Plant architecture regulation of tomato by the pathway miR156-SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL)

• Grant number: 13/16949-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Tebaldi Silveira Nogueira
• Grantee: Geraldo Felipe Ferreira e Silva
• Home Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/23826-7 - The interplay between GA (gibberellin) and age (miR156 node) pathways controlling tomato flowering, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The architecture of the lateral branches of plants is an important factor that determines the agronomic field production. The formation of lateral buds and their subsequent outgrowth (branching) are key factors that control both leaf biomass production as the number of inflorescences. Interestingly, several members of gene families involved in mechanisms of formation and growth of lateral buds are targets of non-coding RNAs, suggesting that these RNAs are involved in this aspect of plant development. One such example is the family of transcription factors Squamosa (SQUA) promoter binding protein-like (SPL), in which some members are regulated post-transcriptionally by microRNA156 (miR156). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs of 20-22 nucleotides (nt) that play a unique role in plant development, observation confirmed by phenotypic and molecular characterization of transgenic plants and mutants defective in the production of such RNAs. Overexpression of miR156 in Arabidopsis and tomato (this transgenic produced by our research group) promotes severe reduction in apical dominance, leading to increased production of lateral branches and increased biomass. While it is clear the role of miRNA in axillary branches formation, so far there are no studies which elucidate genetic pathways associated with branching altered in response to ectopic expression of miR156. Such studies may contribute not only to a better understanding of the mechanisms associated with the process of formation of lateral organs, but also have potential applications in plant breeding.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SILVA, GERALDO F. F.; SILVA, EDER M.; CORREA, JOAO P. O.; VICENTE, MATEUS H.; JIANG, NAN; NOTINI, MARCELA M.; JUNIOR, AIRTON C.; DE JESUS, FREDERICO A.; CASTILHO, POLLYANNA; CARRERA, ESTHER; LOPEZ-DIAZ, ISABEL; GROTEWOLD, ERICH; PERES, LAZARO E. P.; NOGUEIRA, FABIO T. S. Tomato floral induction and flower development are orchestrated by the interplay between gibberellin and two unrelated microRNA-controlled modules. NEW PHYTOLOGIST, v. 221, n. 3, p. 1328-1344, FEB 2019. Web of Science Citations: 8.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Geraldo Felipe Ferreira e. The interplay between GA (Gibberellin) and Age (miR156 node) pathways controlling tomato flowering. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura Piracicaba.