Physiological and transcriptomic responses in the seed coat of field-grown soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) to abiotic stress

Abstract

BackgroundUnderstanding how intensification of abiotic stress due to global climate change affects crop yields is important for continued agricultural productivity. Coupling genomic technologies with physiological crop responses in a dynamic field environment is an effective approach to dissect the mechanisms underpinning crop responses to abiotic stress. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv. Pioneer 93B15) was grown in natural production environments with projected changes to environmental conditions predicted for the end of the century, including decreased precipitation, increased tropospheric ozone concentrations ([O3]), or increased temperature.ResultsAll three environmental stresses significantly decreased leaf-level photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, leading to significant losses in seed yield. This was driven by a significant decrease in the number of pods per node for all abiotic stress treatments. To understand the underlying transcriptomic response involved in the yield response to environmental stress, RNA-Sequencing analysis was performed on the soybean seed coat, a tissue that plays an essential role in regulating carbon and nitrogen transport to developing seeds. Gene expression analysis revealed 49, 148 and 1,576 differentially expressed genes in the soybean seed coat in response to drought, elevated [O3] and elevated temperature, respectively.ConclusionsElevated [O3] and drought did not elicit substantive transcriptional changes in the soybean seed coat. However, this may be due to the timing of sampling and does not preclude impacts of those stresses on different tissues or different stages in seed coat development. Expression of genes involved in DNA replication and metabolic processes were enriched in the seed coat under high temperate stress, suggesting that the timing of events that are important for cell division and proper seed development were altered in a stressful growth environment.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-017-1188-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Importance of Ion Homeostasis and Nutrient Status in Seed Development and Germination

“…In soybean seed coat, the transcriptional response to abiotic stresses including drought, elevated O 3 concentration, or elevated temperature was evaluated during the pod filling developmental stage and few genes were affected by drought and ozone [143]. However, the transcriptomic analysis revealed that 1576 genes were differentially expressed at high temperatures.…”

Full-Length Transcriptome Survey and Expression Analysis of Cassia obtusifolia to Discover Putative Genes Related to Aurantio-Obtusin Biosynthesis, Seed Formation and Development, and Stress Response

“…Furthermore, the seeds are breeding organs in establishment and persistence of medical plants, such as Panax ginseng , Forsythia suspensa , and Alisma plantago-aquatica [ 7 ]. Drought, high salinity, and extreme temperature are the major limiting factors of seed formation, development, and germination [ 8 ]. Therefore, the genetic background of the seed would underlay foundation for exploring the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites in the seed, the molecular mechanism of seed formation and development, and stress response of the seed as well.…”

Transcriptome Analysis of Black and White Sesame Seed Reveals Candidate Genes Associated with Black Seed Development in Sesame (Sesamum Indicum)

“…At 5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26, and 30 DPA, capsules for each variety were sampled from 10 plants (Figure 1), and seeds were separated from the capsules on ice. Different plant seeds were therefore mixed equally and represented samples at 5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26, and 30 DPA. All samples were prepared for two repeats and were subjected to RNA-seq analysis.…”

“…It has become an essential tool for transcriptome-wide analysis of differential gene expression and differential splicing of mRNAs [22]. RNAseq was successfully used to identify candidate genes for seed coat color in many plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana [23], Brassica rapa [24], Brassica napus [25] and soybean [26]. In addition, it has been used to detect candidate genes that shaped oil content variation in sesame [27].…”

“…In addition, it has been used to detect candidate genes that shaped oil content variation in sesame [27]. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome during the seed development stages at the 5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26 and 30 days post-anthesis (DPA) of two sesame varieties different in seed coat color "Zhongfengzhi No.1" (white seed) and "Zhongzhi No.33" (black seed). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and some candidate genes for sesame seed coat color were identi ed.…”