A group VIIIa ethylene-responsive factor, CmERF4, negatively regulates waterlogging tolerance in chrysanthemum
Author:
Li Chuanwei1,
Wang Likai1,
Su Jiangshuo1,
Li Wenjie1,
Tang Yun1,
Zhao Nan1,
Lou La1,
Ou Xiaoli1,
Jia Diwen1,
Jiang Jiafu1ORCID,
Chen Sumei1ORCID,
Chen Fadi1ORCID
Affiliation:
1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Landscaping, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Biology of Ornamental Plants in East China, National Forestry and Grassland Administration. College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University , 210095, Nanjing , China
Abstract
Abstract
Ethylene-responsive factors (ERF) play an important role in plant responses to waterlogging stress. However, the function and mechanism of action of ERFVIII in response to waterlogging stress remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that expression of the ERF VIIIa gene CmERF4 in chrysanthemum was induced by waterlogging stress. CmERF4 localized to the nucleus when expressed in tobacco leaves. Yeast two-hybrid and luciferase assays showed that CmERF4 is a transcriptional inhibitor. CmERF4 overexpression in chrysanthemum reduced plant waterlogging tolerance, whereas overexpression of the chimeric activator CmERF4-VP64 reversed its transcriptional activity, promoting higher waterlogging tolerance than that observed in wild-type plants, indicating that CmERF4 negatively regulates waterlogging tolerance. Transcriptome profiling showed that energy metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway-associated genes were differentially expressed between CmERF4-VP64 and wild-type plants. RT–qPCR analysis of selected energy metabolism and reactive oxygen species-related genes showed that the gene expression patterns were consistent with the expression levels obtained from RNA-seq analysis. Overall, we identified new functions of CmERF4 in negatively regulating chrysanthemum waterlogging tolerance by modulating energy metabolism and ROS pathway genes.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
Project of Seed Industry Revitalization in Jiangsu Province
China Agriculture Research System
Jiangsu Agricultural Industry Technology System, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Plant Science,Physiology
Reference74 articles.
1. Effect of aeration on rice alcohol dehydrogenase;App;Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics,1958
2. Aeration in higher plants;Armstrong,1980
3. Screening potato cultivars and wild species to abiotic stresses using an electrolyte leakage bioassay;Arvin;Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology,2008
4. Making sense of low oxygen sensing;Bailey-Serres;Trends in Plant Science,2012
5. Expression and activity of isoenzymes of superoxide dismutase in wheat roots in response to hypoxia and anoxia;Biemelt;Plant, Cell & Environment,2000