Biology subjects

Atwell, B. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Atwell, B. J..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Developmental stage-dependent decoupling of molecular and phenotypic responses to heat in wheat grain

Heatwaves during flowering and grain development threaten global wheat production, yet the extent to which developmental stage shapes molecular and phenotypic responses remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether heat stress (36/29{degrees}C for 48 h) imposed at closely spaced developmental stages surrounding anthesis generates stage-specific molecular responses that are associated with subsequent effects on grain properties. Heat exposure increased floret abortion most strongly when it was imposed at the trinucleate stage (TN; [~]48%) compared with the binucleate (BN) and early post-anthesis stages. Methylation levels were largely unaffected by prior heat treatments; however, heat induced stage- and locus-specific methylation changes, particularly at BN. Spatial RNA-seq revealed tissue-specific heat responses that were distinctively different in BN and TN. Integrated metabolomic analyses revealed stage-dependent metabolic reprogramming, including shifts towards stress-associated pathways. Despite heat stress at BN generating broader molecular reprogramming in developing grain, exposure at TN produced stronger effects on grain set and composition, revealing a decoupling between the magnitude of responses and phenotypic outcomes. Together, these findings demonstrate that subtle differences in developmental stage influence the complex molecular responses to heat and subsequent grain properties.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Chromosome-level genome sequence of the C4 grass Themeda triandra reveals karyotype orthology with sorghum and genetic variation in accessions adapted to diverse environments

Themeda triandra (family Andropogoneae) is a pan-continental grass occurring throughout Australia. Recognising its remarkable adaptive capacity, we assembled the nuclear genome sequence of a diploid accession from eastern Australia, finding all ten chromosomes of the 755 Mb assembly highly syntenic with those of Sorghum bicolor. Genotyping and cytometry of range-wide accessions suggested several historical radiation events, with polyploids dominating in arid regions, apart from a notable diploid lineage from the arid north-west of Australia (PAN). A detailed comparison of PAN with two diploids from temperate south-eastern Australia through whole-genome resequencing revealed extensive copy number variation and polymorphism, with changes in genes for heat-shock proteins and flowering regulation reflecting their environmental origin. Exploration of the rich genetic diversity in T. triandra with respect to environmental adaptation is expected to benefit grassland management programs and enable introgression of novel genes into Andropogoneae crops for climate resilience.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

Linking drought strategy to climate of origin in a widespread C4 grass species: hydraulic traits, xylem anatomy and stomatal behaviour in Themeda triandra

O_LIHydraulic, stomatal and anatomical traits strongly influence drought survival and productivity, but the extent to which these trait-types are coordinated and relate to climate-of-origin in herbaceous species remains poorly understood. C_LIO_LIWe quantified hydraulic, stomatal and anatomical traits in eight populations of Themeda triandra selected from diverse temperature and precipitation regimes across Australia, grown under common conditions and exposed to drought. Trait - climate-of-origin relationships were quantified using multiple linear mixed models. C_LIO_LILeaf xylem embolism resistance (P50) was unrelated to climate-of-origin precipitation. Instead, plants from drier climates exhibited lower maximum stomatal conductance, earlier stomatal closure during drought and higher stomatal safety margins (the difference between water potential at stomatal closure and P50). Plants from warmer climates exhibited greater embolism resistance and higher hydraulic conductance, along with wider vessels and lower vein density, suggesting adaptation to high evaporative demand. C_LIO_LIOur findings highlight two primary hydraulic strategies related to climate-of-origin: 1) conservative water use and drought avoidance in drier climates, and 2) embolism resistance and hydraulic efficiency in warmer climates. These findings provide new insights into the intraspecific differences in traits and adaptive strategies used by C4 grasses to persist in contrasting climates. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Unique and shared proteome responses of rice plants (Oryza sativa) to individual abiotic stresses

Food safety of staple crops such as rice is of global concern and is at the top of the policy agenda worldwide. Abiotic stresses are one of the main limitations to optimizing yields for sustainability, food security and food safety. We analyzed proteome changes in Oryza sativa ssp. Nipponbare in response to three adverse abiotic treatments, including three levels of drought (mild, moderate, and severe), soil salinization, and non-optimal temperatures. All treatments had modest, negative effects on plant growth, enabling us to identify proteins that were common to all stresses, or unique to one. More than 75% of the total of differentially abundant proteins in response to abiotic stresses were specific to individual stresses, while fewer than 5% of stress-induced proteins were shared across all abiotic constraints. Stress-specific and non-specific stress-responsive proteins identified were categorized in terms of core biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular localization. Data AccessAll data have also been submitted to the PRIDE data repository, and will be available with project identifier PXD037280.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Genome survey sequencing of wild cotton (Gossypium robinsonii) reveals insights into proteomic responses of pollen to extreme heat

Heat stress specifically affects fertility by impairing pollen viability but cotton wild relatives successfully reproduce in hot savannas where they evolved. An Australian heat-tolerant cotton (Gossypium robinsonii) was exposed to heat events during pollen development, then mature pollen was subjected to deep proteomic analysis using 57,023 predicted genes from a genomic database we assembled for the same species. Three stages of pollen development, including tetrads, uninucleate and binucleate microspores were exposed to 36{degrees}C or 40{degrees}C for 5 d and the resulting mature pollen was collected at anthesis (p-TE, p-UN and p-BN, respectively). Using SWATH-MS proteomic analysis, 2,704 proteins were identified and quantified across all pollen samples analyzed. Proteins predominantly decreased in abundance at all stages in response to heat, particularly after exposure of tetrads to 40{degrees}C. Functional enrichment analyses demonstrated that extreme heat increased the abundance of proteins that contributed to increased mRNA splicing via spliceosome, initiation of cytoplasmic translation and protein refolding in p-TE40. However, other functional categories that contributed to intercellular transport were inhibited in p-TE40, linked potentially to Rab proteins. We ascribe the resilience of reproductive processes in G. robinsonii at temperatures up to 40{degrees}C, relative to commercial cotton, to a targeted reduction in protein transport.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Patterns of gene expression in pollen of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) indicate down-regulation as a feature of thermotolerance

Reproductive performance in plants is impaired as maximum temperatures consistently approach 40{degrees}C. However, the timing of heatwaves critically affects their impact. We studied the molecular responses of cotton male reproductive stages, to investigate the vulnerability of maturing pollen to high temperature. Tetrads, uninucleate and binucleate microspores, and mature pollen were subjected to SWATH-MS and RNA-seq analyses after exposure to 38/28{degrees}C (day/night) for 5 days. The results indicated that molecular signatures were down-regulated over developmental stages in response to heat. This was more evident in leaves where three-quarters of differentially changed proteins were decreased in abundance. Functional analysis showed that translation of genes increased in tetrads after exposure to heat; however, the reverse pattern was observed in mature pollen and leaves. Proteins involved in transport were highly abundant in tetrads, whereas in later stages of development and leaves, heat suppressed cell-to-cell communication. Moreover, a large number of heat shock proteins (HSPs) were identified in heat-affected tetrads, but these proteins were less abundant in mature pollen and leaves. We speculate that the sensitivity of tetrad cells to heat is related to increased activity of translation involved in non-essential pathways. Molecular signatures during pollen development after heatwaves provide markers for future genetic improvement.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2021

The phosphoproteome of rice leaves responds to water and nitrogen supply

The scarcity of freshwater is an increasing concern in flood-irrigated rice, whilst excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers is both costly and contributes to environmental pollution. To co-ordinate growth adaptation under prolonged exposure to limited water or excess nitrogen supply, plants have processes for signalling and regulation of metabolic processes. There is limited information on the involvement of one of the most important post-translational modifications (PTMs), protein phosphorylation, on plant adaptation to long-term changes in resource supply. Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare was grown under two regimes of nitrogen from the time of germination to final harvest. Twenty-five days after germination, water was withheld from half the pots in each nitrogen treatment and low water supply continued for an additional 26 days, while the remaining pots were well watered. Leaves from all four groups of plants were harvested after 51 days in order to test whether phosphorylation of leaf proteins responded to prior abiotic events. The dominant impact of these resources is exerted in leaves, where PTMs have been predicted to occur. Proteins were extracted and phosphopeptides were analysed by nanoLC-MS/MS analysis, coupled with label-free quantitation. Water and nitrogen regimes triggered extensive changes in phosphorylation of proteins involved in membrane transport, such as the aquaporin OsPIP2-6, a water channel protein. Our study reveals phosphorylation of several peptides belonging to proteins involved in RNA-processing and carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting that phosphorylation events regulate the signalling cascades that are required to optimize plant response to resource supply.

plant biology↗