Jean-Paul Roustan

Stimulation ofDaucus carota somatic embryogenesis by inhibitors of ethylene synthesis: cobalt and nickel

The effects of Co2+ and Ni2+ on ethylene production and somatic embryogenesis by carrot (Daucus carota L.) cell cultures were studied. At concentrations of 10 μM to 50 μM, CoCl2 effectively inhibited ethylene production by embryogenic cultures and significantly stimulated somatic embryogenesis. The observed increase of embryo number was proportional to the inhibition level of ethylene production. However, CoCl2 had no effect when Ethephon was supplied. Nickel also reduced ethylene production, but to a slightly lesser extent than CoCl2, bringing about a lower increase in the number of somatic embryos. The role of ethylene on somatic embryogenesis is discussed.

Stimulation of shoot regeneration from cotyledons of Helianthus annuus by the ethylene inhibitors, silver and cobalt

The effects of CoCl2, AgNO3 and ethylene released by exogenous 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethephon), were studied on shoot regeneration from cotyledons of Helianthus annuus cv. E8206R, a poorly regenerative cultivar. Inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis by CoCl2, at concentrations of 20 μK, provoked a substantial enhancement of shoot regeneration (30 %): the control was poorly regenerative. However, CoCl2 had no effect when Ethephon was supplied. Inhibition of ethylene action by AgNO3, at concentrations of 10–25 μM, caused a significant increase in plant regeneration: 25 % instead of 1.2 % in the control. Furthermore, addition of Ethephon to AgNO3-treated tissues failed to reduce the stimulation of shoot regeneration caused by AgNO3. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that ethylene inhibits the regeneration process from cotyledons of sunflower.

SlARF4, an Auxin Response Factor Involved in the Control of Sugar Metabolism during Tomato Fruit Development

Tomato fruit development is subject to connections between auxin signaling, chloroplastic activity, and sugar metabolism. Successful completion of fruit developmental programs depends on the interplay between multiple phytohormones. However, besides ethylene, the impact of other hormones on fruit quality traits remains elusive. A previous study has shown that down-regulation of SlARF4, a member of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) auxin response factor (ARF) gene family, results in a dark-green fruit phenotype with increased chloroplasts (Jones et al., 2002). This study further examines the role of this auxin transcriptional regulator during tomato fruit development at the level of transcripts, enzyme activities, and metabolites. It is noteworthy that the dark-green phenotype of antisense SlARF4-suppressed lines is restricted to fruit, suggesting that SlARF4 controls chlorophyll accumulation specifically in this organ. The SlARF4 underexpressing lines accumulate more starch at early stages of fruit development and display enhanced chlorophyll content and photochemical efficiency, which is consistent with the idea that fruit photosynthetic activity accounts for the elevated starch levels. SlARF4 expression is high in pericarp tissues of immature fruit and then undergoes a dramatic decline at the onset of ripening concomitant with the increase in sugar content. The higher starch content in developing fruits of SlARF4 down-regulated lines correlates with the up-regulation of genes and enzyme activities involved in starch biosynthesis, suggesting their negative regulation by SlARF4. Altogether, the data uncover the involvement of ARFs in the control of sugar content, an essential feature of fruit quality, and provide insight into the link between auxin signaling, chloroplastic activity, and sugar metabolism in developing fruit.

Control of carrot somatic embryogenesis by AgNO3, an inhibitor of ethylene action: Effect on arginine decarboxylase activity

Abstract The effects of AgNO3 and ethylene, released by exogenous supplied 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethephon), were studied on somatic embryogenesis by carrot (Daucus carota L.) cell suspension cultures. AgNO3, at concentrations of 10–20 μM, caused a 2-fold increase in the number of somatic embryos. At these concentrations AgNO3 did not cause adverse effects on cell survival, medium pH or growth; only a slight increase in ethylene production was observed. However, 1 mg·1−1 or 10 mg·1−1 Ethephon provoked a substantial decrease in the somatic embryo formation: inhibitory rates of 15% and 50% were recorded, respectively. The activity of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) (EC 4.1.1.19), a key enzyme of the polyamine pathway, was significantly stimulated by AgNO3 during the first 4 days of somatic embryogenesis, whereas Ethephon reduced it: 30% inhibition was recorded at 10 mg·1−1 Ethephon. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that AgNO3 stimulates carrot somatic embryogenesis by inhibiting ethylene action; its implication in the control of ADC activity is discussed.

Characterization of the Tomato ARF Gene Family Uncovers a Multi-Levels Post-Transcriptional Regulation Including Alternative Splicing

Background The phytohormone auxin is involved in a wide range of developmental processes and auxin signaling is known to modulate the expression of target genes via two types of transcriptional regulators, namely, Aux/IAA and Auxin Response Factors (ARF). ARFs play a major role in transcriptional activation or repression through direct binding to the promoter of auxin-responsive genes. The present study aims at gaining better insight on distinctive structural and functional features among ARF proteins. Results Building on the most updated tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) reference genome sequence, a comprehensive set of ARF genes was identified, extending the total number of family members to 22. Upon correction of structural annotation inconsistencies, renaming the tomato ARF family members provided a consensus nomenclature for all ARF genes across plant species. In silico search predicted the presence of putative target site for small interfering RNAs within twelve Sl-ARFs while sequence analysis of the 5′-leader sequences revealed the presence of potential small uORF regulatory elements. Functional characterization carried out by transactivation assay partitioned tomato ARFs into repressors and activators of auxin-dependent gene transcription. Expression studies identified tomato ARFs potentially involved in the fruit set process. Genome-wide expression profiling using RNA-seq revealed that at least one third of the gene family members display alternative splicing mode of regulation during the flower to fruit transition. Moreover, the regulation of several tomato ARF genes by both ethylene and auxin, suggests their potential contribution to the convergence mechanism between the signaling pathways of these two hormones. Conclusion All together, the data bring new insight on the complexity of the expression control of Sl-ARF genes at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels supporting the hypothesis that these transcriptional mediators might represent one of the main components that enable auxin to regulate a wide range of physiological processes in a highly specific and coordinated manner.

Ethylene Control of Fruit Ripening: Revisiting the Complex Network of Transcriptional Regulation

The plant hormone ethylene controls fruit ripening through a complex network of transcriptional regulations and interplay between multiple signaling pathways. The plant hormone ethylene plays a key role in climacteric fruit ripening. Studies on components of ethylene signaling have revealed a linear transduction pathway leading to the activation of ethylene response factors. However, the means by which ethylene selects the ripening-related genes and interacts with other signaling pathways to regulate the ripening process are still to be elucidated. Using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as a reference species, the present review aims to revisit the mechanisms by which ethylene regulates fruit ripening by taking advantage of new tools available to perform in silico studies at the genome-wide scale, leading to a global view on the expression pattern of ethylene biosynthesis and response genes throughout ripening. Overall, it provides new insights on the transcriptional network by which this hormone coordinates the ripening process and emphasizes the interplay between ethylene and ripening-associated developmental factors and the link between epigenetic regulation and ethylene during fruit ripening.

Carotenoid accumulation during tomato fruit ripening is modulated by the auxin-ethylene balance

BackgroundTomato fruit ripening is controlled by ethylene and is characterized by a shift in color from green to red, a strong accumulation of lycopene, and a decrease in β-xanthophylls and chlorophylls. The role of other hormones, such as auxin, has been less studied. Auxin is retarding the fruit ripening. In tomato, there is no study of the carotenoid content and related transcript after treatment with auxin.ResultsWe followed the effects of application of various hormone-like substances to “Mature-Green” fruits. Application of an ethylene precursor (ACC) or of an auxin antagonist (PCIB) to tomato fruits accelerated the color shift, the accumulation of lycopene, α-, β-, and δ-carotenes and the disappearance of β-xanthophylls and chlorophyll b. By contrast, application of auxin (IAA) delayed the color shift, the lycopene accumulation and the decrease of chlorophyll a. Combined application of IAA + ACC led to an intermediate phenotype. The levels of transcripts coding for carotenoid biosynthesis enzymes, for the ripening regulator Rin, for chlorophyllase, and the levels of ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) were monitored in the treated fruits. Correlation network analyses suggest that ABA, may also be a key regulator of several responses to auxin and ethylene treatments.ConclusionsThe results suggest that IAA retards tomato ripening by affecting a set of (i) key regulators, such as Rin, ethylene and ABA, and (ii) key effectors, such as genes for lycopene and β-xanthophyll biosynthesis and for chlorophyll degradation.

Inhibition of ethylene production and stimulation of carrot somatic embryogenesis by salicylic acid

The effects of salicylic acid (SA) and other phenolic compounds, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), benzoic add (BA) and sulfosalicylic acid (SSA), on ethylene production and somatic embryogenesis by carrot (Daucus carota L.) cell cultures were studied. SA and ASA, at concentrations of 10 μM and 100 μM, significantly stimulated somatic embryogenesis and effectively inhibited ethylene production by carrot cell suspension cultures. The observed increase of embryo number was proportional to the inhibition rate of ethylene production. However, BA and SSA affected neither ethylene production nor somatic embryogenesis. The role of SA in somatic embryogenesis is discussed.

Comprehensive Profiling of Ethylene Response Factor Expression Identifies Ripening-Associated ERF Genes and Their Link to Key Regulators of Fruit Ripening in Tomato

A small subset of ethylene response factor genes emerge as main actors in controlling fruit ripening via both ethylene-dependent and RIN/NOR-mediated mechanisms. Our knowledge of the factors mediating ethylene-dependent ripening of climacteric fruit remains limited. The transcription of ethylene-regulated genes is mediated by ethylene response factors (ERFs), but mutants providing information on the specific role of the ERFs in fruit ripening are still lacking, likely due to functional redundancy among this large multigene family of transcription factors. We present here a comprehensive expression profiling of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ERFs in wild-type and tomato ripening-impaired tomato mutants (Never-ripe [Nr], ripening-inhibitor [rin], and non-ripening [nor]), indicating that out of the 77 ERFs present in the tomato genome, 27 show enhanced expression at the onset of ripening while 28 display a ripening-associated decrease in expression, suggesting that different ERFs may have contrasting roles in fruit ripening. Among the 19 ERFs exhibiting the most consistent up-regulation during ripening, the expression of 11 ERFs is strongly down-regulated in rin, nor, and Nr tomato ripening mutants, while only three are consistently up-regulated. Members of subclass E, SlERF.E1, SlERF.E2, and SlERF.E4, show dramatic down-regulation in the ripening mutants, suggesting that their expression might be instrumental in fruit ripening. This study illustrates the high complexity of the regulatory network connecting RIN and ERFs and identifies subclass E members as the most active ERFs in ethylene- and RIN/NOR-dependent ripening.

The chimeric repressor version of an Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) family member, Sl-ERF.B3, shows contrasting effects on tomato fruit ripening.

Fruit ripening involves a complex interplay between ethylene and ripening-associated transcriptional regulators. Ethylene Response Factors (ERFs) are downstream components of ethylene signaling, known to regulate the expression of ethylene-responsive genes. Although fruit ripening is an ethylene-regulated process, the role of ERFs remains poorly understood. The role of Sl-ERF.B3 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit maturation and ripening is addressed here using a chimeric dominant repressor version (ERF.B3-SRDX). Over-expression of ERF.B3-SRDX results in a dramatic delay of the onset of ripening, enhanced climacteric ethylene production and fruit softening, and reduced pigment accumulation. Consistently, genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis and in softening are up-regulated and those of carotenoid biosynthesis are down-regulated. Moreover, the expression of ripening regulators, such as RIN, NOR, CNR and HB-1, is stimulated in ERF.B3-SRDX dominant repressor fruits and the expression pattern of a number of ERFs is severely altered. The data suggest the existence of a complex network enabling interconnection between ERF genes which may account for the pleiotropic alterations in fruit maturation and ripening. Overall, the study sheds new light on the role of Sl-ERF.B3 in the transcriptional network controlling the ripening process and uncovers a means towards uncoupling some of the main ripening-associated processes.