Background: Many previous studies have shown that soybean WRKY transcription factors are involved in the plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Phakopsora pachyrhizi is the causal agent of Asian Soybean Rust, one of the most important soybean diseases. There are evidences that WRKYs are involved in the resistance of some soybean genotypes against that fungus. The number of WRKY genes already annotated in soybean genome was underrepresented. In the present study, a genome-wide annotation of the soybean WRKY family was carried out and members involved in the response to P. pachyrhizi were identified.
Results: As a result of a soybean genomic databases search, 182 WRKY-encoding genes were annotated and 33 putative pseudogenes identified. Genes involved in the response to P. pachyrhizi infection were identified using superSAGE, RNA-Seq of microdissected lesions and microarray experiments. Seventy-five genes were differentially expressed during fungal infection. The expression of eight WRKY genes was validated by RT-qPCR. The expression of these genes in a resistant genotype was earlier and/or stronger compared with a susceptible genotype in response to P. pachyrhizi infection. Soybean somatic embryos were transformed in order to overexpress or silence WRKY genes. Embryos overexpressing a WRKY gene were obtained, but they were unable to convert into plants. When infected with P. pachyrhizi, the leaves of the silenced transgenic line showed a higher number of lesions than the wild-type plants.
Conclusions: The present study reports a genome-wide annotation of soybean WRKY family. The participation of some members in response to P. pachyrhizi infection was demonstrated. The results contribute to the elucidation of gene function and suggest the manipulation of WRKYs as a strategy to increase fungal resistance in soybean plants.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172953 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12870-014-0236-0 | DOI Listing |
Plants (Basel)
October 2024
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.
Phytoalexins are plant defense metabolites that are biosynthesized transiently in response to pathogens. Despite that their biosynthesis is highly restricted in plant tissues, the transcription factors that negatively regulate phytoalexin biosynthesis remain largely unknown. Glyceollins are isoflavonoid-derived phytoalexins that have critical roles in protecting soybean crops from the oomycete pathogen .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
November 2024
Department of Zoology, Jhargram Raj College, Jhargram, 721507, India.
The WRKY transcription factor gene family in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (GmWRKY) is critical for the plant's development and stress responses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao
October 2024
College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, China.
The WRKY transcription factor gene family is a plant-specific transcription factor that plays important roles defense responses. Studies in model plant demonstrated that WRKYs function downstream of mitogen activated-protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade and participate in defense responses through activating the expression of defense-related genes. However, the roles of WRKYs in defense responses have not been previously investigated in paleopolyploidy soybean.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNew Phytol
September 2024
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
Genome editing is a revolution in biotechnology for crop improvement with the final product lacking transgenes. However, most derived traits have been generated through edits that create gene knockouts. Our study pioneers a novel approach, utilizing gene editing to enhance gene expression by eliminating transcriptional repressor binding motifs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Genomics
June 2024
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation/Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, 071001, China.
Background: Soybean mosaic disease caused by soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most devastating and widespread diseases in soybean producing areas worldwide. The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are widely involved in plant development and stress responses. However, the roles of the GmWRKY TFs in resistance to SMV are largely unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!