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Intracellular Ca and K concentration in Brassica oleracea leaf induces differential expression of transporter and stress-related genes

BMC Genomics, ISSN: 1471-2164, Vol: 17, Issue: 1, Page: 211
2016
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Article Description

Background: One of the most important members of the genus Brassica, cabbage, requires a relatively high level of calcium for normal growth (Plant Cell Environ 7: 397-405, 1984; Plant Physiol 60: 854-856, 1977). Localized Ca deficiency in cabbage leaves causes tip-burn, bringing about serious economic losses (Euphytica 9:203-208, 1960; Ann Bot 43:363-372, 1979; Sci Hortic 14:131-138, 1981). Although it has been known that the occurrence of tip-burn is related to Ca deficiency, there is limited information on the underlying mechanisms of tip-burn or the relationship between Ca and tip-burn incidence. To obtain more information on the genetic control of tip-burn symptoms, we focused on the identification of genes differentially expressed in response to increasing intracellular Ca and K concentrations in B. oleracea lines derived from tip-burn susceptible, tip-burn resistant cabbages (B. oleracea var. capitata), and kale (B. oleracea var. acephala). Results: We compared the levels of major macronutrient cations, including Ca and K, in three leaf segments, the leaf apex (LA), middle of leaf (LM), and leaf base (LB), of tip-burn susceptible, tip-burn resistant cabbages, and kale. Ca and K concentrations were highest in kale, followed by tip-burn resistant and then tip-burn susceptible cabbages. These cations generally accumulated to a greater extent in the LB than in the LA. Transcriptome analysis identified 58,096 loci as putative non-redundant genes in the three leaf segments of the three B. oleracea lines and showed significant changes in expression of 27,876 loci based on Ca and K levels. Among these, 1844 loci were identified as tip-burn related phenotype-specific genes. Tip-burn resistant cabbage and kale-specific genes were largely related to stress and transport activity based on GO annotation. Tip-burn resistant cabbage and kale plants showed phenotypes clearly indicative of heat-shock, freezing, and drought stress tolerance compared to tip-burn susceptible cabbages, demonstrating a correlation between intracellular Ca and K concentrations and tolerance of abiotic stress with differential gene expression. We selected 165 genes that were up- or down-regulated in response to increasing Ca and K concentrations in the three leaf segments of the three plant lines. Gene ontology enrichment analysis indicated that these genes participated in regulatory metabolic processes or stress responses. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the genes involved in regulatory metabolic processes or stress responses were differentially expressed in response to increasing Ca and K concentrations in the B. oleracea leaf. Our transcriptome data and the genes identified may serve as a starting point for understanding the mechanisms underlying essential macronutrient deficiencies in plants, as well as the features of tip-burn in cabbage and other Brassica species.

Bibliographic Details

Lee, Jeongyeo; Kim, Jungeun; Choi, Jae-Pil; Lee, MiYe; Kim, Min Keun; Lee, Young Han; Hur, Yoonkang; Nou, Ill-Sup; Park, Sang Un; Min, Sung Ran; Kim, HyeRan

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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