The characteristic analysis of TaTDF1 reveals its function related to male sterility in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract Background The male sterile lines are an important foundation for heterosis utilization in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Thereinto, pollen development is one of the indispensable processes of wheat reproductive development, and its fertility plays an important role in wheat heterosis utilization, and are usually influencing by genes. However, these key genes and their regulatory networks during pollen abortion are poorly understood in wheat. Results The rice gene TDF1, a member of the R2R3-MYB family, is crucial for early tapetum development and pollen grain fertility. TaTDF1, an ortholog of rice gene TDF1, was identified in wheat, with an average bolting time of 33 d in TaTDF1-OE Arabidopsis plants. The anthers of TaTDF1-OE plants appeared red. TaTDF1-EAR plants were shrunken and small, showing a blue-green color after Alexander's staining. The TaTDF1 interacting protein (TaMAP65) was confirmed using Yeast Two-Hybrid Assay and Bimolecular-Fluorescence Complementation experiments. The results showed that downregulated expression of TaTDF1 and TaMAP65 could cause anthers to be smaller and shrunken, leading to pollen abortion in TaTDF1 wheat plants induced by virus-induced gene-silencing technology. The expression pattern of TaTDF1 was influenced by TaMAP65. Conclusions Thus, systematically revealing the regulatory mechanism of wheat TaTDF1 during anther and pollen grain development may provide new information on the molecular mechanism of pollen abortion in wheat.