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Forests
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Stress Resistance of Rubber Trees: From Genetics to Ecosystem
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Stress Resistance of Rubber Trees: From Genetics to Ecosystem

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 8 July 2024 | Viewed by 7703

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jiaming Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hainan Key Laboratory of Microbiological Resources, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hainan Bioenergy Center, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
Interests: environmental science; agricultural plant science; woody plant; genetics; molecular biology; biotechnology
Prof. Dr. Feng An

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou 571737, China
Interests: plant physiology and ecology; rubber tree cultivation physiology; abiotic stress
Prof. Dr. Han Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China
Interests: plant molecular biology; plant genome; plant stress biology; rubber tree breeding

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural rubber is an indispensable and irreplaceable commodity used in approximately 50,000 industrial products. Among the more than 2000 plant species which can produce natural rubber, 98% of natural rubber is produced from the rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell-Arg.]. The rubber tree is native to the Amazon rainforest. Although the Amazon basin offers an optimal climate for rubber tree production, the occurrence of South American leaf blight limits its cultivation in South America (2%). At present, 92%, or approximately 141 million hectares, of rubber plantations are located in Southeast Asia where the conditions are sub-optimal for rubber tree growth. Environmental drawbacks such as drought, cold, high solar radiation, poor soil fertility, high levels of salts or toxic metals (aluminium, arsenate, manganese, cadmium, etc.) and biotic stresses (powdery mildew, anthracnose, leaf mite, leaf blight disease, and root disease, etc.) can significantly influence the biosynthesis of chlorophyll, photosynthetic capacity, carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and antioxidant enzyme activities of rubber trees, causing loss in latex yield and rubber plantation income. Therefore, genetically breeding rubber trees and implementing eco-friendly practices for environmental constraints have been long-term strategies for all the rubber-producing countries, since rubber trees play a crucial role in local afforestation, economy and sustainable development.  

To integrate the research progress on rubber trees’ stress resistance with agronomy practice and build a bridge of communication for relevant researchers, this Special Issue will focus on the stress resistance studies of rubber trees from genetics, physiology, population, and agronomy to the ecosystem scale. 

We welcome research papers, reviews, and opinions on cutting-edge research, including, for example, molecular and physiological mechanisms, breakthrough technologies and well-defined agriculture practices for the abiotic and biotic stress resistance of Hevea brasiliensis.

Prof. Dr. Jiaming Zhang
Prof. Dr. Feng An
Prof. Dr. Han Cheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • stress response
  • Hevea brasiliensis
  • adaptation
  • good agriculture practice
  • biotic and abiotic stresses

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 3125 KiB  
Article
Functional Analysis of the HbREF1 Promoter from Hevea brasiliensis and Its Response to Phytohormones
by Lin-Tao Chen, Dong Guo, Jia-Hong Zhu, Ying Wang, Hui-Liang Li, Feng An, Yan-Qiong Tang and Shi-Qing Peng
Forests 2024, 15(2), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020276 - 01 Feb 2024
Viewed by 659
Abstract
The rubber elongation factor (REF) is the most abundant protein in the latex of Hevea brasiliensis, which is closely related to natural rubber biosynthesis. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the transcriptional regulation mechanism of HbREF1, a 1758 bp [...] Read more.
The rubber elongation factor (REF) is the most abundant protein in the latex of Hevea brasiliensis, which is closely related to natural rubber biosynthesis. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the transcriptional regulation mechanism of HbREF1, a 1758 bp genomic DNA fragment of the HbREF1 promoter was isolated. Promoter sequence analysis revealed several transcription factor binding sites in the HbREF1 promoter, such as bZIP, bHLH, EIL, AP2/ERF, MYB, and Trihelix. To assess the promoter activity, a series of HbREF1 promoter deletion derivatives were created and fused with firefly luciferase (LUC). The LUC image demonstrated that all of the HbREF1 promoters exhibited transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the assay revealed the presence of multiple regulatory elements within the promoter region that negatively regulate the transcriptional activity. Subsequent analysis of the transcriptional activity following treatment with phytohormones identified an ABA-responsive element located between −583 bp and −200 bp, an ET-responsive element between −718 bp and −583 bp, a JA-responsive element between −1758 bp and −1300 bp, and a SA-responsive element between −1300 bp and −718 bp. These results were largely consistent with the predictions of cis-acting elements. This study has established significant groundwork for future investigations into the regulatory mechanism of HbREF1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Resistance of Rubber Trees: From Genetics to Ecosystem)
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19 pages, 18941 KiB  
Article
Automatically Extracting Rubber Tree Stem Shape from Point Cloud Data Acquisition Using a B-Spline Fitting Program
by Tuyu Li, Yong Zheng, Chang Huang, Jianhua Cao, Lingling Wang and Guihua Wang
Forests 2023, 14(6), 1122; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061122 - 29 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
Natural rubber is an important and strategic raw material, used in tires, gloves, and insulating products, that is mainly obtained by cutting the bark of rubber trees. However, the complex contour curve of the rubber tree trunk is hard to fit using a [...] Read more.
Natural rubber is an important and strategic raw material, used in tires, gloves, and insulating products, that is mainly obtained by cutting the bark of rubber trees. However, the complex contour curve of the rubber tree trunk is hard to fit using a tapping machine. Thus, a trunk contour curve collection would be useful for the development of tapping machines. In this study, an acquisition system based on laser-ranging technology was proposed to collect the point cloud data of rubber tree trunks, and a B-spline fitting program was compiled in Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) to extract the trunks’ contour curves. The acquisition system is composed of power, a controller, a driver, a laser range finder, and data transmission modules. An automatic extraction experiment on the contour curves of rubber tree trunks was carried out to verify the feasibility and accuracy of using the acquisition system. The results showed that the degree of rubber tree trunk characteristic recognition reached 94.67%, which means that the successful extraction of the rubber tree trunk contour curves and the B-spline fitting program are suitable for the extraction of irregular curves of rubber tree trunks. The coefficient of variation of repeated collection was 0.04%, which indicates that changes in relative positions and acquisition directions have little influence on the extraction and the accuracy of the acquisition system, which are high and stable. Therefore, it was unnecessary to adjust the position of the acquisition device before the collecting process, which helped to improve the efficiency of acquisition considerably. The acquisition system proposed in this study is meaningful to the practical production and application of agroforestry and can not only improve the precision of the rubber tapping process by combining with an automatic rubber tapping machine but can also provide technical support for the prediction of rubber wood volume and the development of ring-cutting equipment for other fruit trees. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Resistance of Rubber Trees: From Genetics to Ecosystem)
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11 pages, 5093 KiB  
Article
14-3-3 Proteins Participate in Regulation of Natural Rubber Biosynthesis in Hevea brasiliensis
by Miao Zhang, Ziping Yang, Dong Guo, Huiliang Li, Jiahong Zhu, Shiqing Peng and Ying Wang
Forests 2023, 14(5), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050911 - 28 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1405
Abstract
Plant 14-3-3 proteins mediate a wide range of functionally diverse proteins through protein–protein interactions that are typically phosphorylation-dependent. However, the interactions between 14-3-3 proteins and the major regulators of nature rubber (NR) biosynthesis in H. brasiliensis have not been fully elucidated. In this [...] Read more.
Plant 14-3-3 proteins mediate a wide range of functionally diverse proteins through protein–protein interactions that are typically phosphorylation-dependent. However, the interactions between 14-3-3 proteins and the major regulators of nature rubber (NR) biosynthesis in H. brasiliensis have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we obtained 81 essential client proteins that interacted with H. brasiliensis 14-3-3 proteins (HbGF14s) through yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening. These interaction partners were involved in plant signal transduction, metabolism, development, and NR biosynthesis including small rubber particle protein (SRPP), rubber elongation factor (REF), and MYC2, etc. Furthermore, the interaction of HbGF14c and HbSRPP of H. brasiliensis was confirmed in plants through bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays and in vitro with Pull-down assays. Specifically, the RVSSYLP motif was found to mediate the interaction between HbSRPP and HbGF14c. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for the elucidation of the molecular regulation mechanism of the 14-3-3 proteins involved in NR biosynthesis, which could be used to enhance the production of rubber trees through genetic improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Resistance of Rubber Trees: From Genetics to Ecosystem)
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20 pages, 9577 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis of Rubber Trees (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) Response to Aluminum Stress
by Xiaowei Ma, Linlin Cheng, Wentao Peng, Guishui Xie, Zifan Liu, Zongming Yang, Ying Wang and Feng An
Forests 2023, 14(3), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030568 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1272
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) toxicity severely restricts crop growth and productivity in acidic soils. The rubber tree is one of the most economically important crops in tropical regions, which is tolerant to high concentrations of Al in sand or hydroponic culture conditions compared with other [...] Read more.
Aluminum (Al) toxicity severely restricts crop growth and productivity in acidic soils. The rubber tree is one of the most economically important crops in tropical regions, which is tolerant to high concentrations of Al in sand or hydroponic culture conditions compared with other plants that have been reported. However, the mechanisms of Al tolerance in rubber trees remain unknown. In this study, we conducted a transcriptome and metabolome analysis for rubber tree sapling roots treated with 200 mM Al for 0 (CK), 2 or 5 days, respectively. Compared with the CK, a total of 9534 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 3821 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in 2 d of Al treatment. There were 10,373 DEGs and 4636 DEMs after 5 d of Al treatment, and 1626 DEGs and 1674 DEMs between 2 and 5 d of Al treatment. The DEGs mainly concentrated in transporters, transcription factors (TFs), cell wall biosynthesis and antioxidant systems, and the DEMs were mainly focused on lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, organic oxygen compounds, phenylpropanoids and polyketides. The combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis indicated DEGs and DEMs involved in ABC transporters, glutathione metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolic pathways were identified to be closely associated with the Al tolerance of rubber trees. Our study elucidated the mechanism of rubber trees’ tolerance to Al at the transcriptional and metabolic levels, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of Al tolerance both for rubber trees and other woody plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Resistance of Rubber Trees: From Genetics to Ecosystem)
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14 pages, 3776 KiB  
Article
Characterization of 33 HbbZIP Gene Family Members and Analysis of Their Expression Profiles in Rubber Tree in Response to ABA, Glyphosate and Powdery Mildew Treatment
by Meng Wang, Yan Wang, Dong Zhang, Qifeng Liu, Yanchao Liu, Bi Qin, Xiaoyu Liang, Lifeng Wang and Yu Zhang
Forests 2023, 14(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030556 - 11 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 972
Abstract
Plant bZIP transcription factors play important roles in nearly all biological processes. Elucidation of the potential functions of these proteins in rubber trees will help to improve breeding and cultivation techniques. Here, we identified 33 HbbZIP family genes based on genomic data and [...] Read more.
Plant bZIP transcription factors play important roles in nearly all biological processes. Elucidation of the potential functions of these proteins in rubber trees will help to improve breeding and cultivation techniques. Here, we identified 33 HbbZIP family genes based on genomic data and named them according to their homologs in Arabidopsis thaliana. The genes were divided into 10 subgroups, namely, A to I. All the proteins had three motifs that varied in the different subgroups. The exons and introns were also analyzed on the basis of DNA sequence analysis. Expression analysis revealed that the 33 HbbZIPs were expressed primarily in the flowers, followed by the leaves and roots, while the lowest expression was detected in the latex and bark. In response to ABA treatment, the genes were significantly differentially expressed. The highest HbbZIP38 level increased by approximately 21-fold, and the lowest HbbZIP56 level decreased by 21-fold. In response to powdery mildew infection, most HbbZIPs were upregulated at 6 h after treatment; however, HbbZIP58 and HbbZIP47 were downregulated at this time point. In response to glyphosate, the expression of only HbbZIP21 and HbbZIP38 decreased, while that of the other HbbZIP proteins increased. Taken together, these results suggested that members of the different HbbZIP subgroups have specific functions. Overall, this study lays a solid foundation for further exploration of the potential roles of HbbZIPs in rubber trees. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Resistance of Rubber Trees: From Genetics to Ecosystem)
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Review

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17 pages, 4083 KiB  
Review
Current Achievements and Future Challenges of Genotype-Dependent Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques in Hevea brasiliensis
by Xiaoyi Wang, Xiaochuan Gu, Zhengwei Xu, Zhaochen Yin, Xianfeng Yang, Rong Lin, Quannan Zhou, Huasun Huang and Tiandai Huang
Forests 2023, 14(9), 1891; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091891 - 17 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1166
Abstract
The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the most important commercial plant for producing natural rubber. Immature seed inner integument and anther-derived somatic embryogenesis techniques play a crucial role in the in vitro large-scale propagation and genetic transformation of the rubber tree. [...] Read more.
The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the most important commercial plant for producing natural rubber. Immature seed inner integument and anther-derived somatic embryogenesis techniques play a crucial role in the in vitro large-scale propagation and genetic transformation of the rubber tree. However, somatic embryogenesis is highly genotype-dependent, that is, only a limited number of H. brasiliensis genotypes, such as CATAS73397, CATAS917, and PB260, can be efficiently induced by somatic embryogenesis and used for large-scale propagation or transformation. The genotype dependence of the somatic embryogenesis technique is a conundrum for the application of Hevea biotechnology in most commercially important cultivars, such as Reken628 and CATAS879. Previous studies have shown that several somatic embryogenesis regulators can overcome genotype dependence and enhance the transformation and regeneration efficiency of recalcitrant plants and cultivars. In this review, we first describe the relevant successful applications of somatic embryogenesis technology in seedling production and genetic modification of H. brasiliensis. Second, we discuss the genotype dependence of somatic embryogenesis as the major challenge currently. Third, we summarize the recent significant advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying somatic embryogenesis in other plants. Finally, we suggest a roadmap for using somatic embryogenesis regulatory genes to facilitate genotype-dependent somatic embryogenesis technology in H. brasiliensis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Resistance of Rubber Trees: From Genetics to Ecosystem)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Function Analysis of HbREF1 Promoter from Hevea brasiliensis and Its responses to Phytohormone
Authors: Lin-Tao Chen; Dong Guo; Jia-Hong Zhu; Ying Wang; Hui-Liang Li; Feng An; Yan-Qiong Tang; Shi-Qing Peng
Affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, Hannan, China.
Abstract: Rubber elongation factor (REF) is the most abundant protein in the latex of Hevea brasiliensis, which closely related to the natural rubber biosynthesis. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the transcriptional regulation mechanism of HbREF1, a 1758 bp genomic DNA fragment of the HbREF1 promoter was isolated. Sequence analysis showed that the HbREF1 promoter contains various potential cis-acting elements, such as light and hormone-responsive elements. To assess the promoter activity, a series of HbREF1 promoter deletion derivatives were created and fused with firefly luciferase (LUC). The LUC image demonstrated that all of the HbREF1 promoters exhibited transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the assay revealed the presence of multiple regulatory elements within the promoter region that negatively regulate the transcriptional activity. Subsequent analysis of the transcriptional activity following treatment with phytohormones identified an ABA-responsive element located between -583 bp and -200 bp, an ET-responsive element between -718 bp and -583 bp, a JA-responsive element between -1758 bp and -1300 bp, and a SA-responsive element between -1300 bp and -718 bp. These findings were largely consistent with the predicted outcomes of cis-acting elements. The conducted study has established a significant groundwork for future investigations into the regulatory mechanism of HbREF1.

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