Huani Leng1,2, Cheng Jiang2,3, Xueqin Song4,5, Mengzhu Lu2,3,6, Xianchong Wan7. 1. Institute of New Forestry Technology, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China. 2. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China. 3. Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China. 4. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China. xqsong@caf.ac.cn. 5. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu, 210037, China. xqsong@caf.ac.cn. 6. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu, 210037, China. 7. Institute of New Forestry Technology, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China. xianchong@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Root hydraulic conductance is primarily determined by the conductance of living tissues to radial water flow. Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) in root cortical cells are important for plants to take up water and are believed to be directly involved in cell growth. RESULTS: In this study, we found that constitutive overexpression of the poplar root-specific gene PtoPIP1;1 in Arabidopsis accelerated bolting and flowering. At the early stage of the developmental process, PtoPIP1;1 OE Arabidopsis exhibited faster cell growth in both leaves and roots. The turgor pressure of plants was correspondingly increased in PtoPIP1;1 OE Arabidopsis, and the water status was changed. At the same time, the expression levels of flowering-related genes (CRY1, CRY2 and FCA) and hub genes in the regulatory networks underlying floral timing (FT and SOC1) were significantly upregulated in OE plants, while the floral repressor FLC gene was significantly downregulated. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results of our study indicate that constitutive overexpression of PtoPIP1;1 in Arabidopsis accelerates bolting and flowering through faster cell growth in both the leaf and root at an early stage of the developmental process. The autonomous pathway of flowering regulation may be executed by monitoring developmental age. The increase in turgor and changes in water status with PtoPIP1;1 overexpression play a role in promoting cell growth.
BACKGROUND: Root hydraulic conductance is primarily determined by the conductance of living tissues to radial water flow. Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) in root cortical cells are important for plants to take up water and are believed to be directly involved in cell growth. RESULTS: In this study, we found that constitutive overexpression of the poplar root-specific gene PtoPIP1;1 in Arabidopsis accelerated bolting and flowering. At the early stage of the developmental process, PtoPIP1;1 OE Arabidopsis exhibited faster cell growth in both leaves and roots. The turgor pressure of plants was correspondingly increased in PtoPIP1;1 OE Arabidopsis, and the water status was changed. At the same time, the expression levels of flowering-related genes (CRY1, CRY2 and FCA) and hub genes in the regulatory networks underlying floral timing (FT and SOC1) were significantly upregulated in OE plants, while the floral repressor FLC gene was significantly downregulated. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results of our study indicate that constitutive overexpression of PtoPIP1;1 in Arabidopsis accelerates bolting and flowering through faster cell growth in both the leaf and root at an early stage of the developmental process. The autonomous pathway of flowering regulation may be executed by monitoring developmental age. The increase in turgor and changes in water status with PtoPIP1;1 overexpression play a role in promoting cell growth.
Authors: Benjamin Péret; Guowei Li; Jin Zhao; Leah R Band; Ute Voß; Olivier Postaire; Doan-Trung Luu; Olivier Da Ines; Ilda Casimiro; Mikaël Lucas; Darren M Wells; Laure Lazzerini; Philippe Nacry; John R King; Oliver E Jensen; Anton R Schäffner; Christophe Maurel; Malcolm J Bennett Journal: Nat Cell Biol Date: 2012-09-16 Impact factor: 28.824