title: Overexpression of a tomato miR171 target gene SlGRAS24 impacts multiple agronomical traits via regulating gibberellin and auxin homeostasis.
abstract: In Arabidopsis, the miR171-GRAS module has been clarified as key player in meristem maintenance. However, the knowledge about its role in fruit crops like tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) remains scarce. We previously identified tomato SlGRAS24 as a target gene of Sly-miR171. To study the role of this probable transcription factor, we generated transgenic tomato plants underexpressing SlGRAS24, overexpressing SlGRAS24, overexpressing Sly-miR171 and expressing β-glucuronidase (GUS) under the SlGRAS24 promoter (proSlGRAS24-GUS). Plants overexpressing SlGRAS24 (SlGRAS24-OE) had pleiotropic phenotypes associated with multiple agronomical traits including plant height, flowering time, leaf architecture, lateral branch number, root length, fruit set and development. Many GA/auxin-related genes were down-regulated and altered responsiveness to exogenous IAA/NAA or GA3application was observed in SlGRAS24-OE seedlings. Moreover, compromised fruit set and development in SlGRAS24-OE was also observed. These newly identified phenotypes for SlGRAS24 homologs in tomato were later proved to be caused by impaired pollen sacs and fewer viable pollen grains. At anthesis, the comparative transcriptome results showed altered expression of genes involved in pollen development and hormone signalling. Taken together, our data demonstrate that SlGRAS24 participates in a series of developmental processes through modulating gibberellin and auxin signalling, which sheds new light on the involvement of hormone crosstalk in tomato development.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Shiyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xian
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Dongbo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Guojian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Maozhi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Zhengguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005875:Gibberellins; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D035683:MicroRNAs; D010940:Plant Proteins; D005966:Glucuronidase
keywords: Auxin; SlGRAS24; gibberellin; miR171; tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)