Allopolyploidization in Cucumis contributes to delayed leaf maturation with repression of redundant homoeologous genes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Allopolyploidization in Cucumis contributes to delayed leaf maturation with repression of redundant homoeologous genes

AU - Yu, Xiaqing

AU - Wang, Xixi

AU - Hyldgaard, Benita

AU - Zhu, Zaobing

AU - Zhou, Rong

AU - Kjær, Katrine Heinsvig

AU - Ouzounis, Theoharis

AU - Lou, Qunfeng

AU - Li, Ji

AU - Cai, Qingsheng

AU - Rosenqvist, Eva

AU - Ottosen, Carl Otto

AU - Chen, Jinfeng

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - The important role of polyploidy in plant evolution is widely recognized. However, many questions remain to be explored to address how polyploidy affects the phenotype of the plant. To shed light on the phenotypic and molecular impacts of allopolyploidy, we investigated the leaf development of a synthesized allotetraploid (Cucumis × hytivus), with an emphasis on chlorophyll development. Delayed leaf maturation was identified in C. × hytivus, based on delayed leaf expansion, initial chlorophyll deficiency in the leaves and disordered sink-source transition. Anatomical observations also revealed disturbed chloroplast development in C. ×hytivus. The determination of chlorophyll biosynthesis intermediates suggested that the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway of C. × hytivus is blocked at the site at which uroporphyrinogen III is catalysed to coproporphyrinogen III. Three chlorophyll biosynthesis-related genes, HEMA1, HEME2 and POR, were significantly repressed in C. × hytivus. Sequence alignment showed both synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions in the HEMA1, HEME2 and POR genes of the parents. Cloning of the chlorophyll biosynthetic genes suggested the retention of homoeologs. In addition, a chimeric clone of the HEMA1 gene that consisted of homologous genes from the parents was identified in C. × hytivus. Overall, our results showed that allopolyploidization in Cucumis has resulted in disturbed chloroplast development and reduced chlorophyll biosynthesis caused by the repressed expression of duplicated homologous genes, which further led to delayed leaf maturation in the allotetraploid, C. × hytivus. The preferential retention/loss of certain types of genes and non-reciprocal homoeologous recombination were also supported in the present study, which provides new insights into the impact of allopolyploidy.

AB - The important role of polyploidy in plant evolution is widely recognized. However, many questions remain to be explored to address how polyploidy affects the phenotype of the plant. To shed light on the phenotypic and molecular impacts of allopolyploidy, we investigated the leaf development of a synthesized allotetraploid (Cucumis × hytivus), with an emphasis on chlorophyll development. Delayed leaf maturation was identified in C. × hytivus, based on delayed leaf expansion, initial chlorophyll deficiency in the leaves and disordered sink-source transition. Anatomical observations also revealed disturbed chloroplast development in C. ×hytivus. The determination of chlorophyll biosynthesis intermediates suggested that the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway of C. × hytivus is blocked at the site at which uroporphyrinogen III is catalysed to coproporphyrinogen III. Three chlorophyll biosynthesis-related genes, HEMA1, HEME2 and POR, were significantly repressed in C. × hytivus. Sequence alignment showed both synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions in the HEMA1, HEME2 and POR genes of the parents. Cloning of the chlorophyll biosynthetic genes suggested the retention of homoeologs. In addition, a chimeric clone of the HEMA1 gene that consisted of homologous genes from the parents was identified in C. × hytivus. Overall, our results showed that allopolyploidization in Cucumis has resulted in disturbed chloroplast development and reduced chlorophyll biosynthesis caused by the repressed expression of duplicated homologous genes, which further led to delayed leaf maturation in the allotetraploid, C. × hytivus. The preferential retention/loss of certain types of genes and non-reciprocal homoeologous recombination were also supported in the present study, which provides new insights into the impact of allopolyploidy.

KW - allopolyploidy

KW - chlorophyll

KW - Cucumis

KW - delayed maturity

KW - homoeolog

KW - recombination

KW - retention

U2 - 10.1111/tpj.13865

DO - 10.1111/tpj.13865

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29421854

AN - SCOPUS:85044230889

SN - 0960-7412

VL - 94

SP - 393

EP - 404

JO - Plant Journal

JF - Plant Journal

IS - 2

ER -