Premium
Reduced expression of selected FASCICLIN‐LIKE ARABINOGALACTAN PROTEIN genes associates with the abortion of kernels in field crops of Zea mays (maize) and of A rabidopsis seeds
Author(s) -
Cagnola Juan Ignacio,
Dumont de Chassart Gonzalo Javier,
Ibarra Silvia Elizabeth,
Chimenti Claudio,
Ricardi Martiniano María,
Delzer Brent,
Ghiglione Hernán,
Zhu Tong,
Otegui María Elena,
Estevez José Manuel,
Casal Jorge José
Publication year - 2018
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.13136
Subject(s) - silique , biology , arabidopsis thaliana , arabidopsis , pollination , gene , abortion , botany , horticulture , mutant , pollen , genetics , pregnancy
Abortion of fertilized ovaries at the tip of the ear can generate significant yield losses in maize crops. To investigate the mechanisms involved in this process, 2 maize hybrids were grown in field crops at 2 sowing densities and under 3 irrigation regimes (well‐watered control, drought before pollination, and drought during pollination), in all possible combinations. Samples of ear tips were taken 2–6 days after synchronous hand pollination and used for the analysis of gene expression and sugars. Glucose and fructose levels increased in kernels with high abortion risk. Several FASCICLIN‐LIKE ARABINOGALACTAN PROTEIN ( FLA ) genes showed negative correlation with abortion. The expression of ZmFLA7 responded to drought only at the tip of the ear. The abundance of arabinogalactan protein (AGP) glycan epitopes decreased with drought and pharmacological treatments that reduce AGP activity enhanced the abortion of fertilized ovaries. Drought also reduced the expression of AthFLA9 in the siliques of Arabidopsis thaliana . Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function mutants of Arabidopsis showed a negative correlation between AthFLA9 and seed abortion . On the basis of gene expression patterns, pharmacological, and genetic evidence, we propose that stress‐induced reductions in the expression of selected FLA genes enhance abortion of fertilized ovaries in maize and Arabidopsis.