Modulation of GmFAD3 expression alters abiotic stress responses in soybean

Abstract

Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) are a class of enzymes that mediate desaturation of fatty acids by introducing double bonds. They play an important role in modulating membrane uidity in response to various abiotic stresses. However, a comprehensive analysis of FAD3 in drought and salinity stress tolerance in soybean is lacking. We used Bean Pod Mottle Virus (BPMV)-based vector for achieving rapid and e cient overexpression as well as silencing of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase gene from Glycine max (GmFAD3) to assess the functional role of FAD3 in abiotic stress responses in soybean. Higher levels of recombinant BPMV-GmFAD3A transcripts were detected in overexpressing soybean plants. Overexpression of GmFAD3A in soybean resulted in increased levels of jasmonic acid and higher expression of GmWRKY54 as compared to mock-inoculated, vector-infected and FAD3-silenced soybean plants under drought and salinity stress conditions. FAD3A overexpressing plants showed higher levels of chlorophyll content, e cient photosystem-II, relative water content, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, proline content and also cooler canopy under drought and salinity stress conditions as compared to mock-inoculated, vector-infected and FAD3-silenced soybean plants. Results from the current study revealed that GmFAD3A overexpressing soybean plants exhibited tolerance to drought and salinity stresses. However, soybean plants silenced for GmFAD3 were vulnerable to drought and salinity stresses. Key MessageThis study focused on enhancing resilience of soybean crops to drought and salinity stresses by overexpression of GmFAD3A gene, which play an important role in modulating membrane uidity and ultimately in uence plants response to various abiotic stresses.

Integrative System Biology Analysis of Transcriptomic Responses to Drought Stress in Soybean (Glycine max L.)

“…Fatty acids are critical components of the cell membrane and are affected by environmental stresses. However, fatty acid desaturases (FADs) are a class of enzymes that mediate desaturation of fatty acids by introducing double bonds, helping the cell membrane to retain its function under stress by producing unsaturated fatty acids [ 89 , 90 , 91 ]. They play a significant role in modulating membrane fluidity in response to various abiotic stresses.…”

“…Further investigation revealed that plants with overexpression of FADs showed higher chlorophyll content, photosystem II efficiency, relative water content, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and proline content, as well as a cooler canopy under drought and salinity stress conditions. However, FAD -silenced soybean plants were more sensitive to drought and salinity stresses [ 90 ].…”

Modification of Fatty Acid Profile and Oil Contents Using Gene Editing in Oilseed Crops for a Changing Climate

“…The increased expression of GmWRK54 enhanced abiotic stress tolerance due to over accumulation of osmoprotectants and better cooling canopy. 53 GmWRK54 was also shown to induce stress tolerance by activation of abscisic acid and Ca + pathways. 58 …”

Unfolding molecular switches for salt stress resilience in soybean: recent advances and prospects for salt-tolerant smart plant production

“…Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) cause the desaturation of fatty acids by introducing double bonds and modulates membrane fluidity in response to abiotic stresses. Similarly, the overexpression of the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase in soybean showed higher accumulation of JA levels, chlorophyll content, RWC, proline content and higher expression of GmWRKY54 as compared to GmFAD3 -silenced plants and exhibited drought and salt tolerance ( Singh et al., 2022 ). Similarly, overexpression of GmNAC109 , a homologous of AtAF1 in Arabidopsis, enhanced the drought and salt tolerance.…”