Overexpression of a SHORT-ROOT transcriptional factor enhances the auxin mediated formation of adventitious roots and lateral roots in poplar trees

Abstract

SHORT-ROOT (SHR) defines root stem cells and maintains radial patterning, but its involvement in adventitious root (AR) formation has not been reported. In this study, we showed that PtSHR2 was transcriptionally upregulated by excision before the formation of AR and responded dynamically to auxin. PtSHR2 overexpression (SHR2BOE) in hybrid poplars resulted in an increased number of ARs with an initial delay. Despite a lower endogenous content in the stems than in wild-type plants, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content at the SHR2BOE basal stem increased rapidly after cutting and reached a higher maximum than in wild-type plants, which was accompanied by a more sustained and stronger induction of AR formation marker genes. In addition, the higher auxin content in SHR2BOE ARs resulted in more and longer lateral roots (LRs). Application of auxin abolished the early delay in the formation of AR and largely other AR phenotypes of SHR2BOE plants, whereas the polar auxin transport inhibitor N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid completely inhibited both AR and LR abnormalities. Since the enhanced rooting ability of SHR2BOE stem cuttings in hydroponics was clearly confirmed, our results suggest a novel role of poplar SHR2 as a positive regulator during the organogenesis of AR and LR by affecting local auxin homeostasis.