Affiliation:
1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
2. College of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
3. Engineering and Technology Research Center of Shaoguan Horticulture in Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China
Abstract
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an important aromatic plant with high edibility and economic value, widely distributed in many regions of the tropics including the south of China. In recent years, environmental problems, especially soil salinization, have seriously restricted the planting and spread of sweet basil. However, the molecular mechanism of the salt stress response in sweet basil is still largely unknown. In this study, seed germination, seedling growth, and chlorophyll synthesis in sweet basil were inhibited under salt stress conditions. Through comparative transcriptome analysis, the gene modules involved in the metabolic processes, oxidative response, phytohormone signaling, cytoskeleton, and photosynthesis were screened out. In addition, the landscape of transcription factors during salt treatment in sweet basil was displayed as well. Moreover, the overexpression of the WRKY transcription factor-encoding gene, ObWRKY16, and the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase-encoding gene, ObPAL2, enhanced the seed germination, seedling growth, and survival rate, respectively, of transgenic Arabidopsis, suggesting that they might be important candidates for the creation of salt-tolerant sweet basil cultivars. Our data enrich the study on salt responses in sweet basil and provide essential gene resources for genetic improvements in sweet basil in the future.
Funder
Start-up fund of Shaoguan University
Research project of Shaoguan University
Construction Project of the Shaoguan Social Development and Collaborative Innovation of Science and Technology System
Natural Science Project of Shaoguan University