Receptor-like kinases FER and SRK mediate Lotus japonicus freezing tolerance and climate adaptation

Mustamin, Y.; Akyol, T. Y.; Gordon, M.; Manggabarani, A. M.; Isomura, Y.; Kawamura, Y.; Bamba, M.; Williams, C. M.; Andersen, S. U.; Sato, S.

doi:10.1101/2022.04.27.489728

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.04.27.489728

Receptor-like kinases FER and SRK mediate Lotus japonicus freezing tolerance and climate adaptation

Mustamin, Y.·Akyol, T. Y.·Gordon, M.·Manggabarani, A. M.·Isomura, Y.·Kawamura, Y.·Bamba, M.·Williams, C. M.·Andersen, S. U.·Sato, S.

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Abstract

Many plant species have succeeded in colonizing a wide range of diverse climates through local adaptation, but the underlying molecular genetics remain obscure. We previously found that winter survival was a direct target of selection during colonization of Japan by the perennial legume Lotus japonicus and identified associated candidate genes. Here, we show that two of these, the FERONIA-receptor like kinase (LjFER) and a novel S-receptor-like kinase (LjSRK) are required for non-acclimated freezing tolerance and show haplotype-dependent cold-responsive expression. Our work demonstrates that recruiting a conserved growth regulator, FER, and a novel receptor-like kinase, SRK, into the set of cold-responsive genes has contributed to freezing tolerance and local climate adaptation in L. japonicus, offering new functional genetic insight into perennial herb evolution.

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Mustamin, Y., Akyol, T. Y., Gordon, M., Manggabarani, A. M., Isomura, Y., Kawamura, Y., Bamba, M., Williams, C. M., Andersen, S. U., Sato, S.. 2022-04-28. Receptor-like kinases FER and SRK mediate Lotus japonicus freezing tolerance and climate adaptation. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.27.489728

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