Affiliation:
1. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creationin Western China (Chongqing) Science City, School of Life Sciences Southwest University Chongqing 400715 China
2. Key Laboratory of Eco‐environments of Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences Southwest University Chongqing 400715 China
3. Maize Research Institute Southwest University Chongqing 400715 China
4. Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education Chongqing 400715 China
Abstract
Summary
Drought stress is one of the major limiting factors for the growth and development of perennial trees. Xylem vessels act as the center of water conduction in woody species, but the underlying mechanism of its development and morphogenesis under water‐deficient conditions remains elucidation.
Here, we identified and characterized an osmotic stress‐induced ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 15 (PtoERF15) and its target, PtoMYC2b, which was involved in mediating vessel size, density, and cell wall thickness in response to drought in Populus tomentosa.
PtoERF15 is preferentially expressed in differentiating xylem of poplar stems. Overexpression of PtoERF15 contributed to stem water potential maintaining, thus promoting drought tolerance. RNA‐Seq and biochemical analysis further revealed that PtoERF15 directly regulated PtoMYC2b, encoding a switch of JA signaling pathway. Additionally, our findings verify that three sets of homologous genes from NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) gene family: PtoSND1‐A1/A2, PtoVND7‐1/7‐2, and PtoNAC118/120, as the targets of PtoMYC2b, are involved in the regulation of vessel morphology in poplar.
Collectively, our study provides molecular evidence for the involvement of the PtoERF15‐PtoMYC2b transcription cascade in maintaining stem water potential through the regulation of xylem vessel development, ultimately improving drought tolerance in poplar.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
National Basic Research Program of China
Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Cited by
4 articles.
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