Phylogenetic and functional analysis of tiller angle control homeologs in allotetraploid cotton

作者：Foster Kangben, Sonika Kumar, Zhigang Li, Avinash Sreedasyam, Chris Dardick, Don C. Jones, Christopher Saski · 发表于：Frontiers in Plant Science · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3389/fpls.2023.1320638 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Plant Molecular Biology Research、Research in Cotton Cultivation、Light effects on plants

Introduction: Plants can adapt their growth to optimize light capture in competitive environments, with branch angle being a crucial factor influencing plant phenotype and physiology. Decreased branch angles in cereal crops have been shown to enhance productivity in high-density plantings. The Tiller Angle Control (TAC1) gene, known for regulating tiller inclination in rice and corn, has been found to control branch angle in eudicots. Manipulating TAC1 in field crops like cotton offers the potential for improving crop productivity. Methods: Using a homolog-based methodology, we examined the distribution of TAC1-related genes in cotton compared to other angiosperms. Furthermore, tissue-specific qPCR analysis unveiled distinct expression patterns of TAC1 genes in various cotton tissues. To silence highly expressed specific TAC1 homeologs in the stem, we applied CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, followed by genotyping and subsequent phenotypic validation of the mutants. Results: Gene duplication events of TAC1 specific to the Gossypium lineage were identified, with 3 copies in diploid progenitors and 6 copies in allotetraploid cottons. Sequence analysis of the TAC1 homeologs in Gossypium hirsutum revealed divergence from other angiosperms with 1-2 copies, suggesting possible neo- or sub-functionalization for the duplicated copies. These TAC1 homeologs exhibited distinct gene expression patterns in various tissues over developmental time, with el...