Overexpression of a NF-YC Gene Results in Enhanced Drought and Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Seashore Paspalum

Abstract

Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum O. Swartz) is an important warm-season turfgrass species. In this study we generated transgenic seashore paspalum overexpressing CdtNF-YC1, a nuclear factor Y transcription factor from hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis). DNA blot hybridization and qRT-PCR analysis showed that CdtNF-YC1 was integrated into the genomes of transgenic seashore paspalum plants and expressed. Reduced relative water content (RWC) and survival rate and increased ion leakage were observed in both wild type (WT) and transgenic plants after drought stress, while transgenic plants had higher levels of RWC and survival rate and lower ion leakage than the WT. Maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll concentration and survival rate were decreased after salt stress, while higher levels were maintained in transgenic plants than in WT. In addition, an increased Na+ content and decreased or unaltered K+ in leaves and roots were observed after salt treatment, while lower level of Na+ and higher levels of K+ and K+/ Na+ ratio were maintained in transgenic plants than in WT. The results indicated that overexpressing CdtNF-YC1 resulted in enhanced drought and salt tolerance in transgenic plants. Transcript levels of stress responsive genes including PvLEA3, PvP5CS1, PvABI2, and PvDREB1B were induced in response to drought and salt stress, and higher levels were observed in transgenic seashore paspalum than in WT. The results suggest that the enhanced drought and salt tolerance in transgenic seashore paspalum is associated with induction of a series of stress responsive genes as a result of overexpression of CdtNF-YC1.

In Silico Identification and Expression Analysis of Nuclear Factor Y (Nf-Y) Transcription Factors in Cucumber

“…In a previous study, Picea wilsonii PwNF-YB3 transcript was induced by salinity and PEG treatments, and overexpression of PwNF-YB3 resulted in enhanced drought and salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants [47]. Similarly, bermudagrass CdtNF-YC1 was up-regulated under salt, drought, and ABA stresses, and its overexpression conferred tolerance to drought and salt stress in transgenic rice and seashore paspalum plants [48,49]. Therefore, the four CsaNF-Y genes (CsaNF-YA5, CsaNF-YA6, CsaNF-YB4, and CsaNF-YC7) may have the potential roles in the resistance to drought and salt stress.…”

Transcriptome‐wide isolation and expression of NF‐Y gene family in male cone development and hormonal treatment of Pinus tabuliformis

“…NF‐Y genes are not only involved in flowering time and early seedling development but also play multiple roles in stress responses and hormone signaling (Petroni et al 2013). The AtNF‐YC (3/4/9) (Hwang et al 2019), and CdtNF‐YC1 ( Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis : Wu et al 2018), SlNF‐YA‐L1 ( Solanum pimpinellifolium : Filichkin et al 2018) and ZmNF‐YA3 ( Zea mays : Su et al 2018) can enhance drought tolerance. Over‐expressing AtNF‐YA2 or AtNF‐YC1 displayed enhanced tolerance against freezing stress (Shi et al 2014, Gyula et al 2018).…”

“…In addition to plant growth and development, NF‐Y participates in stress response and hormone signaling. Studies on NF‐Y have focused mainly on drought resistance (Zhang et al 2011, Wu et al 2018, Sato et al 2019), ABA response (Leyva‐Gonzalez et al 2012, Liu et al 2016, Sato et al 2019), salt stress (Filichkin et al 2018, Wu et al 2018), and to a lesser extent temperature (Gyula et al 2018) and photoprotection (Su et al 2018, Tokutsu et al 2019). In brief, as an important transcription factor in response to drought stress, NF‐Y is mainly regulated by miR169, ABA crossing signal and photosynthesis.…”

Transcriptome-wide isolation and expression profiles of NF-Y gene family in male cone development and hormone treatment of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis)

“…In addition to plant growth and development, NF-Y participates in stress response and hormone signaling. According to the reports, we find studies on NF-Y mainly focus on drought resistance 4 [22][23][24], ABA response [18,22,25] and salt stress [23,26], a small part involving temperature [27], photoprotective [28,29]. In brief, as an important transcription factor in response to drought stress, NF-Y is mainly regulated by miR169, ABA crossing signal and photosynthesis.…”

“…Moreover, it provides a good direction whether NF-YC1/4 can regulate flowering time by gibberellin pathway in conifers to be tested.NF-Y genes are not only involved in flowering time, early seedling development but also have roles in stress responses and hormone signaling[54]. The AtNF-YC (3/4/9)[55], and CdtNF-YC1 (Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis)[23], SlNF-YA-L1(Solanum pimpinellifolium)[26] and ZmNF-YA3…”