iTRAQ-based quantitative proteome analysis reveals metabolic changes between a cleistogamous wheat mutant and its wild-type wheat counterpart.

BACKGROUND

Wheat is one of the most important staple crops worldwide. head blight (FHB) severely affects wheat yield and quality. A novel bread wheat mutant, , characterized as cleistogamic was isolated from a non-cleistogamous variety Yumai 18 (YM18) through static magnetic field mutagenesis. Cleistogamy is a promising strategy for controlling FHB. However, little is known about the mechanism of cleistogamy in wheat.

METHODS

We performed a FHB resistance test to identify the FHB infection rate of . We also measured the agronomic traits of and the starch and total soluble sugar contents of lodicules in YM18 and . Finally, we performed comparative studies at the proteome level between YM18 and based on the proteomic technique of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification.

RESULTS

The infection rate of was lower than that of its wild-type and Aikang 58. The abnormal lodicules of lost the ability to push the lemma and palea apart during the flowering stage. Proteome analysis showed that the main differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were related to carbohydrate metabolism, protein transport, and calcium ion binding. These DAPs may work together to regulate cellular homeostasis, osmotic pressure and the development of lodicules. This hypothesis is supported by the analysis of starch, soluble sugar content in the lodicules as well as the results of Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Proteomic analysis has provided comprehensive information that should be useful for further research on the lodicule development mechanism in wheat. The mutant is optimal for studying flower development in wheat and could be very important for FHB resistant projects via conventional crossing.