A joint research group* of Nagoya University and Kyoto Sangyo University has discovered a mechanism in amphibious plants in which ethylene quickly senses water submersion and suppresses the expression of genes involved in leaf stomata formation.

 "Rorippa aquatica" is an amphibious plant of the cruciferous family native to North America.This produces leaves suitable for underwater life.However, it was unclear how it senses submergence and suppresses stomatal development.

 The research group submerged Lorippa aquatica grown in the air (on land) and observed changes in the leaves over time.Then, stomatal development was suppressed in growing young leaves, and the fate of aerial leaves was changed to aquatic leaves.This ``inhibition of stomatal development'' occurred immediately after immersion in water, and 4 days later, the stomatal density of the leaf epidermis decreased.Gene expression analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to stomatal differentiation (such as SPCH and MUTE) began to be suppressed as early as 1 hour after submersion, and was almost non-existent after 24 hours.

 In addition, it was found that the plant hormone "ethylene", which has lost its escape due to submersion, accumulates in the body, allowing it to sense changes in the environment with agility.Synthesis of ethylene was promoted only in an environment exposed to red light, and submerged leaves were formed.

 As a result, during the evolutionary process leading to underwater life in Lorippa aquatica, the ethylene response pathways and light response pathways of land plants are reconnected, and the expression of genes involved in the formation of stomata in the leaf epidermis is suppressed when submerged. was revealed to have obtained

 Understanding how plants respond to environmental changes with agility will provide useful clues to how to protect plants from climate change and to realize agricultural products whose productivity does not decline even when the environment changes.

*Other participants include the University of Texas (USA), the Institute of Aquatic Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China), and the University of Maragheh (Iran).

Paper information:[Current Biology] Rewiring of hormone and light response pathways underlies the inhibition of stomatal development in an amphibious plant Rorippa aquatica underwater

Nagoya University

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Nagoya University is a comprehensive university with 9 faculties, 13 graduate schools, 3 affiliated research institutes, nationwide joint usage, and 5 joint research centers.Through creative research activities, he explores the truth and produces some of the best intellectual achievements in the world.Foster courageous intellectuals with abundant logical thinking and imagination through educational practices that emphasize spontaneity […]

Kyoto Sangyo University

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Kyoto Sangyo University is a comprehensive university with 10 faculties and 18 departments in the humanities and sciences, with about 15,000 students studying on one campus.Taking advantage of this advantage, we cultivate advanced specialized knowledge and skills that can be used in the real world, and develop comprehensive and flexible learning through the exchange of knowledge beyond the faculty.First in each field […]

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