1
|
Li B, Zhou G, Li Y, Chen X, Yang H, Li Y, Zhu M, Li L. Genome-wide identification of R-SNARE gene family in upland cotton and function analysis of GhVAMP72l response to drought stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1147932. [PMID: 37465385 PMCID: PMC10351383 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1147932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (R-SNAREs) mainly promoted the assembly of the SNARE complex to drive the final membrane fusion step of membrane transport. Previous research on R-SNAREs has mainly focused on development and growth and has rarely been involved in abiotic stress, especially in cotton. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of R-SNARE genes in upland cotton. In total, 51 Gh-R-SNARE genes across six phylogenetic groups were unevenly distributed on 21 chromosomes. Cis elements related to plant growth and response to abiotic stress responses were found in the promoter region of Gh-R-SNAREs. Nine Gh-R-SNARE genes were obviously upregulated under drought stress conditions by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis. Among them, GhVAMP72l might be the key candidate gene contributing to drought stress tolerance in cotton by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay. These results provide valuable insights for the functional analysis of cotton R-SNAREs in response to drought stress and highlight potential beneficial genes for genetic improvement and breeding in cotton.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bingxuan Li
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, Jurong, China
| | - Gen Zhou
- Key laboratory of Quality Improvement of Agriculture Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agriculture Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanbin Li
- College of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xueting Chen
- Shanghai Fisheries Research Institute, Shanghai Fisheries Technical Extension Station, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiting Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Li
- Basic Medicine Department, Heze Medical College, Heze, China
| | - Minhua Zhu
- Key laboratory of Quality Improvement of Agriculture Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agriculture Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Libei Li
- Key laboratory of Quality Improvement of Agriculture Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agriculture Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang J, Zhang M, Zhang J, Wang F, Wang Y, Zheng L. Overexpression of RtSYP121 confers cadmium colerance by promoting vesicle trafficking, maintaining ion homeostasis, and alleviating photosynthetic inhibition in Arabidopsis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 252:114620. [PMID: 36773437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal in soil that seriously threatens crop production, food security, and human health. Syntaxins, a prototype family of Soluble N-ethyl-maleimide-associated protein receptors (SNAREs) involved in vesicle trafficking, are implicated in resistance to abiotic stresses, including Cd stress, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of syntaxins in Cd tolerance in plants are unclear. In this study, we isolated and functionally characterized the syntaxin gene RtSYP121 from Reaumuria trigyna to evaluate its potential for phytoremediation. RtSYP121 resides in the plasma membrane. The transcriptional level of RtSYP121 was strongly increased by salt, drought, and Cd stress. Overexpression of RtSYP121 significantly enhanced the Cd tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis. The Cd tolerance of transgenic plants mainly depended on elevated vesicle trafficking, which increased the content of K+ and Ca2+ and thus decreased the accumulation of Cd2+ by regulating the delivery or activity of ion transporters, channels, and pumps. Moreover, overexpression of RtSYP121 in Arabidopsis ameliorated Cd stress-induced phytotoxic effects, including growth inhibition, ROS burst, photosynthetic impairment, and cell death. Therefore, we suggest that RtSYP121 plays multiple roles in the plant response to Cd stress by promoting vesicle trafficking, maintaining ion homeostasis, and alleviating photosynthetic inhibition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiayuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Minister of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Hohhot, China.
| | - Miao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Minister of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Hohhot, China.
| | - Jian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Minister of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Hohhot, China.
| | - Fang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Minister of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Hohhot, China.
| | - Yingchun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Minister of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Hohhot, China.
| | - Linlin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Minister of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Hohhot, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rehman HM, Chen S, Zhang S, Khalid M, Uzair M, Wilmarth PA, Ahmad S, Lam HM. Membrane Proteomic Profiling of Soybean Leaf and Root Tissues Uncovers Salt-Stress-Responsive Membrane Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13270. [PMID: 36362058 PMCID: PMC9655375 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cultivated soybean (Glycine max (L.)), the world's most important legume crop, has high-to-moderate salt sensitivity. Being the frontier for sensing and controlling solute transport, membrane proteins could be involved in cell signaling, osmoregulation, and stress-sensing mechanisms, but their roles in abiotic stresses are still largely unknown. By analyzing salt-induced membrane proteomic changes in the roots and leaves of salt-sensitive soybean cultivar (C08) seedlings germinated under NaCl, we detected 972 membrane proteins, with those present in both leaves and roots annotated as receptor kinases, calcium-sensing proteins, abscisic acid receptors, cation and anion channel proteins, proton pumps, amide and peptide transporters, and vesicle transport-related proteins etc. Endocytosis, linoleic acid metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis pathway-related proteins were enriched in roots whereas phagosome, spliceosome and soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (SNARE) interaction-related proteins were enriched in leaves. Using label-free quantitation, 129 differentially expressed membrane proteins were found in both tissues upon NaCl treatment. Additionally, the 140 NaCl-induced proteins identified in roots and 57 in leaves are vesicle-, mitochondrial-, and chloroplast-associated membrane proteins and those with functions related to ion transport, protein transport, ATP hydrolysis, protein folding, and receptor kinases, etc. Our proteomic results were verified against corresponding gene expression patterns from published C08 RNA-seq data, demonstrating the importance of solute transport and sensing in salt stress responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz Mamoon Rehman
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Shengjie Chen
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shoudong Zhang
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Memoona Khalid
- Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Uzair
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Phillip A. Wilmarth
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Shakeel Ahmad
- Seed Center, Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture, Riyadh 14712, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hon-Ming Lam
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Singh AK, Raina SK, Kumar M, Aher L, Ratnaparkhe MB, Rane J, Kachroo A. Modulation of GmFAD3 expression alters abiotic stress responses in soybean. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 110:199-218. [PMID: 35779188 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-022-01295-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE This study focused on enhancing resilience of soybean crops to drought and salinity stresses by overexpression of GmFAD3A gene, which plays an important role in modulating membrane fluidity and ultimately influence plants response to various abiotic stresses. Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) are a class of enzymes that mediate desaturation of fatty acids by introducing double bonds. They play an important role in modulating membrane fluidity in response to various abiotic stresses. However, a comprehensive analysis of GmFAD3 in drought and salinity stress tolerance in soybean is lacking. We used bean pod mottle virus (BPMV)-based vector for achieving rapid and efficient overexpression as well as silencing of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase gene from Glycine max (GmFAD3) to assess the functional role of GmFAD3 in abiotic stress responses in soybean. Higher levels of recombinant BPMV-GmFAD3A transcripts were detected in overexpressing soybean plants. Overexpression of GmFAD3A in soybean resulted in increased levels of jasmonic acid and higher expression of GmWRKY54 as compared to mock-inoculated, vector-infected and FAD3-silenced soybean plants under drought and salinity stress conditions. The GmFAD3A-overexpressing plants showed higher levels of chlorophyll content, efficient photosystem-II, relative water content, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, proline content and also cooler canopy under drought and salinity stress conditions as compared to mock-inoculated, vector-infected and FAD3-silenced soybean plants. Results from the current study revealed that GmFAD3A-overexpressing soybean plants exhibited tolerance to drought and salinity stresses. However, soybean plants silenced for GmFAD3 were vulnerable to drought and salinity stresses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar Singh
- National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, Pune, Maharashtra, 413115, India.
| | - Susheel Kumar Raina
- National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, 191132, India
| | - Mahesh Kumar
- National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, Pune, Maharashtra, 413115, India
| | - Lalitkumar Aher
- National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, Pune, Maharashtra, 413115, India
| | | | - Jagadish Rane
- National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, Pune, Maharashtra, 413115, India
| | - Aardra Kachroo
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Waterlogging-Stress-Responsive LncRNAs, Their Regulatory Relationships with miRNAs and Target Genes in Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158197. [PMID: 34360961 PMCID: PMC8348067 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Low oxygen level is a phenomenon often occurring during the cucumber cultivation period. Genes involved in adaptations to stress can be regulated by non-coding RNA. The aim was the identification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in the response to long-term waterlogging stress in two cucumber haploid lines, i.e., DH2 (waterlogging tolerant—WL-T) and DH4 (waterlogging sensitive—WL-S). Plants, at the juvenile stage, were waterlogged for 7 days (non-primed, 1xH), and after a 14-day recovery period, plants were stressed again for another 7 days (primed, 2xH). Roots were collected for high-throughput RNA sequencing. Implementation of the bioinformatic pipeline made it possible to determine specific lncRNAs for non-primed and primed plants of both accessions, highlighting differential responses to hypoxia stress. In total, 3738 lncRNA molecules were identified. The highest number (1476) of unique lncRNAs was determined for non-primed WL-S plants. Seventy-one lncRNAs were depicted as potentially being involved in acquiring tolerance to hypoxia in cucumber. Understanding the mechanism of gene regulation under long-term waterlogging by lncRNAs and their interactions with miRNAs provides sufficient information in terms of adaptation to the oxygen deprivation in cucumber. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the role of lncRNAs in the regulation of long-term waterlogging tolerance by priming application in cucumber.
Collapse
|
6
|
Remodeling of the cell wall as a drought-tolerance mechanism of a soybean genotype revealed by global gene expression analysis. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:14-31. [PMID: 36304479 PMCID: PMC9590462 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-021-00043-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Drought stress is major abiotic stress that affects soybean production. Therefore, it is widely desirable that soybean becomes more tolerant to stress. To provide insights into regulatory mechanisms of the stress response, we compared the global gene expression profiles from leaves of two soybean genotypes that display different responses to water-deficit (BR 16 and Embrapa 48, drought-sensitive and drought-tolerant, respectively). After the RNA-seq analysis, a total of 5335 down-regulated and 3170 up-regulated genes were identified in the BR16. On the other hand, the number of genes differentially expressed was markedly lower in the Embrapa 48, 355 up-regulated and 471 down-regulated genes. However, induction and expression of protein kinases and transcription factors indicated signaling cascades involved in the drought tolerance. Overall, the results suggest that the metabolism of pectin is differently modulated in response to drought stress and may play a role in the soybean defense mechanism against drought. This occurs via an increase of the cell wall plasticity and crosslink, which contributed to a higher hydraulic conductance (K f) and relative water content (RWC%). The drought-tolerance mechanism of the Embrapa 48 genotype involves remodeling of the cell wall and increase of the hydraulic conductance to the maintenance of cell turgor and metabolic processes, resulting in the highest leaf RWC, photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration (E) and carboxylation (A/C i). Thus, we concluded that the cell wall adjustment under drought is important for a more efficient water use which promoted a more active photosynthetic metabolism, maintaining higher plant growth under drought stress. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-021-00043-4.
Collapse
|
7
|
Transcriptomic Analysis of Short-Term Salt Stress Response in Watermelon Seedlings. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176036. [PMID: 32839408 PMCID: PMC7504276 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is a widely popular vegetable fruit crop for human consumption. Soil salinity is among the most critical problems for agricultural production, food security, and sustainability. The transcriptomic and the primary molecular mechanisms that underlie the salt-induced responses in watermelon plants remain uncertain. In this study, the photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem II, free amino acids, and transcriptome profiles of watermelon seedlings exposed to short-term salt stress (300 mM NaCl) were analyzed to identify the genes and pathways associated with response to salt stress. We observed that the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II decreased in salt-stressed plants. Most free amino acids in the leaves of salt-stressed plants increased many folds, while the percent distribution of glutamate and glutamine relative to the amino acid pool decreased. Transcriptome analysis revealed 7622 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under salt stress, of which 4055 were up-regulated. The GO analysis showed that the molecular function term “transcription factor (TF) activity” was enriched. The assembled transcriptome demonstrated up-regulation of 240 and down-regulation of 194 differentially expressed TFs, of which the members of ERF, WRKY, NAC bHLH, and MYB-related families were over-represented. The functional significance of DEGs associated with endocytosis, amino acid metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis, and hormonal pathways in response to salt stress are discussed. The findings from this study provide novel insights into the salt tolerance mechanism in watermelon.
Collapse
|
8
|
Xiao S, Liu L, Zhang Y, Sun H, Zhang K, Bai Z, Dong H, Liu Y, Li C. Tandem mass tag-based (TMT) quantitative proteomics analysis reveals the response of fine roots to drought stress in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:328. [PMID: 32652934 PMCID: PMC7353779 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-02531-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the most important cash crops worldwide. Fine roots are the central part of the root system that contributes to plant water and nutrient uptake. However, the mechanisms underlying the response of cotton fine roots to soil drought remains unclear. To elucidate the proteomic changes in fine roots of cotton plants under drought stress, 70-75% and 40-45% soil relative water content treatments were imposed on control (CK) and drought stress (DS) groups, respectively. Then, tandem mass tags (TMT) technology was used to determine the proteome profiles of fine root tissue samples. RESULTS Drought significantly decreased the value of average root diameter of cotton seedlings, whereas the total root length and the activities of antioxidases were increased. To study the molecular mechanisms underlying drought response further, the proteome differences between tissues under CK and DS treatments were compared pairwise at 0, 30, and 45 DAD (days after drought stress). In total, 118 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were up-regulated and 105 were down-regulated in the 'DS30 versus CK30' comparison; 662 DEPs were up-regulated, and 611 were down-regulated in the 'DS45 versus CK45' comparison. The functions of these DEPs were classified according to their pathways. Under early stage drought (30 DAD), some DEPs involved in the 'Cutin, suberin, and wax synthesis' pathway were up-regulated, while the down-regulated DEPs were mainly enriched within the 'Monoterpenoid biosynthesis' pathway. Forty-five days of soil drought had a greater impact on DEPs involved in metabolism. Many proteins involving 'Carbohydrate metabolism,' 'Energy metabolism,' 'Fatty acid metabolism,' 'Amino acid metabolism,' and 'Secondary metabolite biosynthesis' were identified as DEPs. Additionally, proteins related to ion transport, stress/defense, and phytohormones were also shown to play roles in determining the fine root growth of cotton plants under drought stress. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified potential biological pathways and drought-responsive proteins related to stress/defense responses and plant hormone metabolism under drought stress. Collectively, our results provide new insights for further improving drought tolerance in cotton and other crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Xiao
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University/ State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation / Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of HeBei Province, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, China
| | - Liantao Liu
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University/ State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation / Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of HeBei Province, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, China
| | - Yongjiang Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University/ State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation / Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of HeBei Province, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, China
| | - Hongchun Sun
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University/ State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation / Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of HeBei Province, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University/ State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation / Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of HeBei Province, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, China
| | - Zhiying Bai
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University/ State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation / Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of HeBei Province, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, China
| | - Hezhong Dong
- Cotton Research Center/ Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang-huai-hai Plain, Ministry of Agriculture, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, 250100, Shandong, China
| | - Yuchun Liu
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University/ State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation / Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of HeBei Province, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, China
| | - Cundong Li
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University/ State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation / Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of HeBei Province, Baoding, 071001, Hebei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ribichich KF, Chiozza M, Ávalos-Britez S, Cabello JV, Arce AL, Watson G, Arias C, Portapila M, Trucco F, Otegui ME, Chan RL. Successful field performance in warm and dry environments of soybean expressing the sunflower transcription factor HB4. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:3142-3156. [PMID: 32140724 PMCID: PMC7260725 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Soybean yield is limited primarily by abiotic constraints. No transgenic soybean with improved abiotic stress tolerance is commercially available. We transformed soybean plants with genetic constructs able to express the sunflower transcription factor HaHB4, which confers drought tolerance to Arabidopsis and wheat. One line (b10H) carrying the sunflower promoter was chosen among three independent lines because it exhibited the best performance in seed yield, and was evaluated in the greenhouse and in 27 field trials in different environments in Argentina. In greenhouse experiments, transgenic plants showed increased seed yield under stress conditions together with greater epicotyl diameter, larger xylem area, and increased water use efficiency compared with controls. They also exhibited enhanced seed yield in warm and dry field conditions. This response was accompanied by an increase in seed number that was not compensated by a decrease in individual seed weight. Transcriptome analysis of plants from a field trial with maximum difference in seed yield between genotypes indicated the induction of genes encoding redox and heat shock proteins in b10H. Collectively, our results indicate that soybeans transformed with HaHB4 are expected to have a reduced seed yield penalty when cultivated in warm and dry conditions, which constitute the best target environments for this technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karina F Ribichich
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral – CONICET, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | | | - Selva Ávalos-Britez
- Estación Experimental Pergamino, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Pergamino, Argentina
| | - Julieta V Cabello
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral – CONICET, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Augustin L Arce
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral – CONICET, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | | | - Claudia Arias
- CIFASIS, Universidad Nacional de Rosario – CONICET, Rosario, Argentina
| | | | | | - Maria E Otegui
- CONICET-INTA-FAUBA, Estación Experimental Pergamino, Facultad de Agronomía Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Raquel L Chan
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral – CONICET, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|