Expression of SmERF1 in tobacco improves plant salinity tolerance and regulates seed size

HUA Wenping; KONG Weiwei; HAN Limin; CAO Xiaoyan

doi:10.7606/j.issn.1000-4025.20230444

Xibei zhiwu xuebao (Feb 2024)

Expression of SmERF1 in tobacco improves plant salinity tolerance and regulates seed size

HUA Wenping,
KONG Weiwei,
HAN Limin,
CAO Xiaoyan

Affiliations

HUA Wenping: Department of Life Sciences and Food Technology, Shaanxi Xueqian Normal University, Xi􀆳an 710061, China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi􀆳an 710062, China
KONG Weiwei: Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi􀆳an 710062, China
HAN Limin: Department of Life Sciences and Food Technology, Shaanxi Xueqian Normal University, Xi􀆳an 710061, China
CAO Xiaoyan: Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest of China, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi􀆳an 710062, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7606/j.issn.1000-4025.20230444
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 44, no. 2
pp. 229 – 235

Abstract

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Abstract [Objective] The transcription factor ERF has various biological functions, and plays important roles in regulating plant growth, development and responding to stress. Previous studies have shown that SmERF1 from Salvia miltiorrhiza was involved in plant response to stress. This study aimed to further elucidate the potential function of SmERF1 and lay a foundation for the study of resistance and seed development of medicinal plants. [Methods] SmERF1 was heterologously expressed in the model plant tobacco mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens in this study. The resistance of transgenic plants was evaluated through determining the plant resistance-related enzyme activities. The levels of hormones such as GA and ABA were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the expression of key enzyme genes involved in hormone biosynthesis were detected with qPCR methods. [Results] (1) SmERF1-expressing tobacco plants showed slower growth, less biomass, and decrease in chlorophyll at the seedling stage, with no significant difference in other growth stages. In addition, seeds of tobacco plants expressing SmERF1 genes were smaller and lighter than those of wild plants. (2) Under NaCl treatment, the transgenic tobacco lines showed better tolerance to salinity, and the proline content, SOD and POD activities of transgenic lines were higher than those of wild type plants, while MDA content was lower than that of wild-type plants. (3) We determined the phytohormones related to plant resistance, and the results showed that transgenic tobacco plants had higher ABA levels but lower GA levels compared with wild type plants. The expression of SmERF1 regulated the expression of the key enzyme genes related to plant hormone biosynthesis, such as NtSDR, NtGA20ox, NtACO, and NtACS. [Conclusion] SmERF1 enhances tobacco tolerance to salt stress and may regulate seed size through the ABA-dependent pathway.

Published in Xibei zhiwu xuebao

ISSN: 1000-4025 (Print)
Publisher: Science Press
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General); Science: Botany
Website: http://xbzwxb.alljournal.net/xbzwxben/home

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