The Effects of Salinity on the Anatomy and Gene Expression Patterns in Leaflets of Tomato cv. Micro-Tom

Salinity is a form of abiotic stress that impacts growth and development in several economically relevant crops and is a top-ranking threat to agriculture, considering the average rise in the sea level caused by global warming. Tomato is moderately sensitive to salinity and shows adaptive mechanisms to this abiotic stressor. A case study on the dwarf tomato model Micro-Tom is here presented in which the response to salt stress (NaCl 200 mM) was investigated to shed light on the changes occurring at the expression level in genes involved in cell wall-related processes, phenylpropanoid pathway, stress response, volatiles’ emission and secondary metabolites’ production. In particular, the response was analyzed by sampling older/younger leaflets positioned at different stem heights (top and bottom of the stem) and locations along the rachis (terminal and lateral) with the goal of identifying the most responsive one(s). Tomato plants cv. Micro-Tom responded to increasing concentrations of NaCl (0-100-200-400 mM) by reducing the leaf biomass, stem diameter and height. Microscopy revealed stronger effects on leaves sampled at the bottom and the expression analysis identified clusters of genes expressed preferentially in older or younger leaflets. Stress-related genes displayed a stronger induction in lateral leaflets sampled at the bottom. In conclusion, in tomato cv. Micro-Tom subjected to salt stress, the bottom leaflets showed stronger stress signs and response, while top leaflets were less impacted by the abiotic stressor and had an increased expression of cell wall-related genes involved in expansion.

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Transcriptomic Analysis of Betula halophila in Response to Salt Stress

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms19113412 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (11) ◽

pp. 3412 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Fenjuan Shao ◽

Lisha Zhang ◽

Iain Wilson ◽

Deyou Qiu

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Salt Stress ◽

Salt Tolerance ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Soil Salinization ◽

Sphingolipid Metabolism ◽

Sequencing Platform ◽

Resistant Varieties ◽

High Salt Tolerance ◽

Salt Overly Sensitive

Soil salinization is a matter of concern worldwide. It can eventually lead to the desertification of land and severely damage local agricultural production and the ecological environment. Betula halophila is a tree with high salt tolerance, so it is of importance to understand and discover the salt responsive genes of B. halophila for breeding salinity resistant varieties of trees. However, there is no report on the transcriptome in response to salt stress in B. halophila. Using Illumina sequencing platform, approximately 460 M raw reads were generated and assembled into 117,091 unigenes. Among these unigenes, 64,551 unigenes (55.12%) were annotated with gene descriptions, while the other 44.88% were unknown. 168 up-regulated genes and 351 down-regulated genes were identified, respectively. These Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) involved in multiple pathways including the Salt Overly Sensitive (SOS) pathway, ion transport and uptake, antioxidant enzyme, ABA signal pathway and so on. The gene ontology (GO) enrichments suggested that the DEGs were mainly involved in a plant-type cell wall organization biological process, cell wall cellular component, and structural constituent of cell wall molecular function. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment showed that the top-four enriched pathways were ‘Fatty acid elongation’, ‘Ribosome’, ‘Sphingolipid metabolism’ and ‘Flavonoid biosynthesis’. The expression patterns of sixteen DEGs were analyzed by qRT-PCR to verify the RNA-seq data. Among them, the transcription factor AT-Hook Motif Nuclear Localized gene and dehydrins might play an important role in response to salt stress in B. halophila. Our results provide an important gene resource to breed salt tolerant plants and useful information for further elucidation of the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance in B. halophila.

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Transcriptional responses of Rosa rugosa to salt stress and salt shock

Ciência e Agrotecnologia ◽

10.1590/1413-7054202044008220 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

Author(s):

Michele Valquíria dos Reis ◽

Laura Vaughn Rouhana ◽

Patrícia Duarte de Oliveira Paiva ◽

Diogo Pedrosa Correia da Silva ◽

Renato Paiva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salt Stress ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Exposure Period ◽

Transcriptional Responses ◽

Expression Levels ◽

Salt Shock ◽

Stress Changes ◽

Stress Related Genes ◽

High Level

ABSTRACT Rugosa rugosa has high tolerance to various stresses; however, the molecular mechanisms of this behavior under adverse conditions are unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate expression patterns of stress-related genes in response to salinity stress. Changes in transcript levels of R. rugose, grown under different salt stress conditions (0, 25, 50, and 100 mM NaCl) over a long exposure period (30 days), have been investigated. In addition, the effects of salt shock stress on seedlings exposed to a high level (200 mM) of NaCl for a relatively short duration (3 h) have also been investigated. Expression levels of selected differentially expressed genes have been determined using relative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It has been observed that seedlings exposed to salt stress for a long duration exhibited no signs of stress in both leaves and roots. In addition, expression of NHX1 in R. rugosa increased in the presence of NaCl. Furthermore, transcripts of EXP4, GPP, NHX1, NAC, and DREB genes also increased under high levels of NaCl. In contrast, expression levels of MYB and TIR decreased during this salt shock treatment. Of particular interest is the increase in levels of transcripts of NHX1 in leaves of seedlings grown under both salt stress and salt shock conditions, thus suggesting that this gene plays an important role in salt stress tolerance in R. rugosa. These findings will support efforts in enhancing salt tolerance in roses, and perhaps in other members of the Rosaceae family.

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The LRXs-RALFs-FER module controls plant growth and salt stress responses by modulating multiple plant hormones

National Science Review ◽

10.1093/nsr/nwaa149 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Chunzhao Zhao ◽

Wei Jiang ◽

Omar Zayed ◽

Xin Liu ◽

Kai Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Salt Stress ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Intracellular Signaling ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Cell Wall Integrity ◽

Ros Accumulation ◽

Stress Responsive Genes

Abstract Salt stress is a major environmental factor limiting plant growth and productivity. We recently discovered an important new salt tolerance pathway, where the cell wall leucine-rich repeat extensins LRX3/4/5, the RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR (RALF) peptides RALF22/23, and receptor-like kinase FERONIA (FER) function as a module to simultaneously regulate plant growth and salt stress tolerance. However, the intracellular signaling pathways that are regulated by the extracellular LRX3/4/5-RALF22/23-FER module to coordinate growth, cell wall integrity, and salt stress responses are still unknown. Here, we report that the LRX3/4/5-RALF22/23-FER module negatively regulates the levels of jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Blocking JA pathway rescues the dwarf phenotype of the lrx345 and fer-4 mutants, while disruption of ABA biosynthesis suppresses the salt-hypersensitivity of these mutants. Many salt stress-responsive genes display abnormal expression patterns in the lrx345 and fer-4 mutants, as well as in the wild type plants treated with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an inhibitor of pectin methylesterases, suggesting cell wall integrity as a critical factor that determines the expression pattern of stress-responsive genes. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is constitutively increased in the lrx345 and fer-4 mutants, and inhibition of ROS accumulation suppresses the salt-hypersensitivity of these mutants. Together, our work provides strong evidence that the LRX3/4/5-RALF22/23-FER module controls plant growth and salt stress responses by regulating hormonal homeostasis and ROS accumulation.

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Crustacean Meal Elicits Expression of Growth and Defense-Related Genes in Roots of Lettuce and Tomato

PhytoFrontiers™ ◽

10.1094/phytofr-03-21-0017-r ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shyam L Kandel ◽

Amy Anchieta ◽

Ainong Shi ◽

Beiquan Mou ◽

Steven J Klosterman

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Metal Ion ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Phenylpropanoid Pathway ◽

Plant Health ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Metal Ion Binding ◽

Cell Wall Biogenesis ◽

Expression Of Genes

Powdered crab and lobster shells (crustacean meal) obtained from fisheries are used as soil amendments to promote plant health and defense. In this study, a commercial crustacean meal amendment used to promote health of lettuce, tomato, and some other crop plants was applied to roots of lettuce and tomato seedlings. Gene expression profiling of the treated roots was assessed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) at 24 h after application relative to a 0 h time point. The RNA-seq analyses revealed upregulation of different types of genes in both tomato and lettuce roots at 24 h. Gene ontology analyses revealed increased expression of genes associated with oxidoreductases/metal ion binding in tomato at 24 h, while there was predominantly increased expression of genes associated with cell wall organization, lyases, and hydrolases in lettuce roots at 24 h. The types of defense-related genes expressed was also markedly different. In tomato, the most highly induced gene (Log₂ fold change 13.84, P = <0.001) encoded a defense associated miraculin-like protein, but transcripts of a similar gene were not induced in lettuce roots. Interestingly, phenylpropanoid pathway genes relating to cell wall biogenesis and lignification were significantly upregulated in both lettuce and tomato roots, suggesting that strengthening of plant cell walls is a common response to crustacean meal application. This research provides insight into gene expression patterns in the roots of lettuce and tomato in response to crustacean meal, improving our understanding of how this amendment may aid in plant health.

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Evaluation on the yield of some rice varieties with tolerance to salt stress, a case study

Vietnam Journal of Science Technology and Engineering ◽

10.31276/vjste.59(4).32 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 32-36

Author(s):

Thi Ai Lien Quan ◽

Cong Thanh Vo ◽

Keyword(s):

Salt Stress ◽

Rice Varieties

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Characterization of Interactions between the Soybean Salt-Stress Responsive Membrane-Intrinsic Proteins GmPIP1 and GmPIP2

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11071312 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1312

Author(s):

Jia Liu ◽

Weicong Qi ◽

Haiying Lu ◽

Hongbo Shao ◽

Dayong Zhang

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Salt Stress ◽

Salt Tolerance ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Early Gene ◽

Plant Responses ◽

Constitutive Overexpression ◽

Important Trait

Salt tolerance is an important trait in soybean cultivation and breeding. Plant responses to salt stress include physiological and biochemical changes that affect the movement of water across the plasma membrane. Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) localize to the plasma membrane and regulate the water and solutes flow. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR and yeast two-hybridization were engaged to analyze the early gene expression profiles and interactions of a set of soybean PIPs (GmPIPs) in response to salt stress. A total of 20 GmPIPs-encoding genes had varied expression profiles after salt stress. Among them, 13 genes exhibited a downregulated expression pattern, including GmPIP1;6, the constitutive overexpression of which could improve soybean salt tolerance, and its close homologs GmPIP1;7 and 1;5. Three genes showed upregulated patterns, including the GmPIP1;6 close homolog GmPIP1;4, when four genes with earlier increased and then decreased expression patterns. GmPIP1;5 and GmPIP1;6 could both physically interact strongly with GmPIP2;2, GmPIP2;4, GmPIP2;6, GmPIP2;8, GmPIP2;9, GmPIP2;11, and GmPIP2;13. Definite interactions between GmPIP1;6 and GmPIP1;7 were detected and GmPIP2;9 performed homo-interaction. The interactions of GmPIP1;5 with GmPIP2;11 and 2;13, GmPIP1;6 with GmPIP2;9, 2;11 and GmPIP2;13, and GmPIP2;9 with itself were strengthened upon salt stress rather than osmotic stress. Taken together, we inferred that GmPIP1 type and GmPIP2 type could associate with each other to synergistically function in the plant cell; a salt-stress environment could promote part of their interactions. This result provided new clues to further understand the soybean PIP–isoform interactions, which lead to potentially functional homo- and heterotetramers for salt tolerance.

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Microtubule Dynamics Plays a Vital Role in Plant Adaptation and Tolerance to Salt Stress

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22115957 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (11) ◽

pp. 5957

Author(s):

Hyun Jin Chun ◽

Dongwon Baek ◽

Byung Jun Jin ◽

Hyun Min Cho ◽

Mi Suk Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Salt Stress ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Differentially Expressed Proteins ◽

Related Gene ◽

Plant Adaptation ◽

Salt Stress Response ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Cell Wall Biogenesis

Although recent studies suggest that the plant cytoskeleton is associated with plant stress responses, such as salt, cold, and drought, the molecular mechanism underlying microtubule function in plant salt stress response remains unclear. We performed a comparative proteomic analysis between control suspension-cultured cells (A0) and salt-adapted cells (A120) established from Arabidopsis root callus to investigate plant adaptation mechanisms to long-term salt stress. We identified 50 differentially expressed proteins (45 up- and 5 down-regulated proteins) in A120 cells compared with A0 cells. Gene ontology enrichment and protein network analyses indicated that differentially expressed proteins in A120 cells were strongly associated with cell structure-associated clusters, including cytoskeleton and cell wall biogenesis. Gene expression analysis revealed that expressions of cytoskeleton-related genes, such as FBA8, TUB3, TUB4, TUB7, TUB9, and ACT7, and a cell wall biogenesis-related gene, CCoAOMT1, were induced in salt-adapted A120 cells. Moreover, the loss-of-function mutant of Arabidopsis TUB9 gene, tub9, showed a hypersensitive phenotype to salt stress. Consistent overexpression of Arabidopsis TUB9 gene in rice transgenic plants enhanced tolerance to salt stress. Our results suggest that microtubules play crucial roles in plant adaptation and tolerance to salt stress. The modulation of microtubule-related gene expression can be an effective strategy for developing salt-tolerant crops.

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Genome-wide analysis and expression profile of the bZIP gene family in poplar

BMC Plant Biology ◽

10.1186/s12870-021-02879-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kai Zhao ◽

Song Chen ◽

Wenjing Yao ◽

Zihan Cheng ◽

Boru Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salt Stress ◽

Systems Biology ◽

Gene Family ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Metal Ion ◽

Gene Networks ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Biological Processes

Abstract Background The bZIP gene family, which is widely present in plants, participates in varied biological processes including growth and development and stress responses. How do the genes regulate such biological processes? Systems biology is powerful for mechanistic understanding of gene functions. However, such studies have not yet been reported in poplar. Results In this study, we identified 86 poplar bZIP transcription factors and described their conserved domains. According to the results of phylogenetic tree, we divided these members into 12 groups with specific gene structures and motif compositions. The corresponding genes that harbor a large number of segmental duplication events are unevenly distributed on the 17 poplar chromosomes. In addition, we further examined collinearity between these genes and the related genes from six other species. Evidence from transcriptomic data indicated that the bZIP genes in poplar displayed different expression patterns in roots, stems, and leaves. Furthermore, we identified 45 bZIP genes that respond to salt stress in the three tissues. We performed co-expression analysis on the representative genes, followed by gene set enrichment analysis. The results demonstrated that tissue differentially expressed genes, especially the co-expressing genes, are mainly involved in secondary metabolic and secondary metabolite biosynthetic processes. However, salt stress responsive genes and their co-expressing genes mainly participate in the regulation of metal ion transport, and methionine biosynthetic. Conclusions Using comparative genomics and systems biology approaches, we, for the first time, systematically explore the structures and functions of the bZIP gene family in poplar. It appears that the bZIP gene family plays significant roles in regulation of poplar development and growth and salt stress responses through differential gene networks or biological processes. These findings provide the foundation for genetic breeding by engineering target regulators and corresponding gene networks into poplar lines.

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Genome-wide identification of the GATA transcription factor family and their expression patterns under temperature and salt stress in Aspergillus oryzae

AMB Express ◽

10.1186/s13568-021-01212-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chunmiao Jiang ◽

Gongbo Lv ◽

Jinxin Ge ◽

Bin He ◽

Zhe Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salt Stress ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Interaction Network ◽

Protein Protein Interaction ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Gata Transcription Factor ◽

Starting Point ◽

Evolutionary Features ◽

First Time

AbstractGATA transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the regulation of growth processes and various environmental stresses. Although GATA TFs involved in abiotic stress in plants and some fungi have been analyzed, information regarding GATA TFs in Aspergillusoryzae is extremely poor. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized seven GATA proteins from A.oryzae 3.042 genome, including a novel AoSnf5 GATA TF with 20-residue between the Cys-X2-Cys motifs which was found in Aspergillus GATA TFs for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these seven A. oryzae GATA TFs could be classified into six subgroups. Analysis of conserved motifs demonstrated that Aspergillus GATA TFs with similar motif compositions clustered in one subgroup, suggesting that they might possess similar genetic functions, further confirming the accuracy of the phylogenetic relationship. Furthermore, the expression patterns of seven A.oryzae GATA TFs under temperature and salt stresses indicated that A. oryzae GATA TFs were mainly responsive to high temperature and high salt stress. The protein–protein interaction network of A.oryzae GATA TFs revealed certain potentially interacting proteins. The comprehensive analysis of A. oryzae GATA TFs will be beneficial for understanding their biological function and evolutionary features and provide an important starting point to further understand the role of GATA TFs in the regulation of distinct environmental conditions in A.oryzae.

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