Scholarly Work - Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/8870
Browse
4 results
Search Results
Item Canopeo app as image-based phenotyping tool in controlled environment utilizing Arabidopsis mutants(Public Library of Science, 2024-03) Hale, Gabriella; Yuan, Ning; Mendu, Lavanya; Ritchie, Glen; Mendu, VenugopalCanopeo app was developed as a simple, accurate, rapid, and free tool to analyze ground cover fraction (GCF) from red-green-blue (RGB) images and videos captured in the field. With increasing interest in tools for plant phenotyping in controlled environments, the usefulness of Canopeo to identify differences in growth among Arabidopsis thaliana mutants in a controlled environment were explored. A simple imaging system was used to compare Arabidopsis mutants based on the FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX-1 (FKF1) mutation, which has been identified with increased biomass accumulation. Two FKF1 lines such as null expression (fkf1-t) and overexpression (FKF1-OE) lines were used along with wild type (Col-0). Canopeo was used to phenotype plants, based on biomass estimations. Under long-day photoperiod, fkf1-t had increased cellulose biosynthesis, and therefore biomass. Resource partitioning favored seedling vigor and delayed onset of senescence. In contrast, FKF1-OE illustrated a determinative growth habit where plant resources are primarily allocated for seed production. This study demonstrates the use of Canopeo for model plants and highlights its potential for phenotyping broadleaved crops in controlled environments. The value of adapting Canopeo for lab use is those with limited experience and resources have access to phenotyping methodology that is simple, accessible, accurate, and cost-efficient in a controlled environment setting.Item A “solid” solution for wheat stem sawfly (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) resistance: Genetics, breeding and development of solid stem wheat(Wiley, 2023-06) Bathini, Akshara; Mendu, Lavanya; Pratap Singh, Nagendra; Cook, Jason; Weaver, David; Sherman, Jamie; Hager, Megan; Mondal, Suchismita; Mendu, VenugopalWheat (Triticum spp. L) production needs to be improved to meet the needs of a global population of >9 billion people by 2050. Increasing the productivity of the crop under conditions of abiotic and biotic stress to achieve food security continues to be a challenging proposition. Wheat stem sawfly (WSS) (Cephus cinctus Norton) has been considered as a serious pest of wheat since the late 19th century, causing devastating losses of wheat productivity in the Northern Great Plains of United States and regions of Canada. Developing resistant varieties of wheat that show consistent agronomic performances in varying environments is an effective strategy to manage WSS infestations. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms of WSS infestation, damage, subsequent response of the host plant, and resulting yield losses. The review focuses on genetics, breeding, and development of solid stem (SS)-mediated WSS resistance in wheat since it has been the most effective method of genetic resistance in reducing wheat yield losses. Furthermore, the knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to develop an effective resistant cultivar against WSS are also discussed.Item Characterization of chromatin accessibility and gene expression reveal the key genes involved in cotton fiber elongation(Wiley, 2023-07) Chen, Guoquan; Liu, Zhao; Li, Shengdong; Liu, Lili; Wang, Zhi; Mendu, Venugopal; Li, Fuguang; Yang, ZuorenCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important economic crop, and cotton fiber is one of the longest plant cells, which provides an ideal model for the study of cell elongation and secondary cell wall synthesis. Cotton fiber length is regulated by a variety of transcription factors (TF) and their target genes; however, the mechanism of fiber elongation mediated by transcriptional regulatory networks is still unclear to a large extent. Here, we used a comparative assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) assay and RNA-seq analysis to identify fiber elongation transcription factors and genes using the short-fiber mutant ligon linless-2 (Li2) and wild type (WT). A total of 499 differential target genes were identified and GO analysis shows that differential genes are mainly involved in plant secondary wall synthesis and microtubule-binding processes. Analysis of the genomic regions preferentially accessible (Peak) has identified a number of overrepresented TF-binding motifs, highlighting sets of TFs that are important for cotton fiber development. Using ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data, we have constructed a functional regulatory network of each TF regulatory target gene and also the network pattern of TF regulating differential target genes. Further, to obtain the genes related to fiber length, the differential target genes were combined with FLGWAS data to identify the genes highly related to fiber length. Our work provides new insights into cotton fiber elongation.Item Mutation in the Endo-β-1,4-glucanase (KORRIGAN) Is Responsible for Thick Leaf Phenotype in Sorghum(MDPI AG, 2023-12) Mendu, Lavanya; Jalathge, Gayani; Kaur Dhillon, Kamalpreet; Pratap Singh, Nagendra; Kumar Balasubramanian, Vimal; Fewou, Rebecca; Gitz, Dennis C.; Chen, Junping; Xin, Zhanguo; Mendu, VenugopalSorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important crop for food, feed, and fuel production. Particularly, sorghum is targeted for cellulosic ethanol production. Extraction of cellulose from cell walls is a key process in cellulosic ethanol production, and understanding the components involved in cellulose synthesis is important for both fundamental and applied research. Despite the significance in the biofuel industry, the genes involved in sorghum cell wall biosynthesis, modification, and degradation have not been characterized. In this study, we have identified and characterized three allelic thick leaf mutants (thl1, thl2, and thl3). Bulked Segregant Analysis sequencing (BSAseq) showed that the causal mutation for the thl phenotype is in endo-1,4-β-glucanase gene (SbKOR1). Consistent with the causal gene function, the thl mutants showed decreased crystalline cellulose content in the stem tissues. The SbKOR1 function was characterized using Arabidopsis endo-1,4-β-glucanase gene mutant (rsw2-1). Complementation of Arabidopsis with SbKOR1 (native Arabidopsis promoter and overexpression by 35S promoter) restored the radial swelling phenotype of rsw2-1 mutant, proving that SbKOR1 functions as endo-1,4-β-glucanase. Overall, the present study has identified and characterized sorghum endo-1,4-β-glucanase gene function, laying the foundation for future research on cell wall biosynthesis and engineering of sorghum for biofuel production.