Abstract
The bZIP transcription factor (TF) act as an important regulator for the abscisic acid (ABA) mediated abiotic stresses signaling pathways in plants. Here, we reported the cloning and characterization of GhABF2, encoding for typical cotton bZIP TF. Overexpression of GhABF2 significantly improved drought and salt stress tolerance both in Arabidopsis and cotton. However, silencing of GhABF2 made transgenic cotton sensitive to PEG osmotic and salt stress. Expression of GhABF2 was induced by drought and ABA treatments but repressed by high salinity. Transcriptome analysis indicated that GhABF2 increases drought and salt tolerance by regulating genes related to ABA, drought and salt response. The proline contents, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were also significantly increased in GhABF2-overexpression cottons in comparison to wild type after drought and salt treatment. Further, an increase in fiber yield under drought and saline-alkali wetland exhibited the important role of GhABF2 in enhancing the drought and salt tolerance in transgenic lines. In conclusion, manipulation of GhABF2 by biotechnological tools could be a sustainable strategy to deploy drought and salt tolerance in cotton.
Highlights
That they may participate in the regulation of same target genes and ABA-mediated stresses response signaling pathways
All members of Group A-1 and A-2 were involved in stress signaling, and many of them were found in ABA mediated expression pattern, indicated the conserved biological function of these Transcription factors (TFs) in plants
Based on the analysis of group A-1 and A-2 bZIP TFs characteristics, two pair of degenerate oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify the possible members of cotton Group A-1 and A-2 bZIP TFs fragments (Table S1)
Summary
That they may participate in the regulation of same target genes and ABA-mediated stresses response signaling pathways. Increasing competition for arable land between food and cash crops, development of genetically engineered stress tolerant cotton genotypes for marginal land, such as the low beaches and saline-alkali land, at the eastern coast and northwest region of China could yield encouraging results. To achieve this target, cloning and characterization of key target genes those can contributes in enhancing cotton stress tolerance could be a modern prospective agricultural approach. The characterization of GhABF2 will further deepen the understanding to the regulatory mechanism underlying stress tolerance, and facilitate the rational applications for development of drought and salt tolerance cultivars
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