Open AccessMicro RNA 156 as a promising tool for alfalfa improvement
Author(s) -
Aung Banyar,
Gruber Margaret Y.,
Amyot Lisa,
Omari Khaled,
Bertrand Annick,
Hannoufa Abdelali
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12308
Subject(s) - biology , shoot , medicago sativa , trichome , gene , cellulose , starch , transgene , genetically modified crops , botany , biomass (ecology) , agronomy , biochemistry
Summary A precursor of miR156 (MsmiR156d) was cloned and overexpressed in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) as a means to enhance alfalfa biomass yield. Of the five predicted SPL genes encoded by the alfalfa genome, three ( SPL 6, SPL 12 and SPL 13 ) contain miR156 cleavage sites and their expression was down‐regulated in transgenic alfalfa plants overexpressing miR156. These transgenic plants had reduced internode length and stem thickness, enhanced shoot branching, increased trichome density, a delay in flowering time and elevated biomass production. Minor effects on sugar, starch, lignin and cellulose contents were also observed. Moreover, transgenic alfalfa plants had increased root length, while nodulation was maintained. The multitude of traits affected by miR156 may be due to the network of genes regulated by the three target SPL s. Our results show that the miR156/ SPL system has strong potential as a tool to substantially improve quality and yield traits in alfalfa.