Overexpression of BplERD15 Enhances Drought Tolerance in Betula platyphylla Suk.

Abstract

In this study, we report the cloning and functional characterization of an early responsive gene, BplERD15, from Betula platyphylla Suk to dehydration. BplERD15 is located in the same branch as Morus indica Linnaeus ERD15 and Arabidopsis Heynh ERD15 in the phylogenetic tree built with ERD family protein sequences. The tissue-specific expression patterns of BplERD15 were characterized using qRT-PCR and the results showed that the transcript levels of BplERD15 in six tissues were ranked from the highest to the lowest levels as the following: mature leaves (ML) > young leaves (YL) > roots (R) > buds (B) > young stems (YS) > mature stems (MS). Multiple drought experiments were simulated by adding various osmotica including polyethylene glycol, mannitol, and NaCl to the growth media to decrease their water potentials, and the results showed that the expression of BplERD15 could be induced to 12, 9, and 10 folds, respectively, within a 48 h period. However, the expression level of BplERD15 was inhibited by the plant hormone abscisic acid in the early response and then restored to the level of control. The BplERD15 overexpression (OE) transgenic birch lines were developed and they did not exhibit any phenotypic anomalies and growth deficiency under normal condition. Under drought condition, BplERD15-OE1, 3, and 4 all displayed some drought tolerant characteristics and survived from the drought while the wild type (WT) plants withered and then died. Analysis showed that all BplERD15-OE lines had significant lower electrolyte leakage levels as compared to WT. Our study suggests that BplERD15 is a drought-responsive gene that can reduce mortality under stress condition.

Full length transcriptome sequencing and differential expression gene analysis of Hybrid Larch under PEG simulated drought stress

“…Under drought stress, plants will produce a series of protective mechanisms to maintain survival, such as changing root and leaf morphology [6] [7] , changing metabolites [8] , regulating drought resistance gene expression [9] . In broad-leaved tree species and crops, the research on response to drought stress is relatively su cient, such as birch [10] , poplar [11] , soybean [12] , corn [13] , etc.However, few relevant studies involve larch. So it is necessary to study the drought resistance mechanism of hybrid larch.…”

A R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor Gene, BpMYB123, Regulates BpLEA14 to Improve Drought Tolerance in Betula platyphylla

“…To measure the physiological changes, the plants under drought treatment for seven days were harvested for measuring the activities of SOD and POD, the contents of H 2 O 2 , superoxide radicals (O 2 − ), MDA and electrolyte leakage (EL). MDA, SOD and POD were measured following the methods as described previously (Wang et al, 2010), while EL was measured as described in our early publication (Lv et al, 2020b). H 2 O 2 and O 2 − were measured using the kit (Hydrogen peroxide content kit, H2O2-2-Y, Superoxide anion kit, SA-2-G, Suzhou Comin Biotechnology).…”

Abiotic stresses induced physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes in <i>Betula platyphylla</i>: a review

“…It was assumed that the BpUVR8 enhances the susceptibility to ABA, demonstrating ABA regulates BpUVR8 and can inhibit the germination of seed ). The early response to dehydration 15 gene (BplERD15) expression that was induced by drought, salt, and osmotic stress, was also inhibited under ABA treatment in B. platyphylla transgenic lines (Lv et al 2020b).…”

“…Li et al (2020a) found that BpARF1 RNAi lines reduce the EL and water loss, while BpARF1 OE lines showed the opposite physiological changes under drought stress. Meanwhile, the BplERD15 OE line showed a lower EL rate under drought stress, suggesting that BplERD15 is an abiotic stress-responsive gene that can reduce cell death under drought stress conditions (Lv et al 2020b). Under cold stress, Lv et al (2019) revealed that BpERF13 OE lines showed a higher EL rate compared to WT plants under cold stress.…”