The genomes of charophyte green algae, close relatives of land plants, typically do not show signs of developmental regulation by phytohormones. However, scattered reports of endogenous phytohormone production in these organisms exist. We performed a comprehensive analysis of multiple phytohormones in Viridiplantae, focusing mainly on charophytes. We show that auxin, salicylic acid, ethylene and tRNA-derived cytokinins including cis-zeatin are found ubiquitously in Viridiplantae. By contrast, land plants but not green algae contain the trans-zeatin type cytokinins as well as auxin and cytokinin conjugates. Charophytes occasionally produce jasmonates and abscisic acid, whereas the latter is detected consistently in land plants. Several phytohormones are excreted into the culture medium, including auxin by charophytes and cytokinins and salicylic acid by Viridiplantae in general. We note that the conservation of phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways known from angiosperms does not match the capacity for phytohormone biosynthesis in Viridiplantae. Our phylogenetically guided analysis of established algal cultures provides an important insight into phytohormone biosynthesis and metabolism across Streptophyta.

• MeSH
• Biological Evolution MeSH
• Chlorophyta metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Cyclopentanes metabolism   MeSH
• Cytokinins * metabolism   MeSH
• Ethylenes metabolism   MeSH
• Phylogeny * MeSH
• Abscisic Acid metabolism   MeSH
• Salicylic Acid metabolism   MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids * metabolism   MeSH
• Oxylipins metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators * metabolism   MeSH
• Signal Transduction MeSH
• Viridiplantae metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cyclopentanes MeSH
• Cytokinins * MeSH
• ethylene MeSH Browser
• Ethylenes MeSH
• jasmonic acid MeSH Browser
• Abscisic Acid MeSH
• Salicylic Acid MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids * MeSH
• Oxylipins MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators * MeSH

Successful use of woody species in reducing climatic and environmental risks of energy shortage and spreading pollution requires deeper understanding of the physiological functions controlling biomass productivity and phytoremediation efficiency. Targets in the breeding of energy willow include the size and the functionality of the root system. For the combination of polyploidy and heterosis, we have generated triploid hybrids (THs) of energy willow by crossing autotetraploid willow plants with leading cultivars (Tordis and Inger). These novel Salix genotypes (TH3/12, TH17/17, TH21/2) have provided a unique experimental material for characterization of Mid-Parent Heterosis (MPH) in various root traits. Using a root phenotyping platform, we detected heterosis (TH3/12: MPH 43.99%; TH21/2: MPH 26.93%) in the size of the root system in soil. Triploid heterosis was also recorded in the fresh root weights, but it was less pronounced (MPH%: 9.63-19.31). In agreement with root growth characteristics in soil, the TH3/12 hybrids showed considerable heterosis (MPH: 70.08%) under in vitro conditions. Confocal microscopy-based imaging and quantitative analysis of root parenchyma cells at the division-elongation transition zone showed increased average cell diameter as a sign of cellular heterosis in plants from TH17/17 and TH21/2 triploid lines. Analysis of the hormonal background revealed that the auxin level was seven times higher than the total cytokinin contents in root tips of parental Tordis plants. In triploid hybrids, the auxin-cytokinin ratios were considerably reduced in TH3/12 and TH17/17 roots. In particular, the contents of cytokinin precursor, such as isopentenyl adenosine monophosphate, were elevated in all three triploid hybrids. Heterosis was also recorded in the amounts of active gibberellin precursor, GA19, in roots of TH3/12 plants. The presented experimental findings highlight the physiological basics of triploid heterosis in energy willow roots.

• Keywords
• Salix, auxin–cytokinin ratio, cell cycle, hybrid vigor, mid-parent heterosis, root development,
• MeSH
• Cytokinins MeSH
• Diploidy MeSH
• Hybrid Vigor * genetics   MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids MeSH
• Soil MeSH
• Salix * genetics   MeSH
• Plant Breeding MeSH
• Triploidy MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cytokinins MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids MeSH
• Soil MeSH

Trees are long-lived organisms with complex life cycles that provide enormous benefits both in natural and cultivated stands [...].

• Publication type
• Editorial MeSH