Combining growth-promoting genes leads to positive epistasis in Arabidopsis thaliana

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Abstract

Several genes positively influence final leaf size in Arabidopsis when mutated or overexpressed. The connections between these growth regulators are still poorly understood although such knowledge would further contribute to understand the processes driving leaf growth. In this study, we performed a combinatorial screen with thirteen transgenic Arabidopsis lines with an increased leaf size. We found that from 61 analyzed combinations, 39% showed an additional increase in leaf size and most resulted from a positive epistasis on growth. Similar to what is found in other organisms in which such an epistasis assay was performed, only few genes were highly connected in synergistic combinations as we observed a positive epistasis in the majority of the combinations with samba, BRI1OE or SAUR19OE. Furthermore, positive epistasis was found with combinations of genes with a similar mode of action, but also with genes which affect distinct processes, such as cell proliferation and cell expansion.

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Hannes Vanhaeren

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Nathalie Gonzalez

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Frederik Coppens

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Liesbeth De Milde

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Twiggy Van Daele

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Mattias Vermeersch

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Nubia B Eloy

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Véronique Storme

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Dirk Inzé

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

For correspondence
diinz@psb.ugent.be

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

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