latiflorus plants of different ploidy levels
Summary
The group of bamboo species, which are perennial woody plants and belongs to the grass family (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae), has considerable economic and cultural significance (Group et al, 2001). Bamboo is an important forest resource due to its fast growth, excellent specific strength, and easy processing (Chang and Wu, 2000). Bamboo is a significant component of tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems. It has a long history of use as a forest product for furniture, paper pulp, and construction materials and as a garden ornamental plant. Ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) is large tropical clumping bamboo species native to southern China. The culms can grow up to about 20 m in height and 20 cm in diameter, whereas the mature culms can be used for construction and paper-making
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