@article{ke_luan_liang_hung_hsieh_zhang_2019, title={Rice OsPEX1, an extensin-like protein, affects lignin biosynthesis and plant growth}, volume={100}, ISSN={0167-4412 1573-5028}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11103-019-00849-3}, DOI={10.1007/s11103-019-00849-3}, abstractNote={Rice leucine-rich repeat extensin-like protein OsPEX1 mediates the intersection of lignin deposition and plant growth. Lignin, a major structural component of secondary cell wall, is essential for normal plant growth and development. However, the molecular and genetic regulation of lignin biosynthesis is not fully understood in rice. Here we report the identification and characterization of a rice semi-dominant dwarf mutant (pex1) with stiff culm. Molecular and genetic analyses revealed that the pex1 phenotype was caused by ectopic expression of a leucine-rich repeat extension-like gene, OsPEX1. Interestingly, the pex1 mutant showed significantly higher lignin content and increased expression levels of lignin-related genes compared with wild type plants. Conversely, OsPEX1-suppresssed transgenics displayed low lignin content and reduced transcriptional abundance of genes associated with lignin biosynthesis, indicating that the OsPEX1 mediates lignin biosynthesis and/or deposition in rice. When OsPEX1 was ectopically expressed in rice cultivars with tall stature that lacks the allele of semi-dwarf 1, well-known green revolution gene, the resulting transgenic plants displayed reduced height and enhanced lodging resistance. Our study uncovers a causative effect between the expression of OsPEX1 and lignin deposition. Lastly, we demonstrated that modulating OsPEX1 expression could provide a tool for improving rice lodging resistance.}, number={1-2}, journal={Plant Molecular Biology}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Ke, Shanwen and Luan, Xin and Liang, Jiayan and Hung, Yu-Hung and Hsieh, Tzung-Fu and Zhang, Xiang-Qian}, year={2019}, month={Mar}, pages={151–161} }
 @inbook{hung_liu_zhang_xiao_hsieh_2018, title={Sexual and Non-sexual Reproduction}, volume={88}, ISBN={9780128154038}, ISSN={0065-2296}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.abr.2018.09.002}, DOI={10.1016/bs.abr.2018.09.002}, abstractNote={Although plant breeding has traditionally relied on exploiting genetic diversity, epigenetic variations are attracting new attentions in breeding design. Epigenetic modifications play a critical role in regulating gene expression during development and in response to environmental stimulation, and thereby contribute to phenotypic variation. When epigenetic modifications persist during reproduction and are stably transmitted to the next generation, transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic variations has a potential to produce heritable phenotypic diversity. In addition to naturally occurring epialleles, genetic variation due to organization of duplicated genes or transposon polymorphisms are a potential source for inducing epialleles. Furthermore, stress-induced activation and mobilization of transposable elements represent another promising avenue to create new genetic and epigenetic diversity that can be sexually or asexually propagated. Finally, methods for artificially creating epigenetic diversity in experimental models have been developed and applied to select crop species in some cases. With the advance in epigenome profiling techniques, dissection of epigenetic-based complex traits, and the development of molecular tools for locus-specific epigenome editing, the effects of epigenetics for underlying phenotypic traits can be unequivocally elucidated.}, booktitle={Advances in Botanical Research}, publisher={Elsevier}, author={Hung, Yu-Hung and Liu, Fang and Zhang, Xiang-Qian and Xiao, Wenyan and Hsieh, Tzung-Fu}, year={2018}, pages={117–163} }
 @article{zeng_tang_guo_ke_teng_hung_xu_xie_hsieh_zhang_et al._2017, title={A naturally occurring conditional albino mutant in rice caused by defects in the plastid-localized OsABCI8 transporter}, volume={94}, ISSN={0167-4412 1573-5028}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11103-017-0598-4}, DOI={10.1007/s11103-017-0598-4}, abstractNote={A wide range of molecules are transported across membranes by the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Plants possess a collection of ABC proteins bearing similarities to the components of prokaryotic multi subunit ABC transporters, designed as ABC group I. However the functions of most of them are not well understood. Here, we characterized a naturally occurring rice mutant that exhibited albino phenotype under continuous rainy days in the field, but gradually recovered to normal green after the rainy season. Molecular and genetic analyses revealed that the phenotypes were caused by a mutation in the OsABCI8 that encoded a member of the ABCI family. Subcellular localization demonstrated that OsABCI8 is a chloroplast ABC transporter. Expression of OsABCI8 is significantly enhanced in rainy days compared to sunny days. Besides defects in chloroplast development and chlorophyll biosynthesis, the mutant phenotype is accompanied by a higher accumulation of iron, suggesting that OsABCI8 is involved in iron transportation and/or homeostasis in rice. Our results demonstrate that OsABCI8 represents a conserved ABCI protein involved in transition metals transportation and/or homeostasis and suggest an important role of the plastid-localized OsABCI8 for chloroplast development.}, number={1-2}, journal={Plant Molecular Biology}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Zeng, X. Y. and Tang, R. and Guo, H. R. and Ke, S. W. and Teng, B. and Hung, Y. H. and Xu, Z. J. and Xie, X. M. and Hsieh, Tzung-Fu and Zhang, X. Q. and et al.}, year={2017}, month={Mar}, pages={137–148} }