Endogenous accumulation of glycine betaine confers improved low temperature resistance on transplastomic potato plants

Glycine betaine (GB) plays a crucial role in plant response to abiotic stress, and its accumulation in chloroplasts is more effective than in the cytosol in improving the resistance of transgenic plants. Here, we report that the codA gene from Arthrobacter globiformis, which encodes a choline oxidase catalysing the conversion of choline to GB, was successfully introduced into the plastid genome of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Transgenic plants with plastid expression of codA showed increased tolerance to low temperature stress compared with the wild type (WT). Further studies revealed that under low temperature stress condition, transgenic plants presented a significantly higher photosynthetic performance by regulating the electron transport and energy distribution in PSII, and higher antioxidant enzyme activities and lower O2– and H2O2 accumulation than did the WT plants. A higher expression of the COR genes was also observed in transgenic plants. Our results suggest that chloroplast biosynthesis of GB could be an effective strategy for the engineering of plants with increased resistance to low temperature stress.

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An R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor RmMYB108 Responds to Chilling Stress of Rosa multiflora and Conferred Cold Tolerance of Arabidopsis

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.696919 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jie Dong ◽

Lei Cao ◽

Xiaoying Zhang ◽

Wuhua Zhang ◽

Tao Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Temperature ◽

Transgenic Plants ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Cold Tolerance ◽

Temperature Stress ◽

Chilling Stress ◽

Low Temperature Stress ◽

Myb Transcription Factor ◽

Rosa Multiflora ◽

R2r3 Myb

A sudden cooling in the early spring or late autumn negatively impacts the plant growth and development. Although a number of studies have characterized the role of the transcription factors (TFs) of plant R2R3-myeloblastosis (R2R3-MYB) in response to biotic and abiotic stress, plant growth, and primary and specific metabolisms, much less is known about their role in Rosa multiflora under chilling stress. In the present study, RmMYB108, which encodes a nuclear-localized R2R3-MYB TF with a self-activation activity, was identified based on the earlier published RNA-seq data of R. multiflora plants exposed to short-term low-temperature stress and also on the results of prediction of the gene function referring Arabidopsis. The RmMYB108 gene was induced by stress due to chilling, salt, and drought and was expressed in higher levels in the roots than in the leaves. The heterologous expression of RmMYB108 in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly enhanced the tolerance of transgenic plants to freezing, water deficit, and high salinity, enabling higher survival and growth rates, earlier flowering and silique formation, and better seed quantity and quality compared with the wild-type (WT) plants. When exposed to a continuous low-temperature stress at 4°C, transgenic Arabidopsis lines–overexpressing RmMYB108 showed higher activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, lower relative conductivity, and lower malondialdehyde content than the WT. Moreover, the initial fluorescence (Fo) and maximum photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) changed more dramatically in the WT than in transgenic plants. Furthermore, the expression levels of cold-related genes involved in the ICE1 (Inducer of CBF expression 1)-CBFs (C-repeat binding factors)-CORs (Cold regulated genes) cascade were higher in the overexpression lines than in the WT. These results suggest that RmMYB108 was positively involved in the tolerance responses when R. multiflora was exposed to challenges against cold, freeze, salt, or drought and improved the cold tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis by reducing plant damage and promoting plant growth.

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Characterisation of low temperature stress effects on photosynthetic performance of maize cultivars using chlorophyll fluorescence

South African Journal of Botany ◽

10.1016/s0254-6299(15)30173-3 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 70 (5) ◽

pp. 730-733

Author(s):

B. Moseki ◽

C.F. Musil

Keyword(s):

Chlorophyll Fluorescence ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Temperature Stress ◽

Photosynthetic Performance ◽

Low Temperature Stress ◽

Stress Effects ◽

Maize Cultivars

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Glycine betaine improves thylakoid membrane function of tobacco leaves under low-temperature stress

Photosynthetica ◽

10.1007/s11099-008-0072-2 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 400-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

C. Wang ◽

X. L. Ma ◽

Z. Hui ◽

W. Wang

Keyword(s):

Low Temperature ◽

Temperature Stress ◽

Thylakoid Membrane ◽

Glycine Betaine ◽

Low Temperature Stress ◽

Membrane Function ◽

Tobacco Leaves

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F-Box Family Genes, LTSF1 and LTSF2, Regulate Low-Temperature Stress Tolerance in Pepper (Capsicum chinense)

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9091186 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 1186

Author(s):

Jelli Venkatesh ◽

Min-Young Kang ◽

Li Liu ◽

Jin-Kyung Kwon ◽

Byoung-Cheorl Kang

Keyword(s):

Low Temperature ◽

Stress Tolerance ◽

Temperature Stress ◽

Low Temperature Stress ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Temperature Sensitive ◽

Capsicum Chinense ◽

Virus Induced Gene Silencing ◽

Scf Complex ◽

F Box Protein

The F-box proteins belong to a family of regulatory proteins that play key roles in the proteasomal degradation of other proteins. Plant F-box proteins are functionally diverse, and the precise roles of many such proteins in growth and development are not known. Previously, two low-temperature-sensitive F-box protein family genes (LTSF1 and LTSF2) were identified as candidates responsible for the sensitivity to low temperatures in the pepper (Capsicum chinense) cultivar ‘sy-2’. In the present study, we showed that the virus-induced gene silencing of these genes stunted plant growth and caused abnormal leaf development under low-temperature conditions, similar to what was observed in the low-temperature-sensitive ‘sy-2’ line. Protein–protein interaction analyses revealed that the LTSF1 and LTSF2 proteins interacted with S-phase kinase-associated protein 1 (SKP1), part of the Skp, Cullin, F-box-containing (SCF) complex that catalyzes the ubiquitination of proteins for degradation, suggesting a role for LTSF1 and LTSF2 in protein degradation. Furthermore, transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants overexpressing the pepper LTSF1 gene showed an increased tolerance to low-temperature stress and a higher expression of the genes encoding antioxidant enzymes. Taken together, these results suggest that the LTSF1 and LTSF2 F-box proteins are a functional component of the SCF complex and may positively regulate low-temperature stress tolerance by activating antioxidant-enzyme activities.

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Expression of CP:CBF3-35S:ICE1 Enhances Low Temperature Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.726-731.118 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 726-731 ◽

pp. 118-121

Author(s):

Rui Mei Li ◽

Du Juan Xi ◽

Yi Meng Ji ◽

Rui Jun Duan ◽

Jiao Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Temperature ◽

Transgenic Plants ◽

Temperature Stress ◽

Target Genes ◽

Temperature Tolerance ◽

Low Temperature Stress ◽

Stress Tests ◽

Low Temperature Tolerance ◽

Transgenic Lines

We have constructed a vector pCAMBIA1300-CP:CBF3-35S:ICE1 and transformed into Arabidopsis. Results of PCR proved that the target genes had integrated into Arabidopsis genome. Transgenic Arabidopsis showed a bit slow growth, earlier flowering, but normal at other phenotype under 22°C with 8 h daily lights. In vitro low temperature stress tests showed that the transgenic lines were survival while the wild type was nearly dead. The transgenic plants also showed an increased proline content, SOD and POD activities under low temperature stress. The phenotype and physical evidence indicated that expression of CP:CBF3-35S:ICE1 under low temperature enhances the cold tolerance in transgenic plants.

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