Exogenous strigolactones alleviate drought stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by promoting cell wall biogenesis to optimize root architecture

Miao Song; Sumei Zhou; Naiyue Hu; Junchang Li; Yuan Huang; Jiemei Zhang; Xu Chen; Xihe Du; Jishan Niu; Xiwen Yang; Dexian He

doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108121

Exogenous strigolactones alleviate drought stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by promoting cell wall biogenesis to optimize root architecture

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2023 Nov:204:108121. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108121. Epub 2023 Oct 17.

Authors

Miao Song¹, Sumei Zhou¹, Naiyue Hu¹, Junchang Li¹, Yuan Huang¹, Jiemei Zhang¹, Xu Chen¹, Xihe Du¹, Jishan Niu¹, Xiwen Yang², Dexian He³

Affiliations

¹ Co-construction State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
² Co-construction State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China. Electronic address: yangxiwen@henau.edu.cn.
³ Co-construction State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China. Electronic address: hed@henau.edu.cn.

PMID: 37866063
DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108121

Abstract

Exogenous strigolactones (SLs, GR24) are widely used to alleviate drought stress in wheat. The physiological and biochemical mechanisms via which SLs help overcome drought stress in wheat shoots have been reported; however, the mechanisms in wheat roots are unclear. The present study explored the effects of the exogenous application of SLs on wheat roots' growth and molecular responses under drought stress using physiological analysis and RNA-seq. RNA-seq of roots showed that SLs mainly upregulated signal transduction genes (SIS8, CBL3, GLR2.8, LRK10L-2.4, CRK29, and CRK8) and transcription factors genes (ABR1, BHLH61, and MYB93). Besides, SLs upregulated a few downstream target genes, including antioxidant genes (PER2, GSTF1, and GSTU6), cell wall biogenesis genes (SUS4, ADF3, UGT13248, UGT85A24, UGT709G2, BGLU31, and LAC5), an aquaporin-encoding gene (TIP4-3), and dehydrin-encoding genes (DHN2, DHN3, and DHN4). As a result, SLs reduced oxidative damage, optimized root architecture, improved leaf-water relation, and alleviated drought damage. Thus, the present study provides novel insights into GR24-mediated drought stress management and a scientific basis for proposing GR24 application.

Keywords: Cell wall biogenesis; Drought; GR24; RNA-Seq; Roots; Wheat.

MeSH terms

Cell Wall
Droughts*
Lactones / pharmacology
Triticum* / physiology

Substances

GR24 strigolactone
Lactones