Chlorophyll-deficient Mutant Research Articles

Induction of somaclonal variation by tissue culture and cytogenetic analysis in Oryza sativa L

Protocols were developed for plant regeneration from callus induced in mature embryos of rice. Somaclonal variation was scored by genome mutation, chromosome mutation and plasmon mutation in R0, R1 and R2 plant progenies. The frequency of haploids and diploids appeared in the ratio of 20:33. Variation in the chromosome number in callus cells was found to be high and age dependent. Different types of chlorophyll deficient mutants including albinos appeared in R2 plant progeny where gene mutation frequency was the highest (52.4 %). The results revealed that a high frequency of somaclonal variation is possible to generate by tissue culture techniques.

Genetic and cytological analyses of three lethal ovule mutants in soybean (Glycine max; Leguminosae)

Soybean partially sterile mutants 2, 3, and 4 (PS-2, PS-3, and PS-4), recovered from a gene-tagging experiment, were studied to clarify their inheritance, linkage, allelism, and reproductive biology. The PS-2, PS-3, and PS-4 mutants were maintained as heterozygotes and upon self-pollination segregated l fertile: l partially-sterile. For inheritance and linkage tests, all three PS mutants were crossed to flower color mutant Harosoy-w4 and to chlorophyll-deficient (CD) mutants CD-1 and CD-5, also recovered from the tagging study. For allelism tests, reciprocal crosses were made among the three partially sterile mutants. Linkage results indicated that the gene for partial sterility in the PS-2, PS-3, and PS-4 mutants was not linked either to the w4 locus or to the genes for chlorophyll deficiency. Studies of pollen development, pollen viability, and pollen-tube germination indicated no difference between normal and partially sterile genotypes. Linkage and allelism tests indicated that the gene in the three partially sterile mutants was not transmitted through the female when they were used as a female parent. A study of megagametogenesis indicated that the ovules from partially sterile plants had normal embryo sac development. Ovule abortion was due to failure of fertilization.

Genetic and cytological analyses of a partial‐female‐sterile mutant (PS‐1) in soybean (Glycine max; Leguminosae)

Soybean partial-female-sterile mutant 1 (PS-1) was recovered from a gene-tagging study. The objectives were to study the inheritance, linkage, allelism, and certain aspects of the reproductive biology of the PS-1 mutant. For inheritance and linkage tests, PS-1 was crossed to flower color mutant Harosoy-w4 and to chlorophyll-deficient mutant CD-1, also recovered from the gene-tagging study. For allelism tests, reciprocal crosses were made with PS-1 and three other partial-sterile mutants (PS-2, PS-3, and PS-4) recovered from the same gene-tagging study. The PS-1 mutant is inherited in a 3:1 ratio and is a single recessive gene. Linkage results indicated that the gene for partial sterility in PS-1 is not linked either to the w4 locus or to the CD-1 locus. Allelism tests showed that the gene in PS-1 is nonallelic to the gene in PS-2, PS-3, and PS-4. Investigations of developing and mature pollen indicated no differences in morphology, stainability, or fluorescence between normal and partial-sterile genotypes. The PS-1 mutant is completely male fertile. Confocal scanning laser microscopy was used to determine that early embryo abortion in PS-1 is due indirectly to abnormal migration of the fused polar nucleus, which prevented it from being fertilized. Subsequent absence of endosperm development leads directly to abortion of the proembryo.

Regulation of photosynthesis in developing leaves of soybean chlorophyll-deficient mutants

In this report we examine the factors that regulate photosynthesis during leaf ontogeny in y3y3 and Y11y11, two chlorophyll-deficient mutants of soybean. Photosynthetic rates were similar during wild type and Y11y11 leaf development, but the senescence decline in photosynthesis was accelerated in y3y3. Photosynthetic rates fell more rapidly than chlorophyll concentrations during senescence in wild type leaves, indicating that light harvesting is not strongly limiting for photosynthesis during this phase of leaf development. Chlorophyll concentrations in Y11y11, though significantly lower than normal, were able to support normal photosynthetic rates throughout leaf ontogeny. Chlorophyll a/b ratios were constant during leaf development in the wild type, but in the mutants they progressively increased (y3y3) or decreased (Y11y11). In all three sets of plants, photosynthetic rates were directly proportional to Rubisco contents and activities, suggesting that Rubisco plays a dominant role in regulating photosynthesis throughout leaf ontogeny in these plants. The expression of some photosynthetic proteins, such as Rubisco activase, was coordinately regulated with that of Rubisco in all three genotypes, i.e. an early increase, coincident with leaf expansion, followed by a senescence decline in the fully-expanded leaf. On the other hand, the light harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins of PS II (the CAB proteins), while they showed a profile similar to that of Rubisco in the wild type and y3y3, progressively increased in amount during Y11y11 leaf development. We conclude that Y11y11 may be defective in the accumulation of a component required for LHC II assembly or function, while y3y3 has more global effects and may be a regulatory factor that controls the duration of senescence.

Yellow-tip, a Cytoplasmically Inherited Trait in Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

A new chlorophyll-deficient mutant is the first cytoplasmically inherited trait described in melon. This mutant is characterized by yellow apices with the leaves and stems progressively turning green in color as the branches mature. A protocol is proposed for naming and symbolizing cytoplasmic traits in melon. This mutation is named yellow-tip and symbolized cyt-Yt.

Yellow-Tip: A Cytoplasmically Inherited Trait in Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

A new chlorophyll-deficient mutant is the first cytoplasmically inherited trait described in melon. This mutant is characterized by yellow apices, with the leaves and stems progressively turning green in color as the branches mature. A protocol is proposed for naming and symbolizing cytoplasmic traits in melon. This mutation is named yellow-tip and is symbolized cyt-Yt. As a chlorophyll-deficient mutation, it is potentially useful in genetic, physiological, and biochemical studies.

Isolation and Partial Characterization of a Manganese Requiring ʟ-Arginine Metabolizing Enzyme Being Present in Photosystem II Complexes of Spinach and Tobacco

Abstract A low ʟ-arginine metabolizing enzyme (L-AME) activity leading to ornithine, urea and additional products not identified so far could be detected in photosystem II (PS II) membranes of spinach and of the chlorophyll deficient tobacco mutant Su/su. The detectable L-AME activity was very low in untreated PS II membranes, but increased significantly (about 10 fold) when the extrinsic peptides (psbO, P and Q gene products) were removed - suggesting that the L-AME is exposed at the lumen side of PS II. It was possible to isolate the detergent-solubilized protein from CaCl2-washed PS II membranes of spinach by a combination of anion and cation exchange columns. On the basis of SDS PAGE the protein was homogenous and had an apparent molecular mass of 7 kDa. N-terminal sequencing of the polypeptide gave a contiguous sequence of 20 amino acids showing no homologies to PS II polypeptides as yet sequenced. After chromatography of the L-AME on an anion exchange column at pH 9.5 (last purification step) a completely inactive enzyme was obtained. Maximal reactivation was achieved by dialyzing the protein against Hepes-NaOH buffer in the pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 containing 100 mᴍ chloride or sulfate (being the most effective anions). The L-AME activity was totally dependent on manganese added to the reaction mixture. Moreover, there were indications of a second cation binding site being more sequestered and requiring bound Ca2+ or Mn2+ for activity (Sr2+ was less effective and Mg2+ was ineffective). There are indications that the protein contains a redox active group - possibly an aminoacid- derived quinonoid (based on a redox cycling assay with glycine and nitroblue tetrazolium). The capability of this PS II associated protein to bind the cofactors of water oxidation and having a redox active group (preliminary results) suggests that this protein might be functional in photosynthetic water oxidation. This is further supported by the fact that the isolated L-AME has a low catalase activity

A Maternally Inherited, Chlorophyll-Deficient Mutant of a Transgenic Kanamycin-Resistant Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Plant

A chlorophyll-deficient mutant of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv. has been regenerated from a pale green sector on a leaf of a plant transgenic for a neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) gene conferring kanamycin resistance. Reciprocal backcrosses with green wildtype plants established a cytoplasmic basis for the mutation to chlorophyll deficiency. In vitro shoots cultured either in darkness or light grew as well as wildtype shoots in darkness, although substantially less than wildtype shoots in light. These shoots are deficient in both chlorophylls a and b, and retained the kanamycin resistance phenotype. The transgenic status of the chlorophyll-deficient, kanamycin-resistant plants was confirmed using the polymerase chain reaction to detect the presence of the NPTII gene and a dot blot assay for the NPTII enzyme activity. The combination of chlorophyll deficiency and kanamycin resistance offers a valuable phenotype for plant cell genetics, e.g., as a universal hybridizer for somatic cell fusion to any wildtype plant cell, especially for chloroplast transfers.

DIEBACK AND MORTALITY IN RED MANGROVE, RHIZOPHORA MANGLE L., IN SOUTHWEST PUERTO RICO

Summary Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle L.) trees in the coastal forests of southwestern Puerto Rico contain small amounts of cankers, limited dieback and exhibited less than one per cent mortality. However, extensive dieback and mortality was detected in the mangrove forests of Bahia Fosforescente. Three canker types were detected: gall cankers, target cankers and canker blights, with the latter type being most often associated with dieback and mortality. The imperfect fungus, Cytospora rhizophorae, was sometimes isolated from gall cankers and canker blights. Challenge inoculation with C. rhizophorae, following wounding, of red mangrove seedlings, resulted in increased dieback around inoculation sites. Inoculations of chlorophyll-deficient mutant seedlings (polyphenol oxidase positive [PPO+] and polyphenol oxidase negative [PPO-], resulted in increased dieback compared to wild-type seedlings, and in the case of PPO- seedlings complete mortality. The causes of the red mangrove dieback and mortality in Bah...

The consequences of chlorophyll deficiency for photosynthetic light use efficiency in a single nuclear gene mutation of cowpea

The light harvesting and photosynthetic characteristics of a chlorophyll-deficient mutant of cowpea (Vigna unguilata), resulting from a single nuclear gene mutation, are examined. The 40% reduction in total chlorophyll content per leaf area in the mutant is associated with a 55% reduction in pigment-proteins of the light harvesting complex associated with Photosystem II (LHC II), and to a lesser extent (35%) in the light harvesting complex associated with Photosystem I (LHC I). No significant differences were found in the Photosystem I (PS I) and Photosystem II (PS II) contents per leaf area of the mutant compared to the wildtype parent. The decreases in the PS I and PS II antennae sizes in the mutant were not accompanied by any major changes in quantum efficiencies of PS I and PS II in leaves at non-saturating light levels for CO2 assimilation. Although the chlorophyll deficiency resulted in an 11% decrease in light absorption by mutant leaves, their maximum quantum yield and light saturated rate of CO2 assimilation were similar to those of wildtype leaves. Consequently, the large and different decreases in the antennae of PS II and PS I in the mutant are not associated with any loss of light use efficiency in photosynthesis.

A point mutation in Euglena gracilis chloroplast tRNA(Glu) uncouples protein and chlorophyll biosynthesis.

The universal precursor of tetrapyrrole pigments (e.g., chlorophylls and hemes) is 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which in Euglena gracilis chloroplasts is derived via the two-step C5 pathway from glutamate charged to tRNA(Glu). The first enzyme in this pathway, Glu-tRNA reductase (GluTR) catalyzes the reduction of glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) (Glu-tRNA) to glutamate 1-semialdehyde (GSA) with the release of the uncharged tRNA(Glu). The second enzyme, GSA-2,1-aminomutase, converts GSA to ALA. tRNA(Glu) is a specific cofactor for the NADPH-dependent reduction by GluTR, an enzyme that recognizes the tRNA in a sequence-specific manner. This RNA is the normal tRNA(Glu), a dual-function molecule participating both in protein and in ALA and, hence, chlorophyll biosynthesis. A chlorophyll-deficient mutant of E. gracilis (Y9ZNalL) does not synthesize ALA from glutamate, although it contains GluTR and GSA-2,1-aminomutase activity. The tRNA(Glu) isolated from the mutant can still be acylated with glutamate in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, it supports chloroplast protein synthesis; however, it is a poor substrate for GluTR. Sequence analysis of the tRNA and of its gene revealed a C56-->U mutation in the resulting gene product. C56 is therefore an important identity element for GluTR. Thus, a point mutation in the T loop of tRNA uncouples protein from chlorophyll biosynthesis.

Immunological Evidence for the Binding of β-Carotene and Xanthophylls onto Peptides of Photosystem I from Nicotiana tabacum

Photosystem I preparations were obtained from wild type tobacco Nicotiana tabacum var. John William’s Broadleaf (JWB) and from the two chlorophyll-deficient mutants N. tabacum Su/su and N. tabacum Su/su var. Aurea. The preparations were characterized with respect to the chlorophyll a/b ratio, their photosynthetic activity and their absorption spectroscopic properties. Peptides from these preparations were analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred for the detection of bound carotenoids according to the Western blot procedure to nitrocellulose or Immobilon membranes. The PS I preparation from the wild type JWB consisted of the core and the LHCP complex. The core complex contains the two core peptides with the same apparent MW of 66 kDa and several peptides with the lesser molecular masses of 22, 20, 19, 17, 16, 10 and 9 kDa. The light-harvesting protein complex consists of 4 subunits with the molecular masses 28, 26, 25 and 24 kDa. The PS I preparations of the yellow-green mutant Su/su and of the Aurea mutant Su/su var. Aurea contain as impurity traces of the D1 and D2 core peptides of photosystem II and also traces of the chlorophyll-binding photosystem II peptides with the molecular masses 42 and 47 kDa. The peptides of the photosystem I preparation were characterized by specific photosystem I antisera: An antiserum to the photosystem I complex reacts in the Western blot only with the homologous peptides of photosystem I. In comparative analyses with photosystem II preparations this antiserum (directed to photosystem I) reacts, as expected, only with the peptides of the light-harvesting complex. An antiserum to the CP 1 core peptides reacts only with the 66 kDa peptides of photosystem I and gives no cross reaction with heterodimer forms of the D1/D2 core peptides of photosystem II. In the Western blot procedure by means of polyclonal monospecific antisera to carotenoids it was demonstrated that β-carotene is bound in high concentration onto the core peptides CP 1 and to a lesser extent onto the two larger subunits of the LHCP complex, exhibiting the molecular masses of 28 and 26 kDa. Neoxanthin is bound onto the same peptides. In contrast to this, lutein was only identified on the core peptides CP 1 and violaxanthin only on the larger subunits of the LHCP complex. As the carotenoids are labelled with antibodies, even after SDS treatment in the electrophoresis, it is assumed, that the carotenoids are covalently bound via the ionon ring to the respective peptide

Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Interaction in Chlorophyll-Deficient Soybean, Glycine max (Fabaceae)

In higher plants, plastids and mitochondria are the predominant carriers of extrachromosomal genetic information. There is interplay between the plastids, the mitochondria, and the nuclear genome. In soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., both nuclearly and maternally inherited chlorophyll-deficient mutants have been described. Conditional lethality previously was reported in soybean when maternally inherited chlorophyll-deficient mutant (Genetic Type T275) was crossed with nuclearly inherited yellow foliar malate dehydrogenase null mutants (Genetic Types T253 and T323). Our objective was to test for conditional lethality when maternally inherited yellow foliar mutants T278, T314, T315, T316, T319, and T320 were female parents and nuclearly inherited yellow foliar malate dehydrogenase null mutants T253 and T323 were male parents. Our results indicated conditional lethality in the F2 generation when any of the six cytoplasmically inherited yellow foliar mutants were female parents and either T253 or T323 were male parents. The physiological nature of conditional lethality is not known. Data indicate a common basis in soybean for conditional lethality among the cytoplasmically inherited yellow foliar mutants when crossed with the nuclearly inherited yellow foliar malate dehydrogenase null mutants. No interactions were observed between cytoplasmically inherited or nuclearly inherited green seed embryo mutants as female parents and either T253 or T323 as male parents.

Fertile somatic hybrid between sexually incompatible Hyoscyamus muticus and Hyoscyamus albus

Somatic hybrid plants have been regenerated from fused protoplasts of a chlorophyll deficient mutant of H. muticus (2n=28) with wild type protoplasts of H. albus (2n=68). The inability of protoplasts of H. albus to regenerate was utilized in complementation with achlorophyllous, but regenerating, protoplasts of H. muticus for the selection of green somatic hybrid colonies and plants. The somatic hybrid plants showed intermediate morphological characters, and possessed 82-120 chromosomes, with a modal number of 96 which is also the amphidiploid complement of the two species. The isozyme patterns indicated the presence and expression of genes from both parents. The hybrid plants produced 33-78% viable pollen and set viable seeds upon selfing and backcrossing in a directional manner.

Convertibility of Virescent Rice Associated With the Small Subunit of Ribulose-1, 5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase

Virescent rice is a type of non-lethal chlorophyll deficient mutant generated by natural mutation, genetically known as mutation of nuclear genes. Under normal growing conditions, virescent rices can develop from white seedlings to green seedlings through a half-white stage (white leaves with green strips) and therefore possess the convertibility. This differs definitely from the lethal albino mutant of rice, such as those derived from anther culture. It has been known that the generation of albino pollen plants is due to the

Amplification of repetitive DNA from Nicotiana plumbaginifolia in asymmetric somatic hybrids between Nicotiana sylvestris and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia

Asymmetric somatic hybrids were obtained between a chlorophyll-deficient mutant of Nicotiana sylvestris (V42) and a nitrate-reductase (NR)-deficient line of N. plumbaginifolia (cnx20 or Nia26), using each of the parents alternately as the irradiated donor. Irradiation doses applied ranged from 10 to 1,000 Gy of gamma-rays. Hybrid selection was based on complementation of NR deficiency with wild-type NR genes. To aid in the analysis of somatic hybrids, species-specific repetitive DNA sequences from N. plumbaginifolia (NPR9 and NPR18) were cloned. NPR18 is a dispersed repetitive sequence occupying about 0.4% of the N. plumbaginifolia genome. In turn, NPR9, which is part of a highly repetitive DNA sequence, occupies approximately 3% of the genome. The species-specific plant DNA repeats, together with cytological analysis data, were used to assess the relative amount of the N. plumbaginifolia genome in the somatic hybrids. In fusion experiments using irradiated N. plumbaginifolia, an increase in irradiation dose prior to fusion led to a decrease in N. plumbaginifolia nuclear DNA content per hybrid genome. For some hybrid lines, an increase in the quantity of repetitive sequences was detected. Thus, hybrid lines 1NV/21, 100NV/7, 100NV/ 9, and 100NV/10 (where N. plumbaginifolia was the irradiated donor) were characterized by amplification of NPR9. In the reverse combination (where N. sylvestris was the irradiated donor), an increase in the copy number of NPR18 was determined for hybrid clones 1VC/2, 1VC/3, 100VC/2 and oct100/7. Possible reasons for the amplification of the repeated sequences are discussed.

Selection, Somagenetical and Biochemical Analyses of Chlorophyll—Deficient Mutants from Bulgarian Tobacco Cultivars

ABSTRACTEntirely chlorophyll deficient in vitro mutants from Bulgarian tobacco cultivars were selected after N-nitroso-N-methylurea treatment. The pigment synthesis reversion frequency for chosen mutants was estimated. The cytoplasmic genetic background of the chlorophyll deficiency was proved after fusion-complementation analysis with cytoplasmic chlorophyll deficient mutant N. tabacum—A15. The selected mutants were also biochemically analyzed. The possibility for using of the obtained mutants in the somatic hybridization experiments is discussed

Conditional lethality involving a cytoplasmic mutant and chlorophyll-deficient malate dehydrogenase mutants in soybean

Conditional lethality in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., occurred in F2 plants when cytoplasmicchlorophyll mutant Genetic Type T275 was the female parent and when either nuclear mutants T253 or T323 plants were the male parents. Mutant T253 [Mdh1-n (Urbana) y20 (Urbana) k2] is missing two of three mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase isozymes [Mdh1-n (Urbana)] and has yellowish-green leaves [y20 (Urbana)] and a tan-saddle pattern seed coat (k2). Mutant T323 [Mdh1-n (Ames 2) y20 (Ames 2)] also is missing two of three mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase isozymes [Mdh1-n (Ames 2)] and has yellowishgreen leaves [y20 (Ames 2)], but has yellow seed coat (K2). Mutants T275, T253, and T323 are viable both in the field and glasshouse. The genotypes cyt-Y2 Mdh1-n (Urbana) y20 (Urbana) k2/Mdh1-n (Urbana) y20 (Urbana) k2 and cyt-Y2 Mdh1-n (Ames 2) y20 (Ames 2)/Mdh1-n (Ames 2) y20 (Ames 2) are conditional lethals. These genotypes are lethal under field conditions, but plants survive in reduced light under shadecloth in the glasshouse. We do not know if their interaction with cyt-Y2 is due to Mdh1-n, y20, or Mdh1-n y20. The reciprocal cross (cyt-Y2 as male parent) gives viable genotypes. These conditional lethal genotypes should be useful for studies on the interaction between organelle and nuclear genomes.

Inheritance of malate dehydrogenase nulls in soybean.

Three chlorophyll-deficient mutants (CD-1, CD-2, and CD-3), derived from the progeny of independent germinal revertants from the w4-mutable soybean line [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], were characterized genetically. Electrophoretic analyses indicated that these lines lacked two of three mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase isozymes (MDH-). The absence of two MDH bands was conditioned by a recessive allele at a locus designated Mdh1. All three CDs were allelic to each other and to T253, a Harosoy isoline y20-k2 MDH- from the Genetic Type Collection. The MDH- phenotype and the yellow-green plant phenotype were each inherited as single recessive alleles. No recombination between the two traits was found in nine F2 populations from crosses of the CDs by wild-type soybean lines. Complete linkage of the Mdh1 and y20 loci suggested that the mutations in the chlorophyll-deficient lines were deletions. Phenotypic differences among the CDs suggested that the deletions may have different endpoints. The chromosomal aberrations were not large enough to affect transmission of y20 and Mdh1 mutant alleles through the pollen or ovule. CD-1, CD-2, and CD-3 were added to the Soybean Genetic Type Collection as T323, T324, and T325, respectively.

Occurrence of Temperature-Sensitive Phenotypic Plasticity in Chlorophyll-Deficient Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana

A collection of 75 putative mutants with alterations in leaf pigmentation was visually selected from Arabidopsis thaliana plants (M(2) generation) grown at 26 degrees C from seeds treated with the mutagen ethylmethanesulfonate. Fifty-eight of the plants were found to have chlorophyll contents decreased by at least 10% from the parental Columbia ecotype. These plants were screened for chlorophyll content and the ratio of chlorophyll b/a after growth at 20 or 26 degrees C. Relative to the parental type, a significant number of individuals in which the chlorophyll-deficient phenotype was exacerbated at one of the growth temperatures were identified. We conclude that temperature-sensitive phenotypic plasticity for chlorophyll content is relatively common in mutant populations of higher plants.