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Climate change has created unprecedented stresses in the agricultural sector, driving the necessity of adapting agricultural practices and developing novel solutions to the food crisis. Camelina sativa (Camelina) is a recently emerging oilseed crop with high nutrient-density and economic potential. Camelina seeds are rich in essential fatty acids and contain potent antioxidants required to maintain a healthy diet. Camelina seeds are equally amenable to economic applications such as jet fuel, biodiesel and high-value industrial lubricants due to their favorable proportions of unsaturated fatty acids. High soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses threatening the yield and usability of such crops. A promising mitigation strategy is automated, non-destructive, image-based phenotyping to assess seed quality in the food manufacturing process. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of image-based phenotyping on fluorescent and visible light images to quantify and qualify Camelina seeds. We developed a user-friendly web portal called SeedML that can uncover key morphocolorimetric features to accurately identify Camelina seeds coming from plants grown in high salt conditions using a phenomics platform equipped with fluorescent and visible light cameras. This portal may be used to enhance quality control, identify stress markers and observe yield trends relevant to the agricultural sector in a high throughput manner. Findings of this work may positively contribute to similar research in the context of the climate crisis, while supporting the implementation of new quality controls tools in the agrifood domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant phenomics offers unique opportunities to accelerate our understanding of gene function and plant response to different environments, and may be particularly useful for studying previously uncharacterized genes. One important type of poorly characterized genes is those derived from transposable elements (TEs), which have departed from a mobility-driven lifestyle to attain new adaptive roles for the host (exapted TEs). We used phenomics approaches, coupled with reverse genetics, to analyze T-DNA insertion mutants of both previously reported and novel protein-coding exapted TEs in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that mutations in most of these exapted TEs result in phenotypes, particularly when challenged by abiotic stress. We built statistical multi-dimensional phenotypic profiles and compared them to wild-type and known stress responsive mutant lines for each particular stress condition. We found that these exapted TEs may play roles in responses to phosphate limitation, tolerance to high salt concentration, freezing temperatures, and arsenic toxicity. These results not only experimentally validate a large set of putative functional exapted TEs recently discovered through computational analysis, but also uncover additional novel phenotypes for previously well-characterized exapted TEs in A. thaliana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once perceived as merely selfish, transposable elements (TEs) are now recognized as potent agents of adaptation. One way TEs contribute to evolution is through TE exaptation, a process whereby TEs, which persist by replicating in the genome, transform into novel host genes, which persist by conferring phenotypic benefits. Known exapted TEs (ETEs) contribute diverse and vital functions, and may facilitate punctuated equilibrium, yet little is known about this process. To better understand TE exaptation, we designed an approach to resolve the phylogenetic context and timing of exaptation events and subsequent patterns of ETE diversification. Starting with known ETEs, we search in diverse genomes for basal ETEs and closely related TEs, carefully curate the numerous candidate sequences, and infer detailed phylogenies. To distinguish TEs from ETEs, we also weigh several key genomic characteristics including repetitiveness, terminal repeats, pseudogenic features, and conserved domains. Applying this approach to the well-characterized plant ETEs MUG and FHY3, we show that each group is paraphyletic and we argue that this pattern demonstrates that each originated in not one but multiple exaptation events. These exaptations and subsequent ETE diversification occurred throughout angiosperm evolution including the crown group expansion, the angiosperm radiation, and the primitive evolution of angiosperms. In addition, we detect evidence of several putative novel ETE families. Our findings support the hypothesis that TE exaptation generates novel genes more frequently than is currently thought, often coinciding with key periods of evolution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid rise in global population and the challenges caused by climate changes, the maximization of plant productivity and the development of sustainable agriculture strategies are vital for food security. One of the resources more affected in this new environment will be the limitation of water. In this study, we describe the use of non-invasive technologies exploiting sensors for visible, fluorescent, and near-infrared lights to accurately screen survival phenotypes in Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to water-limited conditions. We implemented two drought protocols and a robust analysis methodology that enabled us to clearly assess the wilting or dryness status of the plants at different time points using a phenomics platform. In conclusion, our approach has shown to be very accurate and suitable for experiments where hundred of samples have to be screened making a manual evaluation unthinkable. This approach can be used not only in functional genomics studies but also in agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA derived from transposable elements (TEs) constitutes large parts of the genomes of complex eukaryotes, with major impacts not only on genomic research but also on how organisms evolve and function. Although a variety of methods and tools have been developed to detect and annotate TEs, there are as yet no standard benchmarks--that is, no standard way to measure or compare their accuracy. This lack of accuracy assessment calls into question conclusions from a wide range of research that depends explicitly or implicitly on TE annotation. In the absence of standard benchmarks, toolmakers are impeded in improving their tools, annotators cannot properly assess which tools might best suit their needs, and downstream researchers cannot judge how accuracy limitations might impact their studies. We therefore propose that the TE research community create and adopt standard TE annotation benchmarks, and we call for other researchers to join the authors in making this long-overdue effort a success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex eukaryotes contain millions of transposable elements (TEs), comprising large fractions of their nuclear genomes. TEs consist of structural, regulatory, and coding sequences that are ordinarily associated with transposition, but that occasionally confer on the organism a selective advantage and may thereby become exapted. Exapted transposable element genes (ETEs) are known to play critical roles in diverse systems, from vertebrate adaptive immunity to plant development. Yet despite their evident importance, most ETEs have been identified fortuitously and few systematic searches have been conducted, suggesting that additional ETEs may await discovery. To explore this possibility, we develop a comprehensive systematic approach to searching for ETEs. We use TE-specific conserved domains to identify with high precision genes derived from TEs and screen them for signatures of exaptation based on their similarities to reference sets of known ETEs, conventional (non-TE) genes, and TE genes across diverse genetic attributes including repetitiveness, conservation of genomic location and sequence, and levels of expression and repressive small RNAs. Applying this approach in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we discover a surprisingly large number of novel high confidence ETEs. Intriguingly, unlike known plant ETEs, several of the novel ETE families form tandemly arrayed gene clusters, whereas others are relatively young. Our results not only identify novel TE-derived genes that may have practical applications but also challenge the notion that TE exaptation is merely a relic of ancient life, instead suggesting that it may continue to fundamentally drive evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transposable elements are mobile genetic elements that have successfully populated eukaryotic genomes and show diversity in their structure and transposition mechanisms. Although first viewed solely as selfish, transposable elements are now known as important vectors to drive the adaptation and evolution of their host genome. Transposable elements can affect host gene structures, gene copy number, gene expression, and even as a source for novel genes. For example, a number of transposable element sequences have been co-opted to contribute to evolutionary innovation, such as the mammalian placenta and the vertebrate immune system. In plants, the need to adapt rapidly to changing environmental conditions is essential and is reflected, as will be discussed, by genome plasticity and an abundance of diverse, active transposon families. This review focuses on transposable elements in plants, particularly those that have beneficial effects on the host. We also emphasize the importance of having proper tools to annotate and classify transposons to better understand their biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of ever-growing numbers of sequenced eukaryotic genomes will not be fully realized until we learn to decipher vast stretches of noncoding DNA, largely composed of transposable elements. Transposable elements persist through selfreplication, but some genes once encoded by transposable elements have, through a process called molecular domestication, evolved new functions that increase fitness. Although they have conferred numerous adaptations, the number of such domesticated transposable element genes remains unknown, so their evolutionary and functional impact cannot be fully assessed. Systematic searches that exploit genomic signatures of natural selection have been employed to identify potential domesticated genes, but their predictions have yet to be experimentally verified. To this end, we investigated a family of domesticated genes called MUSTANG (MUG), identified in a previous bioinformatic search of plant genomes. We show that MUG genes are functional. Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana MUG genes yield phenotypes with severely reduced plant fitness through decreased plant size, delayed flowering, abnormal development of floral organs, and markedly reduced fertility. MUG genes are present in all flowering plants, but not in any non-flowering plant lineages, such as gymnosperms, suggesting that the molecular domestication of MUG may have been an integral part of early angiosperm evolution. This study shows that systematic searches can be successful at identifying functional genetic elements in noncoding regions and demonstrates how to combine systematic searches with reverse genetics in a fruitful way to decipher eukaryotic genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxin plays crucial roles in plant development. Auxin-binding protein 1 (ABP1) is an auxin receptor required to coordinate cell division and expansion during postembryonic shoot development, and differential auxin responses during root growth. While ABP1 is encoded by a single gene in maize, multiple gene copies exist in teosinte, the wild relatives of maize. We have previously shown that some of the differences between these genes are caused by multiple transposon insertions in the promoter. Here we show that the different ABP1 promoter types confer differential gene expression levels on a firefly luciferase reporter gene. We also discovered a negative regulatory sequence upstream of the conserved transcriptional start site. When this sequence is insulated by an Ac-like transposon or deleted in natural ABP1 gene variants, expression levels are enhanced. Promoters combining both a MITE and a solo-LTR showed small but significant increase in expression compared to those containing only one insertion. This increase seems to be additive, suggesting that it may be due to enhancer sequences present within these transposons. Our results point to a potential role of the ABP1-associated transposons in the modulation of ABP1 gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transposons are major components of all eukaryotic genomes. Although traditionally regarded as causes of detrimental mutations, recent evidence suggests that transposons may play a role in host gene diversification and evolution. For example, host gene transduction by retroelements has been suggested to be both common and to have the potential to create new chimeric genes by the shuffling of existing sequences. We have previously shown that the maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) retrotranspnson Bs1 has transduced sequences from three different host genes. Here, we provide evidence that these transduction events led to the generation of a chimeric new gene that is both transcribed and translated. Expression of Bs1 is tightly controlled and occurs during a narrow developmental window in early ear development. Although all Bs1-associated transduction events took place before Zea speciation, a full uninterrupted open reading frame encoding the BSI protein may have arisen in domesticated maize or in the diverse populations of its progenitor Z. mays subs., parviglumis. We discuss potential functions based on domain conservation and evidence for functional constraints between the transduced sequences and their host gene counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice, the primary source of dietary calories for half of humanity, is the first crop plant for which a high-quality reference genome sequence from a single variety was produced. We used resequencing microarrays to interrogate 100 Mb of the unique fraction of the reference genome for 20 diverse varieties and landraces that capture the impressive genotypic and phenotypic diversity of domesticated rice. Here, we report the distribution of 160,000 nonredundant SNP5. Introgression patterns of shared SNPs revealed the breeding history and relationships among the 20 varieties; some introgressed regions are associated with agronomic traits that mark major milestones in rice improvement. These comprehensive SNP data provide a foundation for deep exploration of rice diversity and gene-trait relationships and their use for future rice improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MUG1 is a MULE transposon-related domesticated gene in plants. We assessed the sequence diversity, neutrality, expression, and phylogenetics of the MUG1 gene among Oryza ssp. We found MUG1 expression in all tissues analyzed, with different levels in O. sativa. There were 408 variation sites in the 3886 bp of MUG1 locus. The nucleotide diversity of the MUG1 was higher than functionally known genes in rice. The nucleotide diversity (π) in the domains was lower than the average nucleotide diversity in whole coding region. The π values in nonsynonymous sites were lower than those of synonymous sites. Tajima D and Fu and Li D* values were mostly negative values, suggesting purifying selection in MUG1 sequences of Oryza ssp. Genome-specific variation and phylogenetic analyses show a general grouping of MUG1 sequences congruent with Oryza ssp. biogeography; however, our MUG1 phylogenetic results, in combination with separate B and D genome studies, might suggest an early divergence of the Oryza ssp. by continental drift of Gondwanaland. O. longistaminata MUG1 divergence from other AA diploids suggests that it might not be a direct ancestor of the African rice species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genomes of plants, like virtually all other eukaryotic organisms, harbor a diverse array of mobile elements, or transposons. In terms of numbers, the predominant type of transposons in many plants is the miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE). There are three archetypal MITEs, known as Tourist, Stowaway, and Emigrant, each of which can be defined by a specific terminal inverted-repeat (TIR) sequence signature. Although their presence was known for over a decade, only recently have open reading frames (ORFs) been identified that correspond to putative transposases for each of the archetypes. We have identified two Stowaway elements that encode a putative transposase and are similar to members of the previously characterized IS630–Tc1-mariner superfamily. In this report, we provide a high-resolution phylogenetic analysis of the evolutionary relationship between Stowaway, Emigrant, and members of the IS630–Tc1-mariner superfamily. We show that although Emigrant is closely related to the pogo-like family of elements, Stowaway may represent a novel family. Integration of our results with previously published data leads to the conclusion that the three main types of MITEs have different evolutionary histories despite similarity in structure.Key words: Stowaway, Emigrant, MITE, mariner, transposon.La pluspart des plantes et autres organismes eucaryotes contiennent en leur genome un éventail varié d'éléments mobiles ou transposons. Chez les plantes, le type de transposon le plus abondant est les MITEs (« miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements »). Les trois MITEs archétypes sont nommées Tourist, Stowaway et Emigrant et sont définis par leurs séquences terminales répétée inverses (TIRs) ayant des signatures spécifiques. Bien que ces éléments soient connus depuis plus d'une décennie, les cadres ouverts de lectures (ORFs) encodant les transposases présumées de chaque archétype n'ont été découverts que récemment. Nous avons identifié deux éléments Stowaway dont les transposases sont semblables à celle des membres de la super-famille de transposons IS630–Tc1-mariner, characterisée antérieurement. Dans cet article, nous présentons une analyse phylogénétique des relations entre Stowaway, Emigrant et les membres de la super-famille IS630–Tc1-mariner. Nous démontrons que, tandis qu' Emigrant est apparenté a la famille des éléments de type pogo, Stowaway représente probablement une nouvelle famille. L'intégration de nos résultats et de données publiés précédemment mène à la conclusion que les trois principaux types de MITE ont des histoires évolutives distinctes, malgré leurs structures similaires.Mots clés : Stowaway, Emigrant, MITE, mariner, transposon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the occurrence of transposable elements (TE) in genomic DNA sequences of Oryza sativa. Identification of Mutator-like elements; Presence of transposons in plants; Comparisons of the TE content between Arabidopsis thaliana and O. sativa.

Studies the presence of small inverted-repeat elements in wild-type rice genes of Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana using a computer-based systematic survey. Similar sequence and structure compared to the bona fide mobile elements; Prevalence of inverted-repeat transposable elements; Identification of a unique collection of inverted-repeat transposon.

Asserts that terminal-repeat retrotransposons in miniature (TRIM) are involved in restructuring plant genomes. Structural organization of TRIM elements; Past mobility of TRIM; Involvement of transduction of host genes in TRIM element.