Genome-Wide Analysis of SQUAMOSA-Promoter-Binding Protein-like Family in Flowering <i>Pleioblastus pygmaeus</i>
SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) family is well-known for playing an important role in plant growth and development, specifically in the reproductive process. Bamboo plants have special reproductive characteristics with a prolonged vegetative phase and uncertain flowering time. However,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/22/14035 |
| Summary: | SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) family is well-known for playing an important role in plant growth and development, specifically in the reproductive process. Bamboo plants have special reproductive characteristics with a prolonged vegetative phase and uncertain flowering time. However, the underlying functions of SPL genes in reproductive growth are undisclosed in bamboo plants. In the study, a total of 28 SPLs were screened from an ornamental dwarf bamboo species, <i>Pleioblastus pygmaeus</i>. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that 183 SPLs from eight plant species can be classified into nine subfamilies, and the 28 <i>PpSPLs</i> are distributed among eight subfamilies. Homologous analysis shows that as many as 32 pairs of homologous genes were found between <i>P</i>. <i>pygmaeus</i> and rice, and 83 pairs were found between <i>P</i>. <i>pygmaeus</i> and Moso bamboo, whose Ka/Ks values are all <1. MiRNA target prediction reveals that 13 out of the 28 <i>PpSPLs</i> have recognition sites complementary to <i>miRNA156</i>. To screen the SPLs involved in the reproductive growth of bamboo plants, the mRNA abundance of the 28 <i>PpSPLs</i> was profiled in the different tissues of flowering <i>P</i>. <i>pygmaeus</i> and non-flowering plants by RNA-Seq. Moreover, the relative expression level of eight <i>PpSPLs</i> is significantly higher in flowering <i>P</i>. <i>pygmaeus</i> than that in non-flowering plants, which was also validated by RT-qPCR. Combined with phylogenetic analysis and homologous analysis, the eight significant, differentially expressed <i>PpSPLs</i> were identified to be associated with the reproductive process and flower organ development. Among them, there are four potential <i>miRNA156</i>-targeting <i>PpSPLs</i> involved in the flowering process. Of significant interest in the study is the identification of 28 SPLs and the exploration of four key flowering-related SPLs from <i>P</i>. <i>pygmaeus</i>, which provides a theoretic basis for revealing the underlying functions of SPLs in the reproductive growth of bamboo plants. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |