PuC3H35 confers drought tolerance by enhancing lignin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in the roots of Populus ussuriensis

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2021 papers

Abstract

Since the roots are the very organ where plants first sense and respond drought stress, it is of great importance to better understand root responses to drought. Yet the underlying molecular mechanisms governing root responses to drought stress have been poorly understood. Here, we identified and functionally characterized a CCCH type transcription factor, PuC3H35, and its targets, anthocyanin reductase (PuANR) and early Arabidopsis aluminum induced1 (PuEARLI1), which are involved in mediating proanthocyanidin (PA) and lignin biosynthesis in response to drought stress in Populus ussuriensis root. PuC3H35 was root-specifically induced upon drought stress. Overexpressing PuC3H35 promoted PA and lignin biosynthesis and vascular tissue development, resulting in enhanced tolerance to drought stress by the means of anti-oxidation and mechanical supporting. We further demonstrated that PuC3H35 directly bound to the promoters of PuANR and PuEARLI1 and overexpressing PuANR or PuEARLI1 increased root PA or lignin levels, respectively, under drought stress. Taken together, these results revealed a novel regulatory pathway for drought tolerance, in which PuC3H35 mediated PA and lignin biosynthesis by collaboratively regulating 'PuC3H35-PuANR-PA' and 'PuC3H35-PuEARLI1-PuCCRs-lignin' modules in poplar roots.

Related Papers

• → Phytobiome and Transcriptional Adaptation ofPopulus deltoidesto Acute Progressive Drought and Cyclic Drought(2018)27 cited
• Analysis of AsEXP1 gene related to drought tolerance in creeping bentgrass.(2010)
• Drought Tolerance Identification of Ordinary Maize Inbred Lines under Drought Stress in Xinjiang(2012)
• Advances in the studies of function genes for drought tolerance(2004)
• Physiological Characteristics of Drought-Sensitive and Drought-Insensitive Rice Maintainers at Florescence under Drought Stress(2010)