Biology subjects

Vicente, M. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Vicente, M. H..

10 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

SELF-PRUNING 5G interplays with age and gibberellin pathways downstream of SlCOL1 to orchestrate photoperiodic tomato flowering

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is classified as a day-neutral plant, whereas its wild relatives exhibit delayed flowering under long day (LD) conditions due to higher activity of the SELF-PRUNING 5G (SP5G). In Arabidopsis thaliana, CONSTANS (CO) activates FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), a homolog of SP5G, but whether and how CO integrates with SP5G in tomato flowering was unclear. Here, we demonstrate that SlCOL1 (the tomato CO homolog) delays flowering by directly activating SP5G in a PHYTOCHROME B1 (PHYB1)-dependent manner. Importantly, genetic and molecular analyses combining a photoperiod-responsive tomato line carrying the wild SP5G allele from S. pennellii, together with SlCOL1 and flowering-pathway mutants, revealed synergistic crosstalk among the photoperiodic SlCOL1-SP5G module, age-dependent pathway (mediated mainly by the microRNA156-SlSBP module), gibberellin (GA) pathway, and SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) pathway. Mechanistically, we show that SP5G forms a complex with miR156-targeted SlSBP13 to directly regulate SFT expression, and that GA may interfere with SP5G activity. Together, these findings revealed a coordinated network that integrates multiple flowering signals to modulate both shared and pathway-specific targets. Our findings provide a significant advance in understanding the molecular regulation of tomato flowering and offer promising avenues for breeding strategies optimized for diverse environmental conditions and latitudes.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

The microRNA156/SPL9 module mediates auxin response to facilitate apical hook maintenance in Arabidopsis

Auxin coordinates cell growth by promoting or inhibiting cell expansion during etiolated seedling development, but whether and how microRNA modules participate in this process remains unclear. Here, we show the miRNA156/SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING-PROTEIN-LIKE9 (miR156/SPL9) module is critical for skotomorphogenesis. Perturbation of the miR156/SPL9 module affected skotomorphogenesis, as the loss of miR156 function or SPL9 de-repression led to shorter hypocotyl, higher hook angle, and delayed hook opening. Opposing phenotypes were observed in dark-grown spl9 and miR156-overexpressing seedlings. Importantly, loss of miR156-dependent SPL9 regulation triggered apical hook formation even under reduced levels of endogenous auxin. miR156-targeted SPL9 arrested cell expansion by repressing small auxin-up RNA19 (SAUR19) gene in a FRUITFULL (FUL)-dependent and independent manner. The conserved miR156/SPL9/15 module also affects skotomorphogenesis in tomato, impacting its successful soil emergence. Our findings unravel how the miR156/SPL9 module plays a pivotal role in the auxin network coordinating apical hook development to enable appropriate seedling emergence.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Gibberellin and the miRNA156-targeted SlSBPs synergistically regulate tomato floral meristem activity and fruit patterning

Many developmental processes associated with fruit development take place at the floral meristem (FM). Age-regulated microRNA156 (miR156) and gibberellins (GA) interact to control flowering time, but their interplay in subsequent stages of reproductive development is poorly understood. Here, we show that GA and miR156 function in tomato FM and fruit patterning. High GA responses or overexpression of miR156 (156OE), which leads to low levels of miR156-targeted SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN- LIKE (SPL/SBP), resulted in enlarged FMs, defects in FM determinacy and fruits with increased locule number. Conversely, low GA responses reduced fruit indeterminacy and locule number, and overexpression of a miR156-resistant SlSBP15 allele (rSBP15) reduced cell number and size in the FM, as well as locule number. GA responses were partially required for the fruit defects observed in 156OE and rSBP15 plants. Transcriptome analysis and genetic interactions revealed shared and divergent functions of miR156-targeted SlSBPs, PROCERA/DELLA and the classical WUSCHEL/CLAVATA pathway, which has been previously associated with meristem size and determinacy. Our findings reveal that the miR156/SlSBP/GA regulatory module is deployed differently depending on developmental stage and create novel opportunities to genetically fine-tune aspects of fruit development that have been important for tomato domestication.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

The miR156-targeted SlSBP15 represses tomato shoot branching via modulating auxin transport and interacting with GOBLET and BRANCHED1b

The microRNA156 (miR156)/SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL/SBP) regulatory hub is highly conserved among phylogenetically distinct species, but how it interconnects multiple pathways to converge to common integrators controlling shoot architecture is still unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the miR156/SlSBP15 hub modulates tomato shoot branching (SB) by connecting phytohormones with important genetic pathways regulating both axillary bud (AB) development and outgrowth. We verified that plants overexpressing the miR156 (156-OE plants) display high SB, whereas plants overexpressing a miR156-resistant SlSBP15 alelle (rSBP15 plants) display arrested SB and are able to partially restore the wild-type (WT) phenotype in156-OE background. Although rSBP15 plants showed ABs smaller than MT, its activation is dependent on shoot apex-derived auxin transport inhibition. Additionally, hormonal measurements reveal that IAA and ABA concentrations were lower in 156-OE and higher in rSBP15-OE plants. SlSBP15 regulates AB development and outgrowth by inhibiting auxin transport and the activity of GOBLET (GOB), and by interacting with BRANCHED1b (SlBRC1b) at the protein level to control abscisic acid (ABA) levels within ABs. Our data provide a new mechanism by which the miR156/SPL/SBP hub regulates SB, and suggest that SlSBP15 has potential applications in improving tomato architecture.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2022

miR319-targeted TCP4/LANCEOLATE directly regulates OVATE and auxin responses to modulate tomato gynoecium patterning and fruit morphology

Diversity in fruit morphology is one of the hallmarks of varietal differences among modern cultivars of fruit-bearing crops. As evolutionarily related organs, fruits and leaves share developmental processes, but there are surprisingly few connections between regulatory pathways for fruit and leaf development. Here, we show the regulation of the leaf development-associated TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) TCP4/LANCEOLATE (TCP4/LA) transcription factor by the microRNA319 (miR319) is crucial for gynoecium patterning and establishment of fruit morphology. Loss of miR319 regulation leads to a premature, ectopic TCP4/LA expression during gynoecium patterning, which results in elongated fruits, resembling ovate mutants. TCP4/LA modulates tomato fruit development and morphology partially by directly repressing OVATE expression as early as 5-8 days post-inflorescence (dpi) flower buds. Furthermore, miR319-targeted CINCINNATA-like TCP4/LANCEOLATE controls auxin responses in developing flower buds by directly binding to the SlYUCCA4 promoter. Modulation of auxin biosynthesis by TCP4/LA is shared with other CINCINNATA-like TCPs during Arabidopsis gynoecium patterning. Our study defines a novel miRNA-based molecular link between OVATE, a fundamental gene associated with tomato domestication, and auxin responses in the control of fruit development and morphology. Given the striking variation in fruit shape among members of the Solanaceae family, fine-tuning regulation of gene expression by miRNA coupled with modulation of hormone dynamics may be a common driver in the evolution of fruit-shape diversity.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

SELF PRUNING 3C is a flowering repressor that modulates seed germination, root architecture and drought responses

Allelic variation in the CETS (CENTRORADIALIS, TERMINAL FLOWER 1, SELF PRUNING) gene family has been shown to control agronomically important traits in many crops. CETS genes encode phosphatidylethanolamine binding proteins (PEBPs) that have a central role in flowering time control as florigenic and anti-florigenic signals. The great expansion of CETS genes in many species suggests that the functions of this family go beyond flowering. Here, we characterize the tomato SELF PRUNING 3C (SP3C) gene, and show that besides acting as a flowering repressor it also regulates seed germination and modulates root architecture. We show that loss of SP3C function in CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutant lines accelerates seed germination and increases root length with lower root side branching. Higher SP3C expression in transgenic lines promotes the opposite effects and also improves tolerance to water stress in seedlings. These discoveries provide insights into the role of SP paralogs in agronomically relevant traits and support future exploration of the involvement of CETS genes in abiotic stress responses. HighlightThe SELF PRUNING 3C (SP3C) gene is a repressor of flowering in tomato and exhibits additional functions, acting as a repressor of seed germination and modulating root architecture.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Introgression of type-IV glandular trichomes from Solanum galapagense to cultivated tomato reveals genetic complexity for the development of acylsugar-based insect resistance

Glandular trichomes are involved in the production of food- and medicine-relevant chemicals in plants, besides being associated with pest resistance. In some wild Solanum species closely related to the cultivated tomato (S. lycopersicum), the presence of type-IV glandular trichomes leads to the production of high levels of insecticide acylsugars (AS). Conversely, low AS production observed in the cultivated tomato is attributed to its incapacity to develop type-IV trichomes in adult organs. Therefore, we hypothesized that cultivated tomatoes engineered to harbor type-IV trichomes on the leaves of mature plants can be pest resistant. We introgressed into the tomato cultivar Micro-Tom (MT) the capability of S. galapagense to maintain the development of type-IV trichomes throughout all plant stages, thus creating a line named "Galapagos enhanced trichomes" (MT-Get). Mapping-by-sequencing of MT-Get revealed that five chromosomal regions of S. galapagense were present in MT-Get. Further mapping reveled that S. galapagense alleles on chromosomes 1, 2 and 3 are sufficient for the presence of type-IV trichomes, but in lower densities. GC-MS, LC-MS, and gene expression analyses demonstrated that the increased density of type-IV trichomes was not accompanied by high AS production and exudation in MT-Get. Moreover, MT-Get did not differ from MT in its susceptibility to whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). Our findings demonstrates that type-IV glandular trichome development along with AS production and exudation are partially uncoupled at the genetic level. The MT-Get genotype represents a valuable resource for further studies involving the biochemical manipulation of type-IV trichome content through either genetic introgression or transgenic approaches. Significance StatementThis work identified loci in the tomato genome that control the heterochronic development of type-IV glandular trichomes and uncoupled the genetic control of this type of trichome ontogeny from acylsugar biosynthesis and accumulation, revealing a higher than anticipated genetic complexity of acylsugar-based insect resistance. The findings reported herein will contribute to further dissect the genetics of trichome development in tomato as well as to introgress broad and durable insect resistance in tomato and other Solanaceae.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2021

The ORGAN SIZE (ORG) locus contributes to isometric gigantism in domesticated tomato

Gigantism is a key component of the domestication syndrome, a suite of traits that differentiates crops from their wild relatives. Allometric gigantism is strongly marked in horticultural crops, causing disproportionate increases in the size of edible parts such as stems, leaves or fruits. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has attracted attention as a model for fruit gigantism, and many genes have been described controlling this trait. However, the genetic basis of a corresponding increase in size of vegetative organs contributing to isometric gigantism, has remained relatively unexplored. Here, we identified a 0.4 Mbp region on chromosome 7 in introgression lines (ILs) from the wild species Solanum pennellii in two different tomato genetic backgrounds (cv. M82 and cv. Micro-Tom) that controls vegetative and reproductive organ size in tomato. The locus, named ORGAN SIZE (ORG), was fine-mapped using genotype-by-sequencing. A survey of literature revealed that ORG overlaps with previously mapped QTLs controlling tomato fruit weight during domestication. Alleles from the wild species led to reduced cell number in different organs, which was partially compensated by greater cell expansion in leaves but not in fruits. The result was a proportional reduction in leaf, flower and fruit size in the ILs harbouring the wild alleles. These findings suggest that selection for large fruit during domestication also tends to select for increases in leaf size by influencing cell division. Since leaf size is relevant for both source-sink balance and crop adaptation to different environments, the discovery of ORG could allow fine-tuning of these parameters. One sentence summaryA locus that controls isometric size increase in vegetative and reproductive organs of tomato through changes in cell division

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Photoperiod shapes aluminium tolerance in plants

Aluminium is a limiting factor for crop productivity in acidic soils (pH [≤] 5.5). Since acid soil distribution on Earth cannot adequately explain the differential Al tolerance across the plant kingdom, we investigated photoperiod effects on plant Al tolerance. We observed that with increasing distance from the equator, Al tolerance disappears, suggesting a relationship with the photoperiod. Long-day (LD) species are generally more Al-sensitive than short-day (SD) species, whereas genetic conversion of tomato for SD growth boosts Al tolerance. Reduced Al tolerance correlates with DNA-checkpoint activation under LD. DNA-checkpoint-related genes are under positive selection in Arabidopsis accessions from regions with shorter days, suggesting photoperiod acts as a selective barrier for Al tolerance. Our findings revealed that diel regulation and genetic diversity affect Al tolerance, suggesting that day-length orchestrates Al tolerance. One-Sentence SummaryAluminum is a major constraint for crop yield worldwide. We reveal that photoperiod acts as a barrier for Al tolerance in plants.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2018

SELF-PRUNING affects auxin responses synergistically with the cyclophilin A DIAGEOTROPICA in tomato

SummaryThe antiflorigenic signal SELF-PRUNING, which controls growth habit, exerts its effects through auxin transport, signaling and metabolism in tomato.\n\nAbstractThe SELF PRUNING (SP) gene is a key regulator of growth habit in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). It is an ortholog of TERMINAL FLOWER 1, a phosphatidyl-ethanolamine binding protein with anti-florigenic activity in Arabidopsis thaliana. A spontaneous loss-of-function sp mutation has been bred into a large number of industrial tomato cultivars, as it produces a suite of pleiotropic effects that are favorable for mechanical harvesting, including determinate growth habit, short plant stature and simultaneous fruit ripening. However, the physiological basis for these phenotypic differences has not been thoroughly explained. Here, we show that the sp mutation alters polar auxin transport as well as auxin responses such gravitropic curvature and elongation of excised hypocotyl segments. We further demonstrate that free auxin levels and auxin-regulated gene expression patterns are altered in sp, with epistatic effects of diageotropica, a mutation in a cyclophilin A protein-encoding gene. Our results indicate that SP impacts growth habit in tomato, at least in part, via changes in auxin transport and responsiveness. These findings hint at novel targets that could be manipulated in the control of growth habit and productivity.

plant biology↗