Plants (Apr 2020)

Heterologous Expression of a Soybean Gene <i>RR34</i> Conferred Improved Drought Resistance of Transgenic <i>Arabidopsis</i>

  • Duong Hoang Trong Nghia,
  • Nguyen Nguyen Chuong,
  • Xuan Lan Thi Hoang,
  • Nguyen Cao Nguyen,
  • Nguyen Huu Cam Tu,
  • Nguyen Van Gia Huy,
  • Bui Thi Thanh Ha,
  • Thai Nguyen Hoang Nam,
  • Nguyen Binh Anh Thu,
  • Lam-Son Phan Tran,
  • Nguyen Phuong Thao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9040494
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 4
p. 494

Abstract

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Two-component systems (TCSs) have been identified as participants in mediating plant response to water deficit. Nevertheless, insights of their contribution to plant drought responses and associated regulatory mechanisms remain limited. Herein, a soybean response regulator (RR) gene RR34, which is the potential drought-responsive downstream member of a TCS, was ectopically expressed in the model plant Arabidopsis for the analysis of its biological roles in drought stress response. Results from the survival test revealed outstanding recovery ratios of 52%–53% in the examined transgenic lines compared with 28% of the wild-type plants. Additionally, remarkedly lower water loss rates in detached leaves as well as enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were observed in the transgenic group. Further transcriptional analysis of a subset of drought-responsive genes demonstrated higher expression in GmRR34-transgenic plants upon exposure to drought, including abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes NCED3, OST1, ABI5, and RAB18. These ectopic expression lines also displayed hypersensitivity to ABA treatment at germination and post-germination stages. Collectively, these findings indicated the ABA-associated mode of action of GmRR34 in conferring better plant performance under the adverse drought conditions.

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