Down-regulation of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORS 6 and 8 by microRNA 167 leads to floral development defects and female sterility in tomato

Abstract

SummaryInvestigations into the role of tomato ARF6 and ARF8 reveal that they are critical components in floral and gynoecium development before anthesis.

MicroRNA167-Directed Regulation of the Auxin Response Factors GmARF8a and GmARF8b Is Required for Soybean Nodulation and Lateral Root Development

“…The inconsistent phenotypes indicate that, in addition to miR167c, other miR167 family members may regulate soybean root growth, as current IPS and STTM technologies cannot specifically knock down miR167c. The fact that all the miR167 family members contain similar auxin-responsive cis-elements and nodulin consensus motifs in their promoters supports that they may function coordinately to fine-tune plant development, including the root system, and reproductive growth as well, as in other plants (Liu et al, 2014).…”

Transcriptome Analysis and Identification of Genes Associated with Floral Transition and Flower Development in Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa L.)

“…In Arabidopsis, ARF3 integrates the functions of AGAMOUS and APETALA2 in floral meristem determinacy (Liu et al, 2014b). Another two members, ARF6 and ARF8 have conserved roles in controlling growth and development of vegetative and flower organs (Liu et al, 2014a). In our study, ARF1 predominantly expressed in IM stage and ARF19 highly expressed in FL1 stage, suggesting their different functions in flower development of sugar apple.…”

miRNAs and lncRNAs in reproductive development

“…Thus, miR167 is essential for the correct expression of ARF6 and ARF8 and for both ovule and anther fertility [24]. Overexpressing Arabidopsis miR167 in tomatoes results in the down-regulation of tomato ARF6 and ARF8, resulting in a complete absence of trichomes on the styles, failure of pollen tube formation and sterility [43]. The Arabidopsis miR167 regulation of tomato ARF6 and ARF8 suggests that the target domains of the miRNA are highly conserved over different species.…”