Biology subjects

Velt, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Velt, A..

8 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Genetic analysis of grapevine wood composition identifies glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of stilbene glycosides

Although wood extractives may play important roles in defense against pathogens, few studies have explored the genetic determinism of their accumulation. In this work, we have used a non-targeted metabolomic approach to perform a genetic analysis of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) wood extractive composition in a progeny from a cross between Riesling and Gewurztraminer. Metabolic quantitative trait loci (mQTL) analyses of cane and trunk wood extractives revealed a number of mQTLs. Analysis of one of these mQTL has led to the identification of a cluster of six UDP glycosyltransferase (UGT) genes linked to the accumulation of resveratrol-glucoside (piceid) in both canes and trunks. Detailed biochemical and structural characterization of these six UGTs highlighted a surprising functional diversity among this small gene family, as well as one UGT gene as a key determinant of the constitutive accumulation of piceid in lignified grapevine tissues. Molecular evolution analyses showed that the UGTs in this gene cluster were globally under strong purifying selection, suggesting important biological roles of the corresponding proteins. Moreover, the functional characterization showed that distinct UGT genes were involved in the biosynthesis of cis- and trans- isomers of piceid, suggesting that these isomers may play different biological roles in grapevine.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

AEGIS: an annotation extraction and genomic integration resource

The GTF/GFF3 formats are the standard for storing and exchanging genome annotations. However, their flexibility often results in inconsistent and poorly formatted files across different sources, creating a major bottleneck for downstream bioinformatics analyses. Here, we present Annotation Extraction and Genomic Integration Suite (AEGIS), a comprehensive and user-friendly command-line toolkit designed to parse, validate and standardise genome annotation files. AEGIS robustly corrects common structural and formatting errors, ensuring interoperability with downstream tools. Beyond standardisation, the suite provides advanced modules for analysis, such as flexible sequence extraction (e.g. genes, CDS, proteins) with isoform handling, customisable promoter region definitions and targeted DNA motif searches. A key feature of AEGIS is its integrated workflow for comparative genomics, which combines multiple lines of evidence (i.e., sequence homology, synteny and coordinate-based lift-overs) to enable a robust gene ID correspondence and orthology assessment. We demonstrate the utility of AEGIS by comparing two major Arabidopsis thaliana annotations (TAIR10 vs. Araport11), successfully identifying and quantifying complex structural changes such as gene splits and fusions. AEGIS provides a unified solution for annotation quality control, feature extraction and comparative genomic analysis, simplifying complex workflows and enhancing reliability in bioinformatic research. The software is open-source, implemented in Python and is available on GitHub, PyPI, and as a Docker container to ensure accessibility and reproducibility.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2025

Rpv2 is part of a cluster of NLRs specific to Vitis rotundifolia and confers extreme resistance to grapevine downy mildew.

Downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola is one of the most important diseases affecting grapevine. Resistant varieties are an environmentally-friendly tool to control grapevine downy mildew. Efficient breeding for durable resistance requires knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. Here we aimed at identifying the molecular basis of Rpv2, a gene for extreme resistance to downy mildew derived from Vitis rotundifolia, and at characterizing its effect on pathogen development. Individuals from two populations segregating for Rpv2 were evaluated for resistance to downy mildew and genotyped. Following genetic mapping, markers flanking Rpv2 were used to screen new populations and identify recombinant individuals. Sequencing of recombinants and in silico chromosome painting was used to reduce the interval containing Rpv2. Comparative genomics inside the Vitaceae, involving de novo assembly of the V. rotundifolia Regale genome, allowed narrowing-down the list of candidate genes. We restrict Rpv2 to a 250 kb genomic region that contains two resistance genes of the NLR type. Comparative genomics analyses could not find orthologs of both NLRs in the other Vitis species studied. We also show that Rpv2-mediated resistance leads to pathogen arrest early in the infection cycle. Our results show that Rpv2 belongs to the NLR family of resistance genes, contributing thus to understand the potential and risks of its use in breeding programs and suggesting that combining NLR-type genes may lead to durable resistance KEY MESSAGEThe Rpv2 locus for extreme resistance to grapevine downy mildew is mapped to a 250 kb genomic region containing two NLR-type genes specific to V. rotundifolia.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

The Silene latifolia genome and its giant Y chromosome

In some species, the Y is a tiny chromosome but the dioecious plant Silene latifolia has a giant [~]550 Mb Y chromosome, which has remained unsequenced so far. Here we used a hybrid approach to obtain a high-quality male S. latifolia genome. Using mutants for sexual phenotype, we identified candidate sex-determining genes on the Y. Comparative analysis of the sex chromosomes with outgroups showed the Y is surprisingly rearranged and degenerated for a [~]11 MY-old system. Recombination suppression between X and Y extended in a stepwise process, and triggered a massive accumulation of repeats on the Y, as well as in the non-recombining pericentromeric region of the X, leading to giant sex chromosomes. One-Sentence SummaryThis work uncovers the structure, function, and evolution of one of the largest giant Y chromosomes, that of the model plant Silene latifolia, which is almost 10 times larger than the human Y, despite similar genome sizes.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

An improved reference of the grapevine genome supports reasserting the origin of the PN40024 highly-homozygous genotype

The genome sequence assembly of the diploid and highly homozygous V. vinifera genotype PN40024 serves as the reference for many grapevine studies. Despite several improvements of the PN40024 genome assembly, its current version PN12X.v2 is quite fragmented and only represents the haploid state of the genome with mixed haplotypes. In fact, despite the PN40024 genome is nearly homozygous, it still contains various heterozygous regions. Taking the opportunity of the improvements that long-read sequencing technologies offer to fully discriminate haplotype sequences and considering that several Vitis sp. genomes have recently been assembled with these approaches, an improved version of the reference, called PN40024.v4, was generated. Through incorporating long genomic sequencing reads to the assembly, the continuity of the 12X.v2 scaffolds was highly increased. The number of scaffolds decreased from 2,059 to 640 and the number of N bases was reduced by 88%. Additionally, the full alternative haplotype sequence was built for the first time, the chromosome anchoring was improved and the amount of unplaced scaffolds were reduced by half. To obtain a high-quality gene annotation that outperforms previous versions, a liftover approach was complemented with an optimized annotation workflow for Vitis. Integration of the gene reference catalogue and its manual curation have also assisted in improving the annotation, while defining the most reliable estimation to date of 35,230 genes. Finally, we demonstrate that PN40024 resulted from selfings of cv. Helfensteiner (cross of cv. Pinot noir and Schiava grossa) instead of a single Pinot noir. These advances will help maintaining the PN40024 genome as a gold-standard reference also contributing in the eventual elaboration of the grapevine pangenome.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

Transcriptome responses of virus-transmitting aphid vectors are shaped by the host plant and the virus mode of transmission

BackgroundNumerous studies have documented modifications in vector orientation behavior, settling and feeding behavior, and/or fecundity and survival due to virus infection in host plants. These alterations are often expected to enhance virus transmission, which has led to the hypothesis that such effects are vector manipulations by the virus. However, until now, the gene expression changes correlating with these effects and indicative of modified vector pathways and mechanisms are mostly unknown. ResultsTranscriptome profiling of Myzus persicae aphids feeding on turnip yellows virus (TuYV) and cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) infected Arabidopsis thaliana and Camelina sativa revealed a substantial proportion of commonly deregulated genes, amongst them many with general functions in plant-virus-aphid interactions. We identified also aphid genes specifically deregulated by CaMV or TuYV infection, which might be related to the viral transmission mode. Furthermore, we observed strong host-specific differences in the gene expression patterns with plant virus infection causing more deregulations of aphid genes on A. thaliana than on C. sativa, likely related to the differences in susceptibility of the plant hosts to these viruses. Finally, stress-related aphid genes were downregulated in M. persicae on both infected plants, regardless of the virus. ConclusionsTuYV, relying on the circulative persistent mode of transmission, tended to affect developmental genes. This could increase the proportion of alate aphids, but also affect their locomotion, neuronal activity, and lifespan. CaMV, using the non-circulative non-persistent mode of transmission, had a strong impact on feeding-related genes and in particular those related to salivary proteins. In general, these transcriptome alterations targeted pathways that seem to be particularly adapted to the transmission mode of the corresponding virus and could be evidence of vector manipulation by the virus.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Comparative plant transcriptome profiling of Arabidopsis and Camelina infested with Myzus persicae aphids acquiring circulative and non-circulative viruses reveals virus- and plant-specific alterations relevant to aphid feeding behavior and transmission

BackgroundEvidence accumulates that plant viruses alter host-plant traits in ways that modify their insect vectors behavior. These alterations often enhance virus transmission, which has led to the hypothesis that these effects are manipulations caused by viral adaptation. However, the genetic basis of these indirect, plant-mediated effects on vectors and their dependence on the plant host and the mode of virus transmission is hardly known. ResultsTranscriptome profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana and Camelina sativa plants infected with turnip yellows virus (TuYV) or cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and infested with the common aphid vector Myzus persicae revealed strong virus- and host-specific differences in the gene expression patterns. CaMV infection caused more severe effects on the phenotype of both plant hosts than did TuYV infection, and the severity of symptoms correlated strongly with the proportion of differentially expressed genes, especially photosynthesis genes. Accordingly, CaMV infection modified aphid behavior and fecundity stronger than did infection with TuYV. ConclusionsOverall, infection with CaMV - relying on the non-circulative transmission mode - tends to have effects on metabolic pathways with strong potential implications for insect-vector / plant-host interactions (e.g. photosynthesis, jasmonic acid, ethylene and glucosinolate biosynthetic processes), while TuYV - using the circulative transmission mode - alters these pathways only weakly. These virus-induced deregulations of genes that are related to plant physiology and defense responses might impact aphid probing and feeding behavior on both infected host plants, with potentially distinct effects on virus transmission.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

The wild grape genome sequence provides insights into the transition from dioecy to hermaphroditism during grape domestication

Grapevine has a major economical and cultural importance since antiquity. A key step in domestication was the transition from separate sexes (dioecy) in wild Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris (V. sylvestris) to hermaphroditism in cultivated Vitis vinifera ssp. vinifera. While the grapevine sex locus is known to be small, its precise boundaries, gene content and the sex-determining genes are unknown. Here we obtained a high-quality de novo reference genome for V. sylvestris and whole-genome resequencing data of a cross. Studying SNP segregation patterns, gene content and expression in wild and cultivated accessions allowed us to build a model for sex determination in grapevine. In this model, up- and down-regulation of a cytokinin regulator is sufficient to cause female sterility and reversal to hermaphroditism, respectively. This study highlights the importance of neo-functionalization of Y alleles in sex determination and provides a resource for studying genetic diversity in V. sylvestris and the genomic processes of grapevine domestication.

plant biology↗