The PPR-Domain Protein SOAR1 Regulates Salt Tolerance in Rice
Kai Lu,
Cheng Li,
Ju Guan,
Wen-Hua Liang,
Tao Chen,
Qing-Yong Zhao,
Zhen Zhu,
Shu Yao,
Lei He,
Xiao-Dong Wei,
Ling Zhao,
Li-Hui Zhou,
Chun-Fang Zhao,
Cai-Lin Wang,
Ya-Dong Zhang
Affiliations
Kai Lu
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Cheng Li
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Ju Guan
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Wen-Hua Liang
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Tao Chen
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Qing-Yong Zhao
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Zhen Zhu
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Shu Yao
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Lei He
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Xiao-Dong Wei
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Ling Zhao
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Li-Hui Zhou
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Chun-Fang Zhao
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Cai-Lin Wang
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Ya-Dong Zhang
Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center for Rice Improvement
Abstract Previous studies in Arabidopsis reported that the PPR protein SOAR1 plays critical roles in plant response to salt stress. In this study, we reported that expression of the Arabidopsis SOAR1 (AtSOAR1) in rice significantly enhanced salt tolerance at seedling growth stage and promoted grain productivity under salt stress without affecting plant productivity under non-stressful conditions. The transgenic rice lines expressing AtSOAR1 exhibited increased ABA sensitivity in ABA-induced inhibition of seedling growth, and showed altered transcription and splicing of numerous genes associated with salt stress, which may explain salt tolerance of the transgenic plants. Further, we overexpressed the homologous gene of SOAR1 in rice, OsSOAR1, and showed that transgenic plants overexpressing OsSOAR1 enhanced salt tolerance at seedling growth stage. Five salt- and other abiotic stress-induced SOAR1-like PPRs were also identified. These data showed that the SOAR1-like PPR proteins are positively involved in plant response to salt stress and may be used for crop improvement in rice under salinity conditions through transgenic manipulation.
