Rice OsERF71-mediated root modification affects shoot drought tolerance

Abstract

Drought is the most serious problem that impedes crop development and productivity worldwide. Although several studies have documented the root architecture adaption for drought tolerance, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our latest study demonstrated that overexpression of the OsERF71 in rice roots under drought conditions modifies root structure including larger aerenchyma and radial root growth, and thereby, protects the rice plants from drought stresses. The OsERF71-mediated root modifications are caused by combinatory overexpression of general stress-inducible, cell wallassociated and lignin biosynthesis genes that contribute to drought tolerance. Here we addressed that the OsERF71-mediated root modifications alter physiological capacity in shoots without evidence of developmental changes for drought tolerance. Thus, the OsERF71-mediated root modifications provide novel molecular insights into drought tolerance mechanisms.

A manipulative interplay between positive and negative regulators of phytohormones: A way forward for improving drought tolerance in plants

“…Similarly, an increase in DT in plants was obtained with overexpression of OsERF71, especially in roots (Lee et al, 2017). However, Yu et al (2017) reported that OsERF109 negatively regulated ethylene synthesis and DT in rice.…”

AP2/ERF Transcription Factor Regulatory Networks in Hormone and Abiotic Stress Responses in Arabidopsis

“…ANT (Meng et al, 2015b), ERF53 (Hsieh et al, 2013), ERF-VIIs (Papdi et al, 2015; Yao et al, 2017a), RAP2.6L (Liu et al, 2012), and RAP2.6 (Zhu et al, 2010) in Arabidopsis are induced by ABA to up-regulate DRE- and ABRE- element containing genes. Rice OsERF71 positively regulates ABA signaling to alter root architecture and confer drought tolerance (Lee et al, 2017; Li et al, 2018). The combination of abiotic stresses and ABA also led to the further activation of DREB2s and stress inducible genes (Lee et al, 2016).…”

The Pivotal Role of Ethylene in Plant Growth

“…To avoid unwanted side effects, the use of spatially or temporally regulated promoters to control ERF expression could also provide success in the field. For example, increased drought tolerance without growth penalty under normal conditions was obtained with rice plants overexpressing OsERF71 specifically in the roots [49] .…”