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Nodule Rich Protein 2 modulates nodule number in Medicago truncatula

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Abstract

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is benefit to sustainable agriculture and global nitrogen cycle. Many small peptides were identified as regulators involving in the interaction between rhizobia and legume. Here we reported Nodule Rich Protein 2 (MtNRP2) encoding a small peptide in Medicago truncatula, belonged to a group of nodule rich protein restricted in legume species. MtNRP2 expressed highly in root nodule and its promoter was active during the initiation and development of root nodule and lateral root. To investigate the function of MtNRP2 in nodulation, we generated MtNRP2-overexpression and MtNRP2-knockdown transgenic Medicago. MtNRP2-overexpression transgenic lines performed normal nodulation phenotype compared with vector control. However, in the MtNRP2-RNAi transgenic plants, the decrease of MtNRP2 expression lead to the increase of infection threads number (7 day post inoculation) and nodules number (3 week post inoculation); meanwhile, the expression of MtRGF3 and MtPUB1 was inhibited. These results suggested that MtNRP2 negatively regulated nodulation in Medicago truncatula.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31570241 and 31900214).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-Energy Crops, Center of Plant Science, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China

    Junhui Yan, Xinwei Yang, Yawen Wang, Liangliang Yu & Li Luo

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  1. Junhui Yan
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  2. Xinwei Yang
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  3. Yawen Wang
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  4. Liangliang Yu
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  5. Li Luo
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Correspondence to Li Luo.

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Yan, J., Yang, X., Wang, Y. et al. Nodule Rich Protein 2 modulates nodule number in Medicago truncatula. Plant Biotechnol Rep 15, 109–116 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-020-00658-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-020-00658-x

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