Abstract
Successful reproduction of the plants is considered as a critical challenge in meeting the nutritional needs of the growing world population. A major significant change in the plant's life cycle is the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase. The flowering and bolting processes are influenced by several genetic and physiological factors. Molecular and genetic studies have identified key factors in age-dependent gene regulatory pathways such as miR172-miR156-SPLs module in phase transition in plants. Unlike in model plants, the role of miR172-miR156-SPLs like regulatory networks remains unexplored in crops such as Beta vulgaris. In the present study, for the first time, miR156 from Beta vulgaris was identified and characterized. miR156 gene from Beta vulgaris was cloned and ectopically overexpressed under the control of strong 35S promoter in sugar beet explants. Subsequently, transcript levels of the miR156 and its known targets (SPL4 and SPL9) were quantified in the transgenic and control plants. Consistent with reported role of mir156 in downregulation of SPL4 and SPL9, miR156 overexpression plants exhibited delayed flowering and atypical rooting pattern indicative of abnormal root development and poor root foraging performance. Altogether, our results suggest that Beta vulgaris miR156 modulate phase transition by acting as negative regulator of SPL4 and SPL9.
Key message
The research confirmed that the overexpression of miR156 has an effective role in the reduction of SPL4 and SPL9 gene expression, and eventually results in beet flowering suppression.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed through the current study will be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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The authors would like to appreciate all supports offered by Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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The research was funded by Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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MA and AM have designed the research. MA has conducted the experiment. All authors had contributed to data analysis. MA and AM have written the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.
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Communicated by Francisco de Assis Alves Mourão Filho.
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Asgari, M., Mirzaie-asl, A., Abdollahi, M.R. et al. Flowering time regulation by the miRNA156 in the beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima). Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 150, 361–370 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-022-02285-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-022-02285-6