JcSEP3 regulates stamen development in Jatropha curcas
SEPALLATA聽(SEP) genes are the plant-specific MIKC-type MADS-box genes, belonging to the class E genes in the ABCE model of flower organ development.
The function of聽SEPs聽in the regulation of floral organ development is widely present in plants. However, the function of聽JcSEP聽genes in regulating flower development remains unclear in聽Jatropha curcas, a promising biofuel plant.听
In a study published in Planta, a research team聽from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences聽investigated the role of the聽JcSEP3聽gene in floral organ development in the woody plant聽Jatropha curcas.
The researchers constructed the聽JcSEP3-overexpressing and JcSEP3-RNA interference (RNAi) vectors to transform聽Jatropha. Positive transgenic plants were further confirmed using qRT-PCR analysis.
They found that the overexpressing聽JcSEP3聽in inflorescence buds caused abnormal phenotypes of the聽JcSEP3-overexpressing transgenic plants, which implies that JcSEP3聽is an important regulator in the development of stamens of聽Jatropha.听
To further understand genetic changes in transgenic plants at genome-wide level, the researchers compared transcriptome changes in inflorescences between the聽JcSEP3-overexpressing,聽JcSEP3-RNAi transgenic and wild-type plants.听
In the聽JcSEP3-overexpressing transgenic plants, they discovered 25 upregulated genes involved in anther and pollen development, as well as 12 induced genes in brassinosteroid (BR) and gibberellin (GA) signaling pathways.
"Our results suggest that聽JcSEP3聽directly or indirectly regulates stamen development, concomitant with the regulation of BR and GA signaling pathways," said Chen Maosheng of XTBG.
More information: Mei-Li Zhao et al, An ortholog of the MADS-box gene SEPALLATA3 regulates stamen development in the woody plant Jatropha curcas, Planta (2022).
Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences