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Research article
Michael Webster Bevan
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8264-2354
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Background. The same species of plant can exhibit very diverse sizes and shapes of organs that are genetically determined. Characterising genetic variation underlying this morphological diversity is an important objective in evolutionary studies and it also helps identify the functions of genes influencing plant growth and development. Extensive screens of mutagenised Arabidopsis populations have identified multiple genes and mechanisms affecting organ size and shape, but relatively few studies have exploited the rich diversity of natural populations to identify genes involved in growth control.
Results. We screened a relatively well characterised collection of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions for variation in petal size. Association analyses identified sequence and gene expression variation on chromosome 4 that made a substantial contribution to differences in petal area. Variation in the expression of a previously uncharacterised gene At4g16850 (named as KSK) had a substantial role on variation in organ size by influencing cell size. Over-expression of KSK led to larger petals with larger cells and promoted the formation of stamenoid features. The expression of auxin-responsive genes known to limit cell growth was reduced in response to KSK over-expression. ANT expression was also reduced in KSK over-expression lines, consistent with altered floral identities. Auxin responses were reduced in KSK over-expressing cells, consistent with changes in auxin-responsive gene expression. KSK may therefore influence auxin responses during petal development.
Conclusions. Understanding how genetic variation influences plant growth is important for both evolutionary and mechanistic studies. We used natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana to identify sequence variation in a promoter region of Arabidopsis accessions that mediated differences in the expression of a previously uncharacterised membrane protein. This variation contributed to altered auxin responses and cell size during petal growth.
Keywords
Arabidopsis thaliana, organ size variation, natural genetic variation, auxin responses
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Figure 6
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
- TableS1.docx
- TableS2.xlsx
- TableS3.docx
- TableS4.xlsx
- FigureS1.pptx
- FigureS2.docx
- FigureS3.docx
- AdditionFile1.docx
Additional File 1: List of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions used in the GWAS analysis.
- AdditionalFile2.xlsx
Additional File 2: Petal phenotype data.
- AdditionalFile3.pptx
Additional File 3: Representative petals from the Swedish accessions.
- AdditionalFile4.docx
Additional File 4: Q-RT-PCR analysis of At4g16850 in seedlings of Col-0, Dju-1, T880 and T1070.
- AdditionalFile5.docx
Additional File 5: Promoter alignments of the Dju-1 and Col-0 KSK genes.
- AdditionalFile6.docx
Additional File 6: Organ counts in Col-0 and 35S::KSK flowers.
- AdditionalFile7.xlsx
Additional File 7: Primer sequences used in this study.
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View the published article at BMC Plant Biology.
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Editorial decision: Accept
On 13 Oct, 2020
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Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 02 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 28 Sep, 2020
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On 27 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 27 Sep, 2020
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Review #2 received
Received 17 Sep, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 17 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 14 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 14 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 27 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 26 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 26 Aug, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 13 Feb, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 12 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 03 Feb, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 31 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 31 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Jan, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 29 Jan, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Jan, 2020
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On 16 Jan, 2020
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On 16 Jan, 2020
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A new preprint design is coming!
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See the published version of this preprint at BMC Plant Biology.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Michael Webster Bevan
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8264-2354
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Plant Biology.
Version 4
Posted 21 Oct, 2020
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 14 Oct, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 13 Oct, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 02 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 28 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 27 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 27 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 17 Sep, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 17 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 14 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 14 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 27 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 26 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 26 Aug, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 13 Feb, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 12 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 03 Feb, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 31 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 31 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Jan, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 29 Jan, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 16 Jan, 2020
First submitted
On 14 Jan, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Plant Biology.
Background. The same species of plant can exhibit very diverse sizes and shapes of organs that are genetically determined. Characterising genetic variation underlying this morphological diversity is an important objective in evolutionary studies and it also helps identify the functions of genes influencing plant growth and development. Extensive screens of mutagenised Arabidopsis populations have identified multiple genes and mechanisms affecting organ size and shape, but relatively few studies have exploited the rich diversity of natural populations to identify genes involved in growth control.
Results. We screened a relatively well characterised collection of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions for variation in petal size. Association analyses identified sequence and gene expression variation on chromosome 4 that made a substantial contribution to differences in petal area. Variation in the expression of a previously uncharacterised gene At4g16850 (named as KSK) had a substantial role on variation in organ size by influencing cell size. Over-expression of KSK led to larger petals with larger cells and promoted the formation of stamenoid features. The expression of auxin-responsive genes known to limit cell growth was reduced in response to KSK over-expression. ANT expression was also reduced in KSK over-expression lines, consistent with altered floral identities. Auxin responses were reduced in KSK over-expressing cells, consistent with changes in auxin-responsive gene expression. KSK may therefore influence auxin responses during petal development.
Conclusions. Understanding how genetic variation influences plant growth is important for both evolutionary and mechanistic studies. We used natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana to identify sequence variation in a promoter region of Arabidopsis accessions that mediated differences in the expression of a previously uncharacterised membrane protein. This variation contributed to altered auxin responses and cell size during petal growth.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
- TableS1.docx
- TableS2.xlsx
- TableS3.docx
- TableS4.xlsx
- FigureS1.pptx
- FigureS2.docx
- FigureS3.docx
- AdditionFile1.docx
Additional File 1: List of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions used in the GWAS analysis.
- AdditionalFile2.xlsx
Additional File 2: Petal phenotype data.
- AdditionalFile3.pptx
Additional File 3: Representative petals from the Swedish accessions.
- AdditionalFile4.docx
Additional File 4: Q-RT-PCR analysis of At4g16850 in seedlings of Col-0, Dju-1, T880 and T1070.
- AdditionalFile5.docx
Additional File 5: Promoter alignments of the Dju-1 and Col-0 KSK genes.
- AdditionalFile6.docx
Additional File 6: Organ counts in Col-0 and 35S::KSK flowers.
- AdditionalFile7.xlsx
Additional File 7: Primer sequences used in this study.
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