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Obtaining High-Quality Transcriptome Data from Cereal Seeds by a Modified Method for Gene Expression Profiling
Published on: May 21, 2020
Selection for Improved Energy Use Efficiency and Drought Tolerance in Canola Results in Distinct Transcriptome and
Aurine Verkest1, Marina Byzova1, Cindy Martens1
1Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium (A.V., M.B., C.M., P.W., T.V., B.S., D.R., J.V.d.V., K.V., M.V.L., F.V.B.);Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium (A.V., M.B., C.M., P.W., T.V., B.S., D.R., J.V.d.V., K.V., M.V.L., F.V.B.);Bayer CropScience, 9052 Ghent, Belgium (C.M., E.S., M.P., M.D.B.);Department of Medical Protein Research, VIB, 9000 Ghent, Belgium (P.W.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium (P.W.).
Abstract:
To increase both the yield potential and stability of crops, integrated breeding strategies are used that have mostly a direct genetic basis, but the utility of epigenetics to improve complex traits is unclear. A better understanding of the status of the epigenome and its contribution to agronomic performance would help in developing approaches to incorporate the epigenetic component of complex traits into breeding programs. Starting from isogenic canola (Brassica napus) lines, epilines were generated by selecting, repeatedly for three generations, for increased energy use efficiency and drought tolerance. These epilines had an enhanced energy use efficiency, drought tolerance, and nitrogen use efficiency. Transcriptome analysis of the epilines and a line selected for its energy use efficiency solely revealed common differentially expressed genes related to the onset of stress tolerance-regulating signaling events. Genes related to responses to salt, osmotic, abscisic acid, and drought treatments were specifically differentially expressed in the drought-tolerant epilines. The status of the epigenome, scored as differential trimethylation of lysine-4 of histone 3, further supported the phenotype by targeting drought-responsive genes and facilitating the transcription of the differentially expressed genes. From these results, we conclude that the canola epigenome can be shaped by selection to increase energy use efficiency and stress tolerance. Hence, these findings warrant the further development of strategies to incorporate epigenetics into breeding.
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Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Transcription
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Responses to Salt Stress

