APPLE SUMO E3 LIGASE MDSIZ1 NEGATIVELY REGULATES DROUGHT TOLERANCE

•MdSIZ1 RNAi transgenic apple trees are drought tolerance than wild type—GL-3.•MdSIZ1 RNAi plants get enhanced ability to keep water and scavenge ROS under drought conditions.•MdSIZ1 may participate in apple drought tolerance by affecting ABA biosynthesis.Drought stress typically causes heavy losses in apple production and uncovering the mechanisms by which apple tolerates drought stress is important in apple breeding. MdSIZ1 is a SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) E3 ligase that promotes SUMO binding to substrate proteins. Here, we demonstrate that MdSIZ1 in apple has a negative relationship with drought tolerance. MdSIZ1 RNAi transgenic apple trees had a higher survival rate after drought stress. During drought stress they had higher leaf water potential, reduced ion leakage, lower H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde contents, and higher catalase activity. In addition, MdSIZ1 RNAi transgenic plants had a higher net photosynthetic rate during the latter period of drought stress. Finally, the transgenic apple trees also altered expression levels of some microRNAs in response to drought stress. Taken together, these results indicate that apple MdSIZ1 negatively regulates drought stress by enhancing leaf water-holding capacity and antioxidant enzyme activity.     

Evaluation of drought tolerance in ZmVPP1-overexpressing transgenic inbred maize lines and their hybrids

The vacuolar proton-pumping pyrophosphatase gene(VPP) is often used to enhance plant drought tolerance via genetic engineering. In this study, the drought tolerance of four transgenic inbred maize lines overexpressing ZmVPP1(PH4 CV-T, PH6 WC-T, Chang7-2-T, and Zheng58-T) and their transgenic hybrids was evaluated at various stages. Under normal and drought conditions, the height and fresh weight were greater for the four transgenic inbred maize lines than for the wild-type(WT) controls at the germination and seedling stages. Additionally, the transgenic plants exhibited enhanced photosynthetic efficiency at the seedling stage. In irrigated and non-irrigated fields, the four transgenic lines grew normally, but with increased ear weight and yield compared with the WT plants. Moreover, the ear weight and yield of the transgenic hybrids resulting from the PH4 CV-T×PH6 WC-W and Chang7-2-T×Zheng58-W crosses increased in the non-irrigated field. Our results demonstrated that the growth and drought tolerance of four transgenic inbred maize lines with improved photosynthesis were enhanced by the overexpression of ZmVPP1. Moreover, the Chang7-2 and PH4 CV transgenic lines may be useful for future genetic improvements of maize hybrids to increase drought tolerance.     

Overexpression of the Suaeda salsa SsNHX1 gene confers enhanced salt and drought tolerance to transgenic Zea mays

Maize is one of the most important crops worldwide, but it suffers from salt stress when grown in saline-alkaline soil. There is therefore an urgent need to improve maize salt tolerance and crop yield. In this study, the SsNHX1 gene of Suaeda salsa, which encodes a vacuolar membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter, was transformed into the maize inbred line 18-599 by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic maize plants overexpressing the SsNHX1 gene showed less growth retardation when treated with an increasing NaCl gradient of up to 1%, indicating enhanced salt tolerance. The improved salt tolerance of transgenic plants was also demonstrated by a significantly elevated seed germination rate (79%) and a reduction in seminal root length inhibition. Moreover, transgenic plants under salt stress exhibited less physiological damage. SsNHX1-overexpressing transgenic maize accumulated more Na⁺ and K⁺ than wild-type (WT) plants particularly in the leaves, resulting in a higher ratio of K⁺/Na⁺ in the leaves under salt stress. This result revealed that the improved salt tolerance of SsNHX1-overexpressing transgenic maize plants was likely attributed to SsNHX1-mediated localization of Na⁺ to vacuoles and subsequent maintenance of the cytosolic ionic balance. In addition, SsNHX1 overexpression also improved the drought tolerance of the transgenic maize plants, as rehydrated transgenic plants were restored to normal growth while WT plants did not grow normally after dehydration treatment. Therefore, based on our engineering approach, SsNHX1 represents a promising candidate gene for improving the salt and drought tolerance of maize and other crops.     

Influence of drought hardening on the resistance physiology of potato seedlings under drought stress

In this paper, the influence of drought hardening on the growth, development, resistance physiology, leaf microstructure and stomatal behavior of potato seedlings under drought stress was studied, and the mechanism of drought hardening improvement of potato seedling drought resistance was elucidated. We found that drought stress had several adverse effects on potato seedlings, yet drought hardening alleviated the decrease in relative water content (RWC), net photosynthetic rate (P_n) and chlorophyll content and inhibited the increase in relative electric conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Compared with contrast seedlings, drought-hardened seedlings also had enhanced root vigor, increased antioxidant enzyme activity and higher levels of abscisic acid (ABA), proline (Pro), soluble sugars and polyamines (PAs) under drought stress. In addition, the stomatal density of potato seedling leaves increased significantly, while the leaf area, stomatal size and stomatal aperture decreased with drought hardening treatment. These changes led to reduced leaf transpiration rate (T_r) and improved water utilization efficiency (WUE). The changes in leaf microstructure also had a positive effect on the drought resistance of the drought-hardened potato seedlings. So it can be concluded that through increasing the content of some endogenous hormones, osmotic regulatory substances and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, the resistance physiology of drought-hardened potato seedlings was enhanced.     

Shoot and root traits in drought tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids

This study aimed to investigate the differences in shoot and root traits, and water use and water use efficiency (WUE) in drought tolerant (DT) maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids under full and deficit irrigated conditions. A two-year greenhouse study was conducted with four hybrids (one conventional hybrid, 33D53AM, two commercial DT hybrids, P1151AM, N75H, and an experimental hybrid, ExpHB) grown under two water regimes (I₁₀₀ and I₅₀, referring to 100 and 50% of evapotranspiration requirements). Under water stress, the hybids P1151AM, N75, and ExpHB showed more drought tolerance and had either greater shoot dry weight or less dry weight reduction than the conventional hybrid (33D53AM). However, these three hybrids responded to water stress using different mechanisms. Compared with the conventional hybrid, the two commercial DT hybrids (P1151AM and N75H) had a smaller leaf area, shoot dry weight, and root system per plant. As a result, these hybrids used less water but had a higher WUE compared with the conventional hybrid. In contrast, the experimental hybrid (ExpHB) produced more shoot biomass by silking stage at both irrigation levels than all other hybrids, but it had relatively lower WUE. The hybrids demonstrated different drought response mechanisms that may require different irrigation management strategies. More investigation and validation are needed under field conditions and in different soil types.     

外源壳聚糖对苹果幼苗生长及抗旱性的影响

采用盆栽控水的方法研究了干旱条件下壳聚糖（chitosan）对苹果幼苗生长及抗旱性的影响。结果表明在中度干旱条件下,叶面喷施壳聚糖能提高叶绿素含量和光合速率,增强碳素同化能力,促进游离氨基酸、可溶性糖和脯氨酸等有机渗透调节物质的积累,增强渗透调节能力。壳聚糖能维持或提高保护酶（SOD、CAT）活性,防止或降低细胞膜脂过氧化作用,由此维持正常代谢水平,促进植物的生长,提高抗旱性。壳聚糖对苹果幼苗生长及抗旱性的效应与浓度有关,一定浓度范围内,随壳聚糖浓度增加其效应增强,适宜浓度为 100 mg·L-1,再增加浓度其作用效果不再增大。     

摩素淳对苹果幼苗生长及抗旱性的影响

采用盆栽控水的方法研究了干旱条件下叶面喷施摩素淳对苹果幼苗生长和抗旱性的影响。结果表明,在正常和干旱条件下,摩素淳均能促进苹果幼苗的生长,且干旱条件下的促进效果较为显著。正常和干旱条件下摩素淳能明显提高光合速率和水分利用效率,促进有机物质的积累。在干旱条件下摩素淳能增加游离氨基酸、可溶性糖和脯氨酸3种有机渗透调节物质的含量,维持或提高SOD和CAT活性,降低膜相对透性和MDA含量,防止或降低了膜脂过氧化作用对膜的伤害。这说明,干旱条件下摩素淳能提高苹果树苗的渗透调节能力,恢复或维持正常代谢水平,提高植物的抗旱性。     

Over-Expression of ScMnSOD,a SOD Gene Derived from Jojoba,Improve Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is mainly distributed in desert, and the molecular mechanisms of jojoba in response to abiotic stress still remain elusive. In this paper, we cloned and characterized a SOD gene from jojoba named as ScMnSOD, and introduced into Arabidopsis to investigate its functions of responding to drought stress. The transgenic Arabidopsis showed an improvement in drought tolerance. Moreover, under a water deficit condition, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was remarkably decreased in the transgenic lines compared to the WT. Furthermore, the ScMnSOD promoter was cloned to the 5′-upstream of GUS coding region in a binary vector, and introduced into Arabidopsis. And results showed that ScMnSOD expression can be induced by drought, salt, ABA, and low temperature. In conclusion, ScMnSOD plays an important role in drought tolerance which is, at least partially, attributed to its role in ROS detoxification.     

外源多胺对苹果幼苗生长及抗旱性的影响

采用盆栽控水的方法研究了干旱条件下3种外源多胺(精胺、亚精胺和腐胺)对苹果树苗抗生长及抗旱性的影响。结果表明,在中度干旱条件下叶面喷施多胺能提高苹果树苗的光合速率和水分利用效率,同时促进游离氨基酸、可溶性糖和脯氨酸等有机渗透调节物质的合成与积累,增强渗透调节能力。实验结果还表明,干旱条件下保护酶活性降低,质膜透性和丙二醛(MDA)含量增高。喷施外源多胺能维持或提高保护酶(SOD、CAT)活性,降低质膜透性和丙二醛(MDA)含量,防止或降低细胞膜脂过氧化作用,由此维持正常代谢水平,促进植物的生长,提高抗旱性。3种外源多胺中精胺(Spm)的效果相对较好,但三者之间对多数抗旱性生理指标及生长的影响差异不显著。     

SlTPP4 participates in ABA-mediated salt tolerance by enhancing root architecture in tomato

Salinity tolerance is an important physiological index for crop breeding. Roots are typically the first plant tissue to withstand salt stress. In this study, we found that the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (SlTPP4) gene is induced by abscisic acid (ABA) and salt, and is mainly expressed in roots. Overexpression of SlTPP4 in tomato enhanced tolerance to salt stress, resulting in better growth performance. Under saline conditions, SlTPP4 overexpression plants demonstrated enhanced sucrose metabolism, as well as increased expression of genes related to salt tolerance. At the same time, expression of genes related to ABA biosynthesis and signal transduction was enhanced or altered, respectively. In-depth exploration demonstrated that SlTPP4 enhances Casparian band development in roots to restrict the intake of Na⁺. Our study thus clarifies the mechanism of SlTPP4-mediated salt tolerance, which will be of great importance for the breeding of salt-tolerant tomato crops.     

Overexpression of a Cytosolic Ascorbate Peroxidase Gene,OsAPX2, Increases Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Alfalfa

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage crop in the world and it is of great significance for the improvement of its salt tolerance. To improve salt tolerance in alfalfa, a rice ascorbate peroxidase gene (OsAPX2) was introduced into alfalfa using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation with marker gene bar. The different T-DNA insertions in T₁ transgenic alfalfa were identified by Southern hybridization. Three independent T₂ transgenic lines were selected for stress analysis and the results showed that all of them were salt tolerant compared with wild-type plants. The transgenic plants had low levels of H₂O₂, malondialdehyde and relative electrical conductivity under salt and drought stresses. Moreover, the contents of chlorophyll and proline, and APX activity were high in transgenic plants under salt and drought stresses. Taken together, the overexpression of OsAPX2 enhances salt tolerance in alfalfa through scavenging reactive oxygen species.     

Physiological response of four wolfberry (Lycium Linn.) species under drought stress

We studied gas-exchange, chlorophyll pigments, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, and biomass partitioning responses in seedlings of four wolfberry species (Lycium chinense Mill. var. potaninii (Pojark.) A. M. Lu, Lycium chinense Mill., Lycium barbarum L., and Lycium yunnanense Kuang & A. M. Lu) under four water supply regimes. In all four species, drought affected seedlings in terms of chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate (P_n), transpiration rate (E), and lipid peroxidation. Drought also increased some antioxidant enzyme activities, such as peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Significant changes in dry biomass partitioning also occurred in response to water stress. In particular, dry biomass of leaves and fruits decreased significantly. L. chinense Mill. and L. barbarum L. possessed greater drought tolerance and exhibited superior antioxidant processing ability and other related physiological traits compared to the other two species. L. chinense Mill. was the most tolerant to all levels of drought. In contrast, L. yunnanense Kuang & A. M. Lu was more affected by water supply and had the lowest resistance to drought stress. These findings would provide some important information regarding genetic resources for future forest tree improvement in relation to drought tolerance.     

干旱条件下AM真菌对植物生长和土壤水稳定性团聚体的影响

采用分室培养系统,模拟正常水分和干旱胁迫两种环境条件,探讨不同丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)对紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)生长和土壤水稳性团聚体的影响.试验条件下,Glomus intraradices对苜蓿根系的侵染率均显著高于Acaulospora scrobiculata和Diversispora spurcum接种处理.正常水分条件下,供试AM真菌均能显著提高植株生物量及磷浓度.干旱胁迫显著抑制了植株生长和菌根共生体发育,总体上菌根共生体对植株生长没有明显影响,接种D.spurcum甚至趋于降低植株生物量;同时,仅有G.intraradices显著提高了植株磷浓度.AM真菌主要影响到＞2mm的水稳性团聚体数量,以G.intraradices作用效果最为显著.在菌丝室中,G.intraradices显著提高了总球囊霉素含量.研究表明AM真菌对土壤大团聚体形成具有积极作用,而菌根效应因土壤水分条件和不同菌种而异,干旱胁迫下仅有G.intraradices对土壤结构和植物生长表现出显著积极作用.在应用菌根技术治理退化土壤时,需要选用抗逆性强共生效率高的菌株,对于不同AM真菌抗逆性差异的生物学与遗传学基础尚需进一步研究.     

Effects of progressive drought on photosynthesis and partitioning of absorbed light in apple trees

To understand how drought stress affects CO2 assimilation and energy partitioning in apple(Malus domestica Borkh.), we investigated photosynthesis and photo-protective mechanisms when irrigation was withheld from potted Fuji trees. As the drought progressing, soil relative water content(SRWC) decreased from 87 to 24% in 15 d; this combined the decreasing in leaf relative water content(LRWC), net photosynthesis rate(P n) and stomatal conductance(G s). However, the concentrations of chlorophylls(Chl) remained unchanged while P n values were declining. Photochemistry reactions were slightly down-regulated only under severe drought. Rubisco activity was significantly decreased as drought conditions became more severe. The actual efficiency of photosystem II(ΦPSII) was diminished as drought became more intense. Consequently, xanthophyll-regulated dissipation of thermal energy was greatly enhanced. Simultaneously, the ratio of ΦPSII to the quantum yield of carbon metabolism, which is measured under non-photorespiratory conditions, increased in parallel with drought severity. Our results indicate that, under progressive drought stress, the reduction in photosynthesis in apple leaves can be attributed primarily to stomatal limitations and the inhibited capacity for CO2 fixation. Xanthophyll cycle-dependent thermal dissipation and the Mehler reaction are the most important pathways for dispersing excess energy from apple leaves during periods of drought stress.