The Saururus chinensis genome provides insights into the evolution of pollination strategies and herbaceousness in magnoliids

Autor: Jia‐Yu Xue, Zhen Li, Shuai‐Ya Hu, Shu‐Min Kao, Tao Zhao, Jie‐Yu Wang, Yue Wang, Min Chen, Yichun Qiu, Hai‐Yun Fan, Yang Liu, Zhu‐Qing Shao, Yves Van de Peer
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: PLANT JOURNAL
Plant J
ISSN: 0960-7412
1365-313X
Popis: Saururus chinensis, an herbaceous magnoliid without perianth, represents a clade of early-diverging angiosperms that have gone through woodiness-herbaceousness transition and pollination obstacles: the characteristic white leaves underneath inflorescence during flowering time are considered to be a substitute for perianth to attract insect pollinators. Here, using the newly sequenced S. chinensis genome, we revisited the phylogenetic position of magnoliids within mesangiosperms, and recovered a sister relationship for magnoliids and Chloranthales. By considering differentially expressed genes, we identified candidate genes that are involved in the morphogenesis of the white leaves in S. chinensis. Among those genes, we verified - in a transgenic experiment with Arabidopsis - that increasing the expression of the 'pseudo-etiolation in light' gene (ScPEL) can inhibit the biosynthesis of chlorophyll. ScPEL is thus likely being responsible for the switches between green and white leaves, suggesting that changes in gene expression may underlie the evolution of pollination strategies. Despite being an herbaceous plant, S. chinensis still has vascular cambium and maintains the potential for secondary growth as a woody plant, because the necessary machinery, i.e., the entire gene set involved in lignin biosynthesis, is well preserved. However, similar expression levels of two key genes (CCR and CAD) between the stem and other tissues in the lignin biosynthesis pathway are possibly associated with the herbaceous nature of S. chinensis. In conclusion, the S. chinensis genome provides valuable insights into the adaptive evolution of pollination in Saururaceae and reveals a possible mechanism for the evolution of herbaceousness in magnoliids.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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