Faculty Profiles - MA Jian Feng

Gene expression and functional analysis of a candidate gene related to Al-activated citrate transporter in barley Reviewed

Functional analysis of a rice Al-tolerant gene Als1 Reviewed

Chaofeng Huang, Naoki Yamaji, Masahiro Yano, Jianfeng Ma

PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY 48 S45 - S45 2007

Characterization of silicon permeability of NIP in gramineous plants Reviewed

Namiki Mitani, Naoki Yamaji, Maki Katsuhara, Jian Feng Ma

PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY 48 S30 - S30 2007

Jun Furukawa, Naoki Yamaji, Hua Wang, Maki Katsuhara, Kazuhiro Sato, Kazuyoshi Takeda, Jian Feng Ma

PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY 48 S44 - S44 2007

Functional analysis of a rice Si transporter homolog Lsi6. Reviewed

Naoki Yamaji, Namiki Mitani, Jian Feng Ma

PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY 48 S30 - S30 2007

Further characterization of an Fe-phytosiderophore transporter gene ZmYS 1 in maize Reviewed

Daisei Ueno, Naoki Yamaji, Jian Feng Ma

PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY 48 S29 - S29 2007

Syndrome of aluminum toxicity and diversity of aluminum resistance in higher plants

Jian Feng Ma

SURVEY OF CELL BIOLOGY 264 225 - + 2007

Language：English Publisher：ELSEVIER ACADEMIC PRESS INC

Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust, while its soluble ionic form (Al3+) shows phytotoxicity, which is characterized by a rapid inhibition of root elongation. Aluminum targets multiple cellular sites by binding, resulting in disrupted structure and/or functions of the cell wait, plasma membrane, signal transduction pathway, and Ca homeostasis. On the other hand, some plant species have evolved mechanisms to cope with At toxicity both externally and internally. The well-documented mechanisms for external detoxification of At include the release of organic acid anions from roots and alkalination of the rhizosphere. Genes encoding transporters for Al-induced secretion of organic acid anions have been identified and characterized. Recent studies show that ABC transporters are involved in At resistance. The internal detoxification of Al in Al-accumulating plants is achieved by the formation of nontoxic Al complexes with organic acids or other chelators and sequestration of these complexes in the vacuoles. In some plant species, Al shows beneficial effects on plant growth under particular conditions, although the exact mechanisms for these effects are unknown.

DOI： 10.1016/S0074-7696(07)64005-4

Identification of two novel phytosiderophores secreted by perennial grasses

D. Ueno, A. D. Rombola, T. Iwashita, K. Nomoto, J. F. Ma

NEW PHYTOLOGIST 174 ( 2 ) 304 - 310 2007

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：BLACKWELL PUBLISHING

It has been suggested that some perennial grasses secrete phytosiderophores in response to iron (Fe) deficiency, but the compounds have not been identified. Here, we identified and characterized the phytosiderophores secreted by two perennial grasses, Lolium perenne cv. Tove and Poa pratensis cv. Baron.
Root exudates were collected from the roots of Fe-deficient grasses and then purified with various chromatographies. The structure of the purified compounds was determined using both nuclear magnetic resonance and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.
Both species secreted phytosiderophores in response to Fe deficiency, and the amount of phytosiderophores secreted increased with the development of Fe deficiency. The type of phytosiderophores secreted differed with plant species; L. perenne cv. Tove secreted 3-epihydroxy-2'-deoxymugineic acid (epiHDMA), 2'-deoxymugineic acid (DMA) and an unknown compound, whereas P. pratensis cv. Baron secreted DMA, avenic acid A (AVA) and an unknown compound.
Purification and subsequent analysis with nuclear magnetic resonance and mass led to identification of the two novel phytosiderophores; 3-hydroxy-2'-deoxymugineic acid (HDMA) from L. perenne, and 2'-hydroxyavenic acid A (HAVA) from P. pratensis. Both novel phytosiderophores have similar chelating activity to known phytosiderophores.

DOI： 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02056.x

Strategies of plants to adapt to mineral stresses in problem soils

Syuntaro Hiradate, Jian Feng Ma, Hideaki Matsumoto

ADVANCES IN AGRONOMY, VOL 96 96 65 - 132 2007

Language：English Publishing type：Part of collection (book) Publisher：ELSEVIER ACADEMIC PRESS INC

Mineral imbalance in high-input agricultural ecosystems has become an acute concern in many developed countries. Relapse into low-input agricultural ecosystems, however, will cause mineral stresses to crops, resulting in reduced food productions. Under such natural soil conditions, some endemic plants can tolerate the mineral stresses because they have evolved to adapt to the stresses. Numerous studies have been conducted to clarify the chemistry of the mineral elements of interest in rhizosphere and to utilize the tolerant mechanisms in plants. In this chapter, the authors reviewed the research progress on molecular scale mechanisms of Fe-deficiency, Al-toxicity, and P-deficiency stresses in soils and their tolerances by plants. In low Fe-availability conditions, two Fe-acquisition mechanisms of plants have been clarified: enhanced Fe dissolution in rhizosphere by secreted proton/reductants/chelators followed by reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ and specific uptake of Fe2+ (Strategy I) and Fe dissolution by secreted hexadentate Fe3+-transporting molecule (phytosiderophore) by forming Fe3+-phytosiderophore complex followed by specific uptake of the complex (Strategy II). Two tolerant mechanisms against high Al-toxicity of soils have been reported: exclusion of Al from cytoplasm (exclusion mechanism) and detoxification of Al in plants (internal detoxification mechanism). Phosphorous acquisition mechanisms of plants from low P-availability soils would be (1) alteration of root architecture, (2) secretion of organic acids, (3) secretion of phosphatase, and (4) enhanced expression of P transporter on roots. Some of the molecular mechanisms for the expression of the tolerances and their application to the genetic improvement are also reviewed. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/S0065-2113(07)96004-6

Studies on Beneficial Effects and Uptake System of Silicon in Rice(JSSSPN Awards)

Ma Jian Feng

Japanese Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 78 ( 5 ) 431 - 434 2007

Genetic dissection of silicon uptake ability in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Q. -S. Wu, X. -Y. Wan, N. Su, Z. -J. Cheng, J. -K. Wang, C. -L. Lei, X. Zhang, L. Jiang, J. -F. Ma, J. -M. Wan

PLANT SCIENCE 171 ( 4 ) 441 - 448 2006.10

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

The adequate presence of silicon (Si) in rice plants can enhance their yield and improve their tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study Si uptake abilities were compared between the japonica rice cultivar (cv.) Kinmaze and the indica rice cv. DV85 under three Si concentrations (0.16, 0.4, and 1.6 mM) at different time points from 1 to 12 h. The results showed that the phenotypic values of two traits-Si uptake by individual plants (SP, Si uptake by all roots of a plant) and Si uptake per unit root dry weight (SR = SP/root dry weight)-of Kinmaze were significantly higher than those of DV85 (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, a kinetic study indicated that the Si transporters in Kinmaze and DV85 had the same affinity for silicic acid, but with different V-max values, indicating that Kinmaze had more Si transporters in the roots than DV85. This may be the main reason for the difference in Si uptake ability between Kinmaze and DV85. In addition, a mapping population consisting of 81 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross between Kinmaze and DV85 was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying SP and SR. The RILs follow a continuous one-peak distribution and show transgressive segregation in both directions for SP, SR, and root dry weight (RDW). Three QTLs for SP, four for SR, and three for RDW were detected. This can explain 7.16-17.15% of the phenotypic variation (PVE). Thus, the results obtained in this study provide a better understanding of the mechanism of rice Si uptake ability and the basis for fine-mapping the genes involved. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.plantsci.2006.05.001

QTL analysis of aluminum resistance in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Y. Xue, J. M. Wan, L. Jiang, L. L. Liu, N. Su, H. Q. Zhai, J. F. Ma

PLANT AND SOIL 287 ( 1-2 ) 375 - 383 2006.9

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：SPRINGER

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is considered as one of the primary causes of low-rice productivity in acid soils. In the present study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling Al resistance based on relative root elongation (RRE) were dissected using a complete linkage map and a recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross of Al-tolerant japonica cultivar Asominori (Oryza sativa L.) and Al sensitive indica cultivar IR24 (O. sativa L.). A total of three QTLs (qRRE-1, qRRE-9, and qRRE-11) were detected on chromosomes 1, 9, and 11 with LOD score ranging from 2.64 to 3.60 and the phenotypic variance explained from 13.5 to 17.7%. The Asominori alleles were all associated with Al resistance at all the three QTLs. The existence of these QTLs was confirmed using Asominori chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) in IR24 genetic background (IAS). By QTL comparative analysis, the two QTLs (qRRE-1 and qRRE-9) on chromosomes 1 and 9 appeared to be consistent among different rice populations while qRRE-11 was newly detected and syntenic with a major Al resistance gene on chromosome 10 of maize. This region may provide an important case for isolating genes responsible for different mechanisms of Al resistance among different cereals. These results also provide the possibilities of enhancing Al resistance in rice breeding program by marker-assisted selection (MAS) and pyramiding QTLs.

DOI： 10.1007/s11104-006-9086-3

Silicon uptake and accumulation in higher plants

Jian Feng Ma, Naoki Yamaji

TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 11 ( 8 ) 392 - 397 2006.8

Language：English Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON

Silicon (Si) accumulation differs greatly between plant species because of differences in Si uptake by the roots. Recently, a gene encoding a Si uptake transporter in rice, a typical Si-accumulating plant, was isolated. The beneficial effects of Si are mainly associated with its high deposition in plant tissues, enhancing their strength and rigidity. However, Si might play an active role in enhancing host resistance to plant diseases by stimulating defense reaction mechanisms. Because many plants are not able to accumulate Si at high enough levels to be beneficial, genetically manipulating the Si uptake capacity of the root might help plants to accumulate more Si and, hence, improve their ability to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses.

DOI： 10.1016/j.tplants.2006.06.007

Response of rice (Oryza sativa) with root surface iron plaque under aluminium stress

Rong Fu Chen, Ren Fang Shen, Pei Gu, Xiao Ying Dong, Chang Wen Du, Jian Feng Ma

ANNALS OF BOTANY 98 ( 2 ) 389 - 395 2006.8

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：OXFORD UNIV PRESS

Background and Aims Rice (Oryza sativa) is an aquatic plant with a characteristic of forming iron plaque on its root surfaces. It is considered to be the most Al-tolerant species among the cereal crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of root surface iron plaque on Al translocation, accumulation and the change of physiological responses under Al stress in rice in the presence of iron plaque. 9Methods The japonica variety rice, Koshihikari, was used in this study and was grown hydroponically in a growth chamber. Iron plaque was induced by exposing the rice roots to 30 mg L-1 ferrous iron either as Fe(II)-EDTA in nutrient solution (6 d, Method I) or as FeSO4 in water solution (12 h, Method II). Organic acid in root exudates was retained in the anion-exchange resin and eluted with 2M HCl, then analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after proper pre-treatment. Fe and Al in iron plaque were extracted with DCB (dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate) solution.Key Results and Conclusions Both methods (I and II) could induce the formation of iron plaque on rice root surfaces. The amounts of DCB-extractable Fe and Al on root surfaces were much higher in the presence of iron plaque than in the absence of iron plaque. Al contents in root tips were significantly decreased with iron plaque; translocation of At from roots to shoots was significantly reduced with iron plaque. Al-induced secretion of citrate was observed and iron plaque could greatly depress this citrate secretion. These results suggested that iron plaque on rice root surfaces can be a sink to sequester Al onto the root surfaces and Fe ions can pre-saturate Al-binding sites in root tips, which protects the rice root tips from suffering Al stress to a certain extent.

DOI： 10.1093/aob/mcl110

P-157 A SPECIFIC TRANSPORTER OF IRON (III)-PHYTOSIDEROPHORE, MUGINEIC ACID IN BARLEY ROOTS

Murata Yoshiko, Ma Jian Feng, Yamaji Naoki, Ueno Daisei, Nomoto Kyosuke, Iwashita Takashi

International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products 2006 "P - 157" 2006.7

Buckwheat accumulates aluminum in leaves but not in seeds

Ren Fang Shen, Rong Fu Chen, Jian Feng Ma

PLANT AND SOIL 284 ( 1-2 ) 265 - 271 2006.6

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：SPRINGER

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. cv Jianxi) is highly resistant to Al stress and is known to be an Al-accumulator. Pot experiments were carried out in a greenhouse to investigate the accumulation of Al in leaves and seeds of buckwheat. Plants were grown for 12 weeks in a strong acid soil amended with or without CaCO3 at a rate of 1 g kg(-1) soil. Old leaves accumulated as much as 10 g kg(-1) Al of dry weight when the plants were grown in the acid soil, while the Al concentrations in leaves immediately adjacent to seeds, seed coats, and embryos were, on average, 4516, 41.2 and 7.7 mg kg(-1) stop, respectively. The Al concentration significantly decreased in leaves when the plants were grown in the limed soil, and the Al concentrations in leaves immediately adjacent to seeds, seed coats, and embryos were, on average, 1586, 21.3 and 3.1 mg kg(-1), respectively. These results show that seeds accumulate much less Al than buckwheat leaves. The underlying mechanisms are discussed.

DOI： 10.1007/s11104-006-0044-x