Name: plant growth and agrobacterium-mediated floral-dip transformation of the extremophyte schrenkiella parvula
Uploaded: 2019-01-07T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Plant Growth and Agrobacterium-mediated Floral-dip Transformation of the Extremophyte Schrenkiella parvula at JoVE.com

This work was supported by a National Science Foundation award MCB 1616827.

1. Plant Growth
<ol>
	<li>Seed sterilization (optional)
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare 50% bleach in double-distilled water (ddH2O) with 1 or 2 drops of a non-ionic detergent (see Table of Materials) in a 50 mL tube. Invert the tube several times to mix the solution. 
		NOTE: It is preferable to conduct seed sterilization in a laminar flow cabinet with a UV sterilized surface for 15 min.</li>
		<li>Add the bleach solution to ~100&#8211;200 S. parvula seed...

<ol>
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The physiological state of the plant significantly influences the efficiency of transformation25. The use of healthy and vigorous plants for transformation is a key requirement for successful transformation in S. parvula. Water or light stressed plants will have fewer flowers compared to the healthy plants ideal for transformation (Figure 1, center panel). S. parvula can grow at a light intensity less than 130 &#181;mol m-2 s-1,...

In this protocol, we describe the growth and establishment of stable transgenic lines for the extremophyte model Schrenkiella parvula. The availability of an efficient transformation system is a hallmark of any versatile genetic model. Plants that thrive in extreme environments, referred to as extremophytes, provide a critical resource for understanding plant adaptations to environmental stresses. Schrenkiella parvula (formerly Thellungiella parvula and Eutrema parvulum) is one such extremophyte model, with expanding genomic resources1,2,3,4,5. However, transformation protocols have not yet been reported for S. parvula in published studies.
The genome of S. parvula is the first published extremophyte genome in Brassicaceae (mustard-cabbage family) and shows an extensive overall genome synteny with the non-extremophyte model, Arabidopsis thaliana1. Thus, comparative studies between A. thaliana and S. parvula could benefit from the wealth of genetic studies performed on A. thaliana to make informative hypotheses on how the S. parvula genome has evolved and regulated differently to cope with extreme environmental stresses5,6,7. S. parvula is one of the most salt-tolerant species (based on soil NaCl LD50) among known wild relatives of A. thaliana8. In addition to the NaCl tolerance, S. parvula survives and completes its life cycle in the presence of multiple salt ions at high concentrations toxic to most plants7. In response to the abiotic stresses prevalent in its natural habitat, it has evolved various traits, among which several have been studied at the biochemical or physiological level 8,9,10,11.
Since 2010, there have been over 400 peer-reveiwed publications that used S. parvula as a target species or used it in a comparison with other plant genomes. However, a clear bottleneck could be identified with a closer look of what type of studies have been conducted. The majority of these reports discuss the potential use of S. parvula in future studies or use it in comparative genomic or phylogenomic studies. Due to the lack of a proof-of-concept transformation protocol established for S. parvula, it has not been used in functional genomic studies, despite having one of the highest quality plant genomes available to date (&#62;5 Mb contig N50) assembled and annotated into chromosome-level pseudomolecules1.
The Agrobacterium-mediated floral-dip transformation method has become the most broadly used method to create trasngenic lines in A. thaliana, and the development of a reproducible system of transformation was a critical factor in its success as a genetic model12,13. However, not all Brassicaceae species have been shown to be successfully transformed using the floral-dip method developed for A. thaliana. Specially, the Brassicaceae Lineage II species that include S. parvula has been recalcitrant to floral-dip based transformation methods14,15.
The indeterminate flowering growth habit of S. parvula, combined with its narrow leaf morphology has made it challenging to adopt the standard Agrobacterium-mediated floral-dip transformation method. In this study, we report the modified protocol we have developed for reproducible transformation of S. parvula.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:1303px;" width="1302">
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		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:341px;">Agar</td>
			<td style="width:293px;">VWR International, Radnor, PA</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">90000-762</td>
			<td style="width:541px;">Bacto Agar Soldifying Agent, BD Diagnostics</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">B5 vitamins</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO</td>
			<td>G1019</td>
			<td>Gamborg&#8217;s Vitamin Solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:341px;">Desiccant</td>
			<td>W A Hammond Drierite, Xenia, OH</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">22005</td>
			<td>Indicating DRIERITE 6 mesh</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:341px;">Destination vector for plant transformation</td>
			<td>TAIR</td>
			<td style="width:127px;">Vector:6531113857</td>
			<td>pKGWFS7</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Electroporation cuvette</td>
			<td>USA Scientific</td>
			<td>9104-5050</td>
			<td>Electroporation cuvette, round cap, 0.2 cm gap</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Electroporator</td>
			<td>BIO-RAD Laboratories, Hercules, CA</td>
			<td>1652100</td>
			<td>MicroPulser Electroporator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fertilizer beads</td>
			<td>Osmocote Garden, Marysville, OH</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food&#160;Flower &#38; Vegetable</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Gel extraction kit</td>
			<td>iNtRON Biotechnology, Boston, MA</td>
			<td>17289</td>
			<td>MEGAquick-spin Total fragment DNA purification kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Gentamicin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO</td>
			<td>G1914-5G</td>
			<td>Gentamicin sulfate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:341px;">Glufosinate-ammonium (11.3%) herbicide (BASTA)</td>
			<td>Bayer environmental science, Montvale, NJ</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>FINALE herbicide</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Kanamycin</td>
			<td>VWR International, Radnor, PA</td>
			<td>200004-444</td>
			<td>Kanamycin monosulfate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MES</td>
			<td>Bioworld, Dublin, OH</td>
			<td>41320024-2</td>
			<td>MES, Free Acid</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MS salt</td>
			<td>MP Biomedicals, Santa Anna, CA</td>
			<td>092621822</td>
			<td>Hoagland&#39;s modified basal salt mixture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">N6-benzylaminopurine (BA)&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO</td>
			<td>B3274</td>
			<td>6-Benzylaminopurine solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma-Alrich</td>
			<td>S7653</td>
			<td>Sodium chloride</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Non-ionic detergent</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO</td>
			<td>9005-64-5</td>
			<td>TWEEN 20&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:341px;">Plasmid isolation kit</td>
			<td>Zymo Research, Irvine, CA</td>
			<td>D4036</td>
			<td>Zyppy Plasmid Kits</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Recombinase enzyme mix kit</td>
			<td>Life Technology</td>
			<td>11791-020</td>
			<td>Gateway LR Clonase II Enzyme mix</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Rifampicin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO</td>
			<td>R3501-1G</td>
			<td>Rifampicin, powder, &#62;= 97% (HPLC)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Shaking incubator</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, MA</td>
			<td>SHKE4450</td>
			<td>MaxQ 4450 Benchtop Orbital Shakers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Soil mix</td>
			<td>Sun Gro</td>
			<td>SUN239223328CFLP</td>
			<td>Sun Gro Metro-Mix 360 Grower Mix</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Spectinomycin</td>
			<td>VWR International, Radnor, PA</td>
			<td>IC15206705</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sterile 50ml conical tubes</td>
			<td>USA Scientific, Ocala, FL</td>
			<td>1500-1811</td>
			<td>50 ml conical screw cap tubes, copolymer, racks, sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sucrose</td>
			<td>VWR International, Radnor, PA</td>
			<td>57-50-1</td>
			<td>Sucrose, ACS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Surfactant solution</td>
			<td>Lehle seeds, Round Rock, TX</td>
			<td>VIS-02</td>
			<td>Silwet L-77</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Topoisomerase-based cloning kit</td>
			<td>Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA</td>
			<td>K240020</td>
			<td>pENTR/D-TOPO Cloning Kit, with One Shot TOP10 Chemically Competent E. coli</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tryptone</td>
			<td>VWR International, Radnor, PA</td>
			<td>90000-282</td>
			<td>BD Bacto Tryptone, BD Biosciences</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Yeast Extract</td>
			<td>VWR International, Radnor, PA</td>
			<td>90000-722&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Bacto Yeast Extract, BD Biosciences</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

plant growth and agrobacterium-mediated floral-dip transformation of the extremophyte schrenkiella parvula

Schrenkiella parvula is an extremophyte adapted to various abiotic stresses, including multiple ion toxicity stresses. Despite high-quality genomic resources available to study how plants adapt to environmental stresses, its value as a functional genomics model and tool has been limited by the lack of a feasible transformation system. In this protocol, we report how to generate stable transgenic S. parvula lines using an Agrobacterium-mediated floral-dip method. We modified the transformation protocol used for A. thaliana to account for unique traits of S. parvula, such as an indeterminate flowering habit and a high epicuticular wax content on leaves. Briefly, S. parvula seeds were stratified at 4 &#176;C for five days before planting. Plants were grown at a photoperiod of a 14 h light and 10 h dark and a 130 &#181;mol m-2s-1 light intensity, at 22 &#176;C to 24 &#176;C. Eight to nine week-old plants with multiple inflorescences were selected for transformation. These inflorescences were dipped in an infiltration solution of Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101 carrying the pMP90RK plasmid. We performed two rounds of flower dipping with an interval of three to four weeks to increase the transformation efficiency. The T1 seeds were collected and dried for four weeks in a container with desiccants before germination to screen for candidate transformed lines. Resistance to BASTA was used to screen T1 plants. We sprayed the BASTA solution three times with an interval of three days starting at two week-old plants to reduce false positives. A BASTA drop test was performed on surviving individual plants to identify true positive transformants. The transformation efficiency was 0.033%, yielding 3&#8211;4 transgenic plants per 10,000 T1 seeds propagated.

We developed a transformation protocol that enables harvesting of T0 seeds within 150 days, using a floral-dip method modified from that for A. thaliana. Figure 1 shows a summary of the timeline and S. parvula plants that represent the optimal stage for executing the transformation through floral-dip. We selected S. parvula plants with 70 &#8211;80 flowers in multiple inflorescences at 60&#8211;80 days after germination a...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Plant Growth and Agrobacterium-mediated Floral-dip Transformation of the Extremophyte Schrenkiella parvula at JoVE.com

Plant Growth and Agrobacterium-mediated Floral-dip Transformation of the Extremophyte Schrenkiella parvula

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using a floral-dip method can be successfully employed to create stable transgenic lines of the extremophyte model Schrenkiella parvula. We present a protocol modified from that for Arabidopsis thaliana, considering different growth habits and physiological characteristics of the extremophyte.

Plant Growth and Agrobacterium-mediated Floral-dip Transformation of the Extremophyte Schrenkiella parvula

Schrenkiella parvula is an extremophyte adapted to various abiotic stresses, including multiple ion toxicity stresses. Despite high-quality genomic ...

This method, a reproducible transformation protocol for Schrenkiella parvula, can help answer questions in the field of plant comparative and functional genoming, especially studies investigating plant adaptations to harsh environments. This technique enables investigations of routine functions in Schrenkiella parvula on the extremophyte adapted to multi-ion salt stresses. It also enables comparative studies which also looks at its close relative, the mother parent Aribidopsis Thaliana.Comparing Schrenkiella Parvula with Aribidopsis Thaliana can provide insight into variances in gene regulation and function that enable the unique adaptation of Schrenkiella parvula. The transformation protocol for Arabidopsis Thaliana has been already well-established. The method now enables comparative studies using transgenic Schrenkiella Parvula plants.Generally researchers new to this method will struggle because of the flowering habit and the leaf morphology of Schrenkiella Parvula plants which make effective transformation using a flora dip as well as the selection of true transformants difficult. To begin, use a wet toothpick to transfer about 20 to 25 S.Parvula seeds onto wet soil. Then stratify the seeds at four degrees celsius for five to seven days.After stratification, return the seeds to the growth chamber for seven to 10 days. Once all of the seedlings have germinated, leave only one seedling in each of the four corners and at the center of the pots. Grow the plants for eight to 10 weeks in the growth chamber until they flower.On the day of transformation, select S.Parvula plants according to the text protocol. Use forceps and small scissors to remove any pollinated inflorescences that are already developing into siliques. After plants are ready, prepare an agrobacterium infiltration solution.After this, dip the S.Parvula inflorescence in agrobacterium infiltration solution for 20 seconds. Shown here is the earliest stage of the plants that can be used for transformation, as long as already developed siliques are removed before transformation, older plants with more flowers can be used. After the transformation, place flower dipped plants horizontally in clean trays with domes to cover the plants.Then place the plants in a dark growth room for one to two days. Return the plants to an upright position and transfer them to the growth room. In the following week, monitor the dipped inflorescences.Ten days after the first floral dip, S.Parvula plants will keep producing new inflorescences and siliques. A second round of floral dip can be performed to further transform the newly emerging inflorescences. Grow the plants until seeds mature, and harvest the seeds around 21 weeks.Dry the seeds for two to three weeks at room temperature in an airtight container filled with desiccants. Plant the T one seeds according to the text protocol. Grow the plants until the first two to three true leaves develop.To perform the first selection for herbicide resistance, dilute glufosinate ammonium herbicide and spray it on the seedlings. Cover the seedlings with the domes overnight. Put the trays back to the growth room, and remove the dome.Wait until most of the seedlings are selected out by the herbicide. To begin the second selection, identify the plants that survive after being sprayed three to four times with the BASTA solution. After growing the plants for two to three more weeks, select the largest mature leaf on each plant.Next rub the surface of the leaf gently with a finger to remove the wax layer. Then place a drop of the diluted BASTA solution on the leaf. Monitor the leaves treated with the BASTA solution for signs of wilting for up to one week.Finally select the plants with leaves unaffected by the BASTA drops for further analysis. In this protocol, S.Parvula was transformed with agrobacterium using a floral dip method. Infection with agrobacterium resulted in abortion of some flowers.However the S.Parvula plants continued to produce new flowers after the first flower dipping, and could be transformed again. Using the BASTA spray and drop tests, true positive transformants can be accurately identified. The number of samples tested using PCR confirmation can be reduced.While this method is similar to the transformation of Arabidopsis Thaliana, it is important to remember the differences in growth and morphology of Schrenkiella Parvula. Modifying the protocol to reflect these differences is critical for successful transformation. This technique could help researchers explore the evolution of genomic variations leading to multiple salt stress adaptations in the extremophyte model, Schrenkiella Parvula.Combining this technique with the information on the functions of Aradopsis Thaliana, another plant closely related to Schrenkiella Parvula. Researchers can study the variations in the regulation and functions that these are two distinct structures between these two species. During the transformation process, it is important to contain all the agrobacterium infiltration solution in autoclaveable containers.Sterilize and safely discard all the materials that came in contact with agrobacterium including gloves, macro pipette tips, and paper towels.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Genetics

A Robotic Platform for High-throughput Protoplast Isolation and Transformation

Over the last decade there has been a resurgence in the use of plant protoplasts that range from model species to crop species, for analysis of signal transduction pathways, transcriptional regulatory networks, gene expression, genome-editing, and gene-silencing. Furthermore, significant progress has been made in the regeneration of plants from protoplasts, which has generated even more interest in the use of these systems for plant genomics. In this work, a protocol has been developed for automation of protoplast isolation and transformation from a &#39;Bright Yellow&#39; 2 (BY-2) tobacco suspension culture using a robotic platform. The transformation procedures were validated using an orange fluorescent protein (OFP) reporter gene (pporRFP) under the control of the Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (35S). OFP expression in protoplasts was confirmed by epifluorescence microscopy. Analyses also included protoplast production efficiency methods using propidium iodide. Finally, low-cost food-grade enzymes were used for the protoplast isolation procedure, circumventing the need for lab-grade enzymes that are cost-prohibitive in high-throughput automated protoplast isolation and analysis. Based on the protocol developed in this work, the complete procedure from protoplast isolation to transformation can be conducted in under 4 hr, without any input from the operator. While the protocol developed in this work was validated with the BY-2 cell culture, the procedures and methods should be translatable to any plant suspension culture/protoplast system, which should enable acceleration of crop genomics research.

A high-throughput, automated, tobacco protoplast production and transformation methodology is described. The robotic system enables massively parallel gene expression and discovery in the model BY-2 system that should be translatable to non-model crops.

Over the last decade there has been a resurgence in the use of plant protoplasts that range from model species to crop species, for analysis of signal ...

Genetic Manipulation of the Plant Pathogen Ustilago maydis to Study Fungal Biology and Plant Microbe Interactions

Gene deletion plays an important role in the analysis of gene function. One of the most efficient methods to disrupt genes in a targeted manner is the replacement of the entire gene with a selectable marker via homologous recombination. During homologous recombination, exchange of DNA takes place between sequences with high similarity. Therefore, linear genomic sequences flanking a target gene can be used to specifically direct a selectable marker to the desired integration site. Blunt ends of the deletion construct activate the cell&#39;s DNA repair systems and thereby promote integration of the construct either via homologous recombination or by non-homologous-end-joining. In organisms with efficient homologous recombination, the rate of successful gene deletion can reach more than 50% making this strategy a valuable gene disruption system. The smut fungus Ustilago maydis is a eukaryotic model microorganism showing such efficient homologous recombination. Out of its about 6,900 genes, many have been functionally characterized with the help of deletion mutants, and repeated failure of gene replacement attempts points at essential function of the gene. Subsequent characterization of the gene function by tagging with fluorescent markers or mutations of predicted domains also relies on DNA exchange via homologous recombination. Here, we present the U. maydis strain generation strategy in detail using the simplest example, the gene deletion.

Genetic Manipulation of the Plant Pathogen Ustilago maydis to Study Fungal Biology and Plant Microbe Interactions

We describe a robust gene replacement strategy to genetically manipulate the smut fungus Ustilago maydis. This protocol explains how to generate deletion mutants to investigate infection phenotypes. It can be extended to modify genes in any desired way, e.g., by adding a sequence encoding a fluorescent protein tag.

Gene deletion plays an important role in the analysis of gene function. One of the most efficient methods to disrupt genes in a targeted manner is the ...

Rapid Deletion Production in Fungi via Agrobacterium Mediated Transformation of OSCAR Deletion Constructs

Precise deletion of gene(s) of interest, while leaving the rest of the genome unchanged, provides the ideal product to determine that particular gene&#39;s function in the living organism. In this protocol the OSCAR method of precise and rapid deletion plasmid construction is described. OSCAR relies on the cloning system in which a single recombinase reaction is carried out containing the purified PCR-amplified 5&#39; and 3&#39; flanks of the gene of interest and two plasmids, pA-Hyg OSCAR (the marker vector) and pOSCAR (the assembly vector). Confirmation of the correctly assembled deletion vector is carried out by restriction digestion mapping followed by sequencing. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is then used to mediate introduction of the deletion construct into fungal spores (referred to as ATMT). Finally, a PCR assay is described to determine if the deletion construct integrated by homologous or non-homologous recombination, indicating gene deletion or ectopic integration, respectively. This approach has been successfully used for deletion of numerous genes in Verticillium dahliae and in Fusarium verticillioides among other species.

Rapid Deletion Production in Fungi via Agrobacterium Mediated Transformation of OSCAR Deletion Constructs

Gene deletion mutants generated through homologous recombination are the gold standard for gene function studies. The OSCAR (One Step Construction of Agrobacterium-Recombination-ready-plasmids) method for rapid generation of deletion constructs is described. Agrobacterium mediated fungal transformation follows. Finally, a PCR based confirmation method of gene deletions in fungal transformants is presented.

Precise deletion of gene(s) of interest, while leaving the rest of the genome unchanged, provides the ideal product to determine that particular ...

Assessment of DNA Contamination in RNA Samples Based on Ribosomal DNA

One method extensively used for the quantification of gene expression changes and transcript abundances is reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). It provides accurate, sensitive, reliable, and reproducible results. Several factors can affect the sensitivity and specificity of RT-qPCR. Residual genomic DNA (gDNA) contaminating RNA samples is one of them. In gene expression analysis, non-specific amplification due to gDNA contamination will overestimate the abundance of transcript levels and can affect the RT-qPCR results. Generally, gDNA is detected by qRT-PCR using primer pairs annealing to intergenic regions or an intron of the gene of interest. Unfortunately, intron/exon annotations are not yet known for all genes from vertebrate, bacteria, protist, fungi, plant, and invertebrate metazoan species.
Here we present a protocol for detection of gDNA contamination in RNA samples by using ribosomal DNA (rDNA)-based primers. The method is based on the unique features of rDNA: their multigene nature, highly conserved sequences, and high frequency in the genome. Also as a case study, a unique set of primers were designed based on the conserved region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in the Poaceae family. The universality of these primer pairs was tested by melt curve analysis and agarose gel electrophoresis. Although our method explains how rDNA-based primers can be applied for the gDNA contamination assay in the Poaceae family,&#160;it could be easily used to other prokaryote and eukaryote species

Here, we present a protocol for tracing genomic DNA (gDNA) contamination in RNA samples. The presented method utilizes primers specific for the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes. The method is suited for reliable and sensitive detection of DNA contamination in most eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

One method extensively used for the quantification of gene expression changes and transcript abundances is reverse-transcription quantitative real-time ...

Purification of High Molecular Weight Genomic DNA from Powdery Mildew for Long-Read Sequencing

The powdery mildew fungi are a group of economically important fungal plant pathogens. Relatively little is known about the molecular biology and genetics of these pathogens, in part due to a lack of well-developed genetic and genomic resources. These organisms have large, repetitive genomes, which have made genome sequencing and assembly prohibitively difficult. Here, we describe methods for the collection, extraction, purification and quality control assessment of high molecular weight genomic DNA from one powdery mildew species, Golovinomyces cichoracearum. The protocol described includes mechanical disruption of spores followed by an optimized phenol/chloroform genomic DNA extraction. A typical yield was 7 &#181;g DNA per 150 mg conidia. The genomic DNA that is isolated using this procedure is suitable for long-read sequencing (i.e., &#62; 48.5 kbp). Quality control measures to ensure the size, yield, and purity of the genomic DNA are also described in this method. Sequencing of the genomic DNA of the quality described here will allow for the assembly and comparison of multiple powdery mildew genomes, which in turn will lead to a better understanding and improved control of this agricultural pathogen.

Described here is a method for the extraction, purification, and quality control of genomic DNA from the obligate biotrophic fungal pathogen, powdery mildew, for use in long-read genome sequencing.

The powdery mildew fungi are a group of economically important fungal plant pathogens. Relatively little is known about the molecular biology and genetics ...

Robust DNA Isolation and High-throughput Sequencing Library Construction for Herbarium Specimens

Herbaria are an invaluable source of plant material that can be used in a variety of biological studies. The use of herbarium specimens is associated with a number of challenges including sample preservation quality, degraded DNA, and destructive sampling of rare specimens. In order to more effectively use herbarium material in large sequencing projects, a dependable and scalable method of DNA isolation and library preparation is needed. This paper demonstrates a robust, beginning-to-end protocol for DNA isolation and high-throughput library construction from herbarium specimens that does not require modification for individual samples. This protocol is tailored for low quality dried plant material and takes advantage of existing methods by optimizing tissue grinding, modifying library size selection, and introducing an optional reamplification step for low yield libraries. Reamplification of low yield DNA libraries can rescue samples derived from irreplaceable and potentially valuable herbarium specimens, negating the need for additional destructive sampling and without introducing discernible sequencing bias for common phylogenetic applications. The protocol has been tested on hundreds of grass species, but is expected to be adaptable for use in other plant lineages after verification. This protocol can be limited by extremely degraded DNA, where fragments do not exist in the desired size range, and by secondary metabolites present in some plant material that inhibit clean DNA isolation. Overall, this protocol introduces a fast and comprehensive method that allows for DNA isolation and library preparation of 24 samples in less than 13 h, with only 8 h of active hands-on time with minimal modifications.

This article demonstrates a detailed protocol for DNA isolation and high-throughput sequencing library construction from herbarium material including rescue of exceptionally poor-quality DNA.

Herbaria are an invaluable source of plant material that can be used in a variety of biological studies. The use of herbarium specimens is associated with ...

Exploring the Root Microbiome: Extracting Bacterial Community Data from the Soil, Rhizosphere, and Root Endosphere

The intimate interaction between plant host and associated microorganisms is crucial in determining plant fitness, and can foster improved tolerance to abiotic stresses and diseases. As the plant microbiome can be highly complex, low-cost, high-throughput methods such as amplicon-based sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene are often preferred for characterizing its microbial composition and diversity. However, the selection of appropriate methodology when conducting such experiments is critical for reducing biases that can make analysis and comparisons between samples and studies difficult. This protocol describes in detail a standardized methodology for the collection and extraction of DNA from soil, rhizosphere, and root samples. Additionally, we highlight a well-established 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing pipeline that allows for the exploration of the composition of bacterial communities in these samples, and can easily be adapted for other marker genes. This pipeline has been validated for a variety of plant species, including sorghum, maize, wheat, strawberry, and agave, and can help overcome issues associated with the contamination from plant organelles.

Here, we describe a protocol to obtain amplicon sequence data of soil, rhizosphere, and root endosphere microbiomes. This information can be used to investigate the composition and diversity of plant-associated microbial communities, and is suitable for the use with a wide range of plant species.

The intimate interaction between plant host and associated microorganisms is crucial in determining plant fitness, and can foster improved tolerance to ...

Discrimintion and Mapping of the Primary and Processed Transcripts in Maize Mitochondrion Using a Circular RT-PCR-based Strategy

In plant mitochondria, some steady-state transcripts have 5&#39; triphosphate derived from transcription initiation (primary transcripts), while the others contain 5&#39; monophosphate generated post-transcriptionally (processed transcripts). To discriminate between the two types of transcripts, several strategies have been developed, and most of them depend on presence/absence of 5&#39; triphosphate. However, the triphosphate at primary 5&#39; termini is unstable, and it hinders a clear discrimination of the two types of transcripts. To systematically differentiate and map the primary and processed transcripts stably accumulated in maize mitochondrion, we have developed a circular RT-PCR (cRT-PCR)-based strategy by combining cRT-PCR, RNA 5&#39; polyphoshpatase treatment, quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR), and Northern blot. As an improvement, this strategy includes an RNA normalization step to minimize the influence of unstable 5&#39; triphosphate.
In this protocol, the enriched mitochondrial RNA is pre-treated by RNA 5&#39; polyphosphatase, which converts 5&#39; triphsophate to monophosphate. After circularization and reverse transcription, the two cDNAs derived from 5&#39; polyphosphatase-treated and non-treated RNAs are normalized by maize 26S mature rRNA, which has a processed 5&#39; end and is insensitive to 5&#39; polyphosphatase. After normalization, the primary and processed transcripts are discriminated by comparing cRT-PCR and RT-qPCR products obtained from the treated and non-treated RNAs. The transcript termini are determined by cloning and sequencing of the cRT-PCR products, and then verified by Northern blot.
By using this strategy, most steady-state transcripts in maize mitochondrion have been determined. Due to the complicated transcript pattern of some mitochondrial genes, a few steady-state transcripts were not differentiated and/or mapped, though they were detected in a Northern blot. We are not sure whether this strategy is suitable to discriminate and map the steady-state transcripts in other plant mitochondria or in plastids.

We present a circular RT-PCR-based strategy by combining circular RT-PCR, quantitative RT-PCR, RNA 5&#39; polyphosphatase-treatment, and Northern blot. This protocol includes a normalization step to minimize the influence of unstable 5&#39; triphosphate, and it is suitable for discriminating and mapping the primary and processed transcripts stably accumulated in maize mitochondrion.

In plant mitochondria, some steady-state transcripts have 5&#39; triphosphate derived from transcription initiation (primary transcripts), while the ...

Tomato Root Transformation Followed by Inoculation with Ralstonia Solanacearum for Straightforward Genetic Analysis of Bacterial Wilt Disease

Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating soil borne vascular pathogen that can infect a large range of plant species, causing an important threat to agriculture. However, the Ralstonia model is considerably underexplored in comparison to other models involving bacterial plant pathogens, such as Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis. Research targeted to understanding the interaction between Ralstonia and crop plants is essential to develop sustainable solutions to fight against bacterial wilt disease but is currently hindered by the lack of straightforward experimental assays to characterize the different components of the interaction in native host plants. In this scenario, we have developed a method to perform genetic analysis of Ralstonia infection of tomato, a natural host of Ralstonia. This method is based on Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of tomato roots, followed by Ralstonia soil-drenching inoculation of the resulting plants, containing transformed roots expressing the construct of interest. The versatility of the root transformation assay allows performing either gene overexpression or gene silencing mediated by RNAi. As a proof of concept, we used this method to show that RNAi-mediated silencing of SlCESA6 in tomato roots conferred resistance to Ralstonia. Here, we describe this method in detail, enabling genetic approaches to understand bacterial wilt disease in a relatively short time and with small requirements of equipment and plant growth space.

Tomato Root Transformation Followed by Inoculation with Ralstonia Solanacearum for Straightforward Genetic Analysis of Bacterial Wilt Disease

Here, we present a versatile method for tomato root transformation followed by inoculation with Ralstonia solanacearum to perform straightforward genetic analysis for the study of bacterial wilt disease.

Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating soil borne vascular pathogen that can infect a large range of plant species, causing an important threat to ...

Screening and Identification of RNA Silencing Suppressors from Secreted Effectors of Plant Pathogens

RNA silencing is an evolutionarily conserved, sequence-specific gene regulation mechanism in eukaryotes. Several plant pathogens have evolved proteins with the ability to inhibit the host plant RNA silencing pathway. Unlike virus effector proteins, only several secreted effector proteins have showed the ability to suppress RNA silencing in bacterial, oomycete, and fungal pathogens, and the molecular functions of most effectors remain largely unknown. Here, we describe in detail a slightly modified version of the co-infiltration assay that could serve as a general method for observing RNA silencing and for characterizing effector proteins secreted by plant pathogens. The key steps of the approach are choosing the healthy and fully developed leaves, adjusting the bacteria culture to the appropriate optical density (OD) at 600 nm, and observing green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence at the optimum time on the infiltrated leaves in order to avoid omitting effectors with weak suppression activity. This improved protocol will contribute to rapid, accurate, and extensive screening of RNA silencing suppressors and serve as an excellent starting point for investigating the molecular functions of these proteins.

Here, we present a modified screening method that can be extensively used to quickly screen RNA silencing suppressors in plant pathogens.

RNA silencing is an evolutionarily conserved, sequence-specific gene regulation mechanism in eukaryotes. Several plant pathogens have evolved proteins ...