SlTDC modulates photosynthesis of senescent leaves in tomato

Yanan Wang; Tongtong Jing; Xutao Liu; Xizhen Ai; Huangai Bi

doi:10.1007/s44281-024-00039-2

Horticulture Advances (Jul 2024)

SlTDC modulates photosynthesis of senescent leaves in tomato

Yanan Wang,
Tongtong Jing,
Xutao Liu,
Xizhen Ai,
Huangai Bi

Affiliations

Yanan Wang: Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops in Huanghuai Region, Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production in Shandong, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University
Tongtong Jing: Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops in Huanghuai Region, Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production in Shandong, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University
Xutao Liu: Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops in Huanghuai Region, Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production in Shandong, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University
Xizhen Ai: Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops in Huanghuai Region, Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production in Shandong, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University
Huangai Bi: Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops in Huanghuai Region, Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production in Shandong, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44281-024-00039-2
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Abstract Melatonin (MT) is a key regulator in plants’ response to leaf senescence induced by aging or various abiotic stresses. Here, we demonstrated that darkness and leaf aging enhance endogenous MT levels by upregulating key genes involved in MT synthesis. Additionally, exogenous MT application significantly mitigated leaf senescence induced by darkness and leaf aging in tomato plants, leading to higher chlorophyll content and maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) compared to the control. Using Solanum lycopersicum L. tryptophan decarboxylase (SlTDC)-overexpressed and -knockout transgenic tomato seedlings, we found that SlTDC overexpression increased endogenous MT content and suppressed mRNA levels of chlorophyll degradation-related genes: pheophorbide a oxygenase (PAO), pheophytinase (PPH), and non-yellow coloring1 like (NOL). Furthermore, SlTDC overexpression alleviated photosystem II complex (PSII) photoinhibition, increased ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) and Rubisco activase (RCA) activities and mRNA levels, and maintained higher photosynthetic efficiency in leaves under darkness and in leaves aged over 35 d compared to wild-type plants. Conversely, SlTDC knockout accelerated darkness- or leaf aging-induced leaf senescence in tomatoes. Our findings suggest that MT application or SlTDC overexpression can effectively alleviate leaf senescence by regulating photosynthesis in tomato plants.

Published in Horticulture Advances

ISSN: 2948-1104 (Online)
Publisher: Springer
Country of publisher: Singapore
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Plant culture
Website: https://link.springer.com/journal/44281

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