Abstract
Cotton is a paramount cash crop around the globe. Among all abiotic stresses, drought is a leading cause of cotton growth and yield loss. However, the molecular link between drought stress and vascular growth and development is relatively uncharted. Here, we validated a crucial role of GhWOX4, a transcription factor, modulating drought stress with that of vasculature growth in cotton. Knock-down of GhWOX4 decreased the stem width and severely compromised vascular growth and drought tolerance. Conversely, ectopic expression of GhWOX4 in Arabidopsis enhanced the tolerance to drought stress. Comparative RNAseq analysis revealed auxin responsive protein (AUX/IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), and ethylene were significantly induced. Additionally, MYC-bHLH, WRKY, MYB, homeodomain, and heat-shock transcription factors (HSF) were differentially expressed in control plants as compared to GhWOX4-silenced plants. The promotor zone of GhWOX4 was found congested with plant growth, light, and stress response related cis-elements. differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to stress, water deprivation, and desiccation response were repressed in drought treated GhWOX4-virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) plants as compared to control. Gene ontology (GO) functions related to cell proliferation, light response, fluid transport, and flavonoid biosynthesis were over-induced in TRV: 156-0 h/TRV: 156-1 h (control) in comparison to TRV: VIGS-0 h/TRV: VIGS-1 h (GhWOX4-silenced) plants. This study improves our context for elucidating the pivotal role of GhWOX4 transcription factors (TF), which mediates drought tolerance, plays a decisive role in plant growth and development, and is likely involved in different regulatory pathways in cotton.
Highlights
Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an imperative crop around the world, which offers fiber, oil, and biofuel [1]
The promotor zone of GhWOX4 was found congested with plant growth, light, and stress response related cis-elements. differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to stress, water deprivation, and desiccation response were repressed in drought treated GhWOX4-virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) plants as compared to control
Gene ontology (GO) functions related to cell proliferation, light response, fluid transport, and flavonoid biosynthesis were over-induced in TRV:GhWOX4; * PYL_156; Control (TRV): 156-0 h/TRV: 156-1 h in comparison to TRV: VIGS-0 h/TRV: VIGS-1 h (GhWOX4-silenced) plants
Summary
Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an imperative crop around the world, which offers fiber, oil, and biofuel [1]. Due to the global climate change, drought is becoming the chief limiting factor that adversely affects cotton growth and productivity [3]. By developing drought resistant plants, cotton growth and productivity can be improved to meet the future requirements [4]. To muddle through these challenges, plants have evolved a series of mechanisms to perceive and respond to the diversified environmental effects through signaling pathways with apt physiological and biochemical modifications [5]. Different genes induce in plants that directly defend from stress, including transcription factors (TFs) that regulate gene expression and signaling pathways (phytohormones) to respond to the stress [7]. Plants produce anti-oxidant species such as peroxidases, proline, catalases, and superoxide dismutase etc. [2]
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