植物的碳代谢过程与植株生长和产量形成密切相关, 是受源库关系影响最明显的生理过程之一。研究减库对大豆叶片碳代谢的影响, 可为明确源库关系失衡导致的减产机理研究提供理论依据。以早熟大豆品种苏豆13为材料, 于2019年和2020年在江苏省农业科学院大豆试验站进行池栽试验, 在大豆R4期设置减库处理(去除全部豆荚、去掉1/2豆荚和全部种子损伤处理), 以正常植株为对照, 研究减库对大豆碳代谢的影响。结果表明, 减库处理延缓了叶片衰老和脱落, 导致叶片持绿。减库处理显著抑制了短期内的净光合速率(P_n), 但是未影响初始羧化速率(a)。P_n降低主要受气孔限制, 随时间延长, 光合抑制作用逐渐减弱并转为促进作用, 在生育后期, 减库处理的叶片仍能保持相对较高的a、蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、蔗糖合成酶(SuSy)和酸性转化酶(SAI)活性及光合色素、可溶性糖、淀粉、蔗糖和果糖含量, 利于维持相对较高的光合性能。减库处理导致更多的光合产物向营养器官分配, 茎、叶片和叶柄在一定程度上成为新的库器官, 利于生育后期的叶片光合产物输出并保持相对较高的碳代谢水平。去除全部豆荚和种子损伤处理延缓叶片衰老和脱落、光合性能和碳代谢水平降低的作用显著高于去除1/2豆荚。总之, 在同等的源条件下, 减小库容量可以诱导大豆出现持绿现象, 减库程度越大, 持绿现象越重, 减库处理显著影响大豆叶片碳代谢, 虽然短期内抑制了“源”叶片的光合性能, 但是生育后期叶片仍能保持相对较高的光合活性和碳代谢关键酶活性利于合成较多的碳水化合物, 且刺激茎、叶和叶柄转化为新的库器官。

Seed dormancy and germination, two physiological processes unique to seed-bearing plants, are critical for plant growth and crop production. The phytohormone brassinosteroid (BR) regulates many aspects of plant growth and development, including seed germination. The molecular mechanisms underlying BR control of rice (Oryza sativa) seed germination are mostly unknown. We investigated the molecular regulatory cascade of BR in promoting rice seed germination and post-germination growth. Physiological assays indicated that blocking BR signaling, including introducing defects into the BR insensitive 1 (BRI1) receptor or overexpressing the glycogen synthase kinase 2 (GSK2) kinase, delayed seed germination and suppressed embryo growth. Our results also indicated that brassinazole-resistant 1 (BZR1) is the key downstream transcription factor that mediates BR regulation of seed germination by binding to the alpha-Amylase 3D (RAmy3D) promoter, which affects α-amylase expression and activity and the degradation of starch in the endosperm. The BZR1-RAmy3D module functions independently from the established Gibberellin MYB (GAMYB)-alpha-amylase 1A (RAmy1A) module of the gibberellin (GA) pathway. We demonstrate that the BZR1-RAmy3D module also functions in embryo-related tissues. Moreover, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified more potential BZR1-responsive genes, including those involved in starch and sucrose metabolism. Our study successfully identified the role of the BZR1-RAmy3D transcriptional module in regulating rice seed germination.© American Society of Plant Biologists 2022. All rights reserved. for permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Brassinosteroid (BR) regulates many important agronomic traits and thus has great potential in agriculture. However, BR application is limited due to its complex effects on plants. The identification of specific downstream BR components and pathways in the crop plant rice (Oryza sativa) further demonstrates the feasibility of modulating BR responses to obtain desirable traits for breeding. Here, we review advances on how BR regulates various biological processes or agronomic traits such as plant architecture and grain yield in rice. We discuss how these functional specificities of BR can and could be utilized to enhance plant performance and productivity. We propose that unraveling the mechanisms underlying the diverse BR functions will favor BR application in molecular design for crop improvement.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

以常规稻湘早籼45为供试材料，在拔节期设计不同淹水深度（2/3淹和全淹）及淹水持续时间（3、5、7和9 d）的淹涝胁迫试验，分析不同淹涝胁迫处理对水稻绿叶数、卷叶长度、叶鞘长度、高位分蘖等形态因子以及产量构成因子的影响。结果表明：不同淹水深度处理，绿叶数与淹水持续时间呈负相关，且2/3淹较全淹更明显；全淹处理，茎变化明显；2/3淹处理，叶变化明显；高位分蘖率与淹水持续时间呈正相关；卷叶长度变化，在2/3淹时，与淹水持续时间呈负相关，全淹时，两者呈正相关；叶鞘的变化，不同处理之间差异不大，均表现为伸长生长。不同淹涝胁迫处理对产量构成因子的影响均表现为空壳率高、穗结实粒数低和千粒重低，2/3淹持续9 d处理的影响最大，结实粒数最低，仅有34粒。探讨了不同淹涝胁迫环境，水稻茎、叶等形态特征变化的适应机制和可能原因。研究结果可为长江中下游地区水稻洪涝灾害防灾减灾以及抗灾品种选育提供科学依据。 

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain quality is affected by the environmental temperature it experiences. To investigate the physiological molecular mechanisms of the effect of high temperatures on rice grain, a non-waxy indica rice was grown under two temperature conditions, (29/35 degrees C) and (22/28 degrees C), during the ripening stage in two phytotrons. The activities and gene expression of key enzymes for the biosynthesis of amylose and amylopectin were examined. The activity and expression levels of soluble endosperm starch synthase I were higher at 29/35 degrees C than that at 22/28 degrees C. In contrast, the activities and expression levels of the rice branching enzyme1, the branching enzyme3 and the granule bound starch synthase of the endosperm were lower at 29/35 degrees C than those at 22/28 degrees C. These results suggest that the decreased activity of starch branching enzyme reduces the branching frequency of the branches of amylopectin, which results in the increased amount of long chains of amylopectin of endosperm in rice grain at high temperature.

The aim of this work was to investigate the extent to which starch synthesis in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers is controlled by the activity of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.27; AGPase). In order to do this, fluxes of carbohydrate metabolism were measured in tubers that had reduced AGPase activity as a result of the expression of a cDNA encoding the B subunit in the antisense orientation. Reduction in AGPase activity led to a reduction in starch accumulation, and an increase in sucrose accumulation. The control coefficient of AGPase on starch accumulation in intact plants was estimated to be around 0.3. The fluxes of carbohydrate metabolism were measured in tuber discs from wild-type and transgenic plants by investigating the metabolism of [U-(14)C]glucose. In tuber discs, the control coefficient of AGPase over starch synthesis was estimated as 0.55, while the control coefficient of the enzyme over sucrose synthesis was -0.47. The values obtained suggest that AGPase activity exerts appreciable control over tuber metabolism in potato.

Brassinosteroid (BR) and gibberellin (GA) are two predominant hormones regulating plant cell elongation. A defect in either of these leads to reduced plant growth and dwarfism. However, their relationship remains unknown in rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we demonstrated that BR regulates cell elongation by modulating GA metabolism in rice. Under physiological conditions, BR promotes GA accumulation by regulating the expression of GA metabolic genes to stimulate cell elongation. BR greatly induces the expression of D18/GA3ox-2, one of the GA biosynthetic genes, leading to increased GA1 levels, the bioactive GA in rice seedlings. Consequently, both d18 and loss-of-function GA-signaling mutants have decreased BR sensitivity. When excessive active BR is applied, the hormone mostly induces GA inactivation through upregulation of the GA inactivation gene GA2ox-3 and also represses BR biosynthesis, resulting in decreased hormone levels and growth inhibition. As a feedback mechanism, GA extensively inhibits BR biosynthesis and the BR response. GA treatment decreases the enlarged leaf angles in plants with enhanced BR biosynthesis or signaling. Our results revealed a previously unknown mechanism underlying BR and GA crosstalk depending on tissues and hormone levels, which greatly advances our understanding of hormone actions in crop plants and appears much different from that in Arabidopsis thaliana. © 2014 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

Brassinosteroid (BR) hormones control plant growth through acting on both cell expansion and division. Here, we examined the role of BRs in leaf growth using the Arabidopsis BR-deficient mutant constitutive photomorphogenesis and dwarfism (cpd). We show that the reduced size of cpd leaf blades is a result of a decrease in cell size and number, as well as in venation length and complexity. Kinematic growth analysis and tissue-specific marker gene expression revealed that the leaf phenotype of cpd is associated with a prolonged cell division phase and delayed differentiation. cpd-leaf-rescue experiments and leaf growth analysis of BR biosynthesis and signaling gain-of-function mutants showed that BR production and BR receptor-dependent signaling differentially control the balance between cell division and expansion in the leaf. Investigation of cell cycle markers in leaves of cpd revealed the accumulation of mitotic proteins independent of transcription. This correlated with an increase in cyclin-dependent kinase activity, suggesting a role for BRs in control of mitosis.© 2012 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2012 New Phytologist Trust.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, the GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinase BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE2 (BIN2) plays a critical role in the brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway by negatively regulating the activities of bri1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR1/BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT1 family transcription factors that regulate the expression of downstream BR-responsive genes. In this study, we analyzed the function of a rice (Oryza sativa) GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinase (GSK2), which is one of the orthologs of BIN2. Overexpression of GSK2 (Go) led to plants with typical BR loss-of-function phenotypes, and suppression of GSK2 resulted in enhanced BR signaling phenotypes. DWARF AND LOW-TILLERING (DLT) is a positive regulator that mediates several BR responses in rice. Suppression of DLT can enhance the phenotypes of BR receptor mutant d61-1, and overexpression of DLT obviously suppressed the BR loss-of-function phenotypes of both d61-1 and Go, suggesting that DLT functions downstream of GSK2 to modulate BR responses. Indeed, GSK2 can interact with DLT and phosphorylate DLT. Moreover, brassinolide treatment can induce the dephosphorylation of DLT, leading to the accumulation of dephosphorylated DLT protein. In GSK2 transgenic plants, the DLT phosphorylation level is dictated by the GSK2 level. These results demonstrate that DLT is a GSK2 substrate, further reinforcing that the BIN2/GSK2 kinase has multiple substrates that carry out various BR responses.

The increasing demand for lignocellulosic biomass for the production of biofuels provides value to vegetative plant tissue and leads to a paradigm shift for optimizing plant architecture in bioenergy crops. Plant height (PHT) is among the most important biomass yield components and is the focus of this review, with emphasis on the energy grasses maize (Zea mays) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). We discuss the scientific advances in the identification of PHT quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and the understanding of pathways and genes controlling PHT, especially gibberellins and brassinosteroids. We consider pleiotropic effects of QTLs or genes affecting PHT on other agronomically important traits and, finally, we discuss strategies for applying this knowledge to the improvement of dual-purpose or dedicated bioenergy crops.

叶片作为水稻器官建成的物质基础,与水稻群体中光环境的优劣和光能利用率的高低关系密切。而叶面积指数(LAI)的大小直接与水稻最终产量相关,且水稻冠层中光合有效辐射吸收系数与叶面积指数相关性极显著。文章综述了水稻在生长的各个阶段叶面积指数和产量之间的关系,同时通过优化品种、改善栽培措施等手段增加水稻最适叶面积指数,提高水稻产量,以期为高产水稻适宜叶面积指数的预测及合理冠层结构的调控提供理论依据。

【目的】 明确水稻穗分化期高温下喷施2,4-表油菜素内酯(2,4-epibrassinolide, EBR)对穗生长及颖花形成的影响,并探究其生理机制。【方法】 以热敏感型水稻IR36为材料,在幼穗分化期设置40℃高温和32℃适温两个处理,并喷施EBR,研究幼穗碳水化合物供应、蔗糖代谢、细胞分裂素代谢及抗氧化能力的变化。【结果】 1)高温和适温喷施EBR,水稻每穗粒数分别比不喷施的对照增加13.7% 和45.7%,其中以喷施0.15 mg/L效果最好,缓解了高温对水稻幼穗生长的抑制,增加颖花分化数和降低颖花退化率。2)喷施EBR对叶片净光合速率无显著影响,但促进幼穗中干物质和非结构性碳水化合物积累。EBR喷施增加高温下幼穗中蔗糖转运基因OsSUT1、OsSUT2和OsSUT4的表达,并显著提高蔗糖代谢相关酶活性,EBR对高温下碳水化合物利用的促进作用大于适温处理。3)喷施EBR降低高温下细胞分裂素氧化酶基因OsCKX5和OsCKX9的表达量,同时促进细胞分裂素合成和信号调节相关基因的表达,并在适温下也表现出类似的效应。4)喷施EBR降低高温下超氧阴离子含量,增强了超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶活性。【结论】 高温下,喷施适宜浓度的EBR促进碳水化合物向幼穗的转运,抑制细胞分裂素分解,同时降低高温引起的过氧化伤害,进而缓解了高温对颖花形成的伤害。适温条件喷施EBR也对颖花形成具有一定的促进作用。

【目的】明确油菜素内酯（BR）对玉米光合特性的影响及作用机制，为油菜素内酯在玉米田的高效利用提供理论依据和技术参考。【方法】于玉米8叶期喷施100 nmol·L^-1 BR，对其叶片进行叶绿体结构、淀粉粒积累、叶绿素含量、PEPC活性、光合速率、蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）和蔗糖合成酶（SS）活性的检测与分析。【结果】油菜素内酯处理8叶期玉米15 d后，与对照相比，玉米叶片的净光合速率提高了32.6%，同时，叶绿体中淀粉粒的积累明显变多变大，叶绿素含量高出对照28.57%，以上结果说明BR处理可提高玉米叶片的捕光能力；PEPC是C₄植物中催化PEP固定CO₂的酶，本研究结果表明BR处理可提高玉米叶片中PEPC的活性，与对照相比，其活性提高了14.52%，这说明BR处理可提高玉米叶片固定CO₂的能力；光合产物运输是决定产量的重要因素，通过对玉米叶片疏导组织细胞的超微观察，发现BR处理后韧皮部输导组织的细胞内含物增加；蔗糖是光合产物的主要运输形式，蔗糖合成酶（SS）和蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）是蔗糖合成的关键酶，其活性可反映同化物向籽粒运输能力和强度，本研究发现BR处理后SS和SPS的活性分别提高了28.26%和30.20%，上述结果说明BR处理可提高玉米光合产物的输出能力。【结论】油菜素内酯通过提高光合色素含量来提高玉米叶片的光能利用率；通过提高PEP羧化酶活性提高玉米叶片固定CO₂的能力；通过提高蔗糖合成酶和蔗糖磷酸酶活性，促进玉米叶片光作用产生的有机物的运输和分配。