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Comparative transcriptome analysis of developmental stages of the L imonium bicolor leaf generates insights into salt gland differentiation
Author(s) -
YUAN FANG,
LYU MINGJU AMY,
LENG BINGYING,
ZHENG GUANGYONG,
FENG ZHONGTAO,
LI PINGHUA,
ZHU XINGUANG,
WANG BAOSHAN
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12514
Subject(s) - salt gland , trichome , biology , epidermis (zoology) , transcriptome , salt (chemistry) , microbiology and biotechnology , ultrastructure , gene , halophyte , secretion , gene expression , mutant , botany , biochemistry , anatomy , ecology , chemistry , salinity
With the expansion of saline land worldwide, it is essential to establish a model halophyte to study the salt‐tolerance mechanism. The salt glands in the epidermis of L imonium bicolor (a recretohalophyte) play a pivotal role in salt tolerance by secreting excess salts from tissues. Despite the importance of salt secretion, nothing is known about the molecular mechanisms of salt gland development. In this study, we applied RNA sequencing to profile early leaf development using five distinct developmental stages, which were quantified by successive collections of the first true leaves of L . bicolor with precise spatial and temporal resolution. Specific gene expression patterns were identified for each developmental stage. In particular, we found that genes controlling salt gland differentiation in L . bicolor may evolve in a trichome formation, which was also confirmed by mutants with increased salt gland densities. Genes involved in the special ultrastructure of salt glands were also elucidated. Twenty‐six genes were proposed to participate in salt gland differentiation. Our dataset sheds light on the molecular processes underpinning salt gland development and thus represents a first step towards the bioengineering of active salt‐secretion capacity in crops.