Meta-analysis of the effect of the overexpression of aquaporin family genes on the drought stress response

Abstract

Aquaporin (AQP) plays an essential role in water uptake and transport in plants, especially in the response to drought stress, which suggests the use of AQP expression to regulate plant water-use efficiency. The overexpression of various AQP genes in a variety of plants has been reported, but inconsistencies in the experimental variables (such as stress type, gene donor, and recipient genus) and physiological parameters used to evaluate transgenic plants have made it difficult to elucidate the complex mechanisms by which AQPs affect drought tolerance. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to categorize the responses of physiological parameters involved in drought tolerance in AQP-overexpressing plants and to evaluate the experimental variables that affect transgenic plant performance. The results of various studies indicated that two primary physiological processes (osmotic adjustment and alleviation of oxidative damage) were significantly affected by AQP overexpression. Among the examined experimental variables, treatment media (soil), stress type (no watering), stress duration (long-term), recipient genus (Nicotiana), donor species (Musaceae), and gene family (PIP2) had positive impacts on drought tolerance in transgenic plants. These findings may help to guide future studies investigating the function of AQPs in the response of plants to water deficit stress.