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Identification of pollen and pistil polygalacturonases in Nicotiana tabacum and their function in interspecific stigma compatibility

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Abstract

Key message

The pollen and pistil polygalacturonases in Nicotiana tabacum were identified and found to regulate pollen tube growth and interspecific compatibility.

Abstract

Polygalacturonase (PG) is one of the enzymes catalyzing the hydrolysis of pectin. This process plays important roles in the pollen and pistil. In this research, the pollen and pistil PGs in Nicotiana tabacum (NtPGs) were identified, and their expression, localization and the potential function in the pollen and interspecific stigma incompatibility were explored. The results showed that 118 NtPGs were retrieved from the genome of N. tabacum. The phylogenetic tree and RT-qPCR analysis led to the identification of 10 pollen PGs; among them, two, seven and one showed specifically higher expression levels in the early development of anthers, during pollen maturation and in mature anthers, respectively, indicating their function difference. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that PGs were located in the cytoplasm of (1) mature pollen and (2) in vitro grown pollen tubes, as well as in the wall of in vivo grown pollen tubes. Four NtPGs in clade A were identified as the pistil PGs, and the pistil PGs were not found in clade E. Significantly higher PGs expression was recorded after incompatible pollination in comparison with the compatible stigma, indicating a potential function of PGs in regulating stigma incompatibility. The influence of PGs on pollen tube growth was explored in vitro and partly in vivo, showing that high PGs activity inhibited pollen tube growth. The application of PGs on the otherwise compatible stigma resulted in pollen tube growth inhibition or failure of germination. These results further supported that increased PGs expression in incompatible stigma might be partially responsible for the interspecific stigma incompatibility in Nicotiana.

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Abbreviations

HAP:

Hours after pollination

IF:

Immunofluorescence

K326:

Nicotiana tabacum (L.) ‘K326’

NtPGs:

Nicotiana tabacum polygalacturonases

PMG:

Polygalacturonan hydrolase

PGs:

Polygalacturonases

PGIP:

Polygalacturonase inhibitor-like

RT-qPCR:

Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

TTS:

Transmitting tissue

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Funding

This study was supported by Grants 31560419 and 31660067 from the National Natural Science Fund in China and Grants 2017KY05 and 2018530000241034 from Yuxi China Tobacco Seed Co., Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Biocontrol Engineering Research Center of Plant Diseases and Pests, Biocontrol Engineering Research Center of Crop Diseases & Pests, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, Yunnan Province, China

    Jugou Liao, Zhiyun Chen, Xuemei Wei, Keliang Tao, Jingwen Zhang, Xiaojun Qin, Zihui Pan, Xiaokun Ou & Suiyun Chen

  2. Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Agricultural Sciences, Yuxi, 653100, China

    Wenguang Ma

  3. Yuxi China Tobacco Seed Co., Ltd., Yuxi, 653100, China

    Lei Pan & Shuai Yang

  4. Abmart, Shanghai, 200033, China

    Mingqiao Wang

Authors
  1. Jugou Liao
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  2. Zhiyun Chen
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  3. Xuemei Wei
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  4. Keliang Tao
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Correspondence to Xiaokun Ou or Suiyun Chen.

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Communicated by Zhenbiao Yang.

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Supplementary Fig. 1

The expression of PGIP in the compatible and incompatible stigmas. (A, D, G) The expression of PGIP in papilla cell layer of stigma, (B, E, H) at the interface of the papilla cell and the TTS, and (C, F, I) in the style. Bars = 100 μm (TIFF 53996 kb)

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Liao, J., Chen, Z., Wei, X. et al. Identification of pollen and pistil polygalacturonases in Nicotiana tabacum and their function in interspecific stigma compatibility. Plant Reprod 33, 173–190 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00497-020-00393-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00497-020-00393-x

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