Expression Analyses of Soybean VOZ Transcription Factors and the Role of GmVOZ1G in Drought and Salt Stress Tolerance

Abstract

Vascular plant one-zinc-finger (VOZ) transcription factor, a plant specific one-zinc-finger-type transcriptional activator, is involved in regulating numerous biological processes such as floral induction and development, defense against pathogens, and response to multiple types of abiotic stress. Six VOZ transcription factor-encoding genes (GmVOZs) have been reported to exist in the soybean (Glycine max) genome. In spite of this, little information is currently available regarding GmVOZs. In this study, GmVOZs were cloned and characterized. GmVOZ genes encode proteins possessing transcriptional activation activity in yeast cells. GmVOZ1E, GmVOZ2B, and GmVOZ2D gene products were widely dispersed in the cytosol, while GmVOZ1G was primarily located in the nucleus. GmVOZs displayed a differential expression profile under dehydration, salt, and salicylic acid (SA) stress conditions. Among them, GmVOZ1G showed a significantly induced expression in response to all stress treatments. Overexpression of GmVOZ1G in soybean hairy roots resulted in a greater tolerance to drought and salt stress. In contrast, RNA interference (RNAi) soybean hairy roots suppressing GmVOZ1G were more sensitive to both of these stresses. Under drought treatment, soybean composite plants with an overexpression of hairy roots had higher relative water content (RWC). In response to drought and salt stress, lower malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and higher peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were observed in soybean composite seedlings with an overexpression of hairy roots. The opposite results for each physiological parameter were obtained in RNAi lines. In conclusion, GmVOZ1G positively regulates drought and salt stress tolerance in soybean hairy roots. Our results will be valuable for the functional characterization of soybean VOZ transcription factors under abiotic stress.

Characterization of Vascular plant One-Zinc finger (VOZ) in soybean (Glycine max and Glycine soja) and their expression analyses under drought condition

“…Ours is the first study to investigate the evolutionary relationships, gene duplication and selection pressure on GmVOZs and GsVOZs . Recent advancement in soybean genome sequencing made it possible to conduct present exploration [ 1 , 17 ]. This study will be helpful in laying a foundation for further work.…”

“…During salt stress, VOZ also response likewise in low temperature and water stress conditions. According to some reportsthe genes, responsible for salt stress tolerance, are being controlled directly or indirectly by VOZ1/2 [ 16 , 17 ].…”

“…thaliana based on its expression and function. Afterwards this gene family was reported in various crop plants [ 10 , 16 , 17 ]. Research on the characterization of VOZ in other crop species is still nascent.…”

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of TALE Superfamily Genes in Soybean (Glycine max L.)

“…For the saline treatment, the seedlings were removed from the pots and held with the foam floats in the 100 mM NaCl solution. For the dehydration treatment, the seedlings were removed from the pots and left in the air at room temperature (22 °C) under water-limiting conditions to impose dehydration stress [ 39 , 56 ]. Samplings were focused on the leaf, stem and root tissues (weighed about 0.1 g of the tissues) after 0, 1, 6, 12 and 24 h after the abiotic stress treatments.…”

Ion homeostasis for salinity tolerance in plants: a molecular approach

“…Very recently, Li et al (2020) found the role of GmVOZ1G in regulating responses to salt stress in soybean ( Glycine max ) roots. Overexpression of GmVOZ1G positively regulated salinity genes responsible for combating salt stress.…”