Abstract
Strigolactone (SL) is a new plant hormone, which not only plays an important role in stimulating seed germination, plant branching, and regulating root development, but also plays an important role in the response of plants to abiotic stresses. In this study, the full-length cDNA of a soybean SL signal transduction gene (GmMAX2a) was isolated, cloned and revealed an important role in abiotic stress responses. Tissue-specific expression analysis by qRT-PCR indicated that GmMAX2a was expressed in all tissues of soybean, but highest expression was detected in seedling stems. Moreover, upregulation of GmMAX2a transcript expression under salt, alkali, and drought conditions were noted at different time points in soybean leaves compared to roots. Additionally, histochemical GUS staining studies revealed the deep staining in PGmMAX2a: GUS transgenic lines compared to WT indicating active involvement of GmMAX2a promoter region to stress responses. To further investigate the function of GmMAX2a gene in transgenic Arabidopsis, Petri-plate experiments were performed and GmMAX2a OX lines appeared with longer roots and improved fresh biomass compared to WT plants to NaCl, NaHCO3, and mannitol supplementation. Furthermore, the expression of several stress-related genes such as RD29B, SOS1, NXH1, AtRD22, KIN1, COR15A, RD29A, COR47, H+-APase, NADP-ME, NCED3, and P5CS were significantly high in GmMAX2a OX plants after stress treatment compared to WT plants. In conclusion, GmMAX2a improves soybean tolerance towards abiotic stresses (salt, alkali, and drought). Hence, GmMAX2a can be considered a candidate gene for transgenic breeding against various abiotic stresses in plants.
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Data availability
The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding authors on reasonable request.
Change history
12 July 2023
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-023-01171-4
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The authors would like to thank Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R118), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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This work was supported by the Natural and Science Foundation of China (grant number 32001454), Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (grant number LH2020C068) and Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R118), King Saud University.
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Z.UN, C. C, and Y.W: experimentation and research design; L.J, C.C, and X.J: supervision and statistical analysis; ZN; NA, and X.Z: research design, writing and drafting, L.Y and H.O E: review manuscript
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Nisa, Zu., Wang, Y., Ali, N. et al. Strigolactone signaling gene from soybean GmMAX2a enhances the drought and salt-alkaline resistance in Arabidopsis via regulating transcriptional profiles of stress-related genes. Funct Integr Genomics 23, 216 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-023-01151-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-023-01151-8