A Gain-of-Function Mutant of IAA7 Inhibits Stem Elongation by Transcriptional Repression of EXPA5 Genes in Brassica napus.

Plant height is one of the most important agronomic traits of rapeseeds. In this study, we characterized a dwarf Brassica napus mutant, named ndf-2, obtained from fast neutrons and DES mutagenesis. Based on BSA-Seq and genetic properties, we identified causal mutations with a time-saving approach. The ndf-2 mutation was identified on chromosome A03 and can result in an amino acid substitution in the conserved degron motif (GWPPV to EWPPV) of the Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid protein 7 (BnaA03.IAA7) encoded by the causative gene. Aux/IAA protein is one of the core components of the auxin signaling pathway, which regulates many growth and development processes. However, the molecular mechanism of auxin signal regulating plant height is still not well understood. In the following work, we identified that BnaARF6 and BnaARF8 as interactors of BnaA03.IAA7 and BnaEXPA5 as a target of BnaARF6 and BnaARF8. The three genes BnaA03.IAA7, BnaARF6/8 and BnaEXPA5 were highly expressed in stem, suggesting that these genes were involved in stem development. The overexpression of BnaEXPA5 results in larger rosettes leaves and longer inflorescence stems in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results indicate that BnaA03.IAA7- and BnaARF6/8-dependent auxin signal control stem elongation and plant height by regulating the transcription of BnaEXPA5 gene, which is one of the targets of this signal.

[Washing copper (II)-contaminated soil using surfactant solutions].

The batch equilibrium washing of copper (II) in the soil matrix by anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzyl sulfonate (SDBS), nonionic surfactant, octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (TX100), and their mixture (SDBS-TX100), was studied and compared. The influences of surfactant concentrations, washing time, pH values of solutions, ratios of soil to water and inorganic salts on washing efficiency were investigated. It was shown that the washing efficiency differed with the kinds of surfactants. Given the initial surfactant concentrations, the washing of copper (II) by single SDBS was greater than those by single TX100 and the mixed SDBS-TX100. The washing efficiency by 6 000 mg x L(-1) of SDBS was up to 46.3%, which was 5.8, 10.8, 10.8 and 19.3 times as those by SDBS-TX100 (3:1), SDBS-TX100 (1:1), SDBS-TX100 (1:3) and single TX100 respectively. When the ratio of soil to water was 1 to 10 and washing time reached 24 h, the washing efficiency achieved the maximum. pH values of solutions had obvious effect on the washing of copper (II). The washing efficiency of copper decreased sharply with the increase of pH. At the high acidity (pH = 1.50), the washing efficiency of copper (II) was up to 95%. The smaller the ratios of soil to water were, the higher the washing efficiencies would be. The existence of inorganic salts with the certain concentrations, such as Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+, could not influence the washing capacity of surfactants, but the excessive Mg2+ (more than 500 mg x L(-1)) could resulted in the precipitation of SDBS. The results will make an implication for surfactant-enhanced remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals.