Elucidating the pleiotropic effects of sesame KANADI1 locus on leaf and capsule development. (10th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Teboul, Naama; Magder, Asher; Zilberberg, Michael; Peleg, Zvi
• Is Part Of: Plant journal. Volume 110:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 88
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2022-02-10
• Subjects: abaxial and adaxial polarity -- capsule dehiscence -- lateral organs development -- leaf morphology -- photosynthetic efficiency -- seed shattering; Plant molecular biology -- Periodicals; Plant cells and tissues -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15655
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-7412

Abstract

SUMMARY: Autonomous seed dispersal is a critical trait for wild plants in natural ecosystems; however, for domesticated crop‐plants it can lead to significant yield losses. While seed shattering was a major selection target during the initial domestication of many crops, this trait is still targeted in breeding programs, especially in 'orphan crops' such as sesame, whose capsules dehisce upon ripening. Here we used a mapping population derived from a cross between wild‐type (dehiscent) × indehiscent lines to test the hypothesis that the selection against indehiscent alleles in sesame is a consequence of complex genetic interactions associated with yield reduction. We identified a major pleiotropic locus, SiKANADI1, associated with abnormal hyponastic leaf and indehiscent capsule, and genetically dissected its underlying mechanism using a set of near‐isogenic lines. Transcriptional, anatomical and physiological information shed light, for the first time, on the polar regulatory gene network in sesame. The pleiotropic effect of SiKANADI1 on leaf and capsule structure and its influence on photosynthetic capacity and final yield are thoroughly characterized. Overall, our results provide new insights on the genetic and morphological mechanisms regulating capsule indehiscence in sesame, and discuss their evolutionary consequences and potential for future sesame breeding. Significance Statement: We identified the sesame SiKANADI1 gene as a major factor regulating abnormal hyponastic leaf and capsule dehiscence. Anatomical characterization of the capsule showed that parenchymatic growth along the capsule dehiscence zone promoted indehiscent capsules. In‐depth physiological and transcriptional dissection elucidated the genetic architecture of lateral organs development, and the mechanisms regulating capsule indehiscence as a basis for future sesame breeding.