Transcriptomic responses to aluminum stress in tea plant leaves

Abstract

Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a well-known Al-accumulating plant, showing a high level of aluminum (Al) tolerance. However, the molecular mechanisms of Al tolerance and accumulation are poorly understood. We carried out transcriptome analysis of tea plant leaves in response to three different Al levels (0, 1, 4 mM, for 7 days). In total, 794, 829 and 585 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained in 4 mM Al vs. 1 mM Al, 0 Al vs. 1 mM Al, and 4 mM Al vs. 0 Al comparisons, respectively. Analysis of genes related to polysaccharide and cell wall metabolism, detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cellular transport, and signal transduction were involved in the Al stress response. Furthermore, the transcription factors such as zinc finger, myeloblastosis (MYB), and WRKY played a critical role in transcriptional regulation of genes associated with Al resistance in tea plant. In addition, the genes involved in phenolics biosynthesis and decomposition were overwhelmingly upregulated in the leaves treated with either 0 Al and 4 mM Al stress, indicating they may play an important role in Al tolerance. These results will further help us to understand mechanisms of Al stress and tolerance in tea plants regulated at the transcriptional level.

Comparative Inter- and IntraSpecies Transcriptomics Revealed Key Differential Pathways Associated With Aluminium Stress Tolerance in Lentil

“…Zhou et al (2016) found that MYB and WRKY TFs were involved in the regulation of ROS and flavonoid biosynthesis under Al 3+ stress conditions in alfalfa. Similarly, zinc finger, MYB, and WRKY TFs, together, played critical roles in Al 3+ stress resilience in tea (Huang et al, 2021). Li et al (2020) reported that WRKY confers Al 3+ tolerance by regulation of cell wall-modifying genes.…”

Transcriptome Dynamics of Common Bean Roots Exposed to Various Heavy Metals Reveal Valuable Target Genes and Promoters for Genetic Engineering

“…For instance, the little adverse effects of Al and very small number of genes it perturbated suggest that common bean is quite tolerable to Al and thus may be growable in broad Al-rich areas in Southern China, despite that, the edible safety still needs to be investigated. 46 The commonly and preferably regulated genes by different HMs offer a reservoir of target genes for genetic engineering toward crop yield maintenance through enhanced HM tolerance, risk reduction in crop products through limited HM uptake, and phytoremediation through creating specific HM hyperaccumulators. Nevertheless, provided only a single Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry pubs.acs.org/JAFC Article…”

Genome-wide identification of PME gene family and expression of candidate genes associated with aluminum tolerance in tea plant (Camellia sinensis)

“…The plug seedlings were rinsed thoroughly with pure water, and then transplanted in incubators (245 mm × 170 mm × 75 mm) containing 3 kg of sterilized sand. Plants (six per pot, three pots per treatment) were irrigated with nutrient solutions (pH 5.0, 400 mL per pot), with three different levels (0, 1, and 4 mM) according to the previous study [16]. The plants were cultivated in a phytotron with day/night of 12/12 h, photon flux density of 300-400 μmol m 2 s − 1 , and relative humidity of 70%; temperature was maintained at 24 °C.…”

“…There are reports that PMEs play significant roles in Al tolerance in tea plant via involvement in the cell wall development [15,16]. However, the comprehensive analysis of PME genes at the whole genome level does not appear to have been reported.…”