DOR: a link between an F-box protein and guard cell ABA signaling

Natural variation in BnaA9.NF-YA7 contributes to drought tolerance in Brassica napus L

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the important oil crops worldwide. Its production is often threatened by drought stress. Here, we identify a transcription factor (BnaA9.NF-YA7) that negatively regulates drought tolerance through genome-wide association study in B. napus. The presence of two SNPs within a CCAAT cis element leads to downregulation of BnaA9.NF-YA7 expression. In addition, the M63I (G-to-C) substitution in the transactivation domain can activate low level expression of BnaA4.DOR, which is an inhibitory factor of ABA-induced stomatal closure. Furthermore, we determine that Bna.ABF3/4s directly regulate the expression of BnaA9.NF-YA7, and BnaA9.NF-YA7 indirectly suppresses the expression of Bna.ABF3/4s by regulation of Bna.ASHH4s. Our findings uncover that BnaA9.NF-YA7 serves as a supplementary role for ABA signal balance under drought stress conditions, and provide a potential molecular target to breed drought-tolerant B. napus cultivars.

The F-box E3 ubiquitin ligase AtSDR is involved in salt and drought stress responses in Arabidopsis

F-box protein genes have been shown to play vital roles in plant development and stress respones. In Arabidopsis, there are more than 600 F-box proteins, and most of their functions are unclear. The present study shows that the F-box (SKP1-Cullin/CDC53-F-box) gene At5g15710 (Salt and Drought Responsiveness, SDR) is involved in abiotic stress responses in Arabidopsis. SDR is expressed in all tissues of Arabidopsis and is upregulated by salt and heat stresses and ABA treatment but downregulated by drought stress. Subcellular localization analysis shows that the SDR protein colocalizes with the nucleus. 35S:AntiSDR plants are hypersensitive to salt stress, but 35S:SDR plants display a salt-tolerant phenotype. Furthermore, 35S:SDR plants are hypersensitive to drought stress, while 35S:AntiSDR plants are significantly more drought tolerant. Overall, our results suggest that SDR is involved in salt and drought stress responses in Arabidopsis.

Root and shoot performance of Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to elevated CO2: A physiologic, metabolic and transcriptomic response

The responsiveness of C3 plants to raised atmospheric [CO2] levels has been frequently described as constrained by photosynthetic downregulation. The main goal of the current study was to characterize the shoot-root relationship and its implications in plant responsiveness under elevated [CO2] conditions. For this purpose, Arabidopsis thaliana plants were exposed to elevated [CO2] (800ppm versus 400ppm [CO2]) and fertilized with a mixed (NH4NO3) nitrogen source. Plant growth, physiology, metabolite and transcriptomic characterizations were carried out at the root and shoot levels. Plant growth under elevated [CO2] conditions was doubled due to increased photosynthetic rates and gas exchange measurements revealed that these plants maintain higher photosynthetic rates over extended periods of time. This positive response of photosynthetic rates to elevated [CO2] was caused by the maintenance of leaf protein and Rubisco concentrations at control levels alongside enhanced energy efficiency. The increased levels of leaf carbohydrates, organic acids and amino acids supported the augmented respiration rates of plants under elevated [CO2]. A transcriptomic analysis allowed the identification of photoassimilate allocation and remobilization as fundamental process used by the plants to maintain the outstanding photosynthetic performance. Moreover, based on the relationship between plant carbon status and hormone functioning, the transcriptomic analyses provided an explanation of why phenology accelerates under elevated [CO2] conditions.