PlWRKY13: A Transcription Factor Involved in Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses in Paeonia lactiflora

Many members of the WRKY family regulate plant growth and development. Recent studies have shown that members of the WRKY family, specifically WRKY13, play various roles in the regulation of plant stress resistance. To study the function of WRKY family members in peony, the PlWRKY13 gene (KY271095) was cloned from peony leaves. Sequence analysis and subcellular localization results revealed that PlWRKY13 has no introns, belongs to the type IIc subgroup of the WRKY family, and functions in the nucleus. The expression pattern of PlWRKY13 was analysed via real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), which showed that the expression of PlWRKY13 was induced by four types of abiotic stress, low-temperature, high-temperature, waterlogging and salt stress, and was positively upregulated in response to these stresses. In addition, the expression of PlWRKY13 tended to first decrease and then increase after infection with Alternaria tenuissima. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology was used to explore the function of PlWRKY13 in the resistance of Paeonia lactiflora to fungal infection further, and the results showed that PlWRKY13-silenced plants displayed increased sensitivity to A. tenuissima. The infection was more severe and the disease index (DI) significantly greater in the PlWRKY13-silenced plants than in the control plants, and the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes was also significantly altered in the PlWRKY13-silenced plants compared with the control plants. The contents of the endogenous hormones jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) were measured, and the results showed that the JA content increased gradually after infection with A. tenuissima and that JA may play an active role in the resistance of P. lactiflora to pathogen infection, while the SA content decreased after PlWRKY13 silencing. The contents of the two hormones decreased overall, suggesting that they are related to the transcription of PlWRKY13 and that PlWRKY13 may be involved in the disease-resistance pathway mediated by JA and SA. In summary, the results of our study showed that PlWRKY13 expression was induced by stress and had a positive effect on the resistance of P. lactiflora to fungal infection.

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Cotton CC-NBS-LRR Gene GbCNL130 Confers Resistance to Verticillium Wilt Across Different Species

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.695691 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Tinggang Li ◽

Qianqian Zhang ◽

Xilong Jiang ◽

Ran Li ◽

Nikhilesh Dhar

Keyword(s):

Verticillium Wilt ◽

Gene Clusters ◽

Virus Induced Gene Silencing ◽

Pr Genes ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Resistant Varieties ◽

Pathogenesis Related ◽

In The Wild ◽

Plant Genes ◽

Research Findings

Verticillium wilt (VW) is a destructive disease in cotton caused by Verticillium dahliae and has a significant impact on yield and quality. In the absence of safe and effective chemical control, VW is difficult to manage. Thus, at present, developing resistant varieties is the most economical and effective method of controlling Verticillium wilt of cotton. The CC-NBS-LRR (CNL) gene family is an important class of plant genes involved in disease resistance. This study identified 141 GbCNLs in Gossypium barbadense genome, with 37.5% (53 genes) GbCNLs enriched in 12 gene clusters (GC01–GC12) based on gene distribution in the chromosomes. Especially, seven GbCNLs from two largest clusters (GC11 and GC12) were significantly upregulated in the resistant cultivar (Hai No. 7124) and the susceptible (Giza No. 57). Virus-induced gene silencing of GbCNL130 in G. barbadense, one typical gene in the gene cluster 12 (GC12), significantly altered the response to VW, compromising plant resistance to V. dahliae. In contrast, GbCNL130 overexpression significantly increased the resistance to VW in the wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana. Based on our research findings presented here, we conclude that GbCNL130 promotes resistance to VW by activating the salicylic acid (SA)-dependent defense response pathway resulting in strong accumulation of reactive oxygen species and upregulation of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. In conclusion, our study resulted in the discovery of a new CNL resistance gene in cotton, GbCNL130, that confers resistance to VW across different hosts.

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OsNAC300 Positively Regulates Cadmium Stress Responses and Tolerance in Rice Roots

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11010095 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 95

Author(s):

Shubao Hu ◽

Kamran Iqbal Shinwari ◽

Yuxinrui Song ◽

Jixing Xia ◽

Heng Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Responses ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Cadmium Stress ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Cd Stress ◽

Related Family ◽

Pathogenesis Related ◽

Reporter Assays ◽

Increased Sensitivity

Transcriptional regulation is involved in responding to cadmium (Cd) stress in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms of Cd stress responses regulated by transcription factors remain largely unknown in plants. In this study, a rice (Oryza sativa) NAC (no apical meristem [NAM]; Arabidopsis transcription activation factor [ATAF]; cup-shaped cotyledon [CUC]-related) family transcription factor, OsNAC300, was isolated and functionally characterized for its involvement in Cd stress responses and tolerance. OsNAC300 was localized to the nucleus. OsNAC300 was mainly expressed in roots and significantly induced by Cd treatment. Knockout of OsNAC300 resulted in increased sensitivity to Cd stress, while its overexpression lines enhanced tolerance to Cd stress. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that the mutant is impaired in regulating some important genes that were responsive to Cd stress in wild-type rice, such as the pathogenesis-related genes 10a (OsPR10a), OsPR10b, chalcone synthase 1 (OsCHS1), and several others, which was validated by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR assays and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that OsNAC300 directly binds to the promoters of OsPR10a, OsPR10b, and OsCHS1 and activates their transcription. Overall, OsNAC300 is an important regulatory factor in Cd stress responses and tolerance in rice.

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Overexpression of (At)NPR1 in Rice Leads to a BTH- and Environment-Induced Lesion-Mimic/Cell Death Phenotype

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi.2004.17.2.140 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 140-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 134

Author(s):

Heather A. Fitzgerald ◽

Maw-Sheng Chern ◽

Roy Navarre ◽

Pamela C. Ronald

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Systemic Acquired Resistance ◽

Plant Stress ◽

Acquired Resistance ◽

Bacterial Pathogen ◽

Lesion Mimic ◽

Pathogenesis Related ◽

Plant Stress Responses

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is an inducible defense response that protects plants against a broad spectrum of pathogens. A central regulator of SAR in Arabidopsis is NPR1 (nonexpresser of pathogenesis-related genes). In rice, overexpression of Arabidopsis NPR1 enhances plant resistance to the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. This report demonstrates that overexpression of (At)NPR1 in rice also triggers a lesion-mimic/cell death (LMD) phenotype. The LMD phenotype is environmentally regulated and heritable. In addition, the development of lesions and death correlates with the expression of rice defense genes and the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide. Application of the salicylic acid (SA) analog, benzo(1,2,3) thiadiazole-7-carbothioc acid S-methyl ester (BTH), potentiates this phenotype. Endogenous SA levels are reduced in rice overexpressing (At)NPR1 when compared with wild-type plants, supporting the idea that (At)NPR1 may perceive and modulate the accumulation of SA. The association of (At)NPR1 expression in rice with the development of an LMD phenotype suggests that (At)NPR1 has multiple roles in plant stress responses that may affect its efficacy as a transgenic tool for engineering broad-spectrum resistance.

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The Capsicum baccatum-Specific Truncated NLR Protein CbCN Enhances the Innate Immunity against Colletotrichum acutatum

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22147672 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (14) ◽

pp. 7672

Author(s):

Seungmin Son ◽

Soohong Kim ◽

Kyong Sil Lee ◽

Jun Oh ◽

Inchan Choi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Susceptible Variety ◽

Chili Pepper ◽

Colletotrichum Acutatum ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Virus Induced Gene Silencing ◽

Pr Genes ◽

Capsicum Baccatum ◽

Pathogenesis Related ◽

Chili Peppers

Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an important fruit and spice used globally, but its yield is seriously threatened by anthracnose. Capsicum baccatum (C. baccatum) is particularly valuable as it carries advantageous disease resistance genes. However, most of the genes remain to be identified. In this study, we identified the C. baccatum-specific gene CbCN, which encodes a truncated nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat protein in the anthracnose resistant chili pepper variety PBC80. The transcription of CbCN was greater in PBC80 than it was in the susceptible variety An-S after Colletotrichum acutatum inoculation. In order to investigate the biological function of CbCN, we generated transgenic tobacco lines constitutively expressing CbCN. Notably, CbCN-overexpressing transgenic plants exhibited enhanced resistance to C. acutatum compared to wild-type plants. Moreover, the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes was remarkably increased in a CbCN-overexpressing tobacco plants. In order to confirm these results in chili pepper, we silenced the CbCN gene using the virus-induced gene silencing system. The anthracnose resistance and expressions of PR1, PR2, and NPR1 were significantly reduced in CbCN-silenced chili peppers after C. acutatum inoculations. These results indicate that CbCN enhances the innate immunity against anthracnose caused by C. acutatum by regulating defense response genes.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Mapping proteome-wide targets of protein kinases in plant stress responses.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.737278120.793570463 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shuhua Yang

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinases ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Plant Stress ◽

Plant Stress Responses

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Versatile Physiological Functions of Plant GSK3-Like Kinases

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12050697 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 697

Author(s):

Juan Mao ◽

Wenxin Li ◽

Jing Liu ◽

Jianming Li

Keyword(s):

Stress Responses ◽

Glycogen Synthase ◽

Plant Stress ◽

Normal Growth ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Physiological Functions ◽

Environmental Signals ◽

Plant Stress Responses ◽

Diverse Plant

The plant glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)-like kinases are highly conserved protein serine/threonine kinases that are grouped into four subfamilies. Similar to their mammalian homologs, these kinases are constitutively active under normal growth conditions but become inactivated in response to diverse developmental and environmental signals. Since their initial discoveries in the early 1990s, many biochemical and genetic studies were performed to investigate their physiological functions in various plant species. These studies have demonstrated that the plant GSK3-like kinases are multifunctional kinases involved not only in a wide variety of plant growth and developmental processes but also in diverse plant stress responses. Here we summarize our current understanding of the versatile physiological functions of the plant GSK3-like kinases along with their confirmed and potential substrates.

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OsNAC45 is Involved in ABA Response and Salt Tolerance in Rice

Rice ◽

10.1186/s12284-020-00440-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiang Zhang ◽

Yan Long ◽

Jingjing Huang ◽

Jixing Xia

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factors ◽

Salt Stress ◽

Salt Tolerance ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Plant Stress ◽

Root Cells ◽

Nac Transcription Factors ◽

Rice Plants ◽

Plant Stress Responses

Abstract Background Salt stress threatens crop yields all over the world. Many NAC transcription factors have been reported to be involved in different abiotic stress responses, but it remains unclear how loss of these transcription factors alters the transcriptomes of plants. Previous reports have demonstrated that overexpression of OsNAC45 enhances salt and drought tolerance in rice, and that OsNAC45 may regulate the expression of two specific genes, OsPM1 and OsLEA3–1. Results Here, we found that ABA repressed, and NaCl promoted, the expression of OsNAC45 in roots. Immunostaining showed that OsNAC45 was localized in all root cells and was mainly expressed in the stele. Loss of OsNAC45 decreased the sensitivity of rice plants to ABA and over-expressing this gene had the opposite effect, which demonstrated that OsNAC45 played an important role during ABA signal responses. Knockout of OsNAC45 also resulted in more ROS accumulation in roots and increased sensitivity of rice to salt stress. Transcriptome sequencing assay found that thousands of genes were differently expressed in OsNAC45-knockout plants. Most of the down-regulated genes participated in plant stress responses. Quantitative real time RT-PCR suggested that seven genes may be regulated by OsNAC45 including OsCYP89G1, OsDREB1F, OsEREBP2, OsERF104, OsPM1, OsSAMDC2, and OsSIK1. Conclusions These results indicate that OsNAC45 plays vital roles in ABA signal responses and salt tolerance in rice. Further characterization of this gene may help us understand ABA signal pathway and breed rice plants that are more tolerant to salt stress.

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Oxidative Stress-Induced Alteration of Plant Central Metabolism

Life ◽

10.3390/life11040304 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 304

Author(s):

Tatyana Savchenko ◽

Konstantin Tikhonov

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽

Strong Dependence ◽

Plant Stress ◽

Metabolite Profile ◽

Agricultural Practice ◽

Central Metabolism ◽

Metabolic Markers ◽

Sugar Derivatives

Oxidative stress is an integral component of various stress conditions in plants, and this fact largely determines the substantial overlap in physiological and molecular responses to biotic and abiotic environmental challenges. In this review, we discuss the alterations in central metabolism occurring in plants experiencing oxidative stress. To focus on the changes in metabolite profile associated with oxidative stress per se, we primarily analyzed the information generated in the studies based on the exogenous application of agents, inducing oxidative stress, and the analysis of mutants displaying altered oxidative stress response. Despite of the significant variation in oxidative stress responses among different plant species and tissues, the dynamic and transient character of stress-induced changes in metabolites, and the strong dependence of metabolic responses on the intensity of stress, specific characteristic changes in sugars, sugar derivatives, tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites, and amino acids, associated with adaptation to oxidative stress have been detected. The presented analysis of the available data demonstrates the oxidative stress-induced redistribution of metabolic fluxes targeted at the enhancement of plant stress tolerance through the prevention of ROS accumulation, maintenance of the biosynthesis of indispensable metabolites, and production of protective compounds. This analysis provides a theoretical basis for the selection/generation of plants with improved tolerance to oxidative stress and the development of metabolic markers applicable in research and routine agricultural practice.

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