Abstract
WRKY transcription factors constitute a very large family of proteins in plants and participate in modulating plant biological processes, such as growth, development and stress responses. However, the exact roles of WRKY proteins are unclear, particularly in non-model plants. In this study, Gossypium hirsutum WRKY41 (GhWRKY41) was isolated and transformed into Nicotiana benthamiana. Our results showed that overexpression of GhWRKY41 enhanced the drought and salt stress tolerance of transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana. The transgenic plants exhibited lower malondialdehyde content and higher antioxidant enzyme activity, and the expression of antioxidant genes was upregulated in transgenic plants exposed to osmotic stress. A β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining assay showed that GhWRKY41 was highly expressed in the stomata when plants were exposed to osmotic stress, and plants overexpressing GhWRKY41 exhibited enhanced stomatal closure when they were exposed to osmotic stress. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that GhWRKY41 may enhance plant tolerance to stress by functioning as a positive regulator of stoma closure and by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and the expression of antioxidant genes.
Highlights
IntroductionEnvironmental stresses, drought and salt, which decrease the availability of water to the plant cell, are primary limiting factors for plant growth and development as well as crop yield and quality [1]
During their life span, plants are exposed to various biotic and abiotic stresses
A comparison of the protein sequences of GhWRKY41 and other plant WRKY proteins using DNAMAN demonstrated that GhWRKY41 shared high homology with other WRKY proteins; it was 66.11% homologous to PtWRKY12 (ACV92014.1) (Populus tomentosa), 63.09% to BgWRKY (BAG15875.1) (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza), 54.85% to GmWRKY41 (XP_003530379.1) (Glycine max) and 41.58% to AtWRKY41 (NP_192845.1) (Arabidopsis thaliana)
Summary
Environmental stresses, drought and salt, which decrease the availability of water to the plant cell, are primary limiting factors for plant growth and development as well as crop yield and quality [1]. To cope with these environmental stresses, plants have evolved intricate acclimatization strategies to avoid or tolerate cellular dehydration. Plant acclimatization responses usually involve changes to physiological and biochemical parameters. In terms of physiological changes, the stomata play a critical role in the control of water vapor flow [2]. Plants regulate the expression of genes involved in stress
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