Overexpression ofPpGL2fromPrunus persicaenhanced soybean drought tolerance

Abstract

AbstractThe HD-ZIP transcription factor family plays crucial roles in plant growth and abiotic stress responses. While its diverse functions and regulatory mechanisms are well-documented, its role in conferring abiotic stress tolerance in peaches remains largely unexplored. Here, we report the bioinformatics profile of PpGL2, a member of the HD-ZIP transcription factor family, and its integration into the soybean genome to assess its potential impact on drought tolerance. Localization studies in onion cells revealed nuclear localization of PpGL2-GFP fusion protein, while yeast hybridization experiments demonstrated its transactivation and DNA binding abilities.PpGL2overexpression under drought conditions led to reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde compared to wild-type, decreased water loss rate, and increased chlorophyll content and relative water content. Additionally,PpGL2overexpression promoted plant height and root length under drought stress, accompanied by altered transcription levels of stress-related genes across different plant genotypes. Furthermore,PpGL2overexpression enhanced oxidative tolerance. Therefore, our findings suggest thatPpGL2overexpression holds promise for enhancing soybean drought resistance, offering a novel approach to improving soybean drought resistance.