Role of the putative osmosensor Arabidopsis histidine kinase1 in dehydration avoidance and low-water-potential response

Combined salt and low nitrate stress conditions lead to morphophysiological changes and tissue-specific transcriptome reprogramming in tomato

Despite intense research towards the understanding of abiotic stress adaptation in tomato, the physiological adjustments and transcriptome modulation induced by combined salt and low nitrate (low N) conditions remain largely unknown. Here, three traditional tomato genotypes were grown under long-term single and combined stresses throughout a complete growth cycle. Physiological, molecular, and growth measurements showed extensive morphophysiological modifications under combined stress compared to the control, and single stress conditions, resulting in the highest penalty in yield and fruit size. The mRNA sequencing performed on both roots and leaves of genotype TRPO0040 indicated that the transcriptomic signature in leaves under combined stress conditions largely overlapped that of the low N treatment, whereas root transcriptomes were highly sensitive to salt stress. Differentially expressed genes were functionally interpreted using GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, which confirmed the stress and the tissue-specific changes. We also disclosed a set of genes underlying the specific response to combined conditions, including ribosome components and nitrate transporters, in leaves, and several genes involved in transport and response to stress in roots. Altogether, our results provide a comprehensive understanding of above- and below-ground physiological and molecular responses of tomato to salt stress and low N treatment, alone or in combination.

How plants sense and respond to osmotic stress

Drought is one of the most serious abiotic stresses to land plants. Plants sense and respond to drought stress to survive under water deficiency. Scientists have studied how plants sense drought stress, or osmotic stress caused by drought, ever since Charles Darwin, and gradually obtained clues about osmotic stress sensing and signaling in plants. Osmotic stress is a physical stimulus that triggers many physiological changes at the cellular level, including changes in turgor, cell wall stiffness and integrity, membrane tension, and cell fluid volume, and plants may sense some of these stimuli and trigger downstream responses. In this review, we emphasized water potential and movements in organisms, compared putative signal inputs in cell wall-containing and cell wall-free organisms, prospected how plants sense changes in turgor, membrane tension, and cell fluid volume under osmotic stress according to advances in plants, animals, yeasts, and bacteria, summarized multilevel biochemical and physiological signal outputs, such as plasma membrane nanodomain formation, membrane water permeability, root hydrotropism, root halotropism, Casparian strip and suberin lamellae, and finally proposed a hypothesis that osmotic stress responses are likely to be a cocktail of signaling mediated by multiple osmosensors. We also discussed the core scientific questions, provided perspective about the future directions in this field, and highlighted the importance of robust and smart root systems and efficient source-sink allocations for generating future high-yield stress-resistant crops and plants.

Analysis on the salt tolerance of Nitraria sibirica Pall. based on Pacbio full-length transcriptome sequencing

KEY MESSAGE

Nitraria sibirica Pall. regulates its tolerance to salt stress mainly by adjusting ion balance, modifying cell wall structure, and activating signal transduction pathways. N. sibirica, as a typical halophyte, can not only effectively restore saline-alkali land, but also has high economic value. However, studies on its salt tolerance at combining molecular and physiological levels were limited. In this study, the salt tolerance of N. sibirica was analyzed based on Pacbio full-length transcriptome sequencing, and the salt tolerance in the physiological level was verified by key genes. The results showed that 89,017 full-length transcripts were obtained, of which 84,632 sequences were annotated. A total of 86,482 coding sequences (CDS) were predicted and 6561 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. DEGs were significantly enriched in "sodium ion homeostasis", "response to osmotic stress", "reactive oxygen species metabolic process", "defense response by cell wall thickening", "signal transduction", etc. The expression levels for most of these DEGs increased under salt stress. A total of 69 key genes were screened based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), of which 33 were first reported on salt tolerance. Moreover, NsRabE1c gene with the highest expression level was selected to verify its salt tolerance. Over-expression of NsRabE1c gene enhanced the germination potential and root length of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants without salt treatment as compared to those of Col-0 and AtRabE1c mutant. The expression levels of NsRabE1c decreased in the growth stagnation phase, while significantly increased in the growth recovery phase under salt stress. We predicted that NsRabE1c gene help N. sibirica resist salt stress through the regulation of plant growth. The results of this study deepen the understanding of salinity resistance in N. sibirica.

Analysis of the histidine kinase gene family and the role of GhHK8 in response to drought tolerance in cotton

As an important member of the two-component system (TCS), histidine kinases (HKs) play important roles in various plant developmental processes and signal transduction in response to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses. So far, the HK gene family has not been investigated in Gossypium. In this study, a total of 177 HK gene family members were identified in cotton. They were further divided into seven groups, and the protein characteristics, genetic relationship, gene structure, chromosome location, collinearity, and cis-elements identification were comprehensively analyzed. Whole genome duplication (WGD) / segmental duplication may be the reason why the number of HK genes doubled in tetraploid Gossypium species. Expression analysis revealed that most cotton HK genes were mainly expressed in the reproductive organs and the fiber at initial stage. Gene expression analysis revealed that HK family genes are involved in cotton abiotic stress, especially drought stress and salt stress. In addition, gene interaction networks showed that HKs were involved in the regulation of cotton abiotic stress, especially drought stress. VIGS experiments have shown that GhHK8 is a negative regulatory factor in response to drought stress. Our systematic analysis provided insights into the characteristics of the HK genes in cotton and laid a foundation for further exploring their potential in drought stress resistance in cotton.

N6-methyladenosine RNA modification regulates cotton drought response in a Ca2+ and ABA-dependent manner

N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶ A) is the most prevalent internal modification present in mRNAs, and is considered to participate in a range of developmental and biological processes. Drought response is highly regulated at the genomic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. However, the biological function and regulatory mechanism of m⁶ A modification in the drought stress response is still poorly understood. We generated a transcriptome-wide m⁶ A map using drought-resistant and drought-sensitive varieties of cotton under different water deficient conditions to uncover patterns of m⁶ A methylation in cotton response to drought stress. The results reveal that m⁶ A represents a common modification and exhibit dramatic changes in distribution during drought stress. More 5'UTR m⁶ A was deposited in the drought-resistant variety and was associated with a positive effect on drought resistance by regulating mRNA abundance. Interestingly, we observed that increased m⁶ A abundance was associated with increased mRNA abundance under drought, contributing to drought resistance, and vice versa. The demethylase GhALKBH10B was found to decrease m⁶ A levels, facilitating the mRNA decay of ABA signal-related genes (GhZEP, GhNCED4 and GhPP2CA) and Ca²⁺ signal-related genes (GhECA1, GhCNGC4, GhANN1 and GhCML13), and mutation of GhALKBH10B enhanced drought resistance at seedling stage in cotton. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of two Ca²⁺ -related genes, GhECA1 and GhCNGC4, reduced drought resistance with the decreased m⁶ A enrichment on silenced genes in cotton. Collectively, we reveal a novel mechanism of post-transcriptional modification involved in affecting drought response in cotton, by mediating m⁶ A methylation on targeted transcripts in the ABA and Ca²⁺ signalling transduction pathways.

Signals and Their Perception for Remodelling, Adjustment and Repair of the Plant Cell Wall

The integrity of the cell wall is important for plant cells. Mechanical or chemical distortions, tension, pH changes in the apoplast, disturbance of the ion homeostasis, leakage of cell compounds into the apoplastic space or breakdown of cell wall polysaccharides activate cellular responses which often occur via plasma membrane-localized receptors. Breakdown products of the cell wall polysaccharides function as damage-associated molecular patterns and derive from cellulose (cello-oligomers), hemicelluloses (mainly xyloglucans and mixed-linkage glucans as well as glucuronoarabinoglucans in Poaceae) and pectins (oligogalacturonides). In addition, several types of channels participate in mechanosensing and convert physical into chemical signals. To establish a proper response, the cell has to integrate information about apoplastic alterations and disturbance of its wall with cell-internal programs which require modifications in the wall architecture due to growth, differentiation or cell division. We summarize recent progress in pattern recognition receptors for plant-derived oligosaccharides, with a focus on malectin domain-containing receptor kinases and their crosstalk with other perception systems and intracellular signaling events.

Changes in endogenous abscisic acid and stomata of the resurrection fern, Pleopeltis polypodioides, in response to de- and rehydration

PREMISE

While angiosperms respond uniformly to abscisic acid (ABA) by stomatal closure, the response of ferns to ABA is ambiguous. We evaluated the effect of endogenous ABA, hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ), nitric oxide (NO), and Ca²⁺ , low and high light intensities, and blue light (BL) on stomatal opening of Pleopeltis polypodioides.

METHODS

Endogenous ABA was quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; microscopy results and stomatal responses to light and chemical treatments were analyzed with Image J.

RESULTS

The ABA content increases during initial dehydration, peaks at 15 h and then decreases to one fourth of the ABA content of hydrated fronds. Following rehydration, ABA content increases within 24 h to the level of hydrated tissue. The stomatal aperture opens under BL and remains open even in the presence of ABA. Closure was strongly affected by BL, NO, and Ca²⁺ , regardless of ABA, H₂ O₂ effect was weak.

CONCLUSIONS

The decrease in the ABA content during extended dehydration and insensitivity of the stomata to ABA suggests that the drought tolerance mechanism of Pleopeltis polypodioides is independent of ABA.

Searching for Osmosensing Determinants in Poplar Histidine-Aspartate Kinases

Previous works have shown the existence of protein partnership, belonging to a MultiStep Phosphorelay (MSP), potentially involved in osmosensing in Populus. The first actor of this signalling pathway belongs to the histidine-aspartate kinase (HK) family, which also includes the yeast osmosensor Sln1, as well as the Arabidopsis putative osmosensor AHK1. In poplar, the homologous AHK1 protein corresponds to a pair of paralogous proteins, HK1a and HK1b, exhibiting an extracellular domain (ECD), as in Sln1 and AHK1. An ECD alignment of AHK1-like proteins, from different plant species, showed a particularly well conserved ECD and revealed the presence of a cache domain. This level of conservation suggested a functional role of this domain in osmosensing. Thus, we tested this possibility by modelling assisted mutational analysis of the cache domain of the Populus HK1 proteins. The mutants were assessed for their ability to respond to different osmotic stress and the results point to an involvement of this domain in HK1 functionality. Furthermore, since HK1b was shown to respond better to stress than HK1a, these two receptors constituted a good system to search for osmosensing determinants responsible for this difference in efficiency. With domain swapping experiments, we finally demonstrated that the cache domain, as well as the second transmembrane domain, are involved in the osmosensing efficiency of these receptors.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of two-component system genes in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Two-component system (TCS), which comprises histidine kinases (HKs), histidine phosphotransfer proteins (HPs), and response regulators (RRs), plays essential roles in regulating plant growth, development, and response to various environmental stimuli. TCS genes have been comprehensively identified in various plants, while studies on the genome-wide identification and analysis of TCS in sweet potato were still not reported. Therefore, in this study, a total of 90 TCS members consisting of 20 HK(L)s, 11 HPs, and 59 RRs were identified in the genome of Ipomoea batatas. Furthermore, their gene structures, conserved domains, and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed in detail. Additionally, the gene expression profiles in various organs were analyzed, and response patterns to adverse environmental stresses were investigated. The results showed that these 90 TCS genes were mapped on 15 chromosomes with a notably uneven distribution, and the expansion of TCS genes in sweet potato was attributed to both segmental and tandem duplications. The majority of the TCS genes showed distinct organ-specific expression profiles, especially in three types of roots (stem roots, fibrous roots, tuberous roots). Moreover, most of the TCS genes were either induced or suppressed upon treatment with abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, cold, heat) and exogenous phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA). In addition, the yeast-two hybrid system was used to reveal the HK-HP-RR protein-protein interactions. IbHP1, IbHP2, IbHP4, and IbHP5 could interact with three HKs (IbHK1a, IbHK1b, and IbHK5), and also interact with majority of the type-B RRs (IbRR20-IbRR28), while no interaction affinity was detected for IbHP3. Our systematic analyses could provide insights into the characterization of the TCS genes, and further the development of functional studies in sweet potato.

Burning questions for a warming and changing world: 15 unknowns in plant abiotic stress

We present unresolved questions in plant abiotic stress biology as posed by 15 research groups with expertise spanning eco-physiology to cell and molecular biology. Common themes of these questions include the need to better understand how plants detect water availability, temperature, salinity, and rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels; how environmental signals interface with endogenous signaling and development (e.g. circadian clock and flowering time); and how this integrated signaling controls downstream responses (e.g. stomatal regulation, proline metabolism, and growth versus defense balance). The plasma membrane comes up frequently as a site of key signaling and transport events (e.g. mechanosensing and lipid-derived signaling, aquaporins). Adaptation to water extremes and rising CO2 affects hydraulic architecture and transpiration, as well as root and shoot growth and morphology, in ways not fully understood. Environmental adaptation involves tradeoffs that limit ecological distribution and crop resilience in the face of changing and increasingly unpredictable environments. Exploration of plant diversity within and among species can help us know which of these tradeoffs represent fundamental limits and which ones can be circumvented by bringing new trait combinations together. Better defining what constitutes beneficial stress resistance in different contexts and making connections between genes and phenotypes, and between laboratory and field observations, are overarching challenges.

Root osmotic sensing from local perception to systemic responses

Plants face a constantly changing environment, requiring fine tuning of their growth and development. Plants have therefore developed numerous mechanisms to cope with environmental stress conditions. One striking example is root response to water deficit. Upon drought (which causes osmotic stress to cells), plants can among other responses alter locally their root system architecture (hydropatterning) or orientate their root growth to optimize water uptake (hydrotropism). They can also modify their hydraulic properties, metabolism and development coordinately at the whole root and plant levels. Upstream of these developmental and physiological changes, plant roots must perceive and transduce signals for water availability. Here, we review current knowledge on plant osmotic perception and discuss how long distance signaling can play a role in signal integration, leading to the great phenotypic plasticity of roots and plant development.

Cytokinin and abiotic stress tolerance -What has been accomplished and the way forward?

More than a half-century has passed since it was discovered that phytohormone cytokinin (CK) is essential to drive cytokinesis and proliferation in plant tissue culture. Thereafter, cytokinin has emerged as the primary regulator of the plant cell cycle and numerous developmental processes. Lately, a growing body of evidence suggests that cytokinin has a role in mitigating both abiotic and biotic stress. Cytokinin is essential to defend plants against excessive light exposure and a unique kind of abiotic stress generated by an altered photoperiod. Secondly, cytokinin also exhibits multi-stress resilience under changing environments. Furthermore, cytokinin homeostasis is also affected by several forms of stress. Therefore, the diverse roles of cytokinin in reaction to stress, as well as its interactions with other hormones, are discussed in detail. When it comes to agriculture, understanding the functioning processes of cytokinins under changing environmental conditions can assist in utilizing the phytohormone, to increase productivity. Through this review, we briefly describe the biological role of cytokinin in enhancing the performance of plants growth under abiotic challenges as well as the probable mechanisms underpinning cytokinin-induced stress tolerance. In addition, the article lays forth a strategy for using biotechnological tools to modify genes in the cytokinin pathway to engineer abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The information presented here will assist in better understanding the function of cytokinin in plants and their effective investigation in the cropping system.

Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Salt Stress

Saline-alkali soils pose an increasingly serious global threat to plant growth and productivity. Much progress has been made in elucidating how plants adapt to salt stress by modulating ion homeostasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that affect salt tolerance and devising strategies to develop/breed salt-resilient crops have been the primary goals of plant salt stress signaling research over the past few decades. In this review, we reflect on recent major advances in our understanding of the cellular and physiological mechanisms underlying plant responses to salt stress, especially those involving temporally and spatially defined changes in signal perception, decoding, and transduction in specific organelles or cells.

Combined Drought and Heat Stress Influences the Root Water Relation and Determine the Dry Root Rot Disease Development Under Field Conditions: A Study Using Contrasting Chickpea Genotypes

Abiotic stressors such as drought and heat predispose chickpea plants to pathogens of key importance leading to significant crop loss under field conditions. In this study, we have investigated the influence of drought and high temperature on the incidence and severity of dry root rot disease (caused by Macrophomina phaseolina) in chickpea, under extensive on- and off-season field trials and greenhouse conditions. We explored the association between drought tolerance and dry root rot resistance in two chickpea genotypes, ICC 4958 and JG 62, with contrasting resistance to dry root rot. In addition, we extensively analyzed various patho-morphological and root architecture traits altered by combined stresses under field and greenhouse conditions in these genotypes. We further observed the role of edaphic factors in dry root rot incidence under field conditions. Altogether, our results suggest a strong negative correlation between the plant water relations and dry root rot severity in chickpeas, indicating an association between drought tolerance and dry root rot resistance. Additionally, the significant role of heat stress in altering the dynamics of dry root rot and the importance of combinatorial screening of chickpea germplasm for dry root rot resistance, drought, and heat stress have been revealed.

Inter-tissue and inter-organ signaling in drought stress response and phenotyping of drought tolerance

Plant response to drought stress includes systems for intracellular regulation of gene expression and signaling, as well as inter-tissue and inter-organ signaling, which helps entire plants acquire stress resistance. Plants sense water-deficit conditions both via the stomata of leaves and roots, and transfer water-deficit signals from roots to shoots via inter-organ signaling. Abscisic acid is an important phytohormone involved in the drought stress response and adaptation, and is synthesized mainly in vascular tissues and guard cells of leaves. In leaves, stress-induced abscisic acid is distributed to various tissues by transporters, which activates stomatal closure and expression of stress-related genes to acquire drought stress resistance. Moreover, the stepwise stress response at the whole-plant level is important for proper understanding of the physiological response to drought conditions. Drought stress is sensed by multiple types of sensors as molecular patterns of abiotic stress signals, which are transmitted via separate parallel signaling networks to induce downstream responses, including stomatal closure and synthesis of stress-related proteins and metabolites. Peptide molecules play important roles in the inter-organ signaling of dehydration from roots to shoots, as well as signaling of osmotic changes and reactive oxygen species/Ca²⁺ . In this review, we have summarized recent advances in research on complex plant drought stress responses, focusing on inter-tissue signaling in leaves and inter-organ signaling from roots to shoots. We have discussed the mechanisms via which drought stress adaptations and resistance are acquired at the whole-plant level, and have proposed the importance of quantitative phenotyping for measuring plant growth under drought conditions.

Ectopic expression of GmHP08 enhances resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis toward drought stress

Ectopic expression of Glycine max two-component system member GmHP08 in Arabidopsis enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic plants, possibly via ABA-dependent pathways. Phosphorelay by two-component system (TCS) is a signal transduction mechanism which has been evolutionarily conserved in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Previous studies have provided lines of evidence on the involvement of TCS genes in plant perception and responses to environmental stimuli. In this research, drought-associated functions of GmHP08, a TCS member from soybean (Glycine max L.), were investigated via its ectopic expression in Arabidopsis system. Results from the drought survival assay showed that GmHP08-transgenic plants exhibited higher survival rates compared with their wild-type (WT) counterparts, indicating better drought resistance of the former group. Analyses revealed that the transgenic plants outperformed the WT in various regards, i.e. capability of water retention, prevention of hydrogen peroxide accumulation and enhancement of antioxidant enzymatic activities under water-deficit conditions. Additionally, the expression of stress-marker genes, especially antioxidant enzyme-encoding genes, in the transgenic plants were found greater than that of the WT plants. In contrary, the expression of SAG13 gene, one of the senescence-associated genes, and of several abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes was repressed. Data from this study also revealed that the ectopic expression lines at germination and early seedling development stages were hypersensitive to exogenous ABA treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrated that GmHP08 could play an important role in mediating plant response to drought, possibly via an ABA-dependent manner.

Gene Expression Analysis of Microtubers of Potato Solanum tuberosum L. Induced in Cytokinin Containing Medium and Osmotic Stress

Potato microtuber productions through in vitro techniques are ideal propagules for producing high quality seed potatoes. Microtuber development is influenced by several factors, i.e., high content sucrose and cytokinins are among them. To understand a molecular mechanism of microtuberization using osmotic stress and cytokinin signaling will help us to elucidate this process. We demonstrate in this work a rapid and efficient protocol for microtuber development and gene expression analysis. Medium with high content of sucrose and gelrite supplemented with 2iP as cytokinin under darkness condition produced the higher quantity and quality of microtubers. Gene expression analysis of genes involved in the two-component signaling system (StHK1), cytokinin signaling, (StHK3, StHP4, StRR1) homeodomains (WUSCHEL, POTH1, BEL5), auxin signaling, ARF5, carbon metabolism (TPI, TIM), protein synthesis, NAC5 and a morphogenetic regulator of tuberization (POTH15) was performed by qPCR real time. Differential gene expression was observed during microtuber development. Gene regulation of two component and cytokinin signaling is taking place during this developmental process, yielding more microtubers. Further analysis of each component is required to elucidate it.

Advances in Sensing, Response and Regulation Mechanism of Salt Tolerance in Rice

Soil salinity is a serious menace in rice production threatening global food security. Rice responses to salt stress involve a series of biological processes, including antioxidation, osmoregulation or osmoprotection, and ion homeostasis, which are regulated by different genes. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms and the key genes involved are crucial in developing highly salt-tolerant cultivars. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in rice—from sensing to transcriptional regulation of key genes—based on the current knowledge. Furthermore, we highlight the functionally validated salt-responsive genes in rice.

Signal Integration in Plant Abiotic Stress Responses via Multistep Phosphorelay Signaling

Plants growing in any particular geographical location are exposed to variable and diverse environmental conditions throughout their lifespan. The multifactorial environmental pressure resulted into evolution of plant adaptation and survival strategies requiring ability to integrate multiple signals that combine to yield specific responses. These adaptive responses enable plants to maintain their growth and development while acquiring tolerance to a variety of environmental conditions. An essential signaling cascade that incorporates a wide range of exogenous as well as endogenous stimuli is multistep phosphorelay (MSP). MSP mediates the signaling of essential plant hormones that balance growth, development, and environmental adaptation. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which specific signals are recognized by a commonly-occurring pathway are not yet clearly understood. Here we summarize our knowledge on the latest model of multistep phosphorelay signaling in plants and the molecular mechanisms underlying the integration of multiple inputs including both hormonal (cytokinins, ethylene and abscisic acid) and environmental (light and temperature) signals into a common pathway. We provide an overview of abiotic stress responses mediated via MSP signaling that are both hormone-dependent and independent. We highlight the mutual interactions of key players such as sensor kinases of various substrate specificities including their downstream targets. These constitute a tightly interconnected signaling network, enabling timely adaptation by the plant to an ever-changing environment. Finally, we propose possible future directions in stress-oriented research on MSP signaling and highlight its potential importance for targeted crop breeding.

Drought Stress Responses and Resistance in Plants: From Cellular Responses to Long-Distance Intercellular Communication

The drought stress responses of vascular plants are complex regulatory mechanisms because they include various physiological responses from signal perception under water deficit conditions to the acquisition of drought stress resistance at the whole-plant level. It is thought that plants first recognize water deficit conditions in roots and that several molecular signals then move from roots to shoots. Finally, a phytohormone, abscisic acid (ABA) is synthesized mainly in leaves. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of stress sensors and the regulators that initiate ABA biosynthesis in response to drought stress conditions are still unclear. Another important issue is how plants adjust ABA propagation, stress-mediated gene expression and metabolite composition to acquire drought stress resistance in different tissues throughout the whole plant. In this review, we summarize recent advances in research on drought stress responses, focusing on long-distance signaling from roots to shoots, ABA synthesis and transport, and metabolic regulation in both cellular and whole-plant levels of Arabidopsis and crops. We also discuss coordinated mechanisms for acquiring drought stress adaptations and resistance via tissue-to-tissue communication and long-distance signaling.

The Interaction Network and Signaling Specificity of Two-Component System in Arabidopsis

Two-component systems (TCS) in plants have evolved into a more complicated multi-step phosphorelay (MSP) pathway, which employs histidine kinases (HKs), histidine-containing phosphotransfer proteins (HPts), and response regulators (RRs) to regulate various aspects of plant growth and development. How plants perceive the external signals, then integrate and transduce the secondary signals specifically to the desired destination, is a fundamental characteristic of the MSP signaling network. The TCS elements involved in the MSP pathway and molecular mechanisms of signal transduction have been best understood in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In this review, we focus on updated knowledge on TCS signal transduction in Arabidopsis. We first present a brief description of the TCS elements; then, the protein–protein interaction network is established. Finally, we discuss the possible molecular mechanisms involved in the specificity of the MSP signaling at the mRNA and protein levels.

Drought tolerance in Triticum aestivum L. genotypes associated with enhanced antioxidative protection and declined lipid peroxidation

Drought is one of the major constraints in wheat production and causes a huge loss at grain-filling stage. In this study we highlighted the response of different wheat genotypes under drought stress at the grain-filling stage. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate 72 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under two water regimes: irrigated and drought condition. Four wheat genotypes, two each of drought tolerant (IC36761A, IC128335) and drought-susceptible category (IC335732 and IC138852) were selected on the basis of agronomic traits and drought susceptibility index (DSI), to understand their morphological, biochemical and molecular basis of drought stress tolerance. Among agronomic traits, productive tillers followed by biomass had high percent reduction under drought stress, thus drought stress had a great impact. Antioxidant activity (AO), total phenolic and proline content were found to be significantly higher in IC128335 genotype. Differential expression pattern of transcription factors of ten genes revealed that transcription factor qTaWRKY2 followed by qTaDREB, qTaEXPB23 and qTaAPEX might be utilized for developing wheat varieties resistant to drought stress. Understanding the role of TFs would be helpful to decipher the molecular mechanism involved in drought stress. Identified genotypes (IC128335 and IC36761A) may be useful as parental material for future breeding program to generate new drought-tolerant varieties.

The Role of Mechanoperception in Plant Cell Wall Integrity Maintenance

The plant cell walls surrounding all plant cells are highly dynamic structures, which change their composition and organization in response to chemical and physical stimuli originating both in the environment and in plants themselves. They are intricately involved in all interactions between plants and their environment while also providing adaptive structural support during plant growth and development. A key mechanism contributing to these adaptive changes is the cell wall integrity (CWI) maintenance mechanism. It monitors and maintains the functional integrity of cell walls by initiating adaptive changes in cellular and cell wall metabolism. Despite its importance, both our understanding of its mode of action and knowledge regarding the molecular components that form it are limited. Intriguingly, the available evidence implicates mechanosensing in the mechanism. Here, we provide an overview of the knowledge available regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in and discuss how mechanoperception and signal transduction may contribute to plant CWI maintenance.

Plant growth under suboptimal water conditions: early responses and methods to study them

Drought stress forms a major environmental constraint during the life cycle of plants, often decreasing plant yield and in extreme cases threatening survival. The molecular and physiological responses induced by drought have been the topic of extensive research during the past decades. Because soil-based approaches to studying drought responses are often challenging due to low throughput and insufficient control of the conditions, osmotic stress assays in plates were developed to mimic drought. Addition of compounds such as polyethylene glycol, mannitol, sorbitol, or NaCl to controlled growth media has become increasingly popular since it offers the advantage of accurate control of stress level and onset. These osmotic stress assays enabled the discovery of very early stress responses, occurring within seconds or minutes following osmotic stress exposure. In this review, we construct a detailed timeline of early responses to osmotic stress, with a focus on how they initiate plant growth arrest. We further discuss the specific responses triggered by different types and severities of osmotic stress. Finally, we compare short-term plant responses under osmotic stress versus in-soil drought and discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and future of these plate-based proxies for drought.

High-Level Expression, Purification and Initial Characterization of Recombinant Arabidopsis Histidine Kinase AHK1

Plants employ a number of phosphorylation cascades in response to a wide range of environmental stimuli. Previous studies in Arabidopsis and yeast indicate that histidine kinase AHK1 is a positive regulator of drought and osmotic stress responses. Based on these studies AHK1 was proposed a plant osmosensor, although the molecular basis of plant osmosensing still remains unknown. To understand the molecular role and signaling mechanism of AHK1 in osmotic stress, we have expressed and purified full-length AHK1 from Arabidopsis in a bacterial host to allow for studies on the isolated transmembrane receptor. Purification of the recombinant protein solubilized from the host membranes was achieved in a single step by metal-affinity chromatography. Analysis of the purified AHK1 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting show a single band indicating that the preparation is highly pure and devoid of contaminants or degradation products. In addition, gel filtration experiments indicate that the preparation is homogenous and monodisperse. Finally, CD-spectroscopy, phosphorylation activity, dimerization studies, and protein–protein interaction with plant phosphorylation targeting AHP2 demonstrate that the purified protein is functionally folded and acts as phospho-His or phospho-Asp phosphatase. Hence, the expression and purification of recombinant AHK1 reported here provide a basis for further detailed functional and structural studies of the receptor, which might help to understand plant osmosensing and osmosignaling on the molecular level.

The quest for osmosensors in plants

Osmotic stress has severe effects on crop productivity. Since climate change is predicted to exacerbate this problem, the development of new crops that are tolerant to osmotic stresses, especially drought and salinity stress, is required. However, only limited success has been achieved to date, primarily because of the lack of a clear understanding of the mechanisms that facilitate osmosensing. Here, we discuss the potential mechanisms of osmosensing in plants. We highlight the roles of proteins such as receptor-like kinases, which sense stress-induced cell wall damage, mechanosensitive calcium channels, which initiate a calcium-induced stress response, and phospholipase C, a membrane-bound enzyme that is integral to osmotic stress perception. We also discuss the roles of aquaporins and membrane-bound histidine kinases, which could potentially detect changes in extracellular osmolarity in plants, as they do in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes. These putative osmosensors have the potential to serve as master regulators of the osmotic stress response in plants and could prove to be useful targets for the selection of osmotic stress-tolerant crops.

Cytokinin Signaling Downstream of the His-Asp Phosphorelay Network: Cytokinin-Regulated Genes and Their Functions

The plant hormone cytokinin, existing in several molecular forms, is perceived by membrane-localized histidine kinases. The signal is transduced to transcription factors of the type-B response regulator family localized in the nucleus by a multi-step histidine-aspartate phosphorelay network employing histidine phosphotransmitters as shuttle proteins across the nuclear envelope. The type-B response regulators activate a number of primary response genes, some of which trigger in turn further signaling events and the expression of secondary response genes. Most genes activated in both rounds of transcription were identified with high confidence using different transcriptomic toolkits and meta analyses of multiple individual published datasets. In this review, we attempt to summarize the existing knowledge about the primary and secondary cytokinin response genes in order to try connecting gene expression with the multitude of effects that cytokinin exerts within the plant body and throughout the lifespan of a plant.

Drought Stress Responses and Resistance in Plants: From Cellular Responses to Long-Distance Intercellular Communication

The drought stress responses of vascular plants are complex regulatory mechanisms because they include various physiological responses from signal perception under water deficit conditions to the acquisition of drought stress resistance at the whole-plant level. It is thought that plants first recognize water deficit conditions in roots and that several molecular signals then move from roots to shoots. Finally, a phytohormone, abscisic acid (ABA) is synthesized mainly in leaves. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of stress sensors and the regulators that initiate ABA biosynthesis in response to drought stress conditions are still unclear. Another important issue is how plants adjust ABA propagation, stress-mediated gene expression and metabolite composition to acquire drought stress resistance in different tissues throughout the whole plant. In this review, we summarize recent advances in research on drought stress responses, focusing on long-distance signaling from roots to shoots, ABA synthesis and transport, and metabolic regulation in both cellular and whole-plant levels of Arabidopsis and crops. We also discuss coordinated mechanisms for acquiring drought stress adaptations and resistance via tissue-to-tissue communication and long-distance signaling.

What do archaeal and eukaryotic histidine kinases sense?

Signal transduction systems configured around a core phosphotransfer step between a histidine kinase and a cognate response regulator protein occur in organisms from all domains of life. These systems, termed two-component systems, constitute the majority of multi-component signaling pathways in Bacteria but are less prevalent in Archaea and Eukarya. The core signaling domains are modular, allowing versatility in configuration of components into single-step phosphotransfer and multi-step phosphorelay pathways, the former being predominant in bacteria and the latter in eukaryotes. Two-component systems regulate key cellular regulatory processes that provide adaptive responses to environmental stimuli and are of interest for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics, biotechnology applications, and biosensor engineering. In bacteria, two-component systems have been found to mediate responses to an extremely broad array of extracellular and intracellular chemical and physical stimuli, whereas in archaea and eukaryotes, the use of two-component systems is more limited. This review summarizes recent advances in exploring the repertoire of sensor histidine kinases in the Archaea and Eukarya domains of life.

New Insights into Multistep-Phosphorelay (MSP)/ Two-Component System (TCS) Regulation: Are Plants and Bacteria that Different?

The Arabidopsis multistep-phosphorelay (MSP) is a signaling mechanism based on a phosphorelay that involves three different types of proteins: Histidine kinases, phosphotransfer proteins, and response regulators. Its bacterial equivalent, the two-component system (TCS), is the most predominant device for signal transduction in prokaryotes. The TCS has been extensively studied and is thus generally well-understood. In contrast, the MSP in plants was first described in 1993. Although great advances have been made, MSP is far from being completely comprehended. Focusing on the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, this review summarized recent studies that have revealed many similarities with bacterial TCSs regarding how TCS/MSP signaling is regulated by protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, protein degradation, and dimerization. Thus, comparison with better-understood bacterial systems might be relevant for an improved study of the Arabidopsis MSP.

Drought and heat stress-related proteins: an update about their functional relevance in imparting stress tolerance in agricultural crops

We describe here the recent developments about the involvement of diverse stress-related proteins in sensing, signaling, and defending the cells in plants in response to drought or/and heat stress. In the current era of global climate drift, plant growth and productivity are often limited by various environmental stresses, especially drought and heat. Adaptation to abiotic stress is a multigenic process involving maintenance of homeostasis for proper survival under adverse environment. It has been widely observed that a series of proteins respond to heat and drought conditions at both transcriptional and translational levels. The proteins are involved in various signaling events, act as key transcriptional activators and saviors of plants under extreme environments. A detailed insight about the functional aspects of diverse stress-responsive proteins may assist in unraveling various stress resilience mechanisms in plants. Furthermore, by identifying the metabolic proteins associated with drought and heat tolerance, tolerant varieties can be produced through transgenic/recombinant technologies. A large number of regulatory and functional stress-associated proteins are reported to participate in response to heat and drought stresses, such as protein kinases, phosphatases, transcription factors, and late embryogenesis abundant proteins, dehydrins, osmotins, and heat shock proteins, which may be similar or unique to stress treatments. Few studies have revealed that cellular response to combined drought and heat stresses is distinctive, compared to their individual treatments. In this review, we would mainly focus on the new developments about various stress sensors and receptors, transcription factors, chaperones, and stress-associated proteins involved in drought or/and heat stresses, and their possible role in augmenting stress tolerance in crops.

An Overview of the Genetics of Plant Response to Salt Stress: Present Status and the Way Forward

Salinity is one of the major threats faced by the modern agriculture today. It causes multidimensional effects on plants. These effects depend upon the plant growth stage, intensity, and duration of the stress. All these lead to stunted growth and reduced yield, ultimately inducing economic loss to the farming community in particular and to the country in general. The soil conditions of agricultural land are deteriorating at an alarming rate. Plants assess the stress conditions, transmit the specific stress signals, and then initiate the response against that stress. A more complete understanding of plant response mechanisms and their practical incorporation in crop improvement is an essential step towards achieving the goal of sustainable agricultural development. Literature survey shows that investigations of plant stresses response mechanism are the focus area of research for plant scientists. Although these efforts lead to reveal different plant response mechanisms against salt stress, yet many questions still need to be answered to get a clear picture of plant strategy to cope with salt stress. Moreover, these studies have indicated the presence of a complicated network of different integrated pathways. In order to work in a progressive way, a review of current knowledge is critical. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of our understanding of plant response to salt stress and to indicate some important yet unexplored dynamics to improve our knowledge that could ultimately lead towards crop improvement.

Mechanisms of Sodium Transport in Plants-Progresses and Challenges

Understanding the mechanisms of sodium (Na⁺) influx, effective compartmentalization, and efflux in higher plants is crucial to manipulate Na⁺ accumulation and assure the maintenance of low Na⁺ concentration in the cytosol and, hence, plant tolerance to salt stress. Na⁺ influx across the plasma membrane in the roots occur mainly via nonselective cation channels (NSCCs). Na⁺ is compartmentalized into vacuoles by Na⁺/H⁺ exchangers (NHXs). Na⁺ efflux from the plant roots is mediated by the activity of Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters catalyzed by the salt overly sensitive 1 (SOS1) protein. In animals, ouabain (OU)-sensitive Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase (a P-type ATPase) mediates sodium efflux. The evolution of P-type ATPases in higher plants does not exclude the possibility of sodium efflux mechanisms similar to the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase-dependent mechanisms characteristic of animal cells. Using novel fluorescence imaging and spectrofluorometric methodologies, an OU-sensitive sodium efflux system has recently been reported to be physiologically active in roots. This review summarizes and analyzes the current knowledge on Na⁺ influx, compartmentalization, and efflux in higher plants in response to salt stress.

ABA Accumulation in Dehydrating Leaves Is Associated with Decline in Cell Volume, Not Turgor Pressure

Reanalysis of published experimental data shows that in dehydrating leaves ABA accumulation is linked with reduction of cell volume rather than turgor, providing clues toward signaling mechanisms.

Surviving a Dry Future: Abscisic Acid (ABA)-Mediated Plant Mechanisms for Conserving Water under Low Humidity

Angiosperms are able to respond rapidly to the first sign of dry conditions, a decrease in air humidity, more accurately described as an increase in the vapor pressure deficit between the leaf and the atmosphere (VPD), by abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated stomatal closure. The genes underlying this response offer valuable candidates for targeted selection of crop varieties with improved drought tolerance, a critical goal for current plant breeding programs, to maximize crop production in drier and increasingly marginalized environments, and meet the demands of a growing population in the face of a changing climate. Here, we review current understanding of the genetic mechanisms underpinning ABA-mediated stomatal closure, a key means for conserving water under dry conditions, examine how these mechanisms evolved, and discuss what remains to be investigated.

Regulation of proline biosynthesis and resistance to drought stress in two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes of different origin

Drought is considered the main abiotic stress factor that inhibits growth of crop plants (including barley), limiting yield in many regions worldwide. Predicted climate changes show that in future the frequency and intensity of drought events will rise, so crops that are resistant to this stress are in demand. One of the adaptive metabolic responses to drought is the accumulation of proline. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 10-day drought on tissue dehydration and proline biosynthesis in leaves as well as in roots of barley genotypes of different origin: the Syrian breeding line Cam/B1/CI and the German cultivar Maresi. The involvement of Δ¹ pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), the expression of the P5CS gene and ABA in proline synthesis under drought were also studied. Finally, we examined the resistance of tested genotypes to applied drought using chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and above-ground dry matter accumulation. Drought caused a gradual decrease of water content and an increase of proline and ABA content in roots and leaves of both genotypes. A statistically significant positive correlation between proline accumulation and activity of P5CS was also revealed. The skyrocketing increase of P5CS activity and proline accumulation was proceeded by transcriptional up-regulation of P5CS. The relationships between changes in P5CS expression, P5CS activity and ABA content show that the latter compound is involved in drought-induced proline synthesis at the transcription and enzyme activity level. The examined barley genotypes were equally resistant to applied moderate drought stress regardless of the differences in the level of proline accumulated.

Up-regulation of NCED3 and ABA biosynthesis occur within minutes of a decrease in leaf turgor but AHK1 is not required

A major environmental signal influencing day-time stomatal aperture is the vapour pressure deficit between the leaf and atmosphere (VPD). In angiosperms, increased VPD triggers biosynthesis of abscisic acid (ABA), prompting rapid stomatal closure. Altered cell turgor has been proposed as the trigger for ABA biosynthesis, but the timing and nature of the genetic signals linking these processes have remained uncertain. We investigated this in Arabidopsis by examining changes induced by a decrease in leaf turgor, simulating a natural increase in VPD. We found that the rate-limiting gene within the de novo ABA biosynthesis pathway, 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 3 (NCED3), was induced and ABA levels increased within just 5 min of decreased leaf turgor. This rapid induction matches the time-frame for initiation of stomatal closure in response to a doubling in VPD. We further examined Arabidopsis histidine kinase1 (AHK1) as the most likely candidate for the turgor-sensing receptor involved, but found no significant difference between wild-type and an ahk1 null mutant in the induction of ABA-biosynthetic genes, ABA production, or stomatal behaviour. We show that decreased leaf turgor triggers de novo ABA biosynthesis within the time-frame of the stomatal response to VPD, but that AHK1 does not fulfil a critical role as a turgor-sensing receptor within this pathway.

What are the evolutionary origins of stomatal responses to abscisic acid in land plants?

The evolution of active stomatal closure in response to leaf water deficit, mediated by the hormone abscisic acid (ABA), has been the subject of recent debate. Two different models for the timing of the evolution of this response recur in the literature. A single-step model for stomatal control suggests that stomata evolved active, ABA-mediated control of stomatal aperture, when these structures first appeared, prior to the divergence of bryophyte and vascular plant lineages. In contrast, a gradualistic model for stomatal control proposes that the most basal vascular plant stomata responded passively to changes in leaf water status. This model suggests that active ABA-driven mechanisms for stomatal responses to water status instead evolved after the divergence of seed plants, culminating in the complex, ABA-mediated responses observed in modern angiosperms. Here we review the findings that form the basis for these two models, including recent work that provides critical molecular insights into resolving this intriguing debate, and find strong evidence to support a gradualistic model for stomatal evolution.

Functional Divergence of Poplar Histidine-Aspartate Kinase HK1 Paralogs in Response to Osmotic Stress

Previous works have shown the existence of protein partnerships belonging to a MultiStep Phosphorelay (MSP) in Populus putatively involved in osmosensing. This study is focused on the identification of a histidine-aspartate kinase, HK1b, paralog of HK1a. The characterization of HK1b showed its ability to homo- and hetero-dimerize and to interact with a few Histidine-containing Phosphotransfer (HPt) proteins, suggesting a preferential partnership in poplar MSP linked to drought perception. Furthermore, determinants for interaction specificity between HK1a/1b and HPts were studied by mutagenesis analysis, identifying amino acids involved in this specificity. The HK1b expression analysis in different poplar organs revealed its co-expression with three HPts, reinforcing the hypothesis of partnership participation in the MSP in planta. Moreover, HK1b was shown to act as an osmosensor with kinase activity in a functional complementation assay of an osmosensor deficient yeast strain. These results revealed that HK1b showed a different behaviour for canonical phosphorylation of histidine and aspartate residues. These phosphorylation modularities of canonical amino acids could explain the improved osmosensor performances observed in yeast. As conserved duplicates reflect the selective pressures imposed by the environmental requirements on the species, our results emphasize the importance of HK1 gene duplication in poplar adaptation to drought stress.

ABA and cytokinins: challenge and opportunity for plant stress research

Accumulation of the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) induces many cellular mechanisms associated with drought resistance. Recent years have seen a rapid advance in our knowledge of how increased ABA levels are perceived by ABA receptors, particularly the PYL/RCAR receptors, but there has been relatively less new information about how ABA accumulation is controlled and matched to stress severity. ABA synthesis and catabolism, conjugation and deconjugation to glucose, and ABA transport all are involved in controlling ABA levels. This highly buffered system of ABA metabolism represents both a challenge and opportunity in developing a mechanistic understanding of how plants detect and respond to drought. Recent data have also shown that direct manipulation of cytokinin levels in transgenic plants has dramatic effect on drought phenotypes and prompted new interest in the role of cytokinins and cytokinin signaling in drought. Both ABA and cytokinins will continue to be major foci of drought research but likely with different trajectories both in terms of basic research and in translational research aimed at increasing plant performance during drought.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Two-Component System Genes in Tomato

The two-component system (TCS), which comprises histidine kinases (HKs), phosphotransfers (HPs), and response regulator proteins (RRs), plays pivotal roles in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. TCS genes have been comprehensively identified and investigated in various crops but poorly characterized in tomato. In this work, a total of 65 TCS genes consisting of 20 HK(L)s, six HPs, and 39 RRs were identified from tomato genome. The classification, gene structures, conserved domains, chromosome distribution, phylogenetic relationship, gene duplication events, and subcellular localization of the TCS gene family were predicted and analyzed in detail. The amino acid sequences of tomato TCS family members, except those of type-B RRs, are highly conserved. The gene duplication events of the TCS family mainly occurred in the RR family. Furthermore, the expansion of RRs was attributed to both segment and tandem duplication. The subcellular localizations of the selected green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins exhibited a diverse subcellular targeting, thereby confirming their predicted divergent functionality. The majority of TCS family members showed distinct organ- or development-specific expression patterns. In addition, most of TCS genes were induced by abiotic stresses and exogenous phytohormones. The full elucidation of TCS elements will be helpful for comprehensive analysis of the molecular biology and physiological role of the TCS superfamily.

Genome-Wide Identification of Two-Component System Genes in Cucurbitaceae Crops and Expression Profiling Analyses in Cucumber

Cucumber and watermelon, which belong to Cucurbitaceae family, are economically important cultivated crops worldwide. However, these crops are vulnerable to various adverse environments. Two-component system (TCS), consisting of histidine kinases (HKs), phosphotransfers (HPs), and response regulator proteins (RRs), plays important roles in various plant developmental processes and signaling transduction in responses to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses. No systematic investigation has been conducted on TCS genes in Cucurbitaceae species. Based on the completion of the cucumber and watermelon genome draft, we identified 46 and 49 TCS genes in cucumber and watermelon, respectively. The cucumber TCS members included 18 HK(L)s, 7 HPs, and 21 RRs, whereas the watermelon TCS system consisted of 19 HK(L)s, 6 HPs, and 24 RRs. The sequences and domains of TCS members from these two species were highly conserved. Gene duplication events occurred rarely, which might have resulted from the absence of recent whole-genome duplication event in these two Cucurbitaceae crops. Numerous stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements were detected in the putative promoter regions of the cucumber TCS genes. Meanwhile, quantitative real-time PCR indicated that most of the TCS genes in cucumber were specifically or preferentially expressed in certain tissues or organs, especially in the early developing fruit. Some TCS genes exhibited diverse patterns of gene expression in response to abiotic stresses as well as exogenous trans-zeatin (ZT) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, suggesting that TCS genes might play significant roles in responses to various abiotic stresses and hormones in Cucurbitaceae crops.

Endogenous Cytokinin Overproduction Modulates ROS Homeostasis and Decreases Salt Stress Resistance in Arabidopsis Thaliana

Cytokinins in plants are crucial for numerous biological processes, including seed germination, cell division and differentiation, floral initiation and adaptation to abiotic stresses. The salt stress can promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in plants which are highly toxic and ultimately results in oxidative stress. However, the correlation between endogenous cytokinin production and ROS homeostasis in responding to salt stress is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the correlation of overexpressing the cytokinin biosynthetic gene AtIPT8 (adenosine phosphate-isopentenyl transferase 8) and the response of salt stress in Arabidopsis. Overproduction of cytokinins, which was resulted by the inducible overexpression of AtIPT8, significantly inhibited the primary root growth and true leaf emergence, especially under the conditions of exogenous salt, glucose and mannitol treatments. Upon cytokinin overproduction, the salt stress resistance was declined, and resulted in less survival rates and chlorophyll content. Interestingly, ROS production was obviously increased with the salt treatment, accompanied by endogenously overproduced cytokinins. The activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which are responsible for scavenging ROS, were also affected. Transcription profiling revealed that the differential expressions of ROS-producing and scavenging related genes, the photosynthesis-related genes and stress responsive genes were existed in transgenic plants of overproducing cytokinins. Our results suggested that broken in the homeostasis of cytokinins in plant cells could modulate the salt stress responses through a ROS-mediated regulation in Arabidopsis.

Integration of photosynthesis, development and stress as an opportunity for plant biology

With the tremendous progress of the past decades, molecular plant science is becoming more unified than ever. We now have the exciting opportunity to further connect subdisciplines and understand plants as whole organisms, as will be required to efficiently utilize them in natural and agricultural systems to meet human needs. The subfields of photosynthesis, plant developmental biology and plant stress are used as examples to discuss how plant science can become better integrated. The challenges, strategies and rich opportunities for the integration of the plant sciences are discussed. In recent years, more and more overlap between various subdisciplines has been inadvertently discovered including tradeoffs that may occur in plants engineered for biotechnological applications. Already important, bioinformatics and computational modelling will become even more central to structuring and understanding the ever growing amounts of data. The process of integrating and overlapping fields in plant biology research is advancing, but plant science will benefit from dedicating more effort and urgency to reach across its boundaries.

Insights into B-type RR members as signaling partners acting downstream of HPt partners of HK1 in the osmotic stress response in Populus

The B-type response regulators (B-type RRs), final elements of a signaling pathway called "histidine/aspartate phosphorelay system" in plants, are devoted to the regulation of response genes through a transcription factor activity. Signal transduction consists in the transfer of a phosphoryl group from a transmembrane histidine kinase (HK) which recognizes a given stimulus to nuclear RRs via cytosolic shuttle phosphotransfer proteins (HPts). In Arabidopsis, the receptors HK are to date the major characterized candidates to be responsible for initiation of osmotic stress responses. However, little information is available concerning the signaling partners acting downstream of HKs. In Populus, three HPts and five B-type RRs were previously identified as interacting partners of HK1, the Arabidopsis AHK1 homolog. Here, we report the isolation of RR18, a member of the B-type RR family, which shares high sequence similarities with ARR18 characterized to act in the osmosensing signaling pathway in Arabidopsis, from poplar cuttings subjected to osmotic stress conditions. By using yeast and in planta interaction assays, RR18 was further identified as acting downstream of HK1 and its three preferential HPt partners. Besides, our results are in favor of a possible involvement of both RR18 and RR13, the main expressed poplar B-type RR, in the osmotic signaling pathway. Nonetheless, different behaviors of these two B-type RRs in this pathway need to be noted, with one RR, RR13, acting in an early phase, mainly in roots of poplar cuttings, and the other one, RR18, acting in a late phase, mainly in leaves to supply an adequate response.

Crosstalk between Two bZIP Signaling Pathways Orchestrates Salt-Induced Metabolic Reprogramming in Arabidopsis Roots

Soil salinity increasingly causes crop losses worldwide. Although roots are the primary targets of salt stress, the signaling networks that facilitate metabolic reprogramming to induce stress tolerance are less understood than those in leaves. Here, a combination of transcriptomic and metabolic approaches was performed in salt-treated Arabidopsis thaliana roots, which revealed that the group S1 basic leucine zipper transcription factors bZIP1 and bZIP53 reprogram primary C- and N-metabolism. In particular, gluconeogenesis and amino acid catabolism are affected by these transcription factors. Importantly, bZIP1 expression reflects cellular stress and energy status in roots. In addition to the well-described abiotic stress response pathway initiated by the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) and executed by SnRK2 (Snf1-RELATED-PROTEIN-KINASE2) and AREB-like bZIP factors, we identify a structurally related ABA-independent signaling module consisting of SnRK1s and S1 bZIPs. Crosstalk between these signaling pathways recruits particular bZIP factor combinations to establish at least four distinct gene expression patterns. Understanding this signaling network provides a framework for securing future crop productivity.

Interactions between cytokinin signalling and abiotic stress responses

Plants have evolved elaborate mechanisms for sensing and responding to sub-optimal environmental conditions. Abiotic stresses caused by these conditions trigger a wide range of local and long-distance signals which must be co-ordinated and integrated into whole-plant processes, such as development, in order for the plant to respond properly and survive. Several hormones function as key regulators of stress tolerance, connecting local stimuli to systemic responses. Cytokinin is a hormone well known for its role in numerous aspects of growth and development, although abundant evidence also indicates that cytokinin functions in stress responses as well. At present, a full understanding of the effects of cytokinin on plant resistance to stress is lacking, possibly as a result of the complex interactions between cytokinin and stress signalling. Current knowledge of the physiological relationship between cytokinin and abiotic stress, based on measurements of cytokinin levels under stress conditions and the effects of cytokinin treatment on stress tolerance, has been examined here. A pattern of transcriptional regulation of stress-related genes by cytokinin in different plant species has also been identified. In addition, research regarding the role of specific cytokinin signalling components in a variety of stress responses is presented. We discuss what this body of research collectively implies with regard to cross-talk between cytokinin and abiotic stress tolerance.

Stress physiology functions of the Arabidopsis histidine kinase cytokinin receptors

Cytokinin signaling has complex effects on abiotic stress responses that remain to be fully elucidated. The Arabidopsis histidine kinases (AHKs), AHK2, AHK3 and CRE1 (cytokinin response1/AHK4) are the principle cytokinin receptors of Arabidopsis. Using a set of ahk mutants, we found dramatic differences in response to low water potential and salt stress among the AHKs. ahk3-3 mutants had increased root elongation after transfer to low water potential media. Conversely ahk2-2 was hypersensitive to salt stress in terms of root growth and fresh weight and accumulated higher than wild-type levels of proline specifically under salt stress. Strongly reduced proline accumulation in ahk double mutants after low water potential treatment indicated a more general role of cytokinin signaling in proline metabolism. Reduced P5CS1 (Δ(1) -pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase1) gene expression may have contributed to this reduced proline accumulation. Low water potential phenotypes of ahk mutants were not caused by altered abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation as all ahk mutants had wild-type ABA levels, despite the observation that ahk double mutants had reduced NCED3 (9-cis-epoxycartenoid dioxygenase3) expression when exposed to low water potential. No difference in osmoregulatory solute accumulation was detected in any of the ahk mutants indicating that they do not affect drought responsive osmotic adjustment. Overall, our examination of ahk mutants found specific phenotypes associated with AHK2 and AHK3 as well as a general function of cytokinin signaling in proline accumulation and low water potential induction of P5CS1 and NCED3 expression. These results show the stress physiology function of AHKs at a new level of detail.