image:
Vectors used in this study and infection flowchart. Plasmid profiles of (a) pTRV1, (b) pTRV2, (c) pTRV2::PDS410, and (d) pTRV2::CeTCP14. Changes in leaf color by (e) leaf injection method and (f) bulb vacuum injection method.
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The research team established a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system in taro, allowing researchers to quickly validate gene function in this underutilized crop. By utilizing tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based vectors, this research paves the way for significant advances in taro breeding and genetic resource utilization, increasing the demand for improved crop varieties for both food and industrial applications. This is to deal with the increasing number of people.
Taro (Colocasia esculenta), a tropical root crop, ranks fifth among root crops in the world and has considerable economic importance. It is rich in nutrients and widely used in both food and industrial processing. However, research has been limited due to the long growth cycle of taro and the lack of effective genetic transformation systems. In recent years, consumer interest in the nutritional and health benefits of crops has increased, increasing the demand for new varieties. A stable and efficient system for verifying gene function is essential for breeding high-quality taro varieties. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) has been recognized as a promising tool for this purpose due to its high efficiency, low cost, and rapid results.
The study, published September 11, 2024 in Tropical Plants (DOI: 10.48130/tp-0024-0025), aims to increase the use of genetic resources and breed taro varieties to meet the evolving needs of the market. We support you.
In this study, we investigated gene function in taro using a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method using TRV-based vectors. The gene CePDS was selected as an indicator to validate the silencing process using leaf injection at a bacterial solution concentration of OD600 = 0.6. After 20 days, photobleaching appeared on the leaves, and after 10 days, almost the entire leaf turned white, indicating successful gene silencing in 12.23% of the plants. RT-PCR confirmed that the phenotypic changes were due to CePDS silencing, the expression level decreased from 59.34% to 77.18% and the chlorophyll content decreased from 37.80% to 56.11% compared to the control. . Further optimization of the VIGS system by adjusting the bacterial solution concentration to OD600=1.0 increased the silencing rate to 27.77%, but no significant difference was observed between the leaf injection method and the bulb vacuum infiltration method .
The robustness of this system was tested by silencing the CeTCP14 gene, which was previously confirmed to be upregulated during the early stages of corm expansion. Silencing CeTCP14 decreased gene expression by 36.66% to 56.06%, resulting in a significant decrease in starch content to 70.88% to 80.61% of the control level. These findings suggest that CeTCP14 plays a role in starch accumulation in taro corms and provide a basis for future studies on genetic interactions regulating starch biosynthesis.
Dr. Huang Yingjin, the study’s principal investigator, said: This represents an important advance in taro functional genomics and has the potential to accelerate the development of improved taro varieties, benefiting both farmers and consumers. ”
The development of a robust VIGS system in taro represents a pivotal moment in the field of plant molecular biology. This system enables rapid and efficient validation of gene function and addresses a long-standing gap in taro research. With future improvements, this technology could unlock new possibilities for taro breeding and ensure that taro crops continue to thrive in agriculture around the world and meet growing consumer demand.
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References
Toi
10.48130/tp-0024-0025
Original source URL
https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/tp-0024-0025
Funding information
This study was supported by the Key Research and Development Project of Jiangxi Province, China (grant number 20212BBF61001), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32060683), the Natural Science Youth Foundation of Jiangxi Province (20224BAB215025), and the Jiangxi Provincial Youth Foundation. State Department of Education (GJJ210442).
About tropical plants
Tropical Plants (e-ISSN 2833-9851) is the official journal of Hainan University and published by Minimum Academic Press. ‘Tropical Plants’ aims to enable the rapid dissemination of research results, facilitate the exchange of academic knowledge, and foster academic debate about innovative techniques and issues emerging in tropical plant research. It has undergone rigorous peer review and is published in open access format.
Research method
experimental research
Research theme
not applicable
Article title
Construction and application of virus-induced gene silencing system in taro
Article publication date
September 11, 2024
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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