Chinese Cherry (Cerasus pseudocerasus Lindl.) ARF7 Participates in Root Development and Responds to Drought and Low Phosphorus

Qiandong Hou,Shuang Li,Yi Hong,Zhilang Qiu,Guang Qiao,Jiaxin Ran,Tian Tian,Xiaorong Li

doi:10.3390/horticulturae8020158

Abstract

In this paper, an auxin-responsive transcription factor, CpARF7, was isolated from the roots of Chinese cherry (Cerasus pseudocerasus Lindl. Cv. “Manao Hong”). CpARF7 is highly homologous to AtARF7 or AtARF19 in Arabidopsis, and PavARF1 or PavARF14 in sweet cherry. However, in the phenotype of transgenic tomatoes, the root morphology changed, the main root elongated, and the lateral root increased. Both drought treatment and low-phosphorus conditions can elongate the roots of transgenic tomatoes. In addition, the drought resistance and low-phosphorus tolerance of the transgenic lines are improved, and the POD, SOD, and CAT activities under drought and low-phosphorus environments are increased. There is an effect on the tomato somatotropin suppressor gene, SlIAAs, in which SlIAA1/14/19/29 are up-regulated and SlIAA2/11/12/16 are down-regulated. These results indicate that CpARF7 plays an essential regulatory role in root formation and abiotic stress response, and deepens the understanding of auxin-responsive genes in root growth and abiotic stress.

Highlights

The full-length coding sequence of CpARF7 was amplified from the cherry genome
Compared with the 23 AtARF members of Arabidopsis thaliana, CpARF7 is highly homologous to AtARF7/19; compared with the sweet cherry’s 16 PavARF members, CpARF7 is highly homologous to PavARF1/14 (Figure 1)
The auxin response factor, which is functionally divided into transcription activator and transcription repressor, has an important regulatory role in this process [32]

Summary

Introduction

The Chinese cherry (Cerasus pseudocerasus Lindl.) is a perennial fruit tree, and belongs to the Rosaceae family, which is widely distributed in the north and south of China [1]. Chinese cherries have bright colors and an excellent taste, and have been widely promoted and cultivated in recent years. In Guizhou Province (a province in southwest China), cherries are grown on a large scale as an economic fruit tree, which has brought a certain increase in local economic benefits. A cherry variety suitable for growing in Guizhou was discovered, namely the “Manao Hong” cherry. Due to its location in the plateau region, defined by poor soil and a chronic lack of sunlight, the increase in cherry production has not been significant

Methods

Results

Conclusion