Overexpression of the peroxidase gene ZmPRX1 increases maize seedling drought tolerance by promoting root development and lignification
Xiuzhen Zhai,
Xiaocui Yan,
Tinashe Zenda,
Nan Wang,
Anyi Dong,
Qian Yang,
Yuan Zhong,
Yue Xing,
Huijun Duan
Affiliations
Xiuzhen Zhai
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Xiaocui Yan
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Tinashe Zenda
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Nan Wang
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Anyi Dong
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Qian Yang
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Yuan Zhong
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Yue Xing
State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Huijun Duan
Corresponding author.; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources in North China, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, Hebei, China
Drought is a main abiotic stress factor hindering plant growth, development, and crop productivity. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms by which plants cope with drought stress. Here, the function of the maize peroxidase gene ZmPRX1 in drought stress tolerance was investigated by measurement of its expression in response to drought treatment both in a ZmPRX1 overexpression line and a mutant line. The higher root lignin accumulation and seedling survival rate of the overexpression line than that of the wild type or mutant support a role for ZmPRX1 in maize drought tolerance by regulating root development and lignification. Additionally, yeast one-hybrid, Dule luciferase and ChIP-qPCR assays showed that ZmPRX1 is negatively regulated by a nuclear-localized ZmWRKY86 transcription factor. The gene could potentially be used for breeding of drought-tolerant cultivars.
